Deities of Health and Healing from Around the World (2024)

Everyone gets sick from time to time, that’s just a normal part of human existence. As pagans and magickal people, we might find ourselves turning to the Gods as well as our witchcraft to help us on our healing journey. Every pantheon and group of Gods around the world has a spirit or deity who is associated with healing and medicine in some form. This might be a Goddess who heals the sick and dying or a God who inspires the medical arts. Whoever they are, these Gods and Goddesses have given rise to many great healers around the world!

Come on a journey with us around the globe as we explore healing deities from Japan, Greece, Italy, and so much more!

Deities In This Post

Babalú-Ayé and Sopona (Yoruban Mythology)

Listed under the same section are Babalú-Ayé and Sopona and for good reason! These two deities are aspects of the same entity in the Yoruban religion of West Africa. Babalú-Ayé is a spirit of the Earth and he is strongly associated with healing and infectious disease. He is known to promote the cure for illnesses as well as healing those who are close to death. Babalú-Ayé is called upon in the Yoruban religion for all sorts of diseases, but diseases of the skin and inflammation are the most common. However, he has another side to himself.

Some people fear him in his form as Sopona. In this form, he is believed to bring disease upon humans, including smallpox for which he is especially known. This deity’s name, Sopona, is thought to be a secret and taboo name, one that is not spoken out of respect for the Lord of Infectious Disease. Instead, he is given several other names and titles, one of which is Omolu.

Prende (Albanian Mythology)

Also known as Afër-dita, Prende is the goddess of the dawn, love, and health in Albanian pagan mythology. She is also well known as being a protector of women. Her other name, Afër-dita, is an Albanian phrase that means “near day” or “dawn“. She is associated with the cult of Venus and may be closely related to the original Indo-European dawn goddess.

In Albanian pagan mythology, Prende is thought to be the daughter of the Albanian sky and lightning god, Zojz. It is said that swallows, known as Pulat e Zojës (“the Lady’s Birds”) pull Prende across the sky in her chariot. She was worshipped in Albania, especially by women, until more recent times. Her festival is celebrated on July 26 every year and her devotees wear beautiful clothing in her honor.

He Xiangu (Chinese Mythology)

Born as He Qiong, He Xiangu is a Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. She is thought to be one of the only female figures among the Eight Immortals, but the sex of another Immortal (Lan Caihe) is ambiguous and may or may not be female as well.

The connection between He Xiangu and health and medicine is the lotus flower. In the depictions of He Xiangu, she is seen holding a lotus flower and a musical instrument. It is said that her lotus flower improves a person’s health, both mental and physical.

Sukuna bikona (Japanese Mythology)

In the Japanese Shinto religion, Sukuna bikona is a kami of many things including agriculture, magic, healing, and knowledge. In descriptions, he is often depicted as being a dwarf and his name means “the small lord of renown“. As a kami (Japanese deity, spirit, or other divinity) of healing, Sukuna bikona is given credit for the invention of cures for several human and animal diseases.

It is said he is invoked for protection against “creeping things” like bugs and “calamities” such as illness. He is also credited with helping with women’s health, specifically reproductive issues, fertility, and childbirth.

Ixchel (Mayan Mythology)

Pronounced as “ish-CHEL”, Ixchel is the aged jaguar goddess of medicine and midwifery in ancient Mayan religion. She is known for being the goddess of medicine and is also called “grandmother” in the Ritual of the Bacabs. After birthing the boys who would uphold the earth’s four corners, she did not simply go into hiding after Ak Kin, her husband, menaced her.

Instead, she took it upon herself to protect women at all stages of womanhood. It is here that we see her association with healing, especially in relation to mothers and women. She protects those seeking fruitful marriage, a healthy pregnancy, or a successful and safe labor.

Beaivi (Sami Mythology)

Another interesting deity related to health is Beaivi, the Sami Sun goddess. She is also the goddess of spring, but her role as a deity associated with health is that of being a goddess of sanity. She is also associated with the fertility of the land and reindeer, both of which are crucial to the lives of the Sami people. Beaivi moves with the Sun so the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are important times for the Sami people.

During the time of Beaivi’s return, prayers are offered for those who are mentally ill or suffering from depression. The Sami people believe that madness (in the form of depression and psychosis) is caused by the lack of sunshine and light during Winter.

Brigid (Celtic Mythology)

Brigid is a Celtic goddess found in many Celtic countries under similar names. She is associated with spring, Imbolg, fire, and healing. Brigid’s folklore and mythology are riddled with stories of healing miracles. In fact, it is one thing she is most well-known for. There are stories of Brigid performing the first abortion as well as curing (and giving!) people’s leprosy.

Brigid is still widely honored and celebrated around the world today! Her pagan festival is Imbolg on February 1st. For those who are not pagan, she is still honored on St. Brigid’s Day, also on February 1st. Many people make Brigid’s Crosses in her honor, a symbol thought to protect the home from illness and fire during the coming warmer days.

Sekhmet (Egyptian Mythology)

In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet is a solar deity who holds two roles — a warrior goddess and a goddess of medicine. She is also often associated with the goddesses Hathor and Bast. In her mythology, she is the daughter of the sun god Ra, acting as a vengeful manifestation of his power as the Eye of Ra. It is said that Sekhmet can breathe fire and cause plagues, though she is also often called upon to ward off disease and heal the sick.

There was an annual festival held at the beginning of the year, a festival of intoxication, in which the Egyptians danced and played music to help soothe the wildness of the goddess and to imitate the extreme intoxication that stopped the wrath of the goddess when she almost destroyed humanity.

Asclepius (Greek Mythology)

In ancient Greek mythology, Asclepius is the son of Apollo and Coronis. He is a hero and god of medicine, representing the healing aspect of the medical arts. He has several daughters, the Asclepiades, including Hygieia, Iaso, Aceso, Aegle, and Panacea. There are several myths associated with Asclepius and his ability to heal. One of these includes him becoming such a good healer that he was able to evade death and bring people back to life. Zeus thought this caused an excessive amount of humans so he killed Asclepius to maintain the balance of the human population.

You may not know too much about Asclepius, but if you have been anywhere near a medical facility you have likely seen his rod. It is a common rod with one uncommon thing – a snake wrapped around it. To this day, the Rod of Asclepius is associated with all things health and healing. Even the original Hippocratic Oath that physicians and medical personnel take once began with an oath to both Apollo and Asclepius!

Feronia (Italian Mythology)

Last on our list is the goddess Feronia, a goddess of wildlife, fertility, health, and abundance in Etruscan and Sabine religions. She was also honored by the Faliscans and was later adopted into the ancient Roman religion. She is a goddess who granted freedom to enslaved peoples as well as civil rights to the marginalized people of society. This made her especially popular amongst the plebeians (the general Roman population) and freedmen (former enslaved people) of society.

Her role as a healer comes in her association with wildlife and the nature she permits people to domesticate. Without those roles, her people would not have access to natural healing medicine.

There’s More!

This is just a short list of deities associated with health and healing. It would be impossible to name every God or Goddess who shines a light on the frailty of humanity and our knack for getting sick. Let these deities inspire you to learn more about them, other healing deities, and your own personal healing power!