Pagan Blog Project WK17 and 18: I is for Ireland and Italy

Apologies for the late postings, sometimes life gets in the way.  Please stop by here and give a shout out to help an independent pagan publisher keep the works of the elders of this time in print.  And now to the letter I.

Ireland and Italy are the lands of (most of my) ancestors.  While my personal praxis does not typically include work with ancestors, I do feel a deep pull to both of these lands.  When people talk of them or when I see pictures I feel a call, deep in my spirit, to go to these places, walk the earth and touch the waters.  It's like they call to my memory.

The cliffs of Ireland call my name every time I see them, every time I hear them sung of and every time I see the white of water crashing along her edges.  I remember the way the air tastes and the smell of the old ocean along her shores.  I've never been there in this lifetime, but I remember the sound as the sea hits the land, and the smell of fire on the wind.  Does Erin call to you too?

Near Glencolmcille fine art print by Darcilina of Depictions by Dolge

Can you taste the excitement in the air mingled with the dust?  Can you hear the roar of the crowd above the ringing of metal?  Can you see the knowledge of death or glory in the eyes of those called or driven to fight?  I remember it all and every time I see the Colosseum it comes back.  The gods of Rome are familiar to me but they are not what calls, it's the city itself.  Do ancient walls speak to you as well.

Colosseum Fine Art Photograph by Julie Smith of Julie S. Photography

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13 Goddess WK07: Hindu Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of prosperity, light, fertility, wisdom and courage and is believed to protect those who follow her from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows.  She asks us to have faith and remember that the future is bright.  Sometimes we need to clear our hearts of fear as it is a block to visualizing and manifesting the light.

Lakshmi Artwork by Sue Halstenberg

Lakshmi Cleansing Candle Spell

ReadingsByKat.etsy.com

This spell is best performed during the waning Moon towards the last quarter. Cleansing spells are done at this time because the energy of the moon helps move things out of your life.

Use a pin to carve your name or personal symbol into the candle; keeping your intention in your minds.  Hold the candle between the palms of your hands and direct all of your energy into the candle.  Visualize a beautiful many armed goddess of light standing with you, reminding you that the future is full of brightness.  Light the candle saying:

Lakshimi, Goddess of light and manifestation

Help me to clear my heart of and fear

I release this astral slime
And all darkness which is not mine
I let go of all that may have harmed.
Negativity released; I am charmed

If possible, focus and meditate on your desires until the candle is almost burned out.  Combine the ashes and left over wax together and bury it in the earth at a cross-roads if possible.

Psychic Cleansing Candle Spell

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PS: This goddess image is from an amazing etsy.com artist who has been notified.  If you are so inclined, please click through and check out her other wares.

PPS: Enter to win one handmade item up to $15 in value from a pagan-run small business here. 

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Blessed Resurrection Sunday (Intentional)

For those who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I wish you the most blessed of days.

Jesus, son of Joseph, joins an illustrious group of Gods and Goddesses that meet their end and rise again.  A true mystery of each of these deities that grants power and understanding to their followers.

Jesus Christ Welcomes Us Home by ChristianFineArt

Persephone went to the underworld and returned again, bringing spring, growth and hope.

Despair of Persephone by UnseeliEnchantments

Osiris was dismembered and yet his body was searched out by Isis and resurrected with a forever place in the underworld.

Osiris Wall Plaque by KnightsCourt

Inanna also descended into the underworld, was stripped of much of her accoutrements and took power as she returned to the living gods.

Inanna Hand Drum by AncientPowersLive

Odin was tied to the World Tree and died for the wisdom of the nine worlds.

Odin by MizzDraconia

Blessings to all who seek the mysteries.

13 Goddess WK04: Greek Goddess Athena

We could all use a little more wisdom and discernment in our lives.  Below you will find a spell to Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill.

Wisdom of Athena Candle Spell

ReadingsByKat.etsy.com

This spell is performed during the last quarter of the waxing moon or during the full moon. 

Use a pin to carve into a yellow or purple spell candle; let the creativity flow through your hand into the designs, runes or letters that you place on the candle.  As you light your candle, visualize Athena's owl, as a protector and your guide.  Concentrate on being receptive to the wisdom and perceptions of Athena.  Say this incantation (out loud or in your mind): 

Goddess of the olive tree,
Goddess of the shield and spear,
Goddess of wisdom and clarity,
Bless me with the piercing eyes of the Owl,
so that I may see what few can.
I ask that you guide me today and always.

 Sit back and watch the candle burn.  If possible, focus and meditate on your desires until the candle is almost burned out.  Combine the ashes and left over wax together and bury it in the earth near your home.

Pagan Blog Project WK08 - D is for Dragons

Welcome to this weeks edition of the Pagan Blog Project.  I hope you'll take a moment and check out the post just previous to this as there is a tie-in... Dragons.  There are pretty ones there and I'll talk about them in a witchy context here.

Yup, Dragons... what a lame topic (lol)...

So instead of focusing on Dragons in Myth I'm just going to tell you my own Dragon myths and it's up to you to discern fact from external truth from internal truth from fiction.  Ready for a random ride?

1) Once upon a time there was a Dragon Prince who wanted to be a Priestess.  It was known from his birth that he was his fathers favorite and the eventual heir to the crown of the Dragon Court, however his heart was always called to the life of a Priestess.  He marked the cycles and changes of the Court and the world and felt the pull to serve the Great Dragons, but he feared deep inside that it was not to be.  Due to his disappointment he outwardly became the most precocious and frustrating child known to Dragonkind, but underneath his arrogant and ignorant exterior he observed, cataloged, learned and waited.  When his Father finally forced his hand and gave him the Throne this Priestess turned King demonstrated such a deep understanding of the Court and the way of Dragons that none could stand against him, though they tried, and none could move against him from the shadows, though they tried.  He will rule with head as he must and heart when he can, knowing that his time to serve the Great Dragons is but delayed.



 2) Once upon a time there was a Bastard who took the throne, once.  The King of the Dragon Court had many children, most of them bastards, but there is only one known as The Bastard.  If the Bastard had been legitimate perhaps the Heir would have been free to follow his calling, but we'll never know for certain.  The Bastard, motivated by the scorn of the Throne, dedicated his learning to politics and martial weapons and became the most feared potential opponent of his father.  This fear was well grounded as one day the Bastard used all his skill, defeated the King, sent him to the the dungeons and claimed the Throne, for at least a little while; a feat not matched before or since.

3) Once upon a time, between the world of mortals, lay the Courts of The Fae, the Wizards and the Dragons (among others).  These courts intersect the world of mortals in dreams and myth and sometimes in blood.  There are mortals among us who carry the blood of the Courts, some more than others thanks to intersecting lineages.  Some mortals can call to the Courts and even exist in them in the between.  Interestingly enough, the Courts have only an uneasy alliance as they wait for the end to the Reign of Angels and Demons and the beginning of the Reign of Elementals.

4) Once upon a time, when Dragons rules the skies and Atlantis ruled the sea, the people of Atlantis and the Dragons of the moral world were at peace.  Specially chosen Priests of each race even bonded into a fighting pair of Rider and Dragon to protect their homeland and peoples.  As the end of the Reign of Elementals came to an end, heralding the Reign of Angels and Demons, the balance of the two Atlantean races shifted and man begin to believe that they were more equal than the dragons that shared their land.  Thus came about the end of a great nation and the presence of dragons in the between of the mortal world.