Introducing our Patron Goddess, Hygeia

We make frequent references to the goddess of health and hygiene, Hygeia, in our blog updates. For those of you not acquainted with Hygeia, we thought we'd introduce you.
Hygeia is, according to our friend Wikipedia, "associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health", and she is obviously the source of the word hygiene. The Greeks liked to imagine her with a snake wrapped around her body, no doubt for good reason.

Our patron goddess, Hygeia. (Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hygeia-Hermitage.jpg)

Hygeia is not a demanding goddess. She does not require you to sacrifice expensive and toxic cleaning products at her altar. If you've got mould in the bathroom, or the cat's got diarrhoea (both these occurrences are common in our street), use bleach. Otherwise, use ecological cleaning products such as Ecover or Bio-D (available at Oxfam), or have a look at these home cleaning tips from Friends of the Earth. (For even more information, see our previous blog post.)

Gustav Klimt's interpretation of our friend. (Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Klimt_hygeia.jpg)

Hygeia loves people who wash their hands. May her blessings be with you.