Honouring Red Catherine

There is an amazing woman who lives a couple of hours drive from me whose passion and drive is an inspiration.  She is not a young woman, but on her property in the Angus Valley, she runs an animal refuge by herself.  This property is aptly named "Artemis" and contains a menagerie of animals at any one time.  And this woman is the one and only Red Catherine Johns.

A published author, artist and healer, Red Catherine is known as being the last Romani woman to still "goes on the drom" or travels around Australia in a horse drawn "Vardo" (caravan). 

A Morning Prayer for Freya

Freya is the Norse Goddess of Love and Beauty, as well as fertility, war, and wealth. The daughter of Njord, and sister of Frey, Freya lived in Folkvang (battlefield) where each day, she chose half of the slain warriors (with the other half going with Odin).

Norse legend tells of Freya, whose chariot was pulled by two black cats. Some versions of the tale claim they became swift black horses, possessed by the Devil. After serving Freya for seven years, the cats were rewarded by being turned into witches, disguised as black cats. The cats also played around her ankles as a symbol of her domesticity.

Spell for Healing Colds

This spell is useful for healing colds and other minor, common diseases.

Supplies:

6 small green candles,

healing oil (see below)

matches

Picture of sick friend (not necessary, visualization will do).  On the first day of symptoms, take the green candles, anoint them with healing oil in the direction of banishing for getting rid of illness and meditate your purpose over them (healing for a friend), and then light the candles one by one for six hours (one on each hour), chanting the following 3 times for each candle while visualizing your friend's face (or looking at the photo):

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.

The Story of Creation - Creating Ritual

In Pelasgian (and later Greek) myth, the Goddess Eurynome danced the world into creation from the dark void of Chaos.  The following is based on that ancient story which has been transformed into a way of calling in the elemental quarters when creating a sacred space.

For those who are not based in the Southern Hemisphere, or who use different placements for the elementals, feel free to adapt.

Bone Mother and the Child of Winter

The mid Winter solstice may have gone and this morning the fragile sun is warming the land, but this is an illusion ... Winter is far from over as the weather can quickly change within a blink of an eye.

This time of uncertainty is ruled by the Bone Mother, the Goddess of Winter.  Often referred to as the "Unknown One", the Bone Mother is often considered to be older than time itself for it was she who created time - to the Hindus, she is referred to as Kali.  She is also considered to be of the land, yet as she walked, she created the land.  To the inhabitants of the British Isles and Ireland, and in particular of the islands off north west Scotland, she is known as the Cailleach.