The Goddess is very much alive

What a wonderful Goddessy week this week has been.  It commenced with the first devotional service for 2012 that was held on Tuesday night in honour of the Bone Mother and the Child of Winter.  Then I received notification on Wednesday that one of the anthologies I had submitted essays for, Unto Herself: A Devotional Anthology for Indepent Goddesses was now available to purchase.  This anthology contains my essay on the ancient Goddess Neith.  I am also eagerly awaiting notification as to when the other anthologies that I have also submitted essays to will be available, and have blogged about this on my Musings of a High Priestess blog.

This weekend I will, once again, be undertaking some priestessing work and have spent the last three weeks researching and constructing a specific rite that will form both healing from a mastoctomy as well as acknowledging the previous life and embracing the transformation process through which a new life will be emerging.  Last night I set up the sacred space and completed obtaining the last few items needed, as well as making the final preparations.

In undertaking the research for this rite, what has been interesting is the seemingly lack of information that seems to be available, with largely only Jewish sites having detailed any form of ceremony.  Both myself and the person who I will be priestessing for, feel that such an occasion is extremely important in the accepting and healing of such a life-changing event.

This weekend I intend to make a start of the workshop that I will be presenting at the RosePetal Temple in Willaston (north of Adelaide).  Celtic Goddesses and Warrior Queens will specifically focus on the powerful and  independent characters who seem to be so readily found within the Celtic legends.  We will be discussing Boudica (Queen of the Iceni), who led the rebellion against the Romans in 61CE, as well as the lesser honoured Cartimandua (Queen of the Brigantes), who some even considered to be a traitor!! 

From Scotland, the warrior initiators Scathach and Aoife, whereas in Ireland we find Grainne Ni Mhaille (Grace O'Malley) (whose drew a secret admiration from Queen Elizabeth I), as well as Medb, Maeve and Macha.

Part of the workshop activities will be the construction of a warrior shield, something that will symbolise our inner strength that we can draw upon whenever we feel the need.

There may also be a change to the theme of the August devotional service in that I had originally anticipated the service to be in honour of Horus and Hathor.  However, the suggestion was made for Bast and Anubis to be honoured.  As it has been a while since I have done anthing in honour of Bast (the Egyptian Cat Goddess), a change may very well take place.