LaurieStory & Jeremiah Goddess Narration Click Here!
Please forgive any & all mis-pronunciations!
Throughout different times, cultures, and religions, the divine feminine has been seen in Goddess worship. Some Goddess' like Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy & Compassion & Lakshimi, Goddess of Prosperity are still revered today. Many pagan or wiccenpractices center on the Goddess. Another popular focus today is the 'goddess in every woman'. While patriarchial societies dominate today, women or matriarchial rule have had long reigns in history where love, compassion & peaceful strength was the feminine guiding force.
Modern Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is a growing religious movement based on combinations of ancient polytheism, modern eco-spirituality, and reverence for the Divine as both masculine and feminine. Some of the more common traditions include Wicca or Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, Heathen, Asatru, Strega, Druidic spiritual paths, Goddess-Worshippers, and other earth-centered religions. Practitioners are found in all walks of life from professionals to homemakers, and simply enjoy celebrating a religion that emphasizes respect for nature, humanity, and oneself.
Wicca is the largest of the Neopagan religions. Wiccans have great reverence for the Earth and for their Goddess and her consort, the horned God. Their main rule of behavior is the Wiccan Rede which forbids them from harming people, including themselves, except in some cases of self-defense.
Pray: May The Blessing of God Go Before You
May Her peace and grace abound.
May her spirit live within you.
May her love wrap you ‘round.
May her blessing remain with you always.
May you walk on holy ground.
~Miriam Therese Winter, Life Prayers
"Borrowed" from Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway at http://www.soulfulliving.com/divinefeminine.htm
Read Rev. Laurie's wonderful account of the goddess in religion at the above link ... thank you, thank you! Play:
The Goddess SongYouTube Video:
Sabbats and Holidays
Wiccans and Pagans have rituals in honor of all the earth cycles. Pagans and Wiccans around the world celebrate the eight Sabbats, or holidays, as the Wheel of the Year turns. The Sabbats are Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas or Lughnasadh, and Mabon. Some of the biggest celebrations are the Solstices, Litha & Yule in June & December & the Equinoxes Ostara & Mabon in March & September. The physical location of your hemisphere & the placement of the sun determines the celebration. Equinox
The current equinox celebration falls bewteen the 20-23 of September each year in a four year cycle. This year it is on the 22nd depending on where you are in the world. The northern hemisphere celebrates Mabon, Fall harvest & the southern hemisphere, Ostera, Spring Planting. The equinox marks the time that the Sun spends an equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every location on Earth. The word equinox derives from the Latin words aequus (equal) & nox (night). It is a time of honoring the wisdom of the earth with focus and attention to balance. Let's celebrate!
Mabon: Mabon Balance Prayer
Written by Patti Wigington
Equal hours of light and darkness
we celebrate the balance of Mabon,
and ask the gods to bless us.
For all that is bad, there is good.
For that which is despair, there is hope.
For the moments of pain,
there are moments of love.
For all that falls,
there is the chance to rise again.
May we find balance in our lives
as we find it in our hearts.
Ostera: Children's Ostara Chant
Written by Patti Wigington
Welcome, welcome, warm fresh earth!
Today we celebrate rebirth!
Blowing wind, rising sun,
Bringing the spring to everyone!
Rabbits hopping, chicks in the nest,
Spring is the season we love the best!
Celebrate the green of the earth with me -
Happy Ostara, and blessed be!
