The Descent of the Goddess

The Descent of the Goddess (attributed to Gerald Gardiner)

In ancient times, our Lord, the Horned One, was (and still is) the Consoler, the Comforter.  But men know him as the dread Lord of Shadows, lonely, stern, and just.  

But our Lady the Goddess would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of death; and so she journeyed to the Underworld. 

The Guardian of the Portals challenged her: “Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught mayest thou bring with thee into this our land”.  So she laid down garments and jewels, and was bound, as all living must be who seek to enter the realms of Death, the Mighty One. 

Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt, and laid his sword and crown at her feet, and kissed her feet, saying: “Blessed Be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways.  Abide with me; but let me place my cold hands on thy heart.” 

And she replied: “I love thee not.  Why dost thou cause all things that I love, and take delight in, to fade and die?” 

“Lady,” replied Death, “it is age and fate, against which I am helpless.  Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength, so that they may return.  But you, you are lovely.  Return not, abide with me. 

But she answered: “I love thee not.” 

Then said Death: “An you receive not my hand on your heart, you must kneel to Death’s scourge.” 

“It is fate, better so,” she said, and she knelt. 

And Death scourged her tenderly.  And she cried: “I know the pangs of love.”  

And Death raised her, and said: “Blessed be.”  And gave her the fivefold salute, saying: “Thus only may you attain to joy, and knowledge.”  

And he taught her all of his mysteries, and he gave her the necklace which is the circle of rebirth.  And she taught him all her mystery of the sacred cup which is the cauldron of rebirth.   

They loved, and were one: for there be three great mysteries in the life of man, and magic controls them all.  To fulfill love, you must return again at the same time and at the same place as the loved ones; and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again. 

But to be reborn, you must die, and be made ready for a new body.  And to die, you must be born; but without love, you may not be born. 

And our Goddess ever inclineth to love, and mirth, and happiness; and guardeth and cherisheth her hidden children in life, and in death she teacheth the way to her communion; and even in this world she teacheth them the mystery of the magic Circle, which is placed between the world of men and of the gods.  

The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief

The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief: (as adapted by the Council of American Witches in April, 1974)

1.     We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

2.     We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment.  We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3.     We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person.  Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called ‘supernatural’, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

4.     We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity – as masculine and feminine – and that this same Creative Power lies in all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and the feminine.  We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive of the other.  We value sex as pleasure as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energy used in magical practice and religious worship.

5.     We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Inner Planes etc – and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical exercises.  We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6.     We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

7.     We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it – a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft – the Wiccan Way.

8.     Calling oneself ‘Witch’ does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations.  A Witch seek to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and without harm to others and in harmony with nature.

9.     We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.

10.Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.

11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions.  We are concerned with our present and our future.

12.We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the Devil’ as defined by Christian tradition.  We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

13.We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

Journal: Prayer

Oh, Great God and Goddess

Bless those that come to You for comfort and love.

Hold them in your compassionate heart, soothe their tears of loss and fear.

Great God and Goddess,

Hear the pleas of the brokenhearted, the cries of those who have no one else to hear them.

Bless the ones who can no longer care for themselves, and those that care for them.

Bless the needy, the lonely, the hungry and cold, and keep them warm on the dark nights of the soul.

Great God and Goddess,

Bless me as well. Let me be your tool, let me be the outreach of your touch.

Grant me the compassion to help those whom I serve, and grant me the heart to find the humanity in all.

Great God and Goddess, bless us all as we walk this path. Hold us well in your hands, and deep in your heart.

Journal: On Love

 

Each time anyone comes into contact with us,
they must become different and better people
because of having met us.
We must radiate God’s love.
We must know that we have been created for greater things,
not just to be a number in the world,
not just to go for diplomas and degrees,
this work and that work.
We have been created in order to love and to be loved.
Love does not measure. . . it just gives.
Mother Teresa
*********************************************************
This is a beautiful quote. It says so much about what to strive for as we bump along our journey. So many people strive for success, be it financial or other, when in reality, all we need to do is just love. Plain and simple. Spirit is composed of energy and energy is supported by love. Whether you believe in God, Goddess, Higher Power…whatever name for it. That energy and pure spirit is just love and a piece of it resides in each of us.
If something isn’t working…if the love just isn’t happening and it is causing great sorrow or pain, then move away from it because it is counterproductive to what you need to do. You should not live thru great sadness or suffering just because you think that the pain brings you to greater insight. It doesn’t. We are not meant to feel emotional pain all the time. We are meant to revel in the joy and love that is given to us in such abundance. We do not need to self-flaggellate in order to find God or to find spiritual strength and being. We do not need to stay in a place that hurts us or others because of the what if or the maybe….Life is to be lived and life is to love. That’s it. This is not to say that we walk away from others that need us because we are unhappy and put ourselves first. But that we open our hearts and allow love—shiney and clear and bright as the sun–to flow. It is there. Remember that when you speak a heated word, or withhold a kind one. You need to be one with the energy that is within us all and that energy is first and foremost love. Its the kind word, the unsolicited compliment, the willingness to learn and grow, the ability to see beyond the physical into the realm of what makes each and every one of us unique yet completely the same. Find within you the understanding that we are all bouncing along the same frequency, it’s a matter of tuning in to see the similarities in each other. We all want to find happiness. We all want to cherish and be cherished. We all desire the closeness and companionship found in a great friendship or a great romance. Don’t deny it to yourself or others. Live and love in the moment. That stranger that you smile at might just become your best friend. That person on the corner holding the will work for food sign might be your father or brother. That person who is crying at night when no one is looking might be you someday. Love yourself, love your neighbor. Love your life. THat is the simple prescription. Be kind to things smaller than yourself. Don’t be afraid to let go of pain, because it is simply not part of the equation.

Journal: Reflection on seeking the divine spark

If God/Goddess is in everyone, and we are all a part of the same cosmic recipe, why don’t people treat each other accordingly? I think its crucial to find the divine in everyone, no matter how hidden that spark might be.

I think that I am doing my best to see the divine in everyone, and that is not always easy. In my line of work I see people at their worst. I have had drug addicts crying and begging me for pills, I have had people swear at me and threaten me. I have also held people’s heads while they vomit, and held grown men as they sob over the death of a loved one. I’ve gone home with tears still drying on the shoulders of my scrubs. I’ve helped deliver a few babies, and I’ve cared for people as they lay dying, and after.

I want to be the person who finds the divine in everyone.

I spend a lot of time looking within myself, hoping that if I can see that spark in myself, perhaps I can see it in others as well.

I make jokes about ‘compassion fatigue’ but its not always a joke.

Its hard to search and look for the beauty all the time. I can only hope it will get easier the longer I do it.

A List of Gods

 

Gods

Adonis: Greek; Consort of Aphrodite. A vegetation God. Pheonician counterpart is Astarte, and Roman counterpart is Venus. Anubis: Egyptian; Guardian of Isis. God of Protection. Call on him to protect both home and person. Apollo: Greek and Roman; Twin brother of Artemis. God of Sun, Light, and the Arts. Apsu: Babylonian; His mate is Tiamat. Cernunnos: Celtic; Horned God and consort of the Lady. Also Kernunnos. Eros: Greek; God of Romance and Passionate Love. Horus: Egyptian; Head of a Falcon and body of a man. God of the all-seeing eye and healing. Hymen: Greek; God of Marriage and Commitment. His counterpart is Dionysus. Lucifer: Italian; Soulmate and brother of Diana. Father of Aradia. God of Sun, and Light. Mithra: Persian; Sun God and bringer of Light. A soldier’s God. Odin: Scandinavian; Counterpart of Freya. God of Wisdom and psychic sight. Osiris: Egyptian; Counterpart of Isis. Over-all God form including vegetarian and after-life. Pan: Greek; God of Nature and the Woods, Laughter, and Passion. Poseidon: Greek; God of the Sea. Ptah: Egyptian; Expert craftsman and designer. God of creative enterprise with the hands. Shiva: Hindu; Consort of Kali. God of the universe cycle of birth-death-rebirth. Thor: Scandinavian; God of Sky and Thunder. Thoth: Egyptian; God of Reincarnation. Also a Moon God and favorable to science and wisdom.

From: Temple of Wicca

A list of Goddesses

 

Goddesses

Aphrodite: Greek; Goddess of passionate, sexual love. Apphrodite will assist you in pulling loving energy toward yourself. Aradia: Italian; Queen of the witches, daughter of Diana. Aradia is an extremely powerful entity and a protectress of the Witches in general. Arianrhod: Welsh; Goddess of the stars and reincarnation. Call on Arianrhod to help with past life memeories and difficulties as well as for contacting the Star People. Artemis: Greek; Goddess of the Moon. Astarte: Greek; Fertility Goddess. Whether you wish to bear children or have a magnificent garden, Astarte will assist your desire. Athena: Greek; Warrior Goddess and Protectress. Someone giving you a rough time at work? Call on Athene to help you. Bast: Egyptian; Goddess of Protection and Cats. Bast is great for vehicle travel as well as walking down a dark alley. Call on her essence in the form of a giant panther to see you through to your destination. Brigid: Celtic; Warrior Goddess and Protectress. Brigid is also a Triple Goddess. She is Strong and wise. Call on her to help protect your children in a tough situation. Ceres: Roman; Goddess of the Harvest. Cerridwen: Welsh; Moon and Harvest Goddess, also associated with the Dark Mother aspect of the Crone. Demeter: Greek; Earth Mother archotype. Excellent Goddess where birthing or small children are involved. Diana: Roman; Moon Goddess and Goddess of the Hunt. Diana is many faceted. She is a seductress as well as a mother figure for Witches. Dryads: Greek; Feminine spirits of the trees. Flora: Roman; Goddess of Spring and Birth. For beautiful flowers, babies, and all bounties of Earth Mother. Fortuna: Roman; Goddess of Fate. Freya: Scandinavian; Moon Goddess and wife/lover of Odin. Also commander of the Valkeries. Hathor: Egyptian; Protectress of Women in Business. A Hathor’s Mirror is very important for the Witch. Hathor was cunning as well as beautiful. Hecate: Greek; Moon Goddess as in Crone or Dark Mother. Hera: Greek; Goddess of Marrage. If handfasting or some type of commitment is the issue, Hera is the Goddess to seek. Just remember that she has a vindictive side. Hestia: Greek; Goddess of Home and Hearth. Building a new house, remodeling, or apartment hunting. Safety in the home and the family unit. Inanna: Sumerian; Goddess representation of the Mother. Isis: Egyptian; Represents the Complete Goddess or the Triple Goddess connotation in one being. Kali: Hindu; Creative/Destructive Goddess. Protectress of abused women. KaliMa should be called if a woman is in fear of physical danger. Lilith: Hebrew; Adam’s first wife and said to be turned into a demoness. Maat: Egyptian; Goddess of Justice and Divine Order. Maat is the true balance of any situation. She plays no favoritesand will dispense justice to all parties involved. Morgan: Celtic; Goddess of Water and Magick. Morgan was said to be married to Merlin. She was also doubled with The Lady of the Lake. Muses: Greek; Goddess of inspiration who very in number depending upon the pantheon used. Nephtys: Egyptian; Goddess of Surprises, Sisters, and Midwives. Norns: Celtic; The three sisters of the Wyrd. Responsible for weaving fate–past, present, and future. Nuit: Egyptian; Sky Mother. Often seen depicted in circular fashion cradling the stars. Persephone: Greek; Goddess of the Underworld as well as Harvest. Daughter of Demeter. Selene: Greek; Goddess of the Moon and Solutions. Appeal to Selene to bring a logical answer to any problem. Valkeries: Scandinavian; Women warriors who carried the souls of men slain in battle to heaven. Venus: Roman; Goddess of Love and Romance. Vesta: Roman; Goddess of Fire. From: The Temple of Wicca

Book of Shadows Blessing

 

I wish I wrote this!

Book of Shadows Blessing by Silver Raven Wolf

Hearken as the witches’ word
calls to All, a gulf to ford.
Bridge the vast realities,
An it harm none, do as ye please.

Elements protect and guard this book,
From wandering eyes and prying looks.
Fill it with thine ancient power,
In this right and ready hour.

Powers of North, the East below,
Help me to live, to learn, to grow.
Lend your strength and stability,
To practice the Craft and with love be free.

Powers of East, the Wind, the Sky,
Watch over these pages with thine eye.
Your wisdom and knowledge, for these I do ask,
That this book be worthy of the Craft and its task.

Powers of South, Fire, and the Hearth,
Help these Shadows to prove their worth.
Infuse them with all your Healing and Passion,
So only good comes from the Work that is fashioned.

Powers of West, the Water and Sea,
Change and growth are granted by thee.
Bless these pages with all that you know,
That righteous readers may learn and grow.

And to the unschooled eye that see
Confusing words and sophistry,
Lead them from these sacred pages,
And bless their passage through the ages.

For free will of all,
And harm of none,
As I have willed it,
It is now done.

So mote it be!

*thanks to Raven Fire Moon who pointed out that the author of this is Silver RavenWolf. As always, I want to give full credit where credit is due.