In Honour of Merlin Stone

"Yet rather than calling the earliest religions, which embraced such an open acceptance of all human sexuality, 'fertility cults', we might consider the religions of today as strange in that they seem to associate shame and even sin with the very process of conceiving new human life. Perhaps centuries from now scholars and historians will be classifying them as 'sterility cults."

- Merlin Stone ("When God was a Woman")

On 23 February 2011, sculptor, professor in art and art history, and feminist author, Merlin Stone, passed away.  She was 80 years of age and had been suffering a long illness along with complications due to dementia.

Reflections on Autumn and the Goddess Oya

In looking for a suitable Goddess associated with the Autumn Equinox and the season of change,

I came across this wonderful piece written by Asha Oshun'Mali that I thought I would share.

Autumn is the season of change. Perhaps, because I was born in this season; is why I find it to be such a powerful one. Autumn brings to my mind, the power of the Goddess Oya. Oya, the Yoruba Goddess of the winds of change, is one of the most powerful orishas of the Yoruba pantheon. In myth, Oya is said to be one of the three wives of the god Shango-the patron of thunder and lightning.

Her sister Oshun, one of Sango’s other wives, is the Goddess of birth, love, creativity, sexuality, and growth, often associated with spring and summer. Oya however, is the sizzling sound you hear just before lightening strikes, (her husband goes no where with out her) the tornado, hurricane and typhoon; and the raging wind-even when no storms are near.

Charge of the Autumn Goddess

I am the Waning Moon, the Goddess who is fading from the land.

In the Springtime I sought my Lord and mated with him beneath the trees and stars.

At Bealtaine I wed my Lord beneath the first blossoms of the hawthorn tree.

And in the Summertime I ripened the apples in the orchards and the fruit grew round and strong like the seed within my womb.

At the corn harvest I cut down my Lord, that by his death our people might be fed.

And now in the Autumn time I descend beneath the Earth

To dwell with my Lord in his dark kingdom until our child is born.

At the Winter Solstice I will bring forth the child and renew your hope

and at Imbolg I myself will return to renew the land.

I leave you, but I return to you ....

Source: "Wicca: Old Religion for a New Age" by Vivianne Crowley

Half-Full Consciousness - Starting from Empty

We are all familiar with the metaphorical story of two people looking at the same glass and one perceiving it as half-full while the other sees it as half-empty. As much as we’ve heard this, it’s still a valuable exercise to really observe our minds and notice whether we are engaged in half-full or half-empty thinking. People will refer to themselves as being of one type or the other as if it was a permanent characteristic, but we are all capable of shifting into a half-full consciousness if we simply make the effort.

The Need for Self Healing

At the recent devotional service held at The Goddess House, a small, yet dedicated group of women gathered to attune themselves to the energy of the Divine Feminine.  Upon the uprising of the incense smoke,our voices also seemed to soar as we sang a number of the sacred songs that have been written.

   

Altar with unlit devotional candles

With the theme for the month being that of the upcoming Autumn Equinox, we spoke about the importance of bringing balance into our lives - whether it a balance between work and play, family and sacred "me" time, or even our mundane external lives and that of our spiritual, internal lives ... all of which are as equally important as the other.

Without any forward planning, 8 March was also International Women's Day and it was interesting to reflect back on how much we seem to take for granted these days compared to our fore-mothers only about a century ago.  Whilst we may have the right to vote and to work, working women are still, more often than not, being paid less than their male counterparts of a similar position. 

International Women's Day 2011

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March across the world.

IWD is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.  

March Devotional Service at The Goddess House

March, the month considered to have been named after the Roman God of War, Mars, who was also associated with conquest and heroism.  However, an earlier version of Mars seems to indicate that he was in fact Deity associated with fertility and agricultural Deity. This means that Mars, along with other Deities such as Ceres and Cybele, oversaw the new growth of Spring, and encouraged the continuation of life (fertility, sex, procreation in human, plant and animal realms). 

March, at The Goddess House, contains the Autumn Equinox and it is this Sabbat that will form the theme of the next devotional service that will  be taking place on 8 March.