Month: March 2011

The Goddess Companion

Hail, Ilithyia, guardian of the childbed
and of birthing mothers. Protect them,
goddess, as they labor. Lucina, we call you,
bright one, source of sight, for you are the one
who leads each birthing child into light.
And guide them, goddess, as they grow,
and bless our elders, that they may make laws
encouraging fair and happy children,
 so that in future there may be celebrations
and many nights of rejoicing in your name.
~Horace
  
Spring is the season of birth. The pregnant earth brings forth new plants that cover the gray world of winter with pale green. Birds begin to hatch their young. Foals and calves frolic in the meadows near the mares and cows who gave birth to them.
  
Within us, too, something is being born. At any age, at any season, we give birth to new ideas, new thoughts, new opinions. The process of seeding, gestation, and birth is the same, whether for a pea or for a poem. What has been held in darkness, sometimes beyond consciousness, comes forth into the light, for which the birth goddess was called by the Romans Lucina, light-bearer. In the endless fruitfulness of life, let us respect what is still gestating and rejoice in whatever is newborn.

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By Patricia Monaghan ~ From “The Goddess Companion” and GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast

Spell Of The Day – Sanctity of Women Meditation

Spell Of The Day – Sanctity of Women Meditation
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This is International Women’s Day, a holiday recognized by the United Nations. Think about the sanctity of women today, and about the importance of cooperation. As you go about your business today, try to match each woman you see with a goddess. The tall blonde at the bus stop? Freya. The large woman who grins as she hands you your tuna sand-wich at lunch? Yemaya. The coworker who always hits the mark? Artemis, of course. Don’t forget to look for the goddess in yourself, too. Sit in front of a mirror, light a white candle, and meditate for a while. Wait and see who shows up. And if you’re a guy, don’t think this spell is not for you too. Every human soul has both masculine and feminine aspects. The goddess lives in all of us. 
 
By: Elizabeth Barrette , Llewellyn and GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast

Today’s Goddess: ADITI

Today’s Goddess: ADITI

Butter Festival (Tibet)

  
Themes: Luck; Change; Perspective; Time; Protection; Prosperity; Overcoming Obstacles; Divination.
Symbols: Butter; the Number Twelve; Anything that Changes Shape
 
About Aditi: Aditi means “unfettered.” In India she represents the infinite sky and the boundlessness of time and space. She offers us this expansive perspective-one in which we are citizens of eternity. Additionally, Aditi is a protector who aids in averting or surmounting difficulties. In regional prayers, people refer to her as the ever-young protectress who guides life’s boat safely through the roughest waters.
 
To Do Today: Buddhists believe that the world is transient-that only spirit is eternal. The Butter Festival illustrates this concept with huge butter statues of heroes that are torn, distributed to participants for luck, or tossed in a river to melt away into time. Following this custom, take out an ice cube. Relax and watch the ice as it melts. Consider: Is the ice still there, even though it’s gone? Similarly, does the spirit exist outside its “shape”-the body?
 
For a less ponderous way of honoring Aditi, light twelve candles (yellow is ideal) and watch the flame. Hindus use butter lamps instead, but this is far easier! If the flames appear dark red, your spirit is filled with strife. Mottled flames indicate weakness, tall flames symbolize mental clarity, crescent-shaped ones reveal a peaceful soul, and round ones proclaim magical power.
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By Patricia Telesco

Greetings! Our theme is Balance.

Greetings! Our theme is Balance. This second week of the month we work with receiving and accepting balance.
Following today’s affirmation are comments about the affirmation, suggestions for your process, and information
about related articles. Make this a smooth day!
 
I receive messages of balance from the Universe.
I flow like a smooth river in this balance.
 
About Today’s Affirmation
The balance of the Universe is infallible. In the narrowness of our human focus, we often cannot see the perfection of it all. When it is hardest to see, that is the time when we most need to trust, to put ourselves in the hands of the divine. It is easy to trust when we can see the evidence of balance in the outer world. Now, however, we are called upon to trust at a deeper level, to trust in the invisible rather than the visible. We let the universal river carry us.
 
About Your Process
Consider several areas of life that you try hard to balance, try to make balance — perhaps work and play, your checkbook, fairness or honesty in a particular relationship, food, or reactions. Notice how you use your weekend to try to achieve a balance for the week’s activities. Remind yourself of the over-arching intention you set for balance. Look deeply at your own image or interpretation of “flow like a smooth river” or maybe it is a bubbling brook or raging ocean or deep pool or shallow puddle. What do you need to accept into your life to experience balance as you desire it?
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Copyright Jeanie Marshall, Empowerment Consultant

The Book Of Hours: Prayers to the Goddess

Lady,
Upon the ferment of restless seas
You were born;
motherless, fatherless,
primordial as the sea.
Your realm is of pleasure and
the moment –ephemeral;
Your anger quick as a
summer storm and as quickly spent.
In loveliness of spirit all may
share in Your delight–
the Mystery is the ever loving Self–
fathomless, transient…
Your flame burns bright in those
who love You–
Your rituals endure.
…
Meditation
The silence of the dawn, and how it speaks to you.
…
By Galen Gillotte 

Seasons of the Witch!

Seasons of the Witch!
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Tibet: Buddhist monks in Tibet hold the annual Butter Lamp Festival to render demons powerless and secure the favor of the Gods. Yak-butter sculptures of Buddhist heroes are marched through the streets while uttering sacred chants. After the march, the sculptures are tossed into the waters of a river.

Slavic Pagan: Strinennia. Clay images of larks were made, their heads smeared with honey and stuck with tinsel. They were carried around the village amidst the singing of vesnjanki, invocations to Spring. Birds were thought to bring the Spring with them upon their return. Children were given pastries shaped like birds to toss into the air while saying “The rooks have come.”. Sometimes the pastries were tied to poles in the garden. The baking of these pastries was to ensure that the birds would return.

1497: Nicolaus Copernicus 1st recorded astronomical observation,

1957: 8.1 earthquake shakes Andreanof Islands, Alaska

 
GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast –Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/earthmoonandsky/
Remember the ancient ways and keep them sacred!

Lunar Lore

Lunar Lore
…
As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night,
  O’er heaven’s clear azure spreads her sacred light,
When not a breath disturbs the deep serene,
  And not a cloud o’ercasts the solemn scene;
            – Homer, “Iliad”, Bk. viii. (Pope’s trans.)

Today Is: Woden’s Day

Today Is: Woden’s Day – Energy: Male Ruler: Mercury – Rules healings, the mind – Use for magick involving mental issues, learning, higher education, addictions, communications, travel, young people, messages, perception, self-expression, artists, poets, and writers  

  • Today’s Magickal Influences: Conjurations, Predictions, Knowledge, Writing, Eloquence
  • Today’s Goddesses: Aset [Isis], Demeter, Ceres, Spider Woman, Bona Dea, Oya, Devi-Kali, Hella, Rhiannon, Coatlique, Maman Brigette, Sekhmet, Het Heret [Hathor]
  • Incense:   Cinnamon, Cinquefoil
  • Perfumes: Sweetpea, Lavender, Mastic, Frankincense, Cloves
  • Color of The Day:  Yellow, Gray, Violet
  • Colors for Tomorrow: Purple, Indigo, Blue
  • Lucky Sign: Wednesday Is The Lucky Day For Gemini  And Virgo 
  • Candle: Purple Violet

Daily Crystal: Black Tourmaline

Black Tourmaline

This Tourmaline is a very good grounding crystal for the emotions. It is also very good for grounding one during crystal healing layouts. It does not hold you back from going as far as you can go, it does help bring you back when you are ready, and more to the point, it grounds the Healing energy and information gained in the layout/meditative state enabling you to integrate what you have received and learned into your physical body and consciousness.

Black Tourmaline when held in the hand will relieve the symptoms of allergies noticeably within 10 minutes, if you do not feel a difference within that time, swap the Tourmaline between hands. It is also good for holding if you get a fright.

Black Tourmaline is very useful for people who are having trouble sleeping, either put it in your groin region or in your hand, even under your pillow and you will have a quality sleep and will awake feeling energized and ready to take on the day ahead with vigor.

http://www.shamanscrystal.co.uk/crystal/440/tourmaline-black

Crystal Meaning
The Wall. One of the most protective of crystals. It centres and grounds energy, whilst forming a protective barrier shielding one against all forms of subtle negative energy. Inside the user it promotes a very decisive energy which acts fast, dispelling illusions and provoking immediate action. Outside the user it reflects energy back to the point of origin. It closes auric leaks and hides weaknesses. In magic use its an excellent ward.
Magical use; Defense, Protection, Warding, Clearing, Grounding.
Healing use; Clearing, grounding, Methodical thinking, mental disorders.
Protection – Use 4 Pieces. 1st hold all four and focus the mind on the crystals working together. 2nd Place around an areaTourmaline_Black_Form for Meditation, Sleep or Ritual.
Physical Properties
Prismatic crystals formed mostly vertically & striated. It forms in granites and pegmatites, as well as metamorphic rocks, it may be found near Beryl, Zircon, Quartz and Feldspar. Colours – Tourmaline occurs in Black, Green, Red Rubellite, Blue and Watermelon. Group SILICATES, Hardness 7-7.5.

http://www.thatcrystalsite.com/guide/properties-glossary.php?init=b