| Goddess is alive, magic is afoot... |
 |
| ISIS |
|
|
Isis
is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian mythology
and is celebrated as the ideal mother
and wife, patron of nature and magic; friend of slaves, sinners,
artisans, the downtrodden,
as well as listening to the prayers of the wealthy, the maiden,
the aristocrat and emperor.
In union with her husband and brother Osiris she conceived Horus.
Isis was instrumental
in the resurrection of Osiris when he was murdered by Seth.
The goddess Isis was the first
daughter of Geb, god of the Earth, and Nut, the goddess of the
Overarching Sky, and was
born on the fourth intercalary day.
She is also known as the goddess from whom all
Beginnings arose,
and as the Lady of bread,
of beer and of green fields. Ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile
flooded every year
because of her tears of sorrow for her
dead husband, Osiris.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis
Her heavenly symbol was the star Sirius
(when connected to the goddess Sopdet),
the star that marked the beginning of not only the Egyptian new year, and the
season for inundation of the Nile,
but also the arrival of spring. It was a sign of renewed wealth and
prosperity for the whole country.
During her history, Isis was a goddess up took on the attributes
of the other goddesses
(including Nekhbet, Wadjet (Edjo), Ma'at, Bast and Hathor), even from a
very early stage in Egyptian history.
As such, she became a goddess of limitless attributes, a goddess of water,
earth, corn, star, wind,
motherhood and a goddess of the underworld. She, along with her twin,
was both a goddess of mourning
and a friend of the dead, and a patron goddess of childbirth and motherhood.
In her role
of guardian of the dead,
she was thought to protect the liver, along with Imsety -
a human headed Son of Horus
- in the canopic jar on the south cardinal point.
Isis was a winged goddess who represented all that was visible, birth,
growth, development and vigour.
Having wings, she was a wind goddess (as was her sister).
She travelled widely, moaned and cried loud
enough to shake the heavens and used her wings to blow life into her husband.
The kite was sacred to her,
and she could transform herself into this bird at will. She brought the heavenly scent
with her through the land, l
eaving lingering scenes of spices and flowers her wake. She brought fresh air
with her into the underworld when
she gave food to the dead. She represented both the life-giving spring winds of Egypt
and the morning winds
that hailed the arrival of the sun each day.
http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/isis.html
|
Born from a union between Heaven and Earth came forth a goddess with such beauty and charm that the seasons rushed to greet her. Her name was Aphrodite, which in Greek means "born of the sea foam", however she was also known as Aphrodite Pandemos which means goddess "among all the people (Woolger 134)." Her Roman name was Venus, and she captivated the beauty and love of the universe, henceforth she was the Goddess of love and beauty, poetry and art, laughter and lovemaking.
The Goddess of love and beauty was also known as the Goddess of flowers, and was mostly associated with the pink rose, a pleasantly fragrant flower with soft delicate petals. It has been noted that this association with flowers represents the sexualness found in nature, as well as in humans. Flowers are considered to be one of the world's most beautiful sexual organs. The symbolic association of flowers to the sexual organs of a woman can be seen in their delicate nature, and the manner in which a bud blossoms and opens up, making itself vulnerable to the pollination and fertilization of others. It is no wonder why flowers are the most common gift given to lovers, for they symbolize the beauty of human sexuality. Unfortunately, along with love comes pain, as one can see in the contrasting thorns found on the stem of the rose, reminding us that with sexual passion and longing comes pain and suffering.
Aphrodite is commonly associated with gold and the finer things in life. Quite often she is depicted in golden robes, in Homer's Iliad with a golden apple, and many have described her as having "golden hair." Her relationship to gold can be seen as being symbolic of perfection, warmth and love. Still others see the golden jewelry she wears as being representitive of the seductiveness and aphrodisiacal powers of women (Paris 21). Her jewelry glistens and sparkles and calls to us just as her sensual nature and flawless beauty catches our eye.
|
 |
| Aphrodite |
|
|
Cerridwen is one of the Old Ones, one of the
great megalithic pre-Christian Goddesses of the Celtic World.
Although, in her story, she embodies all three lunar aspects
of the Goddess, Maiden, Mother and Crone,
she is primarily worshipped in her Crone aspect,
by and through her Cauldron of Wisdom, Inspiration,
Rebirth and Transformation.
The cauldron has an intimate association with femininity,
together with the cave, the cup and the chalice,
and the association of femininity with justice,
wisdom and intelligence goes back to very ancient times.
http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/schubert/290/cerridwen.htmlCeridwen plays a role in Wicca as a goddess,
her cauldron symbolizing the feminine principle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceridwen
The Moon Goddess or Great Mother.
Her areas of influence are:
Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magic,
astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells,
knowledge and mountains.
http://www.pagannews.com/cgi-bin/gods3.pl?Cerridwen
|
 |
| Ceridwen by Christopher Williams (1910) |
|
|
| God is a Woman, I am Her doll. She is my Love, She is my All. - Sri Chinmoy |
Ix Chel
Mayan Goddess of the Moon
|
As an ancient fertility goddess, Ix-Chel was responsible
for sending rain to nourish the crops. When fulfilling that function she was called “Lady Rainbow”.
She helped insure fertility by overturning her sacred womb jar so that the waters would flow.
Though sometimes depicted as a goddess of catastrophe
(the woman who stands by as the world floods), many of her myths show her in a more benevolent light—as a goddess who refused to become a victim of oppression.
This was a woman who, when faced with adversity, took charge of her life and turned it around!
Ix-Chel was almost too beautiful, this girl with opalescent skin who sat in the skies
brushing her shimmering hair for hours on end.
All the gods were captivated by her. All but one, that is.
Kinich Ahau, the Sun God, seemed immune to Ix-Chel’s charms.
Yet he was the only one she really ever wanted.
For years she had longed for him as she watched him glide across the sky in all his golden splendor.
But the more Ix-Chel followed him around, the worse the weather on earth became.
As she chased after him the tides would rise, creating floods that inundated
the fields and caused the crops to die. So enamored was she, that Ix-Chel
did not even notice the havoc she was causing.
Like many moon goddesses Ix-Chel was a fine weaver,
and it was the beautiful cloth she wove that finally captured Kinich Ahau’s attention.
Soon they had become lovers.
Ix-Chel bore the Sun God four sons. They were the jaguar gods and could creep
through the night unseen. They were named for the four directions,
and each one was responsible for holding up his corner of the sky.
Unfortunately Ix-Chel’s love affair with the Sun God drew the ire of her
disapproving grandfather. In his anger he struck Ix-Chel with lightning, killing her.
For the next 183 days she lay lifeless as hundreds of dragonflies
surrounded her body and sang to her.
Waking suddenly, she returned to the palace of the Sun God.
Their relationship was turbulent—Kinich Ahau had a suspicious nature
and was often consumed with jealousy. To make matters worse, he also had a fiery temper.
Suspecting that the innocent Ix-Chel was having an affair with his brother (the Morning Star),
Kinich Ahau threw her out of the sky.
Ix-Chel quickly found refuge with the vulture gods.
Hearing this, Kinich Ahau rushed to plead with her to return and
promised never to treat her so poorly again.
Little time passed before he became jealous and abusive again.
Finally Ix-Chel realized he was not going to change.
She decided to leave him for good. Waiting until he fell asleep,
she crept out into the night, taking the form of a jaguar
and becoming invisible whenever he came searching for her.
Many nights she spent on her sacred island (Cozumel)
nursing women during their pregnancies and childbirth.
Ix-Chel, like other moon goddesses, governed women’s reproductive systems
so it was quite understandable that she would become the protector of women
during pregnancy and labor.
The small Isla Mujeres (“Island of Women”)
was devoted to the worship of Ix-Chel.
Comfortable with all phases of life, she was honored as the weaver of the life cycle.
She protected the fertility of women and was also the keeper of the souls of the dead.
Ix-Chel encourages us to acknowledge the negative forces affecting our lives.
And she prompts us to assert ourselves fully in the face of physical or emotional violence
that would diminish our sense of self.
|
Ix Chel is the Maya Goddess of the Moon, Water, Weaving and Childbirth.
She is shown here in three of Her many aspects.
Left to right: Chak Chel, the Old Moon Goddess, called the Midwife of Creation;
Ix Chel in Her main form as Mother Goddess and Weaver who set the Universe in motion;
and the Young Moon Goddess, shown with Her totem animal the rabbit.
http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/ixchel.html
|
 |
| Original Oil Painting by Don Crowley - www.doncrowley.com |
|
|
White Buffalo Calf Woman
While two warriors were out hunting buffalo, a white buffalo calf appeared.
As she approached them she changed into a beautiful young woman . . .
which is how she came to be called the White Buffalo Calf Woman.
One of the young warriors offended her with his lustful thoughts, and
White Buffalo Calf Woman asked him to approach.
As he stepped forward,
a black cloud descended over him and when it dissipated all that was left of him
was his bones. The other warrior fell to his knees and began to pray.
The White Buffalo Calf Woman told him to return to his people, telling them
she would appear to them in four days, bringing with her a sacred bundle.
And this she did, appearing to them as a white buffalo calf descending on a cloud.
Stepping down, she rolled over on the ground, changing from white to black,
then yellow, then red.
When White Buffalo Calf Woman arose she was once again the beautiful woman,
cradling the sacred bundle in her arms. Spending four days with the people,
White Buffalo Calf Woman taught them
sacred songs, dances, and ceremonies as well as the traditional ways.
White Buffalo Calf Woman instructed them to be responsible caretakers of the land
and to be always mindful that the children are the future of the people.
On the fourth day White Buffalo Calf Woman left in the same manner she had arrived,
telling the people she was leaving the sacred bundle,
the White Buffalo Calf Woman pipe,
in their care.
She promised to one day return for it and to bring harmony and
spiritual balance to the world.
White Buffalo Calf Woman prophesied that the birth of a white buffalo calf
would be a sign that it was near the time of her return.
http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/white_buffalo_calf_woman.htm
|
|
