October Devotional Service - Warrior Goddesses

Athena

As the sacred Wheel of the Year having turned to the Spring Equinox, the time when the hours of lightness and darkness are equal for a short period of time before the energies tip and rush towards the Summer Solistice, I thought that an appropriate theme for the October Devotional Service to be held at The Goddess House would be that of the warrior Goddesses.

There are many such Goddesses with Athena being the first which comes to mind. Bursting forth from her father's head (that of Zeus), Athena was fully armed and grown with weapons given by her mother, Metis.  The namesake of the Greek capital, Athena was considered to be the Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, female arts, crafts, justice and skill.

September Devotional Service - Tara

The Goddess who will form the central theme for September's devotional service at The Goddess House will be the Bodhisattva Tara, and in particular the Green Tara(the Buddha of enlightened activity), as there are actually many different forms of Tara.

More information about the Green Tara can be found in a previous posting about her.

Some of the forms of Tara include:

White Tara - who is known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra,

Red Tara - a fierce aspect associated with magnetizing all good things,

Black Tara - associated with power,

Yellow Tara - associated with wealth and prosperity; and
Blue Tara - associated with transmutation of anger.

Spring Equinox, Eggs and Seeds

With the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox just around the corner for those of us residing south of the equator, there are still two traditional symbols associated with this festival - that of the egg and the seed.

Eggs are one of the symbols of this festival since they represent new life and potential. Folklore tells us (combining two themes of the season) that eggs balance on their ends most easily at equinox.  Femininst author, Z Budapest, in her book Grandmother of Time says that eggs were dyed red (the color of life) on the Festival of Astarte (17 March, close to the time of the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere). 

Prayer to the Goddess

Oh Goddess,
You Yourself are the Creator. Everything that happens is by Your Doing.
There is no one except You.

You created the creation; You behold it and understand it.
Amongst all is the Light--You are that Light.
By this Illumination, that Light is radiant within all.
The Goddess is the Greatest of the Great. No one calls Her any less.
No one can estimate Her Worth. By speaking of Her, Her Greatness is not increased.
You are the One True Mistress of all the other beings, of so many worlds.
Come, my dear sisters and spiritual companions; hug me close in your embrace.