This snake-wielding Minoan Goddess (also potentially known as Atana Potnia) is quite the mystery in some ways, but distinct in others. Going off of what we do know and her depiction, I’ve compiled a list of ways to honor this deity of Minoan civilization who is considered a precursor to the Ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena. Go here to find out more about her.

1. Become an advocate of snake conservation.

The snake association of this goddess is evident, with her holding snakes in her hands in all. Here is a renowned serpentine cause: www.savethesnakes.org

2. Adopt two snakes.

Especially in ancient times, snakes symbolized fertility and rebirth. Bonus points if you’re scared of snakes and still decide to adopt them.

3. Go to the Palace of Knossos, learn more about it, or take a virtual tour.

Snake Goddess and Priestess figurines of varying sizes were found at Knossos in Crete during Sir Arthur Evans’ excavations. I have posted several 3D renditions of the palace here.

4. Learn more about your maternal ancestry.

Also referred to as the Mother Goddess, learning more about your mother’s side and paying tribute to those who came before is a wonderful way to connect to Atana Potnia’s energy.

5. Draw a portrait of her.

Creating art to honor a deity has been a prime devotional act since antiquity. The Minoans were particularly known for their frescoes and use of vibrant color.

6. Identify core childhood wounds and take the steps necessary to nurture yourself.

As a Mother Goddess, Atana Potnia is a nurturing figure by default. In healing ourselves, we in turn heal our ancestors and those we are surrounded by alike.

7. Volunteer at a Women’s Shelter

Female deities seemed to be of central focus for the Minoans. Also, priestesses led ceremonies. That alone tells me how much the Minoans revered the divine feminine. As such, helping women who have endured domestic violence or other forms of abuse is good way to honor the feminine and thus The Snake Goddess.

8. Wear or make jewelry with snakes implemented into it.

This is a great snake-inspired act to replace adopting a snake if that isn’t feasible. You can find some more information about Minoan jewelry here.

9. Support women-run causes or businesses.

I more or less touched on this in devotional act number 7.

10. Set up an altar for her.

Sculptures of the Minoan Snake goddess can easily be found on Etsy, which is a solid place to start. Beyond the snake imagery, implementing owl imagery would work too! In the reconstruction of her sculpture, a cat was added atop of her head. However, cats didn’t seem to be an important symbol to the Minoans. Many speculate that it was in fact an owl. In fact, there’s an owl in the replica I bought from Crete. I’ll dedicate an entire post to her altar setup in a future post!