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'.

The Divine Mother

Where would we be without our mothers? Well, for certain we wouldn't be living in these Earthly bodies. The older I get, the more I appreciate my Mother here on Earth. The sacrifices she's made, the unconditional love (yeah, I raised hell in my teens), the values and morals she instilled in us and a belief in God, always respecting our point of view and however we view the Creator to be.

I'm a seeker. Always searching out the answers to questions most of us are privy to. Where did we come from? Where are we going? What is our purpose? And just when I think I've found the answers, more questions are raised. New ideas are layed before me making me rethink what I think I already know. Will I ever know the Truth? I suspect that when I transition, all will be revealed and I will be able to rest in Eternity in perfect love and perfect trust. Until then, I'm left to ponder these Universal questions.

I began my spiritual life as a Christian in the Luthern faith. Not strict church goers we were left to make our decision each Sunday whether or not to go to Sunday School. Sometimes my sister and I would board the Church bus and take ourselves, other times our mother would accompany us. My father was and is an atheist. Although, between you and me, I sometimes think he's actually agnostic. I searched for God in the churches of Luthern, Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist and at one point or another I read about John Smith (Mormonism) and even Jehovah and Scientology. And while I've always been deeply spiritual, I found these churches did not fill my soul.

A few years ago, after feeling a deep, gut-wrenching emptiness, I discovered Paganism and Wicca. And, more importantly, I found the Goddess, the Divine Feminine . . . I found balance. Or rather, I should say, She found me working in the garden. I embraced the Divine feminine and came to know her as Green Tara and then, as She would have it, Mother Mary. I've developed a strong and undeniable bond with Mary (interestingly enough my Earth mother's name is Mary). She is the one I look to for spiritual support and growth, intercessor and guide in my Earthly life, and companionship in prayer. In short, she's my Go-To-Girl.

Lately I've been reading and learning about the Catholic faith. Don't laugh . . . or cry . . . it's all a process and I'm feeling guided in this direction. Yes, the Church definitely has its' faults, but there's beauty too. Will I become a member or a cherished parishioner? Highly unlikely. You see I also strongly believe in and practice Reiki, something the Church has officially banned. Ah, for closed minds . . .

But then there's also something called 'Science of the Mind' by Earnest Holmes (please don't confuse this with Tom Cruise's Scientology - and what's up with him and Katie, eh?). Religious Science is something that Louise Hay (you know her book 'You Can Heal Your Life') subscribes to . . . positive intentions and affirmations are her trademark. I find this fascinating.

And so you see, spirituality can't be labeled. No one authority holds the whole and complete Truth no matter what they say. I think we owe it to ourselves to explore, to question and to hold true to our own truths . . . I respect you and you respect me should be the law of the land. But then again, who am I? I AM . . . that's all. I'm a spiritual being having a human experience . . . and doesn't that say it all? I believe that my purpose is to learn, to grow, to experience, to question, to love, to explore where no man has (oops sorry, I digress) . . . to just BE as in BE still and know that I AM God.

And so what does all this have to do with the Divine Mother? It's because she's a part of everything and anything that I do. She's there to guide me, to comfort me, to make sure that I stay on the path. She's loving and compassionate and understanding. She doesn't judge, she doesn't chastize. She allows me to be me in all my fullness. She knows my heart. She's my intercessor and my greatest advocate. She never lets me down. And so I go forward in the knowledge that I do not go alone . . . that whatever I do, I have her blessing, because she KNOWS in the end that I will make the right and true choices for me. And so it is for you . . .

Like I said in my moniker . . . up, down and everywhere inbetween.

Love, Truth, Light and Peace

I bow to you. You bow to me.
The Divine light in me salutes the Divine light in you.
I salute the God within you and
I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells.
I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Truth, of Light and of Peace.
When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are what we are.We are One.