Protective Archetypes & Goddessess: Guardians, Warriors, Mothers, and More | Ditch Witch diaries

In this Ditch Witch Diaries episode, we explore global protective archetypes—the guardians, warriors, ancestors, mothers, tricksters, and underworld guides who defend boundaries, shield the vulnerable, and keep danger at bay.

Drawing from Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, Hindu, West African, Mesopotamian, Norse, and Japanese traditions, we examine how cultures understand protection not as one single force, but as a spectrum:
🔥 Gatekeepers and temple guardians
🛡️ Warrior champions
🌙 Maternal protectors
🦊 Tricksters who outsmart danger
🌑 Shadow-walkers who banish harm
🌿 Goddesses who shield the living

This episode blends anthropology, folklore, and witchcraft practice into a grounded exploration of how humans across time have conceptualized safety, boundaries, and spiritual defense.

00:00 – Intro: What Are Protective Archetypes?
00:13 – The Guardian Archetype: Gatekeepers & Boundary Protectors
00:35 – Examples: Hecatoncheires, Anubis, Lares Compitales, Komainu
01:06 – Ancestor-Protectors - Previous video
01:20 – The Mother Protector: Fierce, Nurturing Defense
01:49 – Sekhmet, Durga, Danu, Ninhursag
02:25 – The Warrior Archetype: Strength, Justice & Defense
02:43 – Athena Promachos, Skanda, Tyr, Ogun
03:19 – Trickster Protectors: Outsmarting Harm
03:51 – Eshu/Legba, Kitsune, Hermes
04:55 – Hearth-Keepers (Short Reference to Prior Episode)
05:02 – Shadow Walkers: Protection Through Darkness & Banishing
05:24 – Hekate, Wadjet, Wrathful Tibetan Deities
06:30 – Protective Goddesses Across Cultures

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