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The Lady’s Blessings

May 14, 2013 in Guests, Hearth and Home, Uncategorized

On Mother’s Day I was thinking about the women who have influenced my life over the years, of course my own Mom, and also other Mothers, Aunties, Granma’s, friends and mentors along my journey. There are a few who helped bring huge changes to my life, and I would like to share a few stories in honour of the Divine Feminine that touches every person.

My Mom was gracious and married late in life, my parents adopted a toddler and decided to take on another baby boy and went to a different orphanage in Scotland. I was 6 weeks old and had arrived the day before their visit, I’d been 4lbs 2oz at birth and was up to 7lbs by then, though I must have been tiny because my Mom to be thought I was a doll at first. She was horrified that such a “wee babe” was in the children’s home, and felt compelled to see me properly, that was the beginning of our relationship in this life. My parents immigrated to Canada when I was 4, my Dad got work but Mom didn’t even though she had a doctorate degree. She ended up assisting my father who was also a professor, transforming his research notes into papers for scientific journals, meticulously drawing all the strange microscopic creatures, I marvelled at her skill. Mom had been one of the first female Professors at Berkley University in the 1940’s, then returned to Scotland to be with her family and began doing research on animal pathogens at Edinburgh University before she married. My Mother had been financially independent before we immigrated, she never made a cent from the work she did to support my father, and it was something that wasn’t talked about.

I was around 7 when we were in a car accident that left her permanently injured, somehow I fell  into the floor space behind the front seats and the car crumpled around me, Mom wasn’t so lucky. Her life became filled with pain, Dr’s appointments, procedures, physio, endless meds etc. she changed from a social person to a shut in. I took on the house chores and began to resent that I was expected to, Mom and I always seemed to be bickering and arguing, there was more disapproval than support, we didn’t do activities together anymore, and I missed the Mother I had before the accident. As the years passed our conflicts grew more serious, by the time I was 12 the whole family unit was in crisis and falling apart. I left home at the first opportunity that presented itself and dissolved all ties; it took me until my mid 20’s to connect again.

My Mom and I sat down and had a very honest, difficult and painful conversation, we both cried and apologized for our hurtful words and behaviour towards each other in the past. I understood that she had also been hurting, scared and frustrated, and we were able to mend our relationship. My Mom passed when I was 27; we had a lengthy phone call the day before, sharing our life experiences, laughing and appreciating our connection. I love you.

When I was a girl women from our church would show up and whisk me away for an afternoon or weekend, they brought meals and baking for my family. I learned to knit bandages to hymns, a kind of magic in itself, we made old cards into baskets, I discovered the mystery of suspending fruit in gelatine, that washing machines were useful for cleaning baby dills before pickling and how baking soda and lemon juice cleaned just about everything. Daisy, Edna, Beda, Cathy, Granma Taylor thank you!

Kate and I sat outside the office of the women’s transition house one stormy night. Her first words were “Do I look as bad as you?” I replied “I hope it looks better that it feels!” we grinned and became allies. Our friendship grew, we talked about our dreams, how next time we would break the cycle, we knew we didn’t deserve abuse. That was so long ago, we have both learned the difference between love and cruelty, and discovered self love in the reflection of each other. Kate you are precious!

Sheila and I met at a women activists group, and we were tired of marching and holding signs in the sun, wind and rain! We mimicked the parody of politics and transformed it into street theatre; we were fabulous together and even got on the news. Your hug is as big as the Universe my beloved Auntie, Wise One, Mother all wrapped in one. When I am an old woman may I be as spry and have a sense of humor like you, you are the beautiful sound of laughter.

My birth mother Valerie, there was no mistaking I am your child; I saw my face reflected in yours for the first time and knew my beginnings. We walked together for a time, you told me of my ancestors, how they once served the Lady, the gifts of our blood. Your love touched me, thank you for carrying me into this life.

Today I am surrounded with beautiful, strong, creative women, I love my HPS and her family as if they were blood kin, and we are a family of choice. I have bonded with my inner circle and we are only one tree in a grove of many others, and we are all connected. The Goddess touches us through our mothers, grandmas, sisters, aunties, female friends and she is also found within every man and boy, her reflection is found within you and in eyes of others. Did you realize the Lady blesses the world through you? Just something to think about

Abundant Blessings

Dawne

 

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She of One Name.

August 9, 2012 in The First Dark

                     

 

“Lilith said, ‘I will not lie below,’ and he said, ‘I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one.’  Lilith responded, ‘We are equal to each other inasmuch as we were both created from the earth.’

But they would not listen to one another. When Lilith saw this, she pronounced the Ineffable Name and flew away into the air.” 

 

While every other Goddess carries many “facades” and many different names; there is one who never lost her identity NOR her home.  Of all the rest, her name continues to reside as the one true name, that represents knowledge and strength in regards to the gender known as female.

 

Lilith.

 

Some say she IS the Dark Mother.  She is the one, who gave birth to all things evil that roam this earth; Vampire, Demon, Lycanthropes or any other version of the Undead.  She is rumored to be one who feeds on those who are too weak to resist her touch.

…but then, there are others – other people, who regard Lilith as above all that commonplace crap.  I am one of those others.

I don’t intend to re-write myths or legends here.  I only intend to spread the fact of what’s been written and retold, and relay in turn what I’ve come to believe.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t presume to say I know this particular Goddess anymore now than I did before.  She terrified me, to be perfectly honest with you.  But she terrifies me in that good way.

On a side note, let’s not forget a sprinkling of quotes from songs, movies and prose; some of my favourite writers and singers of my youth and adulthood. These people said it like it was in their minds, regardless of who it would offend. These ‘lines’ of praise are my very smallest bit of thanks to Her for aid received as I tentatively walked through her lore the past two weeks.

It’s my wish that I hopefully do not offend anyone out there; if I do offend I’m sorry but truthfully can’t concern myself beyond that statement.  That’s how this particular Goddess, this Monster of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Truth, makes me feel!

As usual, I digress – Let’s go back to the beginning and never ending theories regarding Mother Lilith.

She’s most commonly known as the betrayer of Adam, the first man; the first and most scorned of Heaven, per the Christians and some ‘paths’ of Ancient and Orthodox Judaism.  She’s also been called the “Bringer of Pestilence and Disease;” killer of newborn babies and children.  She’s been known as a maker of the infamous ‘nocturnal emission’ that all men (and some women!) claim to suffer from – THE Succubus, mate to the Incubus.  Or was that her daughters, the ‘lilim’ that some Jews still wear amulets to protect against today?  And of course, let’s not forget that her aforementioned title, as a creator of all Fallen or Fabled demonic creatures that walk the earth today.

Then, there are some softer versions of her myth.  Lilith, twin to Adam and joined together with him at the back!? Another fabled myth sees her as the Great Mother figure, who was worshipped by the settled agricultural tribes, who resisted the invasions of the nomadic herdsmen represented by Adam.  It is felt the early Hebrews disliked the Great Mother who drank the blood of Abel the herdsman, after being slain by the elder god of Agriculture and Smithcraft Cain.  (Genesis, 4:11).  Lilith’s Red Sea is but another version of Kali Ma’s Ocean of Blood, “which gave birth to all things – but needed periodical sacrificial replenishment.”

I could continue on quoting myths, legends, and folklore galore, but I will not.  There’s no point in saying what’s already been said.  So let’s get right to what I feel…and what Lilith makes me FEEL, starting with a passage from the epic song by The Doors – “The End”:

 

“Ride the snake…ride the snake…to the Lake…the Ancient Lake, baby.  The snake is long; 7 miles…ride the snake…he’s Old!  And his skin is cold!” –Jim Morrison, The Doors.

 

At first, when reading all of these myths and remembrances; seeing these ancient scriptures and statues I felt nothing but cold representation of something that could’ve never been real.  Granite, bronze and marble faces that stared back at me – representations of what the artist felt but not necessarily what those who may have once worshipped her saw.  She wasn’t really real to me.  After all, every other Goddess had some sort of purpose, or reason for existence.  The only reason ever truly accredited to Lilith was to plague and make misery on mankind.  But reading the Christian and Judaic orthodoxies on Lilith, I’ve come to see the truth hidden between the layers and lines of time.

 

 

“I love my baby ‘an I

Tell the world I do!’

‘What made me love her,

you will come ‘an love her, too!”

(“When Your Way Gets Dark” – by Charley Patton)

 

Lilith was, and is the Snake.  The Snake; unchanged after thousands of years because it never had to evolve.  She came into this world knowing; it didn’t take a bite of an apple like it did for poor, dumbed-down Eve to open her eyes.

Lilith’s only crime, if you really consider it that, was that she refused to subjugate to her mate.  I’m not saying she was smarter than Adam – quite the opposite, I believe they were evenly matched in most ways.  And that became the problem.  Lilith refused to “lie beneath” her ancient husband, not just physically but mentally as well.  If someone can’t see that logic between the lines of every religious genres tomes’ that have written about her, then they are blind as a bat.

“C’mon man, let’s plan a murder, let’s start a religion!  More More More!” – Jim Morrison; Lead Singer of The Doors. 

 

I’ve always been a firm believer that religious texts are heavily built on Metaphor.  Metaphor brings the signs, subjects, and dramas that telling the truth cannot.  Lakes of fire, blood-filled oceans, talking snakes, hooved-or-heeled Gods…the truth still stands, that within all of this metaphor a true believer can see the honest truth.  It’s the nonbeliever, that person which fears that there really isn’t anything at the inevitable end that becomes the hardcore atheist or the book-burning zealot – no matter the religion, practice or path.

That said, there is much more to Lilith than being some sort of ancient-day feminist.  I am completely against the idea that she disliked men to the point that she spent the rest of her existence torturing them in dreams, or tormenting and killing their children for pleasure.  I’m completely against the idea that she spawned demons, just to pollute the world.   It’s just the opposite; I believe that she simply wanted a mate who could share – share knowledge, share in the chores of life and share in the act of physical love. She didn’t want to just be a conduit for reproduction and sexual pleasure; the knowledge that she came into the world with and the strength of character she owned where what led her to stand next to her convictions fearlessly. Regardless of the punishment meted by karma or the hand of any creator god or good ‘ol fashioned Darwinism, she took a chance.  So what did she win, if anything?

She won her freedom, to be whatever she wanted.  Whether she took the dive to the darkest of places, or simply ran off into existence never to be seen again – the moral of the story here, in my humble opinion, is free will. 

It’s something a lot of us, Pagan or otherwise have seemed to forgotten that we have.  We hide bits and pieces of ourselves in order to just get along – with our environments and those in them.  What I admire most about the story of Lilith (once dusted off and set upright, of course!) is that she made her own choices, right or wrong.  And that’s a lesson that most of us in this life need to relearn – males and females alike!

As always, Brightest Blessings and Thanks for Reading!  ;)

I plan on riding this wave out until it expires like a burnt down candle wick, folks.  Next on my list?  The Triple Goddess – from Maiden to Crone, what does she represent for Pagan men and women, regardless of her flavor?  Until we meet again…

 

~P

Sources:  (http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sumer_anunnaki/esp_sumer_annunaki15e.htm), (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lilith.html)

 

“King of the Delta Blues:  The Life and Music of Charlie Patton” by Stephen Calt and Gayle Wardlow.  (pg. 83)

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Simple Signs of the Goddess

August 30, 2011 in Guests

I was born and raised in Southwestern Louisiana, the heart of Cajun Country. There the predominate religion is Christianity, predominately, Catholic. To this day, I can still see the Goddess in the Virgin Mary and honor the Great Mother no matter what form she takes. Also these days, the Goddess is making herself known to me throughout my need to change my dietary relationship with food.

This year I have experienced a few different surgeries in order of achieving a healthy life. However, earlier this year, I was dealt with an unexpected surprise. I was diagnosed with Kidney disease. Not to get too technical with the medical jargon, my body just is not processing proteins the way it should be doing so. Basically the more protein I eat, the faster my kidneys will burn out and eventually may have the need of dialysis, but in no way in need of it at this moment thank Goddess! I have been a “Daughter of Herne” all of my life. I am an advocate of the Wild Hunt. I also love to eat meat! But because I want to live a long healthy life and with my doctor’s suggestion of needing to eliminate the amount of protein I take in my body for nourishment, I now find myself shifting my focus from the hunter to that of the gatherer. I am going back to our Great Mother’s roots, going back to Gaia’s bounty. She provides us with this nourishment of gifts from her womb in the form of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
These past two months with the change in food have also affected my spirituality as well. From what was once predominately male influenced spirituality, my shifts in my personal conscience have been changing as well. I am noticing the Goddess in new ways in totem symbols. The first symbol was a huge black spider. Those that know me, know I am extremely phobic when it comes to spiders! In the past my first instant reaction would be to get a rolled up paper of sorts and smack it. Not this time, instead I carefully gathered the eight legged creature into a glass jar and released it outside in my back yard. Spider is the symbol of balance between the past and the future. Her web is a representation of our life and the choices we make for ourselves.
The second sign of the Goddess came to me during my second week out of the hospital after my second surgery. I was sitting outside on my porch one day reading about Vegetarianism. My doctor just told me that morning I should try to stop eating meat. He suggested that I attempt to become a Vegetarian. So there I was outside trying to enjoy the sunlight and peace and quiet of the afternoon after a rough bought of nausea so hoping the fresh air would do me some good while I was doing research for this new path of eating. While sitting outside a beautiful and huge monarch butterfly fluttered up and perched on the cement right beside me. Why is this so magical you might ask? The area where I reside is heavily populated with hardly any sightings of these magical beings. To see a butterfly in my neighborhood among its congested and heavily populated area is indeed a rare occurrence. For me this was a symbol that I would indeed undergo a dramatic change but that the change would be beautiful and remarkable just as this butterfly.
A week or so later after researching my new method of eating and getting ready for my first “big” grocery shopping trip, I came home with many bags of produce piled high in my car to the brim. While unloading, I noticed something at my front door. It was a spectacular dragon fly. The dragonfly was posted just under our porch’s night light near the front door. She was beautiful. The dragonfly remained there the entire time I unloaded my groceries from my car and into my home. This took several trips and many opening and closings of our front door. I have not seen a dragonfly up close and personal in over a decade. The first time I had ever had a personal experience with one was many years ago on a wild women’s weekend when I was initiated into a Green witchcraft tradition during Lammas many moons ago. So the dragonfly is a special symbol of the Goddess to me as it was one of my totems I began to work with during my earlier days in the craft. This was a symbol for me because of all the changes in my life so quick and drastic that I still need to take a moment and focus on myself. Enjoy not only the beauty all around me, but also appreciate the beauty within myself as well a daughter of the Goddess!
Why are all these things so important to me? Frankly, because since I am changing the way I eat, I am becoming more coherent in what is going on around me. I am not so quick to jump the gun and get upset over things that really should not matter. I am more compassionate about my surroundings. I am eating more things from nature opposed to processed foods from a box. I am eating more natural and less chemicals. What I am putting inside of my body is effecting how I think and live.
I don’t know exactly the connection between food and spirituality for everyone else, but this is a new path I am excited to research and hope blossoms. Now as I learn more about my new path in food, I also learn about new gifts from Gaia’s bounty as well. Each month I am focusing on different fruits and vegetables that I once never knew existed (or were afraid of tasting). Every year during my family’s tradition, we choose two new things each Samhain to learn for the following year. The first thing we choose is a new divination to learn and the second is an Herbal Ally to study with for the course of the next full turn of the wheel. I think I will apply this principle to my personal family’s learning curriculum by adding a new fruit or vegetable each week by introducing something new at the dinner table and learning about it both magically and mundane. We can learn about it while we are consuming Gaia’s gift of nourishment. Eating dinner together as a family is one of the traditions we focus on in our household each and every day. It gives us a specific time of the day where there is no television, no phones, and no electronic interference. It is just family unplugged sharing a meal together as it always will be in our family. It’s our special magical time together.

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Hearth Witch Goddesses – Hestia/Vesta

July 29, 2011 in Hearth Witchery

Hestia Wall Plaque - For sale on Etsy

Hestia – The Greek Goddess of Hearth, tender of the home.  Vesta to the Romans, we will nonetheless refer to her here as Hestia for ease writing.  Hestia is the sister of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Demeter.  Hestia chose not to marry, and tended the sacred fire on Mount Olympus.  This is where she comes in as a Hearth Goddess – tending the hearth of a human home might not be so different from tending the hearth of Mount Olympus.

In general, those who follow Hestia do abide by some rules specific of to the Hearth Goddesses and Hearth Witches, all those who are tenders of hearth and home.  Keepers of the sacred fire of the home, regardless of if that fire is in an actual heart or an electric oven.   Each hearth is considered her altar.

No follower of Hestia can turn away someone at the door looking for shelter or food.  These days we have restaurants and hotels, but it still applies.  We who are keepers of the home cannot turn away someone in need.  The other side to that, of course, is the protection of the home, which Hearth Witches and Hearth Goddesses.  Not turning away someone in need is one thing, and inviting negative energy into you home in entirely another!

Some of Hestia’s symbols are the sheaf of wheat, bread, pigs, donkeys, rosemary, and of course the hearth.  There are multitudes of lists of Hestia’s symbols.  While Hestia/Vesta is one of the most well known and well honored Hearth Goddesses, there are others as well.  Next article we will cover Brighid, Celtic Goddess of the Hearth.

Goddess Bless,

Stacy

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Explaining Paganism in a Christian Society

May 26, 2011 in Guests

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Has your little lovely ever come home from school and proudly professed to being a christian?

How do you have a conversation about your pagan spirituality without crossing the lines that could lead to social backlash in your child’s future… especially if you live in the Bible Belt?

First of all, be very open with your child.  Have your child explain why he/she feels this way and what has lead to this belief in christianity.  Most of the time a conversation with peers discussing the christian god has lead him/her to believe that this is how everyone feels.  You are suppose to believe in god or face the wraths of hell.

Knowing how your child arrived to this conclusion will help steer your conversation in the direction of your choosing.

If you are not openly calling your family pagans, you might want to think things through before broaching the subject any further.  After you and your significant other have discussed what you would like to share, you can call a family meeting or have a more informal conversation over dinner.

Possible Beliefs to Discuss (if you are hanging out in the broom closet):

  • The goddess you believe in is different than that of some other people.
  • The goddess does not need to be feared.  She is here for guidance and acceptance.
  • The goddess is in all things both living and non-living.  This would be the perfect time to go on a nature walk and discuss the signs of the goddess first hand.
  •  All things are precious and should be taken care of.  This is a great time to share how you take care of nature and the natural world… recycling, gardening, simplifying your lifestyle.
  • The seasons guide us on our spiritual journey.  Give examples:  In the fall, we celebrate the harvesting of crops.  In the spring, we celebrate rebirth and new beginnings.  Have your child come up with new ideas for seasonal celebrations.
  • Our beliefs are shared at special times of year: through our nature table and every day as we honor the earth and all it has given us.
  • You might even want to discuss the concept of the Wiccan Rede: And it harm none do as you will.  Discuss the Rule of Three:  Whatever your give unto this earth comes back to you 3 times in return… be it positive or negative.

*If you feel referring to the goddess directly will have negative implications for your child, consider calling her something more vague such as Mother Earth or Luna.  You could also simple refer to the goddess as god until a time in which your child will understand.  I think the goddess will forgive your lack of formality in order to protect your child from ridicule.

There are many other concepts you can share during this discussion.  Just remember to be open and honest.  Let your child do most of the talking.  By listening, you may learn a bit of something about your kiddo along the way.

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Who Is the Goddess, Mama?

March 24, 2011 in Guests

Moon in Clouds

courtesy of wyldraven

Slowly but surely, I am bringing more awareness of the Goddess to my children. I really should make more time and take the opportunity when it arises, but life often gets in the way. Sometimes the kids would rather do anything else besides listen to me ramble on about why this and that are important, so I’ve decided that I would take each moment as it comes and share them with my girls. When they ask me who the Goddess is, I will tell them this.

The Goddess is the sun streaming through the trees, the sweet stillness of the morning, and the songs of the birds outside. She is the tiny vein along the green leaf; She is the gentle breeze in your hair and the earth beneath your feet. She is the slowly rolling water of the creek and the crash of the waves on the beach. She is the budding flowers bursting with the scent of Spring. She is the soft rain upon your skin, the crackle in the air with the thunder and lightning, and She is the calm after the Summer storm. She is the wild raspberry bush that we happened to find growing beside an old tree in our front yard, like a secret gift for only us to find once we looked closely enough.  She is the crisp and spicy Autumn air, the leaves turning and falling from their branches. She is the dark of Winter and the sparkling snow falling softly to the ground. The Goddess is the Moon shining down upon you, always there, even when you cannot see Her, forever watching and guiding.

She is all that is around you, quietly and patiently waiting for you to take notice of Her, learn Her mysteries, and know that you have come home. She is the light in your eyes and the love in your heart. The Goddess is all that is within and all that is without. My beautiful darling daughters, She is you.

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