Once in a Blue Moon

Can you believe it's almost the end of summer? I sure can't. It seems not that long ago that I was looking out my window at the snow wishing and wanting summer to arrive. Then we got summer in March and a heat wave during the following months. Not much fun to spend time outside in. The last few weeks have been wonderful and I've been trying to spend as much time outside as possible . . . and it's still not enough . . . sigh . . .

At any rate, since it's almost the end of August and there's a Blue Moon coming up on the 31st, I thought I'd like to do some kind of ritual that celebrated the energies of the Blue Moon. However, I couldn't find a ritual per se . . . so I wrote one. I'm especially proud of this passage . . .

“Gracious lady bring to me the changes that I seek
And grant to me upon this night your feminine mystique
Give me the strength to follow through in everything I do
And in my heart place upon joyful devotion to you
Guide my steps and where I walk with pride and humbleness
To speak my truth from my heart where boundless love abides
And at the end of the day when I lay down my head
May I be blessed by the things that I have said
Help me to serve in all the tasks that I am led to do
With verve and loving kindness so that I may honor you
Gracious lady this I ask in all sincerity
By doing this may I stand tall, upright and carefree”
I hope that you might also find it useful and that you have a wonderful Blue Moon Esbat! Click here be taken to the ritual . . .

Homage to the Sun

The Morning Sun

The Sun rose bright this morning
Making its ascent into a clear blue sky
Rising up through the trees
Casting its glow making everything shine
It doesn't require a switch or a clap
It comes of its own accord
Casting light into dark places
Waking us from our slumber
To begin a new day
Full of possibility and hope
Traveling across the sky
It brings light, life and warmth
And at the end of the day it falls behind
The curve of the Earth
Making its way 'round
Sure to rise again

~ Teresa Martens ~

I started walking my dogs in the mornings again after a long hiatus (ie I've been very lazy . . . sigh). I took the camera along this morning because yesterday the sun was so beautiful shining through the trees. I was a little later this morning so I didn't catch the spectacular rays through the trees, but I got some gorgeous pictures nonetheless.

There was also a crane sitting on a bird house by the small pond in the park . . . gorgeous!

And you can tell that autumn is not far off . . . the berries are turning red.

I hope you enjoyed walking with me this morning and I hope that the sun is shining for you today!

By the way I searched for a poem online this morning but every poem about the sun I could find had birds burning their wings and people being burnt . . . wanting something a tad more optimistic I wrote my own . . . sometimes you just gotta go your own way!

Burnin' Up the House!

Well, not exactly, but I am doing a lot of burning! I've discovered a new hobby in Wood Burning and have been busy burning any and all pieces of wood I have stored away in my basement art studio . . . and there is plenty to be found!

I've decided I like wood burning so much that I've opened a new Etsy shop to share my wood burning aspirations with you. Check it out and hopefully you'll find something you like!

The Morrigan

Hello and Merry Meet everyone!

You might be a little startled by the title of this post . . . but fear not! Lately I've been feeling a little off-balance. It's almost like I'm ignoring a side of me that I'd rather not deal with. I call it the shadow self. And it seems that this shadow self of mine wants to come out and play. Who can blame her . . . it's pretty cool out here!

I've been very drawn to the Arthurian legends the last few days and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. The book in the Marion Zimmer Bradley series that keeps making itself present is the 'Mists of Avalon'. If you're familiar with this book then you know all about the Morrigan, the half sister of Arthur. And it seems that the Morrigan wants to play with me and has been showing herself to me in various ways. One of those ways is bringing into my hands a book called 'Celtic Lore and Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess' by Stephanie Woodfield. I've just begun to read it and am making my way through Celtic lore in order to have a better understanding of this goddess.

Most people say that it's not wise to work with this goddess, but I have a different feeling about her. I'm not afraid, although I will give her the respect she deserves certainly. Rather, I'm fascinated by her. By her power, strength and confidence and by her 'kick you in the butt' get going attitude. I like that. I've been lackadaisical in the Craft and am in much need of some butt-kicking. Although I have a feeling that she's also gentle and kind and will hold out her hand to help me up when I've fallen down . . . provided I don't whine about the falling.

I have to say I feel stronger, more focused and determined than I have of late and although I haven't officially begun my work with her, I feel that she's already by my side, helping me out, showing me the way.

And so, I have Mary on the one side and the Morrigan on the other. Not a bad combo wouldn't you say?

Elemental Rosary Prayer

Hello and Merry Meet everyone!

I'm full of anticipation awaiting the arrival of my new rosary. It is being custom made by Jayne Wood of Infinite Spirit who makes the most divine traditional and non-traditional rosaries. I have a few custom rosaries by Jayne, one being my Goddess Rosary and the other my pink quartz lotus mala. I love both of them and use them frequently.

My new Rosary is an homage to the elements and a wonderful rosary if you follow a nature-based path as I do. So while I wait patiently for my rosary to arrive, I went ahead and created a prayer to go with it. It is adapted from several poems from different authors, notably Dorothy Morrison, Ralph Metzner and a lovely young woman called Kamonra.

I hope you enjoy using this prayer and be sure to check out Jayne's site at the link above. I'll be posting pictures of my new Rosary here and on the Rosary blog once I get my hands on it!

Pentacle Rosary by Jayne Wood, Infinite Spirit

Elemental Altar

Hello and Merry Meet everyone! I hope you're all finding your way over here to my new blog from 'I Heart the Goddess'. I had an URL from Godaddy that unfortunately has lapsed because I didn't want to renew it and so it's not available to view online anymore. Ah well, out with the old, in with the new!

I've been struggling spiritually for about the last six weeks and have been attending mass with my friend hoping to find what I seemingly lost. I even went so far as to think of joining the Catholic church. Chalk it up to menopause, the realization of a past life experience and the fact that I really haven't been acting upon my faith as a Wiccan. Realizing that I have not been following through with Sabbatt and Esbat rituals and it's no wonder I feel empty and lost.

So, with this newfound realization, I am, so to speak, back in the saddle. I am planning a Blue Moon ritual for August 31st (the second moon of this month) and am also planning for Mabon. My altar will begin it's transformation towards the end of this month and I'm planning on making a Mabon thanksgiving upon my return from Canada at the end of September. A few days late, but still celebrating the Sabbatt.

I'm also connecting with the elements. I'm spending more time outside and today I'm even going to the pool to hang out in the sun and water. My spirit is saying (actually it's yelling) YES! I've also created an elemental altar in my kitchen window. I've put some stones there that I gathered from Sedona, creating a cairn. I have a crystal quartz cluster that I received in my Reiki class. I also have an angel that a new friend gave me at the end of our time together in Sedona. And, I'm having a new Elemental Rosary made (more on that in another post).

I'm feeling better than I have in weeks and all because I've reconnected to my true path. I had wound myself up so tightly thinking that going back to church and becoming something I'm not would feed my soul. I was wrong. What feeds my soul is what I've been doing for the last two years. Only now I realize that the Goddess has called me to action. No more laying around thinking about doing ritual or saying prayers. It's time to break out the candles, incense and athame and put myself to rights . . . and for this I am truly blessed!

Goddess Mary Altar

In addition to the large altar I have in my living room that I set up according to the Sabbats and special Mary days, I set up this smaller altar on the dresser in my bedroom. It offers me a place of quiet and solitude where I can pray and be at peace knowing that Mary is with me.

I use Rose incense in my burner as an offering to Mary and as a reminder of her ever faithful presence.

This beautiful blue crystal is 'Celestite' used for spiritual advancement as part of one's personal journey. It is used for making contact with the angels and in particular with the angel who is one's guardian throughout life.

Spirit Quartz ~ carries the vibration of Universal love; aides in spiritual growth and in moving to the next dimension.
Candle Quartz ~ a spiritual stone inviting abundance; focus on one's true path and purpose; radiates love.

The little silver box has roses embossed on it ~ The red rose is a symbol of Mary. White roses in Paradise are said to have blushed red when she kissed them. The Rosary is also related to Mary and her roses.

A bowl of sea shells to represent Mary as the 'Star of the Sea'.