Goddess

Prayer To The Green Mother

Green Mother, Green Mother
Faery Queen Unseen Mother
Stars within the field Mother
Flowers that will heal Mother
Take us to the Mound Mother
Bring us underground Mother.
We’ll make not a sound Mother
As they dance around Mother.
Teach us how to dance Mother
As we flirt with chance Mother
Returning through the roots Mother
By seed and flower and fruit Mother
Green Mother, Green Mother
Faery Queen Unseen Mother

~Author Unknown

Nephthys

What magnetic pull
we are drawn to at the end
of our light, the darkness
encircles us with her strength.

There is no escape
from the unknown expanse.
She brings you to the badlands.
She carries you to the dry barren
stretch of sky
where the stars too have been extinguished.

Hawks cry their parting love.
Women wail and she heeds
their pleas with unyielding love.
As all are born,
so too must they go.

into the dark expanse.

~Jeszika Le Vye

Norse Mythology ~ Simplified

Creation

In the beginning was Muspell, the realm of fire. It is a place of dreadful light and heat. Only its natives, the Fire Giants, can tolerate its flames. Surt, a Fire Giant, guards Muspell’s border, armed with a flaming sword. At the end of the era, at Ragnarok, Surt and his companions will destroy all the Gods and and their world with fire.

Outside of Muspell lies the void called Ginnungagap, and north of Ginnungagap is Niflheim, the world of awesome dark and cold. In this world are eleven rivers flowing from a great well. The rivers are frozen and occupy Ginnungagap. When the wind, rain, ice, and cold meet the heat and fire of Muspell in the center of Ginnungagap, a place of light, air, and warmth is born.

Where fire and ice first met, thawing drops appeared. Beneath the melting ice lay a Frost Giant named Ymir. Ymir slept, falling into a sweat. Under his left arm there grew a couple, male and female Giants. One of his legs begot a son with the other.

The melting frost became a cow called Audhumla from whose udders ran four rivers of milk that fed Ymir.

After one day of licking salty ice blocks, she freed a man’s hair from the ice. After two days, his head appeared. On the third day the whole man was released from the ice. The man’s name was Buri. Buri had a son named Bor. Bor married Bestla, the daughter of a Giant, with whom he had three sons. Odin was the first, Vili the second, and Vé the third. Odin, in association with his brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He is the greatest and most famous of all Gods.

Odin and his brothers killed the Giant Ymir. They carried Ymir to the middle of Ginnungagap and created the world, called Midgard, from his body. Ymir’s blood became the sea and and lakes. His skull became the cover of the sky which was set over the earth. Ymir’s brains were tossed into the air, and became clouds. Then sparks and burning embers from Muspell were placed in the middle of Ginnungagap to give light to Midgard. They named the stars and set their paths. Ymir’s skeleton became the mountains of Midgard. His teeth and jaws became rocks and pebbles. His flesh was ground into dirt in the great mill Grottekvarnen. Ymir’s hair became trees. Maggots appeared in Ymir’s flesh became Dwarves, who had human understanding and the appearance of men, but lived in the earth. Under each corner of the sky the suns of Buri put a Dwarf. The four Dwarves are called Austri (East), Vestri (West), Nordri (North), and Sudri (South).

Midgard

Midgard was surrounded by an enormous ocean. Odin, Vili and Vé gave lands along the coasts to the friendlier Giants, the Etin, for their settlements. From two trees they created a human man and woman. Odin gave the man and the woman spirit and life. Vili gave them understanding and the power of movement. Vé gave them clothing and names. The man was named Ask [Ash] and the woman Embla [Elm]. Ask and Embla are the ancestors of all humans in Midgard.

Asgard

Next they built Åsgard, the home of the Gods. In a hall named Hlidskjálf, Odin sits on a high seat from which he can look out over the whole world. Odin married Frigga, the daughter of the Giant Fjörgvin.

Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil, the World-Tree, the tree of fate, arises in the center of the Midgard. Its branches reach up over Asgard. The entire universe is dependent on the World-Tree. The tree has three three roots. One reaches into the underworld Hel, another to the world of the Frost-Giants, and the last one to the world of human beings. Beneath the tree is the Urda well, guarded by the Norns, the three Goddesses of Fate. Two other wells also feed Yggdrasil. One is called Hvergelmer, and the other is Mimer’s well. The dragon Nidhog lies in Hvergelmer and gnaws on the roots of the tree. Mimer’s well is the well of wisdom, guarded by the wisest of all beings, Mimer. Odin once gave his right eye for a drink of the water from this well.

Bifrost

The Gods built a bridge called Bifröst from Asgard (heaven) to Midgard (earth). They ride daily over the great rainbow bridge. Bifröst is guarded by the God Heimdall. Heimdall sleeps lighter than a bird, sees one hundred travel-days in each direction, and has such sharp ears that he can hear the grass and the wool grow. But as strong as Bifröst is, it will collapse when the when the Frost Giants ride out over it at Ragnarok. There is nothing that can be relied on when the sons of Muspell are on the warpath.

Gods & Goddeses

The Norse deities are divided into two major groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. The Vanir, the “Earth Gods”, symbolize riches, fertility, and fecundity. They are associated with the earth and the sea. The most important Gods of the Vanir are Njord, Freyr, Aegir and Freya.

The Aesir, the “Sky Gods”, symbolize power, wisdom, and war. They are long lived, but not immortal. Odin is the leader of the Gods, with magical skills. Thor, with his magic hammer, is the God of Thunder who presides over working men. Loki is a Giant who is an Aesir by adoption. He and Odin made a vow of friendship and became blood-brothers. Loki is a trickster, a shapeshifter, and a troublemaker.

In the distant past a fierce war was fought between the Aesir and the Vanir. The conflict between the Gods began when Odin and Thor refused to recognize the full status of Godhood to the Vanir. The Vanir sent a beautiful woman, Gullveig (gold-drink), to the Aesir, who tried to destroy her. She came back to life three times, and led to their corruption. War then broke out. After both sides were exhausted, each side exchanged members of its group with the other; the Vanir sent Njord and his son and daughter Freyr and Freya, the Aesir sent Mimir and Hoenir. The truce was celebrated by a meeting at which all the Gods spit into a bowl, creating a Giant called Kvasir, who is the sign of peace and harmony among the deities. Kvasir was later sacrificed and from his blood became a potent drink which inebriates deities and gives inspiration to poets.

Balder, one of the sons of Odin, appeared as the essence of intelligence, piety, and wisdom. Both Gods and men came to him to settle legal disputes, and his judgments were reconciling and fair. Balder had a dream in which his life was threatened. Upon reporting this dream to his mother, Frigga, she exacted an oath from fire, water, metals, earth, stones, and all birds and animals. They swore they would not harm Balder. Because of his immunity, the Aesir used Balder as a target in games, throwing darts and stones at him. When Loki saw this, he disguised himself as a woman and asked Frigga why Balder suffered no harm. Frigga told him of the oath. Loki tricked her into telling him that mistletoe was the only being that did not agree to the oath. Loki immediately took mistletoe and created arrows. He took the arrows to the Blind God Hoder, brother of Balder, and volunteered to direct his aim so that he would participate in the game. When the mistletoe struck Balder, Balder fell dead.

Because Balder was not a warrior and did not die in battle, he did not go to Valhalla, the hall of slain heroes, but into the domain of Hel, Keeper of the Dead. When Odin begged his release, Hel (Loki’s daughter) responded that if everything in the world both dead and alive wept for Balder, then he could return to the Aesir. If not, he would remain with Hel. The Aesir sent messengers throughout the world asking all to weep for Balder. All responded except a Giantess, Thokk (Loki in disguise), whose refusal to weep forced Balder to remain in Hel’s domain. The Aesir succeeded in capturing Loki. To punish him for his many crimes, they chained him beneath a serpent, which dripped venom onto him, causing terrible pain.

Ragnarok

The Ragnarok, or end of the world, has been prophesied. When Mirmir no longer guards his well, Yggdrasil’s root will begin to rot. The Nidhog dragon will finally succeed in knawing through the root that ends at Hvergelmer well. The Norns will be alarmed at the pollution of the Urdh well and the yellowing of the leaves of the world tree. Odin’s sacrificed eye lies in Mirmir’s well and sees what is to come. He knows that nothing can stop Fibulwinter, three years with endless winter, which will be followed by Ragnarok.

The days will grow colder until even Urda well freezes solid. Storm and sleet will pound the World-Tree. One of Yggdrasil’s branches will break and fall, striking Jormungand, the world serpent, which immediately will let go of its tail. The Hel ship Naglfar will become visible in the mist. The wolves Skoll and Manegarm will get closer and closer to Sun and Moon, which they have chased for eons. Fenrir wolf and and the Hel-wolf Garm will break their chains. Giants will release Loki from his fetters on the mountain. Nidhoggr will leave the roots of Yggdrasil and head toward Asgard. Behind him will march all the Giants. Heimdall will see all this, and will take up the Gjallarhorn to blow the warning.

Loki will lead monsters and Giants to attack the Gods in the great battle of Ragnarok on Vigrid plain. The leader of the Fire Giants, Surt, will attack Freyr, who will be armed only with a deer’s antler. Freyr will stick his deer horn through Surt’s eye, but then Surt will kill him with his flaming sword. Thor’s son Magni will send a killing arrow toward Nidhoggr’s head. Side by side, Odin and Thor will fight Fenrir and Jormungand. Odin will put his spear, Gungnir, in Fenrir’s chest, but the wolf will crush Odin to the ground. Thor will kill Jormungand with his hammer, Mjollnir, but then will take nine steps backwards and fall down, poisoned by the serpent’s venom. Tyr will kill the wolf dog Garm. Vidar will take revenge for Odin. The enemies Loki and Heimdall will their spears at each other at the same time and both will die. Modi will be surrounded by Giants, but Magni and Vidar will rescue him.

The winds will increase and blow Yggdrasil from every direction until the great World-Tree falls. The Dark Elves forge will tip and the World-Tree will burn. The Bifrost Rainbow Bridge will collapse and one by one each of the Worlds will fall. The remaining Aesir will escape in Freyr’s ship, Skidbladnir. It will be almost taken by the Hel-ship Naglfar. Midgard will then be destroyed by fire, and will sink back into the sea.

This final destruction will be followed by a rebirth, the Earth reemerging from the sea. Seven sons of the dead Aesir will return to Asgard and rule the universe.

From: Sunnyway

Hymn To Selene

Hear, goddess queen (thea basileia), diffusing silver light, bull-horned, and wandering through the gloom of night.

With stars surrounded, and with circuit wide night’s torch extending, through the heavens you ride: female and male, with silvery rays you shine, and now full-orbed, now tending to decline.

Mother of ages, fruit-producing Mene (Moon), whose amber orb makes night’s reflected noon: lover of horses, splendid queen of night, all-seeing power, bedecked with starry light, lover of vigilance, the foe of strife, in peace rejoicing, and a prudent life: fair lamp of night, its ornament and friend, who givest to nature’s works their destined end.

Queen of the stars, all-wise Goddess, hail! Decked with a graceful robe and amble veil.

Come, blessed Goddess, prudent, starry, bright, come, moony-lamp, with chaste and splendid light, shine on these sacred rites with prosperous rays, and pleased accept thy suppliants’ mystic praise.

Orphic Hymn 9 ~
Fumigation from Aromatics

To Selene

O goddess of the Moon,
Silver-haired and lonely
Shining in the depths of Universe.
Selene, in your chariot
That enkindles the night
And brings light to darkness
You travel through the sky.
May you again speak to your beloved
Endymion, sunk in everlasting sleep,
May he once awake and rub
Sorrowful tears out of your face
So that you will look upon us
With smiling eyes.
I praise and honour you,
Bless me and show me the way
In this journey of mine.

~Eremites Plato

I Am The Mother

This is a great little chant to connect with the Goddess, the Elements.

I am the Air that shakes the trees,
I am the Mother.
I am the Air that shakes the trees
I am the Mother
I and the Air that shakes the trees,
Storming gale or gentle breeze.
I am the Air that shakes the trees,
I am the Mother.

I am the Fire burning bright,
I am the Mother.
I am the Fire burning bright,
I am the Mother.
I am the Fire burning bright,
Candle flame or noontime’s light.
I am the Fire burning bright,
I am the Mother.

I am the Water flowing deep,
I am the Mother.
I am the Water flowing deep,
I am the Mother.
I am the Water flowing deep,
Crystal pool or torrent’s leap.
I am the Water flowing deep,
I am the Mother.

I am the Earth standing strong,
I am the Mother.
I am the Earth standing strong,
I am the Mother.
I am the Earth standing strong
Caverns deep or hillsides long.
I am the Earth standing strong,
I am the Mother.

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air,
I am the Mother.
Earth, Water, Fire, and Air,
I am the Mother.
Earth, Water, Fire and Air,
Call my name and I’ll be there.
Earth, Water, Fire and Air,
For I am the Mother.

Source unknown

Prayer to Cerridwen

What follows is a prayer to Cerridwen with the ancient chant incorporated therein:

O, Source of Wisdom, hear me speak.
Cauldron of plenty give forth your power.
Let your Wisdom bring nuturance to those of us who need you.

Ancient Chant of the Goddess Cerridwen

Enter the Shrine:
Step Forward
Look back
See the psychic power in your track.
Ask the of the Goddess what you are seeking,
then offer Her a prayer.

Chant the ancient chant three times,
and your answer will be there:

Amores Cerridwen
calami carbones stultorum moenia chartee
calami carbones stultorum monia chartee

So mote it be.

Found at: Gaia Moon

The Story of Aradia

‘Diana was the first created before all creation; in Her were all things; out of Herself, the First Darkness, She divided herself; into Darkness and Light She was divided.Lucifer, Her brother and son, Herself and Her other half, was the Light.

Diana greatly loved Her brother, Lucifer, the God of the Sun and of the Moon, the God of Light (Splendour). Diana had by Her brother, a Daughter, to whom they gave the Name of Aradia.

Aradia was a child of the Spirit. And even in Her youth She heard the voices that only the Ancients once knew.

In the early hours of the dawn, she walked among the Alban hills near Lake Nemi. One day, after having journeyed far into the hills, she grew tired and took her rest beneath the shade of a large tree.

As she centered her thoughts within her mind, a voice spoke to her, saying:

‘ Look well into the skies,
and know that you are chosen.’

Aradia gazed upwards, the skies darkened, and the voice whispered to her the words

‘Moon Shadow’

Something within her awoke, and she understood the path that lay ahead of her. Looking about from the hillside, she saw the beauty of creation and the equality of all things.

An understanding of the inner workings of Nature arose within her and with this enlightenment she opened up her heart and mind to the vastness of all she perceived.

Then Aradia beheld the oppression of the peasant people; knew their sorrows and was greatly moved with compassion.

In the time of Aradia, many peasant slaves had escaped into the hills and forests.These people gathered into bands of outlaws in order to survive. Aradia sought them out, living with them for a period of time in the woodland camps near Lake Nemi. There she listened to the plight of the people.

Many suffered persecution from the Church because they worshiped in the Old Ways. Others were made slaves by evil Lords who held power in the land. Among these outlaws Aradia came to know many Witches who were also in hiding.

In time, Aradia went down into the villages and towns in order to give hope to the people. She taught them saying:

‘Blessed Be the free. Blessed be they who rejoice in Truth and Love, and seek not to maintain evil and misguided teachings. Know that the Spirit is upon you all, and that spirit is love.

Love punishes not, neither a day nor an eternity. Do not lend yourselves to teachings of fear and restriction.

Blessed be the free in spirit for their kingdom is of both worlds. They are the children of the Earth who neither hate nor teach hate, fear nor teach fear, restrict nor teach restriction.

These same are the children of Spirit.’

Aradia gathered her disciples and taught them the inner mysteries of the Old Ways, the inner mysteries of the Old Ways that their Ancestors once embraced.

She revealed the true nature of the Name Aradia, taken in honor of the historical daughter of Diana. Many people knew Aradia in her home town of of Volterra, and in Benevento, before she took this name. Her fame soon spread to all regions of Italy; people came to listen to the words of Aradia and to join her as followers.

She taught them the doctrine of reincarnation, and about the old gods. Aradia revealed the secret of the Earth and the knowledge of the ancient teachings.

Because of her fame, she fell into disfavor with the church, and the priests plotted against her. Soldiers were sent to arrest her for heresy, and she was placed inside a prison. There, Aradia suffered humiliation and torture. The officials feared her popularity amongst the peasants and desired to sentence her to death.

When morning arrived on the day the priests were to meet, they ordered Aradia be brought before them, but she was not to be found in her cell. A search began for her, but she could not be located anywhere in the region.

Later, in the south of Rome, Aradia appeared again and continued to teach. The people were amazed because they believed she had been killed or imprisoned for life. Hearing the news of her appearance in Rome, the soldiers came to retrieve her. But none questioned by the soldiers knew anything about Aradia.

After the soldiers departed, the priests sent spies to dwell amongst the peasants in hopes of discovering her whereabouts.In that same month some people discovered Aradia sitting with her disciples and instructing them. Aradia saw that they were joyful to encounter her, and she spoke to them saying:

‘Blessed be the free in Spirit and they who love without profit. For love is the greatest attainment. It is the gift of the Spirits’ blessing. Therefore never betray a love, nor deceive one.

Love each other and care for each other, and for each thing, with the heart and soul of a poet

Strive to see the world as does the artist. Go, seek, and capture the beauty which is there. And take care that you hurt not even one which is among you,

But love, and live to the fullest, in awareness and compassion to the minds and hearts and souls of everyone around you. Live in peace’

Many people began to question themselves concerning Aradia. Her disciples came to her and said, ‘My Lady, some say you are a prophetess, and some say you are a magus. What shall we tell them?

Aradia picked up a handful of earth and looking at the crowd, she said:

‘I am the Daughter of the Sun and of the Moon. I am the earth.

I am the love of freedom, which is the love of the Gods. And whosoever shall believe in me, the same shall be a child of the Mother and Father who dwell in all things.’

A spy from the church approached and said: ‘ Lady, we know that you are a holy one: Tell us of the God from which your power comes.’

Aradia replied :

‘ Though men shall call upon many gods, there is but one, which is the many.

A man is called in his life by many names. Some may know him as father, or friend. To some he may be an enemy or a brother, and to another a cousin. Yet, is he still not one?

Another spy asked her: ‘The priests tell us that god is male, and that women must submit. What do you say?

Aradia answered:

‘Does not even Nature show you, in all ways, that all is equal? In all Flora and Fauna, there is male and female. Who among you can truly say which is more important? One cannot be without the other.’

After this a disciple asked: ‘Lady, if all you speak to us is so, then why do the priests not tell us?

Aradia replied:

‘ The priests tell us what they have been told. It is with they who have been above the priests that the Truth is known and hidden. There are many greedy and power-hungry men who profit from the church. It is better for them, to control with false teachings that restrict and threaten independence from the priesthood.’

The spies returned to the priests and reported what they had heard. The priests were angry and spread lies concerning Aradia’s teachings,claiming they were evil.

After Aradia and her disciples had left the area the soldiers came again, hoping to arrest her. On the road they surrounded Aradia and her followers, taking her into custody.

As they traveled back to Rome, a band of outlaws approached them. The leader was a slave whom Aradia had converted to Moon worship in the Cult of Diana.

A fight resulted in which Aradia was freed and taken by the outlaws to a hiding place. The outlaws escorted Aradia and her followers to a campo in the forest.  There she chose twelve of her disciples, six male and six female, and took them into a clearing in order to instruct them.

Aradia spoke to them :

‘With you I now re-establish the Old Religion. Know that there are others who still worship in the ways of their Ancestors. Seek them out and tell them the Mother is with Child, and they will understand my meaning.

Seek out also they who will come to follow us.’

The disciples asked her: ‘Who is this child? Tell us of her.’

Aradia answered:

‘ The infant is the child of Mother Earth. She shall be known as that which is reason and wisdom. She shall come to the world and deliver all people of all nations from the rule of Kings and authorities.

In this Age of the Daughter great changes shall occur such as the world has never known. This shall be a time of renewal.’

Her disciples asked her: ‘ When shall this occur?’

She told them:

‘The dawning of the Age will be signaled by the Will of the Daughter. Her words shall be heard among the words of men. Then women will walk in the ways of men, and the law shall know no difference. When this occurs, the Age has begun.

And my prophet shall then restore my teachings, making ready the dawn of the Age for She who will come.

And in the year of this prophet’s birth there will be a sign for which all witches may rejoice. For this year shall be the rebirth of the Old Religion.’

Aradia spoke further:

’ Yet before this time there shall be death among our people. The time is near when my followers shall be taken before the courts and they shall prosecute you. But the Age of the Son shall draw to an end, giving way to the Age of the Daughter.

You have heard the priests tell you of hell and damnation. But I say to you, believe not in such things. For the Spirit of the Great One is Love, and love damns not, but blesses. For a fathers’ and a Mother’s love does not forget the child, nor does it put one child away and keep the other.’

All that day Aradia instructed her disciples and answered their questions. She taught them the secrets of magick and the knowledge of ritual.

Aradia and her disciples went again out into the towns and villages in order for her to heal the sick and teach the Old Religion, even though they were concerned over their safety. Soldiers, accompanied by several priests, came to arrest her. Realizing she was trapped, Aradia looked upon them sternly, saying :

‘ I rebuke you and cast you out from the people because you teach punishment and shame to those who would free themselves from the slavery of the Church.

These symbols and apparel of authority which you bear serve only to hide the nakedness in which we all are equal. You say you serve your God, but you only serve your own fears and restrictions.’

The soldiers seized her, even though many people tried to protect her. Her disciples fled to avoid being captured themselves. In the town of Benevento they took refuge among the followers of Aradia already living there.

Aradia was put into prison and was condemned for heresy and treason.

While in prison a certain guard was very moved by her beauty and charm. Aradia allowed him to come to her as a lover. On the eve of the execution, Aradia persuaded him to take her into the courtyard so she could pray out in the open.

Two other guards overlooked the courtyard as she prayed. After she finished, a storm gathered and the guard told Aradia to return to her cell.

As she complied, the storm crashed over them with great fury. An earthquake shook the ground and the buildings fell, stone by stone. When calm returned at last, only a few people were found alive. Word spread far and wide that Aradia had perished.

Seven days later, Aradia appeared in the camp of the forest outlaws; everyone was amazed to see her because it was reported that she had died.

Aradia would not speak to them concerning this, and she gathered together these disciples who still followed her and left the forest.They journeyed into the hills near Nemi. When they had settled for the night, Aradia came to them and said:

‘The time is marked, and I shall remain with you for but a short while longer.’

Aradia marked a circle upon the ground spanning nine paces from the center. She gathered her disciples into the circle and formally instructed them.

Following this, Aradia addressed them:

‘When you have need of anything, gather then in secret when the Moon is full and worship the Spirit of the Queen of Witches; The Queen of All Witches.

Gather yourselves within the circle of the Arts, and secrets that are as yet unknown shall be revealed.

And as a sign that you are truly free, you shall be naked in your rites, for such is the essence of Spirit and joy upon the Earth.

And your Law shall be,

Love Unto All.
Be true to your own beliefs.
Keep to your own ways beyond all obstacles.

For ours is the key to the Mysteries and the cycle of rebirth, which opens the door to the womb of enlightenment.

I am the spirit of all witches, which is joy and peace, and harmony. In life does the Queen of All Witches reveal the knowledge of Spirit. And from Death does the Queen deliver you unto peace and renew your life again.’

Aradia next taught her disciples about the secrets of the circle. She spoke of the gods and the Old Ones, known as the Grigorii (Watchers) ~ She taught them all types of enchantments, signs in the sky, and of the seasons.

When Aradia had revealed these things to her disciples, she told them:

‘In memory of me you shall eat cakes of grain, wine, salt and honey. These shall you shape like the crescent of the Moon. Then shall you bless them in my name and partake of them upon your sacred gatherings.

As of old, you shall hold sacred the first day of May and of August and also the Eve of November, which is the Time of Shadows. Of February shall you observe it’s second day. Also shall you observe the Solstices of midsummer and midwinter and the Equinoxes of Spring and Autumn.

To all those who observe these sacred times will the Queen of Heaven give the power. And you shall enjoy success in love. And you shall have the power to bless, and the power to consecrate. And you shall know the tongue of Spirits, Obtain knowledge of hidden things, And raise forth the spirits from beyond the void.

You shall understand the voice of the wind, And the knowledge of the changing of forms. To you shall the future be known, and secret signs revealed. And you shall have the power to cure disease, and bring forth beauty. Wild beasts shall know you and cause you no harm.

Know that the power is gained through knowledge and that the knowledge is gained through understanding. Know therefore that you must understand the balance. Everything which lives is of male and female essence. Do not exalt the one above the other. Come to know both, to be complete.

Blessed Be the free in spirit. When you hate, or despair, or do not understand it is because you are not in balance with your surroundings. I do not speak of masculine or feminine, but of elements and causes and forces.

Seek first the Balance, then you will understand, and understanding you will overcome what you must.’

Aradia stood in the midst of her disciples and spoke:

‘ My purpose is firmly set forth, and to you I now give the power. In my Name shall you go forth and teach the ways of freedom and magick.’

Aradia let her garments fall, fully revealing herself to her disciples. She took one of them by the hand and brought him beside her on the ground.

There upon the sacred Earth, beneath the star-filled night, they were joined in love. After this, each disciple was joined to the other. In this way, the power passed in love amongst the followers of Aradia.

It was early morning when the disciples gathered again to hear Aradia speak. She said to them :

‘ With you I now establish a covenant, between you and me and likewise to all who shall come to follow in the ways.’

Aradia then placed a scroll into the hands of the disciples upon which were written thirteen laws.

She also gave them nine sacred scrolls that she had written. This was the foundation of all the teachings that she had come to teach.

Aradia spoke again to her disciples:

‘Soon you shall go forth among they who dwell outside of the ways.

And you shall meet ignorance, fear and misunderstanding. Therefore, protect yourselves in all ways. And you shall come across many who truly wish to seek to be at one with the Nature of all things.

Teach all whom you find sincere and truly worthy. Yet take care that you do not become judgmental. Keep your own manner of being separate and do not expect everyone to be a likeness of yourself.

Show love and warmth to all persons for if you do not many will turn away from you. How then shall you serve the ways?

Know that your first allegiance is to the God and Goddess. Your second allegiance is to the Old Ways, and the third is to Witches all.

If you serve yourself you do not serve. When you serve your own self-importance you are out of balance with Nature, for in Nature, all things are equal ~ nothing is more important than any other thing.

And yet, all living things have the right to do what they must to survive. Who can speak against the order of things?

Therefore, live your life as you must according to the laws which I have given you. Enjoy each day and long not for the next. The only certainty, is now.

Do not become bitter or cold at the seeming harshness and unfairness of life, for love has the power to overcome all things.

Nothing lasts forever and nothing remains the same, for everything is even now moving towards that which it will become.

Therefore I tell you to observe the cycles of everything within you and outside you.’

It was her practice to teach her disciples in this manner. As the time for instruction was almost completed one of the disciples asked Aradia to speak again of the coming Age.

Aradia told them:

‘ The Age of the Daughter is the final age to dawn upon Earth. The first Age was of the Mother, when all people worshiped the Great Goddess. The second Age was that of the Father and the third Age is the Son.

Under the Mother there arose all Goddesses and their cults. With the Age of the Father arose the gods which would then come to dominate the female cults. It was then that the warrior cults began to rule the world. From this Age rose the Christ Spirit, but men clung to their stern Father God.

Now when the Age of the Daughter shall come, then shall reason be restored and the world shall be in balance.

To herald the coming of the Daughter and to keep it remembered upon the earth, every two hundred years there shall arise a prophet.

This prophet shall be a great teacher, and shall give life to the Old Religion. When the Age of the Daughter grows near, there shall be an awakening in the awareness of women, and their will shall be asserted.

Laws will then change and women shall walk in the ways of men. And there shall be a time when the last of the laws which persecute and suppress us shall be removed.

In that year, all Stregheria shall rejoice.

When the Age of the Daughter begins to replace that of the Son, then shall she appear who is to establish reason; and she will be thirty-six at this time. And she shall come in power,  for the silent prophet will have established the way.

As this Age progresses, great trial and tribulation shall befall the people of all nations. And out of the ashes, shall arise the new world of reason. People shall no longer be ruled by governments, nor shall one people oppress another.

There shall be no rulers, but teachers and counselors. No-one shall possess power over another, nor shall anyone restrict or control another person.

The earth will be of one people and they will all live under the emanating rays of love, peace and reason.’

All that day and into the evening Aradia spoke of future events. The next day her disciples departed as instructed, in pairs of male and female to teach others the Gospel of Aradia. She had bid them farewell and directed them to go out into all the towns and villages.

In the days that followed, the fame of Aradia and her wisdom and her beauty went forth all over the land. People began to worship her, calling her the Beautiful pilgrim.

There were those who said She was The Goddess in human form.

The disciples traveled with a heavy heart, for Aradia had spoken of the times to come. They carried with them the thought of the many centuries that were to pass before the promised Age would dawn.

After travelling from village to village, the disciples returned to the village of Benevento. There they gathered the covens of Aradia which she had favored. The disciples taught them each the final words which Aradia had spoken and they shared the knowledge of the sacred scrolls with them. The followers of Aradia gathered into Clans and a covenant was established at this time in order to unite the clans in the Old ways.

These groups then departed to distant places, concerned at the possibility of further prosecution by the enemies of Aradia. However, there were those followers of Aradia who would not depart.

Aradia was not seen again by the people of that region. But Her followers remembered Her teachings, and gathered and celebrated as the Holy One had bid them, even as they do to this very day.

Here ends the Gospel of the Holy Strega.

Source: Temple Illuminatus

The Knot of Isis

At the ends of the universe is a blood red cord that ties life to death, man to woman, will to destiny. Let the knot of that red sash, which cradles the hips of the goddess, bind in me the ends of life and dream. I’m an old man with more than my share of hopes and misgivings. Let my thoughts lie together in peace. At my death let the bubbles of blood on my lips taste as sweet as berries. Give me not words of consolation. Give me magic, the fire of one beyond the borders of enchantment. Give me the spell of living well.

Do I lie on the floor of my house or within the temple? Is the hand that soothes me that of wife or priestess? I rise and walk. The sky arcs ever around; the world spreads itself beneath my feet. We are bound mind to Mind, heart to Heart ~ no difference rises between the shadow of my footsteps and the will of god. I walk in harmony, heaven in one hand, earth in the other. I am the knot where two worlds meet. Red magic courses through me like the blood of Isis, magic of magic, spirit of spirit. I am proof of the power of gods. I am water and dust walking.

From Awakening Osiris

Song to Pomona

A silver dew lies on the Autumn grasses,
Autumnal sunshine habits every tree;
From each bejewelled bough there slowly passes
Immeasured scent and sweetness up to thee,
Pomorum Patrona! Pomorum Patrona!
O hear, as thou wert wont to hear of old,
Though guardian goddess of red and gold.

Banners, above thine orchard temples flying.
Flame a new splendour from each glowing glade,
And radiant hills of clustered light are lying
Beneath the lichened pillars on the shade,
Pomorun Patrona! Pomorum Patrona!
O give, as thou wert wont to give of old,
Though guardian goddess of red and gold.

With ample stores abundantly she blesses
Each nesting hamlet of the hills and plains,
Shaking within their thirsty cider-presses
The glory garnered from her woodland fanes.
Pomorun Patrona! Pomorum Patrona!
We praise thy name with voices of young and old,
Though guardian goddess of red and gold.

~ Arthur Rackham

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