Think gender fluidity is a modern concept? The ancient world says otherwise. Long before we had words like ‘non binary’ or ‘gender fluid’, cultures across the globe honoured deities who shifted between genders, embodied multiple genders or transcended gender entirely. These non binary gods and goddesses weren’t minor characters in their pantheons – they were powerful creators, mighty warriors and revered teachers.

Gender fluid gods and shapeshifting deities may have something to tell us about the nature of divinity and humanity. These stories reveal how our ancestors understood gender as more complex and fluid than the rigid binary we’ve inherited.

In a time when non binary and gender fluid people face discrimination and erasure, these ancient tales offer both validation and inspiration. They show us that gender diversity isn’t new – it can be sacred. These stories remind us that the divine, like human nature itself, has always been more complex and beautiful than simple categories can contain.

Shapeshifting Deities and Gender Fluidity

To understand how ancient cultures viewed gender fluidity as sacred, let’s look at some examples from different traditions. Each one offers a unique perspective on how our ancestors understood gender as far more complex than a simple binary.

Ardhanarishvara – divine union beyond gender

In Hindu tradition, Ardhanarishvara presents us with a nuanced image of gender unity. This deity – whose name literally means “Lord Who Is Half Woman” – depicts the perfect union of Shiva and Parvati in a single body. Split vertically, one half is male and the other female, each side complete with its traditional attributes and symbols.

Like many non binary deities across cultures, Ardhanarishvara represents the fundamental inseparability of masculine and feminine energies in the cosmos. The right side is Shiva, with matted locks, a snake around the neck and ash-covered skin. The left is Parvati, adorned with flowing hair, a lotus and ornaments. Yet neither side exists independently – they are one being, one truth.

Hindu philosophy teaches that creation itself emerges from the interplay of masculine and feminine principles, transcending simple binary categories. Ardhanarishvara isn’t about choosing between genders or even moving between them – it’s about their ultimate unity. The image reminds us that divinity, and perhaps humanity, isn’t truly divided into rigid gender categories at all.

What makes Ardhanarishvara particularly significant is that this form wasn’t hidden away in obscure texts. It was, and still is, openly worshipped in temples across India. This suggests that ancient Hindu society accepted, and perhaps revered the idea of gender transcendence, at least for its gods.

We’wha and the sacred two-spirit tradition

The story of We’wha and the Lhamana tradition of the Zuni people offers us another way of understanding of gender diversity. In Zuni culture, those who embodied both masculine and feminine traits were seen as having a special spiritual role. The Lhamana, similar to what many indigenous peoples today call Two-Spirit, held honoured positions in their communities.

We’wha, perhaps the most famous Lhamana of the 1800s, was born male but lived in a way that embraced both masculine and feminine aspects. We’wha was a respected spiritual leader, artist and cultural ambassador. They performed both traditional masculine and feminine ceremonial roles, demonstrating how gender diversity was woven into the spiritual fabric of Zuni society.

The Lhamana tradition reminds us that before colonisation, many indigenous cultures had sophisticated understandings of gender that went far beyond the binary. These weren’t just alternative gender roles – they were sacred ways of being, often associated with special spiritual and ceremonial responsibilities.

Loki – Divine Shapeshifter

No discussion of non binary deities would be complete without discussing Loki. In Norse mythology, Loki is a renowned shapeshifter and often switched gender as part of this skill. Loki moved freely between forms with a fluidity that challenges our modern assumptions about gender and identity.

Some of the most significant Norse myths showcase this fluidity. As a mare, Loki bore Sleipnir, the magnificent eight-legged horse who would become Odin’s steed. In the tale of Baldur’s death, he appeared as Þökk, an elderly giantess who refused to weep and thus kept Baldur in Helheim. Throughout the Norse tales, Loki shifted between male and female forms as naturally as changing clothes, demonstrating that gender transformation was part of Norse mythology.

These weren’t minor tales or trickster’s jokes – they were central to many of Norse mythology’s most important stories. This is particularly significant because Norse culture, often stereotyped as rigidly masculine, preserved these tales of gender fluidity in their most sacred myths.

Obviously, Loki is an complex Deity and not everything he did is something we would want to emulate. However, it is still interesting to consider a culture where the idea of gender fluidity wasn’t just dismissed out of hand.

Other Non Binary Gods and Goddesses

These three examples represent just some of the non binary deities. The Greek deity Hermaphroditus, child of Hermes and Aphrodite, merged with the nymph Salmacis to become dual-gendered, embodying the complete union of masculine and feminine in a single form. The Egyptian creator goddess Neith transcended gender in her role as “Father of Fathers and Mother of Mothers,” wielding both masculine and feminine creative powers. Even Krishna, one of the most beloved Hindu deities, sometimes took female form to dance with Radha, showing how gender fluidity could be an expression of divine love.

These stories appear again and again across cultures and time periods, suggesting that our ancestors understood gender as far more fluid and complex than many modern societies acknowledge.

Some of our modern assumptions about gender, divinity and power are challenged by these ancient deities. From Ardhanarishvara’s sacred unity to We’wha’s honoured spiritual role to the countless other deities who transcended gender boundaries, these stories reveal understandings of gender that many modern cultures have lost.

In a world where gender diverse people still face discrimination and violence, these sacred stories of gender fluid gods and goddesses remind us that gender fluidity isn’t new, radical or unnatural – it can be divine. They show us that the ability to move beyond binary gender categories, to embody multiple aspects of gender, or to transcend gender entirely was once seen as a part of a sacred power.

These discussion of course don’t stand alone as evidence of the acceptance of gender fluidity across time and place, but from a witches point of view they are an interesting part of the discussion. For more on gender fluidity across time and cultures check out this post.

Blessed be

Eva x