Thursday, July 26, 2018

For The First Night Of The Blessing Moon (Hay Moon)

The Blessing Moon is the full moon that occurs in July. Other names for the Blessing Moon are: Hay Moon, Buck Moon, Wort Moon, Moon of Claiming, Moon of Blood (because of mosquitoes), Maedmonat (Meadow Month), Hewimanoth (Hay Moon), Fallow Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Ripe Corn Moon, Middle of Summer Moon, and Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken By Fruit. The name Buck Moon was named that because July is when the new antlers of buck deer push out from their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. The name Full Thunder Moon is because it's when thunderstorms are the most frequent in North America. As I'm writing from North America, I'm using names that were used here, as well as some names traced back to Europe. 





Saturday, May 26, 2018

Who were the pre-Islamic Arabic Goddesses al-Lāt, al-'Uzzá, and Manāt?

The pre-Islamic Arabic Goddesses al-Lāt, al-'Uzzá, and Manāt

The mother Goddess al-Lāt was actually the consort of the Pagan God Allah, who was the high God who created heaven and Earth. She is the mother of the God Dhu'Shara, and indeed she has many children. As for al-Lāt, She was the chief Goddess of the Banu Thaqif. She has the power to create life and give birth, and the Kaaba (cubic sanctuary) is sacred to her as the creator of the deities. She is the Queen of Heaven for the Arabs, and in ancient times was worshiped by many people, including the Thaqif, Lihyan, Quraysh, Nabataeans, and Tadmorites. The Thaqif had the main idol and sanctuary for Her in the city of Ta'if, and an edifice was built over the idol. Allat's idols are in the shape of a cubic white rock, and offerings of barley porridge (sawiq) are prepared for her. She has a lot in common with other goddesses like the Canaanite Goddess Asherah (called Elat), the Roman Goddess ‎Minerva, the Greek Goddess Athena, and the Carthaginian Goddess Allatu. The moon and crescent that Muslims use still today is the symbol of al-Lāt, and was so way before Islam started.

The original symbol of the Goddess al-Lāt, which was later co-opted by the emerging Islamic relgion


The Goddess al-'Uzzá was the Goddess of love, war, and beauty, as well as of the morning and evening star. She is the daughter of Allah. She has two daughters and her consort is Dhu'Shara. In ancient times, al-'Uzzá was first a Sabaean and southern Arabian goddess, but Her cult spread to the Nabataeans in the north. Many people worshiped Her, including the Quraysh, Sulaym, Ghanim, Khuza'ah, Kinanah, Nabataeans, and Sabaeans. Her idol stood in a sanctuary called Buss, which contained an altar called al-Ghabghab and was used for sacrifices and prayers. Nearby to the temple stood three acacia trees in the Valley of Nakhlat al-Sha'miyah, near Makkah. She is similar to the Roman Goddess ‎Venus, the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, the Canaanites Goddesses Ashtart and Anat, the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar, and the Sumerian Goddess Inanna.

al-Lāt and Her lion


The Goddess Manāt is the wife of the God Hubal, daughter of Ruda, and the Goddess of Fate. Manāt was worshiped by many different tribes, including the Khazraj, the Aws, the Nabataeans, the Hudhayl, and the Khuza'ah. She is the most ancient of the three Goddesses discussed. She is the Goddess of time, destiny, fate, divination, and She leads heroes to the grave. At the end of the required pilgrimage, the Arabs would visit Manāt's shrine and shave their heads.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Witches' New Year!


Tonight at dusk Samhain began. Samhain is the Witches' New Year, and a time for new beginnings and letting go of negativity that may have plagued you in the recent year. This has been a particularly negative year for me, hence the absence of new blog entries. I entered a depressive episode of my bipolar disorder in early December 2015, and am just now starting to slowly come out of it. In the last month my depression has been moderate to mild, and I've even had a few days without depression. While I'd like the depression to be gone, it's still much better than the severe suicidal depression I've been experiencing since December. My anxiety is still quite bad, especially my social anxiety. DH and I have lost some "friends" this year, and it has effected my self confidence a lot. I can barely make phone calls, even important ones.

This year my Pagan New Years Resolution is to blog more often in Pagan Spoonie, while exploring my spiritual and religious beliefs and feelings. I also want to continue to learn about and write about studying world religions.

This year has also been difficult on us financially. Things are really tight, and I probably won't be able to get much in the way of Christmas gifts. I do have Christmas gifts for my sister's step-daughter already, and want to get some presents for her step-son. I just don't know if I'll be able to afford to mail them by Christmas. While I've grown closer to my Mama and Daddy, I've become even more distant with my sister. This is the same sister (my only sister) who didn't invite me to her wedding, even though we promised each other since she was four and I was seven that we would be each other's bridesmaids. That's right, I wasn't invited. She married about four years ago, and claimed she had no way to know how to get a hold of me to invite me, even though a Google search would give all the information that she needed to invite me. Worst of all, she has never apologized. I want to let go of this anger. I don't plan on forgiving her, but I don't want to carry on with all that hurt and anger inside of me all the time. I don't have to forgive her to drop the negative feelings inside. I also want to dispel the sadness, hurt, and anger at the loss of "friendship" this year.

So I have a resolution to blog more, and a desire to dispel the negativity I carry inside. I hope you all have a wonderful Samhain!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Prayer to Epione #4

Disclaimer: This prayer was taken from the blog The Healer's Blade.  This prayer was not written by me.

You who face me in the night
seeking to know me
heed my words.
I am she who is the sacrifice for all
and all of the suffering of the world comes to me.
My touch brings gentle solace.
My kiss steals pain away.
I am Epione, once queen of Epidauros.
Your people have forgotten me
but I am here still.
I was there at your birth
my hand upon your mother’s brow
as she made her sacrifice in pain to give life to another.
I was there when you first knew heartbreak and despair
and it was my love that helped you heal.
At your death, I will be beside you
my kiss to take away your worldly pains.
At every turn, I am there
to swallow your agony and drink your tears.
All self-sacrifice for the sake of others
belongs to me.
You who hear my call have been chosen
yet the path of compassion
of love and kindness without prejudice
without choice
is not a gentle one.
Those who come with pale heart and trembling lips
my path will destroy.
Your feet will be numb with weariness
but it will not be enough.
Your hands will ache, your heart break
but it will not be enough.
You will pledge to me a life of service
but it will not be enough.
You will be brought low, humbled and scorned
but it will not be enough.
Only when compassion is your breath and blood
will you know me.
Only when you weep for all
offering your worst enemy what you would give your brother
will you be my child.
Only when you bare your throat on the altar of healing
yourself the sacrifice that will soothe others
will you belong to me.
And then the work begins.

Picture found on this website

Friday, January 2, 2015

Soon my altar will be put up, soon

DH got me three new things for my altar for Christmas, and I'm really excited about it.  We didn't do anything for Yule, in fact I wasn't aware it was Yule until someone said "Have a blessed Yule" that afternoon.  I've got everything for my altar: the altar itself, a cauldron, crystals, candles, etc.  All I have to do now is get it out of the box and set it up.  I don't use a wand, because it just doesn't feel right for me; instead I use my finger for the things other people would use a wand for.  I don't like phallic symbols or objects.
Witch cartoon created by Mark Parisi
Our kitty has been having some problems lately, so we are taking her to the vet soon.  If anyone would like to send up a few prayers for her good health, I'd appreciate it.  I don't care what religion you are.

This year I want to be more spiritual.  I want to celebrate all the Sabbats a bit more than I usually do, as well as observe the full moons.  The next full moon where I live is Sunday, January 4th at 10:54 pm.

I think the biggest challenge I've faced so far has been being able to concentrate when I'm in so much pain, like I am right now.  It makes it really hard to do magick or even celebrate the fertility or harvest of the land when I can't concentrate.  I need to start meditating again so that perhaps I can overcome these problems.  I have a CD on guided meditation for pain relief, and I really want to check that out.  I'm surprised I've had it as long as I have and not listened to it yet.  I put it up in the bedroom when I got it and forgot about it until right now.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Yule, Christmas, and New Year, if you celebrate these holidays.  If you don't I still hope the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 have been wonderful for  you.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Prayer to Epione #3

Disclaimer: This is a prayer taken from the blog underflow.  I did not write this prayer.

Soft-voiced Epione, beloved of skillful
Asklepios, mother of learned daughters four:
Hygeia who grants us hale and hearty lives;
Akeso who knits our bones and cools our fevers;
Panacea who holds the cure of all that ails;
and Iaso who knows of many remedies.
Blessed Epione, easer of distress,
to you do we turn when the torments of ill health
grow great, when wounds and maladies consume the soul,
when pain is cruel, bitter beyond bearing;
then do you come, sweet goddess, bringing comfort
and relief, easing the hurt. Goddess, I praise you.

Picture from this website

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Prayer to Epione #2

Disclaimer: This prayer was taken from the blog Greek Pagan.  I did not write this prayer.

Tender-hearted Epione, fair-haired bride
of wise Asklepios, mother of clever
Hygeia, gentle one who gives comfort and ease
to those whose hurt has passed the point of bearing,
kindly goddess whose soft hands soothe all agonies,
learned one who knows all remedies, all reliefs.
Epione, grant to this wo/man your gift of rest
and respite, keep at bay the torment and the pain.

Picture from this website


Saturday, November 22, 2014

Prayer to Epione #1

Disclaimer: This prayer is from the blog 'If a man obeys the Gods they are quick to hear his prayers.'  I did not write this prayer.

Praise be to tender and merciful Epione. I honour and adore you. Beloved wife of Asklepios, Godly mother of Iaso, Hygeia, Panakeia and Akeso and celestial mother to many more. Forgive me for my errors. Kindly Goddess, I beg you to ease my burden of loneliness, jealousy, heartache and fear. Please stop me from hurting so badly that I cannot continue. I plead to your grace and the grace of your family. Lay your fair hand upon me, comfort me as no one else will. I want so very strongly and I know that is wrong but I pray that you will not let me endure more than I can bear when I don’t think I can last much longer. Honour, worship and respect to you, gentle and learned Goddess. I am thankful for your blessings.

Picture found on this website