3/30/2012

Earth Mother


The earth is at the same time mother.
She is mother of all that is natural,
mother of all that is human.
She is the mother of all,
for contained in her are the seeds of all.
The earth of humankind contains
all moistness,
all verdancy,
all germinating power.

Hildegard of Bingen
(translation by Gabriele Uhlein)


"Earth Mother," painting by Edward Burne-Jones, 1882.


3/27/2012

Chaitra Navratri


 In honor of the Navratri Festival, celebrating the Goddess Shakti/Devi in her various forms.
The Chaitra Navratri (or Vasant Navratri) began on March 23rd and continues for nine nights.

(photo of the nine Goddesses by Elishams)

3/20/2012

Blessings of Spring!


Flora was the Roman Goddess of flowers and springtime.


(Painting of the Goddess Flora by Louise Abbéma, 1913)

3/19/2012

Temple of Learning ~ New payment plans


This is a note to let you know that we have updated our payment plans in order to offer more flexibility and variety. If you recently inquired, please download a new Enrollment Guide at the same link that you were provided.

Also in response to requests for more time this month, we are extending the application date to March 27th. Please have your applications in by this date in order to be enrolled by April 1st. Thank you and many blessings in Her name!

3/14/2012

Oshun Oríkì


Oshun Oríkì

Brass and parrot feathers on a velvet skin.
White cowrie shells on black buttocks.
Her eyes sparkle in the forest,
like the sun on the river.
She is the wisdom of the forest
She is the wisdom of the river.
Where doctors failed, she cures with fresh water.
Where medicine is impotent, she cures with cool water.
She cures the child and does not charge the father.
She feeds the barren woman with honey,
and her dry body swells up like a juicy palm fruit.
Oh how sweet is the touch of a child's hand.



Traditional Oriki from "Yoruba Myths" by Ulli Beier.
Photo of Temple of Oshun in Nigeria, by J. Oliveira.



3/07/2012

Happy Full Moon!


May this month's Full Moon in Virgo bring you the beauty of being grounded in the spiritual!

3/01/2012


"I invoke Shri Lakshmi, who has a line of horses in her front, a series of chariots in the middle, who is being awakened by the trumpeting of elephants, who is divinely resplendent. May that divine Lakshmi grace me. I hereby invoke that Shri Lakshmi who is the embodiment of absolute bliss; who is of pleasant smile on her face; whose luster is that of burnished gold; who is wet as it were, (just from the milky ocean) who is blazing with splendor, and is the embodiment of the fulfillment of all wishes; who satisfies the desire of her votaries; who is seated on the lotus and is beautiful like the lotus. . ."

(section from the Sri Sukta, painting by Raja Ravi Varma, 1896)