August 2024 Horrorscopes: Vengeful Nature Deities!

by · Published · Updated

Granted, some of these deities might be a little milder in their approach, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t any less protective of the natural realms and creatures under their guardianship. Summon these deities to take up residence within the pages of your literary works—or even to inspire your real-life environmental or wildlife advocacy initiatives. I mean, after all, the looming climate change apocalypse may be a great source of creative inspiration for our speculative fiction stories, but I, for one, don’t really relish living it out in reality. Read on to find out which powerful deity your zodiac sign would best be befriending—before it’s too late!

Disclaimers: These are mock horoscopes and are meant for entertainment purposes only, and are not specifically representative of any particular person or people. Please also note that I strove to depict current deities and/or sacred creatures with the upmost respect for the cultures that still honor them. Also, the Horror Tree does not have any affiliations with the nonprofits listed in the horrorscopes, nor have they been officially vetted/officially endorsed by HT, so please do your research into any nonprofit organizations before making monetary donations online. If in doubt, you can also get to know the organization by volunteering your time in lieu of donations.

Leo (July 23—August 22). Leo’s love of adornment will draw them to the Greek goddess, Antheia. Antheia, as one of the goddesses also known as “Graces” in Greek mythology, is characteristic of all things floral, especially in wetter areas that are more conducive to lush growth.1 If that wasn’t enough to convince the Leo to seek the blessing of this goddess as they go about their conservation efforts, the fact that Antheia has a penchant for all things gold in nature1 will do the trick, for sure. Real-Life Nature Heroes: I’m going to suggest to you, Leo, that you pour your fabulous energy into little creatures that help sustain gardens and other plant and tree friends—bees! Check out these two sites to help you get started in bee conservation initiatives: https://thebeeconservancy.org/ and https://beecityusa.org/. Have fun planning the gala fundraiser!

Virgo (August 23—September 22). The Mesopotamian nature deity I picked for Virgo may be a little understated, but then again, so is Virgo. Ningikuga seems to be associated with wetland areas, and has a mention of being a goddess who “purifies the earth”2. Perhaps not coincidentally, wetlands serve the same purpose within the larger ecosystem. I foresee that Virgos will not only have a penchant for helping nature “clean up” the mess people have made throughout time, they’ll bring their inner Virgo steeliness to the conservation battleground. Real-Life Nature Heroes: Since Virgos prefer to stay out of the “heroics” spotlight by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work, they’d probably launch an entire wetlands restoration project in their local area: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/what-you-can-do-voluntary-wetland-restoration-and-protection.

Libra (September 23—October 22). Libra was fighting to keep the scales of justice fair and balanced from a very early age. Thus, the joint causes of environmental advocacy and wildlife protection could be areas that capture the Libra’s heart and spirit as well as their mind (and their strong sense of moral outrage). They won’t even need convincing to throw in their lot with Dzelarhons, the mountain spirit of Haida mythology3. I mean, a goddess with a volcanic temper that is fighting to protect animals3—it’s a match made in Libra heaven. Or Earth, as the case may be. Real-Life Nature Heroes: Weeellll, even the balanced Libra may find the appeal of direct-action groups such as the Animal Liberation Front or the Hunt Saboteurs Association (https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/) hard to resist. But if you want to stay middle-of-the-road, Libra, there are plenty of organizations that strive to end factory farming (https://www.farmsanctuary.org/issue/factory-farming/)  or that work tirelessly to end animal abuse and exploitation (PETA: https://www.peta.org/).

Scorpio (October 23—November 21). Scorpio will always pursue their interests with whole-hearted passion, even if it’s not the most mainstream pathway. Still, this enables the scorpion to set themselves apart as the predominant expert in niche areas. I’d suggest, then, Scorpio that you liaison with such divine entities as the sisters Khunu Leima (Meitei goddess of pigeons and doves)4, Nganu Leima (Meitei goddess of ducks and waterfowl)5, and Shapi Leima (Meitei goddess of rodents)6. Plus, all of the creatures these goddesses nurture have adapted fairly well to the urban landscapes Scorpio tends to prefer. Real-Life Nature Heroes: Read more about red squirrel conservation on the Wildlife Trusts page here: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/on-land/red-squirrels or check out the initiatives of the Prairie Dog Coalition: https://www.prairiedogcoalition.org/. And, yes, there are certain species of pigeons/doves that need your help, too: https://pigeonpaws.com/are-pigeons-endangered/.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21). Already designated as a hunter with their connection to archery and with their blended physical form, Sagittarius has to balance the world of nature with their need to survive as a person. They recognize that every creature is dependent on others for food, shelter, and more. Therefore, they will be keen to cultivate the support of the Turkic patron of hunters, Bai Baianai7. As a fire sign, Sagittarius will also be mindful not to take more than they need, as they will have a healthy respect for the winged Bai Baianai’s flaming retribution.7 Real-Life Nature Heroes: An organization like Ducks Unlimited (https://www.ducks.org/) that balances hunting with habitat conservation and restoration will be among the Sagittarius’s top picks for volunteering and/or donating.

Capricorn (December 22—January 19). Capricorn is not one to be shy about speaking out against injustices or unfair treatment of others, and that includes those life forms who don’t have a voice, such as animals. The Armenian goddess Tzovinar will be the divine success story that will help fuel the Capricorn’s newfound ambition to achieve long-lasting environmental change. Though, admittedly, Capricorn may be a little envious of this rightfully vindictive goddess’s ability to summon oceanic storms and torrential downpowers.8 Better do all you can to stay on Tzovinar’s good side, Capricorn, because once you join forces with this powerful deity, they’ll be no going back. Real-Life Nature Heroes: Set sail with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society—they welcome volunteers to join their at-sea crew (as well as onshore volunteers). https://seashepherd.org/

Aquarius (January 20—February 18). Up until recent times, the Aquarian may have taken their preferred remote places for granted. But as the population of people increases, it might be proving harder for this dreamy sign to find the spiritual surcease in their favourite wilding spots. They’ll spare no travel expense and, once they find the appropriate sacred site, will also invest in lengthy and dedicated devotions to curry favour with the Hindu goddess Aranyani. It will remain to be seen whether this secretive deity will choose the similarly reserved Aquarius as their ally in the fight to protect their jungle sanctuaries from further encroachment by the rapacious human race.9 Real-Life Nature Heroes: Explore India-based options like FORREST India (https://www.forrest-india.org/), Navdanya (https://www.navdanya.org/), Wildlife Protection Society of India (https://www.wpsi-india.org/wpsi/index.php), and the Nature Conservancy India (https://www.tncindia.in/).

Pisces (February 19—March 20). While mythology abounds with nature deities that are staunch defenders of wildlife and nature (or help people cultivate crops and raise livestock) it seems rare to come across a goddess that actively heals animals that have sustained injuries or are at risk in other ways.10 Though the Finnish goddess Mielikki is reported to also assist hunters, gatherers, and farmers in exchange for offerings10, her compassion for animals will be one that sensitive Pisces can embrace. Real-Life Nature Heroes: If you can’t locate a local organization in your area that works to end trapping and other cruel activities utilized against wildlife, WildEarth Guardians is a good organization to look into: https://wildearthguardians.org/wildlife-conservation/end-cruel-trapping/.

Aries (March 20—April 19). It should be no surprise that I went with a nature deity that had a bit of a militant side for the feisty Aries. The Lithuanian goddess Medeina is said to channel that fierce militancy into protecting the forest and forest animals over which she rules.11 Though represented by the hare, she has also been known to frequent the company of wolves.11 What better companions could an Aries ask for, right? Real-Life Nature Heroes: You could throw a javelin and hit a wolf conservation center or wolf refuge, but wolves still face an uphill battle. Here’s a couple of organizations that seem to advocate for wolves in the wild: https://wolf.org/ and https://www.americanwolf.org/. And if hares are more your game, here’s a UK-based hare conservation group: https://hare-preservation-trust.com/.

Taurus (April 20—May 20). Earth sign Taurus is passionate about any element that embodies home, and they’ll feel that the Albanian Zonja e Dheut (Earth Mother Goddess) or Dheu is the perfect spiritual manifestation of their earthly connections. Among all the rituals designed to support the Albanian relationship with the Earth Mother are rituals and practices to determine the best place to build a house—again, with the goddess’s approval and guidance.12 Many of these practices are beautifully matriarchal and earth honouring, and would be welcomed by the domestic-minded Taurus to help them build a stronger and more sustainable connection with the earth as their larger home. Real-Life Nature Heroes: There are a ton of soil conservation organizations out there in the world of the internet, with many specialized in locations such as Scotland and Africa, for example. I’ll include one that has local chapters in Canada and the United States, the Soil and Water Conservation Society (https://www.swcs.org/). I imagine, though, that the Taurus would also be keen on the “food revolution” that is sweeping the international stage:  https://foodrevolution.org/.

Gemini (May 21—June 20). As soon as I discovered the Slavic forest deity13, the Leshy, in my research, I knew it had to be the nature deity for you to channel, Gemini. Most of the descriptions in the Wikipedia article point to the Leshy as being a deity that defies any established depiction or description, often appearing in a wide variety of animal or tree forms.13 Even their personalities and gender, though typically said to be masculine, appear to be very fluid. Leshies are the ultimate protector of forests and all the life forms within, and have a multitude of tricks and powers at their disposal.13 Their mood is as shifting as the inclement weather that is said to accompany the presence of a Leshy and they are not only quickly angered by the depredations of people against the forest, they are swift and fierce in their retaliatory actions.13 This quixotically charismatic deity will definitely help Gemini on their path to greater awareness both spiritually and ecologically—provided they don’t get lost along the way. Real-Life Nature Heroes: Geminis will need the guiding force of a long-established organization like the Arbor Day Foundation (https://www.arborday.org/) to help keep them rooted as they volunteer to plant trees around the world.

Cancer (June 21—July 22). For Cancers, who can be very fierce (not to mention strategically cunning and, dare I say it, a trifle mischievous) in defense of themselves, their loved ones, and/or their territory, I went with a supernatural being from Tupi-Guarani mythology instead of a straight-up nature deity. According to Wikipedia, the Curupira has similarly cunning tricks that it typically employs to protect the forest in which they reside.14 It’s also said that the Curupira acts to protect the nonhuman animal residents that live in the same natural area.14 So make sure you channel that clever crab cunning, and you’ll be sure to defeat any threats—it’s for the noblest reason, after all: love! Real-Life Nature Heroes: Cancers will relish the opportunity to build close interpersonal ties with Indigenous communities as well as natural ecosystem, so the efforts of both AFV Rainforest Organization (https://www.rainforestorganization.org/) and Amazon Watch (https://amazonwatch.org/) will appeal to this emotionally invested Cancerian.

1Antheia, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antheia

2Ningikuga, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ningikuga

3Dzelarhons, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzelarhons

4Khunu Leima, Wikipedia, (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khunu_Leima

5Nganu Leima, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nganu_Leima

6Shapi Leima, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapi_Leima

7Bai Baianai, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bai_Baianai

8Tzovinar, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsovinar_(goddess)

9Aranyani, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aranyani

10Mielikki, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mielikki

11Medeina, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medeina

12Zonja e Dheut, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dheu_(Albanian_paganism).

13Leshy, Wikipedia (accessed July 31, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leshy#

14Curupira, Wikipedia (accessed July 30, 2024). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curupira

You may also like...