Let’s stay in the Isis cult in late antiquity and talk a bit about some Isiac votive figurines that I find, well, completely charming. They are usually identified as images of Isis-Aphrodite and they show the Goddess either totally nude, but for a Vegas Showgirl-sized headdress and a lot of attitude, or lifting up Her skirts to give us all a good look at “the naughty bits.” Why do I find them so charming? Mostly, it’s the expression on their faces as they bare themselves to our sight. Their expressions are …
Love is Love
Lovely Sisters,
It’s been awhile! But here we are again. The wheel has only recently moved past Imbolc and now we approach Valentine’s Day.
A Day that is DEVOTED to celebrating LOVE
LOVE of ALL KINDS! LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE!
I remember several years back the first Valentine’s Day Sister Spirit Sanctuary circle of women celebrated together. It was a circle of Divine Chocolate Decadence. In fact, that’s what we called it.
It was an icy and freezing February that year. There were driving restrictions in place because the city was in pretty bad shape and yet, there were a brave bunch of women who dared make it to the Goddess House despite the weather.
There was one rule:
Everything edible had to be Chocolate of sorts.
Everyone brought such mouth-watering delicious chocolates; some were bought and many were home-made chocolate delights. We had chocolate covered and dipped cherries, strawberries and other fruit. There were pretzels, cookies, wafers and brownies. There was souffle, pudding, cheesecake and even donuts. All the divine dishes were wonderful. But there was one in particular chocolate-mint crunchiness delight that is something in particular that remains in my mind. I have no idea what it was or how it was made but by Goddess, I loved it the best!
The Festival
Our altar was stunning. The statue of Aphrodite was center and all around her were red rose petals and glitter and colored ‘rhinestones’. We also placed flowers and glittery hearts among the red, white and black candles in crystal holders. Candy was dispersed throughout. There was no mistake this was an altar dedicated to Love and Chocolate. Or Love OF Chocolate. However you wanted to look at it, LOVE was a definite theme.
We cut out paper hearts and put words of love on them. Each woman drew one out of the “Basket of Love” and that was her focus word and she was instructed to draw on that energy in as many ways as she could and then share her experiences of how it manifested in her life at next sister circle.
Yes, it was a great time! Those women are no longer with us in the re-birthed circle but I remember and honor their energy and participation and I am grateful. Thank you ladies, if you ever read this, you know who you are.
I thought about doing something similar this year but for some reason, the pull wasn’t strong enough. Perhaps it was that I wasn’t as connected to the idea as I am now. Valentine’s Day is just a couple of days away and I think, “Maybe next year.”
Then I thought of all the posts I’m seeing on Facebook and blogs written and even my friends (even the fellas!) expressing this Scroogian bah-humbug kind of attitude towards Valentine’s Day, a day where LOVE is celebrated!
Then I thought, “Who said Love only means ROMANTIC Love?”
Love is Love is Love is LOVE!
Then I began to realize how seriously we need a real, wild, juicy, exciting LOVE-A-LUTION to take place. If we can’t we get a world-wide thing happening then why can’t we have a LoVe-A-LuTiOn for ourselves?
So many of my sisters saying “Screw Valentine’s Day! No One Loves Me Anyway!” when what they really mean is they don’t have a man in their lives a that moment (smh) or they do and he’s a piece of doo-doo. Smh again.
To those sisters I say:
There is REASON for the saying, “If you don’t love yourself, NO ONE else will.”
It starts first with YOU beautiful Sister. YOU.
Aren’t you worth it?
Who says you need someone ELSE to honor the Goddess of Love within YOU? Is there some HARDCORE rule, unspoken or written on this topic that I’m totally in the dark about?
If there is, well, heh! You know, I’m a natural-born rebel and RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN! At least some are and this would fall into that category.
This is a Divine time to honor yourself Beautiful Sisters if you are without partner. They are nice but not a necessary part of giving yourself GOOD LOVE.
I didn’t say masturbation but GOOD LOVE. Giving yourself GOOD LOVE and masturbation are not one in the same. BUT they could be. If you feel moved to show this LOVE to your Body Temple then the right is yours.
ALL ACTS OF LOVE AND PLEASURE ARE MY RITUALS so says the Goddess in the Charge of the Goddess.
Love & More Love and How to Give It
Champagne, Chocolate, Roses and all those cutesy cards? You can get/make that all for yourself. There is no good reason why you can’t eat good food, drink some good wine and treat yourself to a massage or a movie whether you rent it or go to a show.
You could and SHOULD write YOURSELF a little LOVE letter. Even make it saucy one if you want to! Tell yourself that you are something special and you deserve the BEST. You can make it as artsy or as plain as you want. It’s your choice but pouring out those words of LOVE and ADMIRATION to your OWN SELF is an experience like no other.
Who ELSE but you deserves to fill you up with LOVE for yourself. Adorning yourself with praise, and kind words and lavishing yourself in the lusciousness of LOVE.
If You Don’t Love Yourself, No One Else Will
No one will ever love you the way you need to be loved until you first LOVE YOURSELF. No one will cater to your body, heart, mind and soul until you first love the Self that is you. It’s not that they don’t want to but it’s that they can’t. Not really and definitely not fully.
So begin with being your own BIGGEST and BESTEST Valentine this year, and awaken the Goddess of Love and Pleasure within and bask in Her energy!
Every day and ANY day can be Valentine’s Day or a Day Of DELIGHT and LOVE! Whenever you need it don’t wait for someone ELSE to give it to you when you can give LOVE to yourself.
After All, YOU DESERVE IT!
In HONOR of the LOVE theme and the memory of a beautiful songstress, the one and ONLY and ever shall be, Whitney Houston
Goddess Of Beginnings, Mother of Waters: Yemaya
Yemaya’s Wisdom:
I am the force that swirls beneath the surface,
She who connects Sea and Sky,
the Infinite Mother who reclaims you.
Feel the sand beneath your feet, hold the conch to your ear,
gaze upon My Blue,
and you know Me.
Submit your troubles upon Me,
cast your cares into the heart of the ocean that is Me.
I will nurture you,
wipe your tears,
soothe the anger,
and shelter you from the coming storms.
In your surrender, I become your voice.
In the giving over, I become your freedom.
Daughter, come home, and allow Me
to make whole
that which is incomplete
~Brandi Auset
In mythology, the West African and Caribbean Goddess of creation, the sea, moon, ocean and healing is Yemaya. She is considered to be a guardian of women and keeper of our mysteries.
Because Yemaya governs over conception and birth of children, she is often invoked for her aid. Yemaya blesses, protects children and ensures their safety during childhood, until they reach puberty.
According to myth, Yemaya was raped by her own son and as a result, she became pregnant. After laying a curse on him, causing his death, she chose to die as well and went up onto the peak of a mountain. When she died, the uterine waters of her womb broke, the oceans, the rivers and the fourteen Yoruban Goddesses and Gods, called Orishas, were created. The first human woman and man were born from her womb as well and they became the parents of all mortals on earth. Because of this, she is personified as oceans and bodies of water and mermaids.
Although she may be called on at any time, a most powerful time to call upon Yemaya’s energies is at times of new beginnings such as the Springtime, New Years and new moons.
Attributes: Merciful, protective, compassionate, nurturing, comforting, maternal
Symbols: Seashells, an open shell, the Moon, bodies of water and the six pointed star.
Stones: Turquoise, light blue crystals, mother-of-pearl, and coral.
Flowers: Trout Lily and Sea Lavender.
Fragrance: Tea Rose, Sandalwood, Lilac and Frangipani
Feast & Festival Days: Summer Solstice, July 6, October 26, December 12, December 31
Colors: Blue, Silver and White
She is said to be fond of melons so an offering of melons.
Yemaya Invocation:
Goddess who is Mother of All,
Queen of the Deep Sea,
Protectress of women -
Allow your presence to be known throughout this sacred space.
We who call upon you as Yemaya
Our Mother, Our Womb of Creation,
ask that your love rolls and washes over us as the waves of the ocean,
as the rivers from your breasts.
Yemaya, Mother Whose Children are Fish
You who are comfort, inspiration, and forgiveness
We call you forth to enter our hearts.
~Brandi Auset
The Story of Yemaya – by Luisah Teish:
Once there was a beautiful woman by the name of Ye-ma-ya, who looked into the waters of the ocean. There She saw Her own reflection and asked, “Who is that beautiful woman? I thought I was the prettiest thing that the World had ever seen!”
And as She looked on that woman there came a rumbling in Her belly and it grew and it grew until it exploded and covered the land with lakes, rivers, and streams.
Yemaya looked into the water of the river and there again She saw that woman and asked, “Who is that beautiful woman? I thought that I was the prettiest thing that the World had ever seen!”
And again Her belly grew and it grew and grew till it exploded and sprinkled the heavens with stars and a Full Moon.
Yemaya looked in the Full Moon, and again She asked, “Who is that beautiful woman? I thought I was the prettiest thing that the world had ever seen!”
And again Her belly grew, and it grew and it grew until it exploded! And before Her stood thousands of beautiful women.
Yemaya asked, “Who are you beautiful women? I thought that I was the prettiest thing the world had ever seen!”
The women looked deep into the eyes of Yemaya and there they saw their own reflections.
So the women said to Yemaya, “You are! We’re just you!”
May the Blessings of Yemaya be with you all in this New Year!
Resources:
http://www.tarotpassages.com/goddesswisdominfo.htm
http://www.sistersofearthsong.com/YEMAYA/yemaya.html
http://www.blueroebuck.com/yemaya.html
Other Resources:
http://fuckyeahoccultism.tumblr.com/page/15
Images: Royalty Free and Google Images
Winter Solstice Blessings
Winter Blessings
Blessings of the Winter Solstice be with all of you, sisters and friends.
Today we honor the Winter Solstice also called “The shortest day/longest night of the year”. For many of us who follow a nature based path, or neo-pagan path, this is one of the eight sacred holiday celebrations observed in our “Wheel of the Year“. We honor the turning of the Wheel of the Year by tuning in and aligning our energies with nature and the energies in Her eternal sacred dance of life.
The word solstice means “sun standing still”. The word comes from the Latin sol which means ‘sun’, and the word sistere which means to ‘stand still’. Which is why, personally speaking, I’ve never quite understood as it being “The shortest day/longest night” considering the sun sits still (hence the word solstice meaning “sun standing still” ) in its position for three days after the moment of the solstice. Unless of course, we consider the longest night as being the three days of shortest light. Things to make you go hmm….
In any case, for us here in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is when the earth is at the maximum axial or most southern tilt away from the sun where the sun will “stay still” for three days. The sun rises from this spot of stillness but it will make no movement north yet. Finally, on the third day, it makes its first waxing movement north again. The first movement north will fall on December 25th, Christmas day this year. This is when the new light will begin to linger longer. It is the Sacred re-birth of the Sun for our new solar year.
For our Christian friends, this day has metaphorical as well as literal meaning for them. The birth of the savior, the son (sun)of Mary, (Goddess) Jesus’s mother and Queen of Heaven.
For pagans and those who walk a Goddess path, there is no one set mythology and belief we hold to. But the general concept behind most myths, regardless of culture or specific tradition is that a Goddess has given birth to the Sun god again. It would appear that most of religious ideas and concepts, besides coming from an innate need to believe in something greater and bigger than ourselves also comes from revolving around the biggest star of our solar system-The Sun.
Sistere: To Stand Still
The winter solstice is a time to turn inward, to pause and reflect. It is a sacred quiet, twilight and dream time to honor the stillness within. The fairy godmother, sound priestess and mentor, Ariel Spilsbury says, to listen for inner wisdom, we must first ”pool the silence.” This is Nature’s invitation for us to do so. Yes, we may feel like we need to hurry up and get the last-minute shopping finished, set food and house preparations for company in for the holiday, but Goddess in all Her infinite wisdom says take this time and, “Be still. Be Silent. Rest.”
Here are just a few ways we can do this:
- Taking 30 deep breaths and exhale. Pause. Release and let go.
- Take a 10 to 15 minute walk around the neighborhood or in your own yard and observe what is going on around you. Allow yourself to be fully present in the moment.
- Turn off the phone, the pc, the telly and curl up on the couch in a blanket, with a hot cuppa and your journal. Burn some incense, play soft music or nothing at all. “Pool the silence” and journal your thoughts,reflections and feelings about this time of year. Allow yourself 15-to 30 minutes. You deserve it.
- Nourish the body and take that nap when you need it.
Sun at Solstice
These are just a few things that can help us tend to our inner flame as it begins to grow and wax once more with the sun’s joyous and glorious return.
May the return of light of this solstice season be bright and bring you many joys and much happiness in both your inner and outer world. And So It Is!
Source:
Wikipedia
Speaking Goddess
Set your Goddess Free!
Every woman has a Goddess inside of her who has something to say, something she wants to create and places she’d like to go. Some women let their Goddess shine brightly while others aren’t even aware She exists within!
Sometimes I think, “How can this be? How can a woman not know that she has a beautiful, enchanting, seductive, intelligent, fiery, fierce and creative Goddess within her own Self?”
Then I remember:
We have long been taught to forget Her.
My Goddess wants to speak for today She has something to say to all of my beautiful sisters out there.
“Today in this very moment, you sister, friend, reader…you ARE beautiful. Do you know how incredibly gorgeous you are just as you are this second? At home in your lounge pants and lazy up-do, or in your work clothes being the “Working Goddess” that you are, peering into the screen to read these words. Yes, that’s right,YOU Goddess. YOU are just a beautiful, incredible, amazing woman and you know what? ILOVE YOU. That’s right. I LOVE YOU and I need you to wake up and SEE me within. I need you to remember that when you look into the mirror to fix your make-up, or brush your hair that behind those eyes is ME, YOUR GODDESS looking out at you. I long for you to RECOGNIZE & BEHOLD ME in ALL of MY BEAUTIFUL and DIVINE glory and LOVE ME. And know that when you LOVE ME, you LOVE YOU because we–you and me, yes us–we are ONE and if you TRUST & FOLLOW ME, I shall lead you to YOUR BLISS!!”
Now, today at this moment is a good of time as any to begin “Following Your Bliss” Beautiful Ones! One of the best ways we can do that is by opening up and listening to what our inner Goddess is saying. She will lead the way. All we need to do is show up, trust, surrender, (that’s a tough one for many of us but we gotta try!!) and follow where She leads our heart.
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls. ~ Joseph Campbell
That’s Why Goddess Made Washing Machines!
If you wouldn’t wear your dirty laundry out in public, then why air about it on Facebook?
With good reason, this was my status message this morning.
Almost all of us who have a Facebook or have been part of any other social network have been guilty a time or two ourselves of posting our ‘dirty laundry’ for the world to see. Sometimes we get worked up and we just do it, needing a place to vent about some grievance we have over this or that. We share these annoyances and grievances with our friends in hopes of getting the support we are seeking and affirming that we are not alone or that we are right to be upset. Sometimes it is a good outlet. Sometimes as my dear friend Bobbi said, “It’s There A Py”. Sometimes we just need to be “heard” and seen.
But then there are those who seem to take it a little too far. Those who feel the need to call attention to a person or situation that upset them and share all the intimate details–their dirty laundry–of whatever the particular situation was for all of Facebook to see.
We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it’s said and done, we haven’t told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry
I also see on many occasions, the passive-aggressive woman in action as well. When she gets upset with someone and feels wronged by this person, she will not address them personally and in private with the intention to listen, in hopes of coming to some sort of resolution. Instead, she will use Facebook and post all day long little nasty comments that have some reference to the issues to which she has taken. The comments are indirectly but undeniably aimed towards this specific person/s.
She might even post related articles that address the topic of what she feels mirrors her situation. She may post hints and clues as to whom she is talking about but never come out right and say anything for certain so that when she is finally confronted with it she can say, “Oh, you just assumed I was talking about you.” …Weren’t you?
Goddess Mind
As soon as I see this I realize that this sister is not coming from a place of peace and power. Sometimes it’s hard to do that when you are pissed off. I get it. Been there, done that. I am no angel, I too have made a snarky remark here and there in a status update or two about someone or another who has ticked me off but because I’m conscious of it, I try not to do it at all. It’s the being conscious of our behavior that makes the difference. Are we in reacting mode or are we engaging our Goddess Mind which allows us to respond wisely?
As a Priestess, however, a Goddess woman in service to others and a woman with her Goddess Mind actively engaged doesn’t typically post her ‘dirty laundry’ for the world to see. Oh sure, on occasion she might wax hot and even rant if the moment calls for it but whatever personal issue she might take with another person, especially one she has on her immediate friend list, she will deal with privately and from a place of reason, a place of power and a place of peace.
As Goddess women and Priestesses who serve Her women and community, how we handle things, especially those things that have the tendency to tick us off, is of vital importance. If we are using a social network to network with other people, we can expect to be seen, heard and our character as such judged. And whether we like it or not, that is just the way it is.
It’s imperative that we who claim the honored title of Priestess are conscious of how we present ourselves to the rest of the world, including Facebook. We don’t need to put on airs and pretend either as that would not be authentic and true.
We need only to be ourselves and come from the center of our being within the Goddess Mind. We also need to consciously activate and fully engage our Goddess Mind. When we are acting from this place within the Goddess Mind, we are acting in accordance to and in alignment with our higher purpose.
We are human beings and we have and express a full range of emotions. If we don’t, then something is wrong. However, when we are fully engaging our Goddess Mind, we can filter these emotions as they rise to the surface and we have a better chance of being able to respond vs reacting to situations that get make us upset or angry.
This is something I actively pursue every day. I am fully aware that failing to handle issues from a place of power and peace is not in alignment with my Divine purpose on this planet.
As a spiritually conscious woman and a Priestess of Goddess, I understand that when the Goddess Mind is activated, we continue to grow and unfold into Her mysteries consciously. As Priestesses with Goddess Mind fully engaged, we find that we do not complain about the world and we do not explain away our actions. We are at the center of our being, a place of peace and a place of power. It is in this center place that we have the full 360 degree range of vision to see everything in our immediate realm. We see what needs to be seen, what issues need to be addressed and all of our dirty laundry that needs to be washed. And we do it with quiet grace and dignity. We do not complain. We do not explain.
We are empowered women fully activating our Goddess Mind who use washing machines to do our own dirty laundry. After all, that’s why Goddess made them!
In Love and Laughter,
Aura
Monday, December 19th Sister Social
Sister Spirit Sanctuary
A Temple of the Divine Feminine presents
Sister Socials
Are you a female-born woman interested in exploring Goddess Spirituality with other women but don’t know where to begin?
Then Sister Socials are for you!
Sister Socials are open to all women-born women seeking to explore Goddess-focused, women-centered nature based spirituality through conversation and topic related discussion in a relaxed, public atmosphere with other like minded women.
Join us Monday, December 19th from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m at Joe Muggs Café inside Books-a-Million at 335 Howe Ave, Cuyahoga Falls 44221
For More information see our website at www.sisterspiritsanctuary.com
Blog site to get the up to date info
http://sisterspiritsanctuary.wordpress.com/
Or contact Aura at moonpriestess69@yahoo.com
We aim to promote friendship and Sisterhood among women.
December 5th Sister Social
Our Sister Social last week was quite nice. We met some new faces and the atmosphere was cozy…after of course, we could find space inside that is!
The artsy little coffee shop is a nice setting but we will definitely be switching the venue starting next week. The Angel Falls Cafe was chosen because Borders was closed and I didn’t really want to go to Panera’s although they do have a private party room you can reserve for free.
Yesterday however, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that BAM! a.k.a Books-a-Million is now where my Borders used to be! Oh happy days are back! So that is where the next (and probably future ones–we’re still feeling all that out yet) Sister Socials will be.
Monday, December 5th from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m
BAM! (Books-A-Million)
335 Howe Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
(where Borders used to be)
In the Joe Muggs Cafe area.
I am admittedly too lazy to write another announcement for Sister Socials and I edited the original post. I will condense it further and then probably post it to Witch Vox and if I’m feeling extra daring, I might even print out fliers. Ooh, better watch out! Never know what I might do.
Hope to see you there!
Love and Magick,
Aura
Sister Social: Open Circles For Women
Sister Spirit Sanctuary will now be holding a “Sister Social” gathering every other Monday evening from 6:30 pm to 8:30pm
BAM! (Books-A-Million)
335 Howe Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
(where Borders used to be)
In the Joe Muggs Cafe area.
Sister Socials are open to all women who would like to come gather with other women seeking Goddess spirituality, sisterhood, camaraderie and friendship. We will have open discussion on topics relevant to the path of Goddess Spirituality and Self-development, and women’s issues, as well as just the conversation of women seeking to get acquainted with each other.
The main purpose of having a Sister Social is to have a place for women who wish to explore the topics of Goddess spirituality in a relaxed, informal and comfortable environmentbut aren’t quite ready to take that leap into the deep work that the Sister Circle provides space for. In this informal circle, women can come and get to know the women of Sister Spirit Sanctuary as well as get to know one another. This also allows women to get a feel for whether or not this is something they wish to take to another level or are comfortable right where they are. For some women, the Sister Social will be enough. For others, it may be the bridge to something deeper. Whatever her purpose is, we believe there is something wonderful to be gained from gathering with other women in light conversation, with a little coffee or tea and just enjoying the presence of other women.
Our monthly gathering of Sister Circles will continue, however on an invitation basis only. Ironically, what started out as a women’s open circle to explore Goddess Spirituality and empowerment has taken on a life of its own and developed into a space of deep sharing, healing and amazing transformation in the lives of women who attend on a regular basis, thus becoming “Circle Sisters”.
Ideally, we would love for all women to be able to experience the rich, deep unfolding processes of learning, exploration and healing that our Sister Circles offer. However, realistically, we also understand that it is not conducive to the positive growth of the circle if we allow women to come into this sacred space without having an understanding of the women of the circle and/or having ever experienced what it is to be in sacred space with women-only.
Our Sister Circles have proved to be very powerful places of release and healing due to a level of deep sharing within it built upon the trust that has grown among the women. Because of this, we feel that having women in attendance to the Sister Circle without fully understanding what to expect and/or not knowing anyone enough to be able to open up and share is not helpful to the Circle dynamics.
So if you are a woman out there who has been wanting to attend Sister Circles, a woman who has emailed me at one time or another wanting to come but then was unsure or too nervous to show up (and I know you are out there), take advantage of this opportunity and join us for a little coffee, tea or something light to eat in the Joe Muggs cafe locate inside BAM! every other Monday night beginning November 21st at 6:30 pm to 8:30pm.
If you intend on stopping in, drop me an email so we know to look for you! moonpriestess69@yahoo.com
Look forward to seeing you there!
Love and Magick,
Aura
