Give me a look, give me a face, that makes simplicity a grace; Robes loosely flowing, hair as free — Such sweet neglect more taketh me Than all the adulteries of art: They strike mine eyes, but not my heart. ~ from Epicæne; Or, the Silent Woman by Benjamin Johnson (1572-1637) If you have been … Read more
A silver apple falls. There, amongst the branches, the mother sits. Weaver of dreams against the weft of the wood, Insight falls like gentle rain on a moon-bathed garden. – Song to Hecate, by Alison Jones Now we make ready for the great festival of Imbolc, sometimes called Candlemas or Brigid. In many places, the … Read more
Hope is a thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings a tune without words And never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickinson As you have probably noticed, this journey through the Houses is a much more loosely focused theme than others we have examined in past years. There is lots more we … Read more
Remember that this is the last day of the month, and is sacred to the Goddess Hecate. Hecate is the psychopomp, who shows the way to those crossing to the lands of the dead. As such, She is the Guardian of the Crossroads (specifically, all mundane road crossings as well as the crossroads between realms). … Read more
I am Hecate of the Ways, of the Cross-Ways, of the Darkness, of the Heaven and the Earth and the Sea; saffron-clad Goddess of the Grave, exulting among the spirits of the dead; Perseia, lover of loneliness; Queen who holdest the Keys of the world… — from The Woman at the Cross-ways by Fiona Macleod … Read more
Sparks from the hearth Of the Queen of Death and Life. Swarm through the dark, Dance through the night. – Sparks, © J. Robin Gall from Reclaiming Second Chants, Serpentine Music Productions On Samhain, we mark the transformation of the Goddess to Her Dark Mother and Crone aspects. We give thanks for the many gifts … Read more
When in still air and still in summertime A leaf has had enough of this, it seems To make up its mind to go; fine as a sage Its drifting in detachment down the road. — Howard Nemerov, Threshold This is the eve of Lughnassadh, also called Lammas in the Christian revision of the Pagan … Read more
I was unable to post this earlier today, but I would never forget to mention that today is is the last day of the month and so is sacred to blessed Hecate, Queen of the Night and mighty Guardian of the Crossroads. It is the Triple Goddess Hecate who protects women and those who are … Read more
Let us not forget that this is the last day of the month, and so is sacred to the great Triple Goddess, Hecate. On this day, we honor the Her as Queen of the Night and the Goddess of Witches. Hecate is a protector of women, mighty advocate for the disenfranchised, and She who guards … Read more
Do you not see how mighty is the Goddess Aphrodite? She sows and gives that love from which all we upon this earth are born. — Empedocles ca. 490-430 BCE Instead of honoring the various Christian martyrs named St. Valentine on this date, let us celebrate what we REALLY want this day to be about: … Read more