Kukuri-Hime is the Shinto Goddess of mediation. She performed this role first for Izanami and Izanagi, who argued after Izanagi tried to retrieve Izanami from the underworld. Kukuri-Hime is said to be a dragon Goddess and is worshipped, along with Izanami and Izanagi, at Mount Hakusan. This mountain is the source of four rivers, so Kukuri-Hime is also said to have power over water. Her name, which means “the princess who brings together,” is also seen as Kukuri-Hime-no-Kami and Shirayama-Hime.

Today is my birthday, and it’s one of those scary ones with a 0 at the end. I’m trying to remind myself to use it as a turning point, not an ending, and I am planning a ritual for Thursday’s full moon to mark this. Part of it involves my broom, so I decided on a broom Goddess for today.

Sao Ch’ing Niang Niang is the Chinese Goddess of good weather. Also known as the Broom Lady, she lives on the Broom Star, Sao Chou, and sweeps the clouds. She sweeps them in when rain is needed and out when it is not. Farmers often hang pictures of brooms on their fences when in need of Sao Ch’ing’s services. Her name, which literally means “broom Goddess,” is also seen as Sao Ch’ing Niang, Saoqing Niang, Saoquing Niang, and Sao-Ts’ing Niang.

Naki-sawa-me-no-kami is the Japanese Goddess of mourning. She was born from the tears of Izanagi, weeping over the loss of his wife, Izanami. Naki-sawa-me lives in the base of the trees on the foothills of the mountain Amanokaguyama. Her name, which means “weeping marsh woman Goddess,” is also seen as Naki-sawa-me-no-mikoto, Naki-saha-me-no-kami, and Naki-saha-no-me-no-mikoto.

Po Ino Nogar is the Cambodian Goddess of fertility. She brought rice to the people and protects the fields and the harvest. Born in the clouds, Po Ino Nogar has 97 husbands and 38 daughters. Her name, which means “great one,” is also seen as Po Yan Ino Nogar Taha or Po Nagar, and epithets for her include Great Goddess and Mother of the Kingdom.

Ts’ui Sheng Niang Niang (pronounced CHOY SHUNG nee-YUNG nee-YUNG) is the Chinese Goddess of midwifery. She is one of the attendants of Bixia Yuanjin, Goddess of childbirth, and she is called upon for a swift and easy delivery. Ts’ui Sheng Niang Niang also makes sure that babies are delivered to the correct families. She is usually depicted holding a baby and a stick of cinnamon, which is a symbol of growth and success. Her name, which means “the mother who hastens childbirth,” is also seen as Tsai Sheng Niang Niang, Ts’uai Shen Niang Niang, Tsua Sen Niang Niang, Ts’ui Sheng Sheng-mu, Ju Sheng Niang Niang, Juishen Niang Niang, Zu Sheng Niang Niang, Sung Sheng Niang Niang, Chusheng Niang Niang, Cuisheng Sheng-mu, Chui-shen Niang Niang, and Cui Sheng.

Xi Hou (pronounced SHE hoe) is the Chinese Goddess of the sun. She is the mother of ten suns—each morning she bathes them all in a lake at the eastern edge of the sky. The suns then climb into the trees on the shore, and the sun whose turn it is to shine that day climbs to the top of the tree. From there, Xi Hou places it in a chariot which is pulled by dragons across the sky. Xi Hou’s name, which means “Mother of Ten Suns,” is also seen as Hsi Ho.

Rafu-Sen is the Japanese Goddess of plum blossoms. She is portrayed as a maiden who wanders in the forest at night, with the scent of the blossoms surrounding her. Her name, which means “buoyant subtlety,” is also seen as Rafusne.

Ho Hsien-ku (pronounced HO SHEE-en KOO) is the Chinese Goddess of immortality, virgins, kindness, and mountains. She is one of the Pa Hsien, the Eight Immortals, and the only woman of the group. When Ho Hsien-ku was a teenager, a spirit appeared to her and told her to grind up some mother of pearl and eat the powder. The powder gave her immortality and her body became weightless. Ho Hsien-ku also decided to remain a virgin at this point. She spent her time floating through the mountains gathering fruit for her mother, although she herself had no need to eat. She was summoned to appear before the empress, but disappeared on her way to the court, joining the other immortals in heaven. In pictures she is shown as a beautiful woman, even though legend says that she was born with only six hairs on her head. She is usually shown holding a lotus flower to symbolize her open heart and the fruit that she gathered for her mother. Her name, which means “immortal woman Ho,” is also seen as Hé Qióng, He Xiangu, or He Hsien-ku.

Pajau Yan is the Vietnamese Goddess of healing and good fortune. She lives in the moon, and provides the Flowers of Transition to the dead as they pass into the underworld. She is also known as Lady Moon.

Toyotama-hime is the Japanese Goddess of dragons and the sea. She is the daughter of the sea King Ryujin. She lived under the sea until a young hunter named Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto came to the bottom of the sea, looking for a fishing hook that belonged to his brother. He usually hunted in the mountains, and his brother Honosusori-no-Mikoto fished, but they had decided to exchange equipment for a day. Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto lost his brother’s best fishing hook and went under the sea to find it. Toyotama-hime saw him and asked her father to help him in his quest. He found the hook, and also found love with Toyotama-hime and they were married.

After a few years, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto began to long for the world above the sea. He convinced Toyotama-hime to go with him. She was pregnant with his child and consented, so long as he would promise not to watch when she gave birth. He agreed and they returned to the surface. Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto built a house for them to live in, and it was not long until the time of the birth came. At first, he waited patiently outside, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he peeked inside. He saw a huge black dragon holding a tiny baby. Toyotama-hime, who had changed into her alternate form of the dragon to give birth, was ashamed that her husband had seen her in that form, and she left him and the baby and returned to the sea. She sent her younger sister, Tamayori, to help raise the child. The baby, Hikonagisa-Takeugaya-Fukiaezu-no-Mikoto, grew up to marry his aunt Tamayori, and their son, Kamuyamato-lwarebiko-no-Mikoto, eventually became known as Jimmu-Tenno, the first emperor of Japan.

Toyotama-hime’s name means “luminous jewel” and she is also known as Otohime or the Dragon Princess of the Sea.