12/31/2014

Happy New Year!

 
 May the magic within you be manifested
in peace, compassion, and beauty throughout 2015.

12/30/2014

News article: Worshippers honor Goddess of the Sea


From the article: "People carry small-scaled boats into the waters of Copacabana beach as an offering for Iemanja, goddess of the sea, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Dec. 29, 2014. As the year winds down, Brazilian worshippers of Iemanja celebrate the deity, offerings flowers and launching boats, large and small, into the ocean in exchange for blessings in the coming year."
 
 
(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

12/23/2014

News Article: Preservation of Priestess Grave Goods

 
From Andina:  Germany likely to finance preservation of Peruvian priestess grave goods.  "The German government plans to contribute US $70,000 to the preservation of grave goods found surrounding the remains of the Chornancap priestess, the woman of the greatest hierarchy yet discovered in the Lambayeque culture."
 

12/20/2014

Happy Solstice!

 
Blessings of the Solstice and the New Moon.
May the light within you shine forth in beauty.
 
 
 
(Artwork by Jen Page)

12/12/2014

Blessings on Her Feast Day

 
"Am I not here, who is your Mother?
Are you not under my protection?
Am I not your health?
Are you not happily within my fold?
What else do you wish?
Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."
(The Nican Mopohua)

 
 

Painting of Tonantzin-Guadalupe by Estrella Apolonia.

12/05/2014

Happy full moon

 
Blessings of the Full Moon in Gemini.
May Her rays illuminate goodness in both heart and mind.
 
 
 
 
(photo copyright yukannewsameba.jp)

12/02/2014

Ute Earth Prayer

 
Ute Earth Prayer
Earth teach me quiet, as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering, as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility, as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring, as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage, as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation, as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom, as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance, as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal, as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself, as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness, as dry fields weep with rain.



(photo, Ute rock art)

11/26/2014

Bountiful Blessings

 
Blessings of beauty and abundance to all!
 
In the Orchard
by: Frank Dvorak

11/18/2014

Maya Devi

 
"From the palms of her hands to the soles of her feet,
Her face and her body are exquisite, more than divine.
Indeed, we cannot gaze upon her long enough,
For she brings increasing joy to heart and mind.
Like the moon in the sky glows her beautiful face;
Like the light from the sun her body shines;
Her beauty sparkles like a nugget of pure gold.
She has perfumed curls like the large black bee,
Eyes like lotus petals, teeth like stars in the heavens."
 
 
 
(Lalitavistara, trans. Bays. Mayadevi painting, 20th cent.)


Kwan Yin Rock Carving Restoration in China


"After weathering centuries of wind erosion and damages, the 800-year-old rock carving of the 'Thousand-handed Goddess of Mercy,' also known as the Guanyin or Kwanyin, is being restored to its former glory by a team of experts from southwest China.  Originally carved in stone during the southern Song Dynasty, the statue is now housed at the Dazu Rock Carvings, a World Heritage site located in Chongqing where specialists like Xiang Li are cautiously restoring it to its original state."



(photo copyright CNTV.CN)

11/06/2014

Full Moon Blessings

 
Blessings of the Full Moon in Taurus!
May the visions you hold for the future be manifested on earth in beauty.
 
 
 
(Europa and the Bull, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, circa 330 bce)

10/29/2014

Honoring the Ancestors

 
Over the next few days, there are many honoring and celebrating different holidays, such as Samhain, Hallowmas, and All Souls Day. In our part of the world (the Sonoran Desert), this time is also known as Dia de los Muertos, or the "Day of the Dead."
 
This day goes back over 3500 years in Mexico, as well as many parts of the U.S., Central America and Spain. It is presided over by the Lady of the Dead, the Aztec Goddess Mictecacihuatl.

People observe this day by dancing and wearing wooden skull masks known as calacas. This is done to show respect for their relatives who have passed over. Family gravesites and altars are decorated with sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, food, and other items specific to the ancestors' past occupations and what they enjoyed.

This festival takes place over many days, beginning with the spirits of the children (angelitos) arriving the night of October 31st. The spirits of the adults follow on November 1st. After a family meal together on November 2nd, they are bid farewell until the next year.

Blessings to you and your ancestors.


(photo of women dressed as La Calavera Catrina, by J. Zimmerman, Mexico)

10/28/2014

Minoan Phaistos Disc - Prayer to the Goddess


From the Article:

The disk can be read in a spiral direction from the outside rim to the inside. Using what previous studies have shown about Cretan hieroglyphics, and the scripts Minoan Linear A and Mycenaean Linear B from ancient Greece, the researcher was able to identify three key words:
  • IQEKURJA, which may mean "pregnant mother" and/or "goddess."
  • IQE, which may mean "mother" and/or "goddess" and which appears repeatedly on the disk.
  • IQEPAJE or IQE-PHAE, which may mean "shining mother" or "goddess."
Owens concluded that the disk may contain a prayer to a Minoan goddess. "The goddess mother has been suspected for a century because of what we think we know about Minoan religion, but the point was to prove it linguistically." 
 
 
 
(Disc photo by Getty Images)

10/22/2014

Changing Woman

 
Changing-Woman, she moves
Her shoes of turquoise, she moves
Her shoes of turquoise trimmed in black, she moves
Her shoe-strings of turquoise, she moves
Her leggings of turquoise, she moves
Her garters of turquoise, she moves
Her buckskin-fringed trousers of turquoise, she moves
Her dancing-skirt of turquoise, she moves
Her belt of turquoise, she moves
Her shirt of turquoise, she moves
Her bracelet of turquoise, she moves
Her necklace of turquoise, she moves
Her earrings of turquoise, she moves
The pollen of the various precious things has been placed in
her mouth, she moves
Her visor of turquoise, she moves
A turquoise has been placed on her forehead, she moves
Her feather of turquoise, she moves
Above her a female blue-bird dances about beautifully, she moves
She sings: her voice is beautiful, she moves
Sahanahray Bekayhozhon, she moves
Behind her all is beautiful, she moves
Before her all is beautiful, she moves.
 
Navajo Ceremonial Chant,
(translated by Dr. Hoijer)
 
(Painting copyright David K. John.)

10/10/2014

Goddess in the News

 
Amateur archaeologist digs up Roman goddess in South Shields. From the article: "Mrs Gill says the head of the newly found statue, which has delicately carved facial features and is wearing a mural crown, is the best thing she’s ever found. She said: "At first I thought it was just a stone. It looked like a three-inch pebble on its side, but then I saw a line on it, so I knew it was something else.. .Then when I saw the face of the goddess, and I thought ‘how glorious’."


 

10/07/2014

Full Moon Eclipse

 
Blessings of the October Blood Moon Eclipse!  The eclipse will begin at 1:17am and be at maximum at 3:55am (PST).  In certain areas, it will also include the chance to view a rare selenelion, when sun and moon may be viewed at the same time.
 
 
 
(photo copyright F. Espenak, Nasa website)
 

10/06/2014

Reminder: Home-Study Enrollment


Just a reminder that our final application deadline for this year is coming up on November 1st, 2014.   The next enrollment period won't be until Spring, 2015.

If you would like to learn more about our correspondence courses and becoming a student in our Goddess mystery school, please go to our website link below. Thank you!

In Her Name - Temple of Learning: http://www.inhername.com

9/25/2014

Happy Navratri!

 
This year's Navratri begins on September 25th and will be celebrated until October 3rd. (Durga Puja celebrations are on September 29th.)  During this festival of the nine nights, nine forms of the Mother Goddess Shakti/Devi are honored. Each region in India celebrates this festival according to their own tradition, but in some areas three days each are dedicated to Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati, respectively. This holiday culminates on the tenth day with the observance of Vijayadashami.

9/22/2014

Equinox Blessings


May the abundance of the season surround and nourish your soul.




In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

(painting by Karl Bang)

9/08/2014

Happy full moon!

 
Blessings of the Full Moon in Pisces.
May her rays bring deep cleansing and lasting healing to all.



(Mermaid Full Moon artwork copyright Sue Halstenberg.)

9/05/2014

Prayer to Sarasvati

 
"Fair as a jasmine flower, the moon or a flake of snow,
Dressed in white, your hands adorned by the graceful veena staff,
Adorned by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the other deities,
Protect me, Oh Goddess Saraswati, remover of ignorance inert."

 

 (Traditional prayer to Sarasvati. Photo of Sarasvati altar, Mangalore Kudroli temple by Karunakar Rayker.)

8/22/2014

4,000 Year-Old ‘Masked Goddess’ Statue Named National Treasure


"The figure, which was made by piling up the circular clay strings, is estimated to have been created in the late period of the Jomon Age, which is thought to have begun as long as 16,000 years ago. “In the Jomon Age, which lasted in peace for 10,000 years, people lived together with the nature, refrained from taking more than they needed and helped each other,” Chiyokazu Yanagidaira, the mayor of Chino city, which possesses the statue, said Thursday.

8/21/2014

City of Mother Goddess


"Celal Bayar University Archaeology Department Professor Serdar Aybek said Metropolis was established in the third century B.C. and was an important city of trade along with Ephesus and Smyrna. It was known as the “Mother Goddess City” in mythology . . . The artistic style of the theater, assembly building and baths in Metropolis is very important. Structures were built like a sculpture. Excavations show us that the city is bigger than we estimated. For example, excavations are continuing on the third biggest bath in the city. It covers an area of some 6,000 square meters and is a magnificent structure. We see that the infrastructure of the Roman-era bath has survived so far to a great extent”.

8/14/2014

8/10/2014

Full moon blessings

 
May this first harvest "supermoon" in Aquarius
inspire your creativity to pour forth in abundance and beauty!

8/05/2014

The Muse Melpomene


"To each of the Mousai men assign her special aptitude for one of the branches of the liberal arts . . . for the name of each Mousa, they say, men have found a reason appropriate to her . . . Melpomene, from the chanting by which she charms... the souls of her listeners." 
Diodorus Siculus, trans. Oldfather

Originally, Melpomene was the Muse of Singing. Her name means "one who is melodious" and is derived from the Greek root word melpomai, "to celebrate with dance and song". Later, during the Classical era, she became the Muse of Tragedy. In this photo she is holding the mask of tragedy in one hand, a club in the other, and wears a wreath of the vines and grapes of Dionysus. 
 

 
(statue by Monte Calvo, 2nd century AD. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark)


In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

8/01/2014

Lughnasadh Blessings


May your first harvest of the season be bountiful and a joy to reap!
 
 
 

7/12/2014

Happy Full Moon!

 
Blessings of the Full Moon in Capricorn.
May all your good works and dedication bring forth beautiful abundance.
 
 
 
(artwork by Josephine Wall)
 

7/11/2014

In the news: Goddess Glows Golden Once More



"The 13-foot-tall sculpture of the Roman goddess Diana by Augustus Saint-Gaudens stands atop the Great Stair Hall after a yearlong restoration, Thursday, July 10, 2014, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia. The work originally crowned one of the early venues for New York’s Madison Square Garden, where it served as a weather vane starting in 1893. After the building was demolished in 1925, the sculpture was put in storage, its gilded surface severely worn down by the elements. The museum acquired it in 1932." 



(photo copyright Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article704638.html#storylink=cpy

7/04/2014

Earth, the Mother of All


Homeric Hymn to Earth, the Mother of All:

"I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings. She feeds all creatures that are in the world, all that go upon the goodly land, and all that are in the paths of the seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her store. Through you, O queen, men are blessed in their children and blessed in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give means of life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the man whom you delight to honour! He has all things abundantly: his fruitful land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered with cattle, and his house is filled with good things. Such men rule orderly in their cities of fair women: great riches and wealth follow them: their sons exult with ever-fresh delight, and their daughters in flower-laden bands play and skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field. Thus is it with those whom you honour O holy goddess, bountiful spirit."


(Fragment of frontispiece illustration by Jan Wandelaar in the "Hortus Cliffortianus."  Mother Earth holds the keys to the garden and sits upon a lion. Apollo, brings light and casts aside the shroud of darkness around Her.)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

6/30/2014

Navajo chant


White-Shell-Woman, she moves
Her shoes of white shell, she moves
Her shoes trimmed in black, she moves
Her shoe-strings of white shell, she moves
Her leggings of white shell, she moves
Her garters of white shell, she moves
Her buckskin-fringed trousers of white shell, she moves
Her dancing-skirt of white shell, she moves
Her belt of white shell, she moves
Her shirt of white shell, she moves
Her bracelet of white shell, she moves
Her necklace of white shell, she moves
Her earrings of white shell, she moves
The pollen of the various robes is placed in her mouth, she moves
Her visor of white shell, she moves
A white shell has been placed on her forehead, she moves
Her feather of white shell, she moves
Above her a male blue-bird dances about beautifully, she moves
He sings: his voice is beautiful, she moves
Sahanahray Bekayhozhon, she moves
Before her all is beautiful, she moves
Behind her all is beautiful, she moves.
 
Navajo Ceremonial Chant,
(translated by Dr. Hoijer)
 
 

6/20/2014

Solstice Blessings

 
Happy Summer Solstice!
May this season bring you abundance and joy.
 
 
 
(Heavenwards by Sophie Sophie Gengembre Anderson)

6/12/2014

Blessings of the Full Moon


May this full moon in Sagittarius bring you courage 
in manifesting your dreams and visions.
 
 
(Copper Woman by Susan Seddon Boulet.)

6/09/2014

River offering begins Odunde celebration


"In an African ceremony both somber and celebratory, about 500 people walked to the foot of the South Street Bridge toting gifts of fruit and flowers Sunday afternoon for the Yoruba goddess Oshun.The noon ritual, in which followers - many wearing white - dropped the offerings into the Schuylkill, marked the beginning of Odunde, the annual celebration of African culture that draws hundreds of thousands to the area around 22d and South Streets.  "Oshun is why we're here. It's as simple as that," said Oshunbumi Fernandez, chief executive officer of Odunde, the nonprofit that organizes the festival her mother, Lois Fernandez, founded 39 years ago."
(photo by A. Thayer, The Philadelphia Inquirer)

6/06/2014

Researchers Discover Traces of the Planet That Helped Create the Moon


"Researchers believe that a planet, named Theia, collided with Earth 4.5 billion years ago, creating the moon from floating debris. . . Researchers have long hypothesized that Theia — named after the Greek goddess who was the mother of Selene, the goddess of the moon — collided with Earth and was destroyed upon impact."

 
 
 
(Getty Image of Moon, included with article)
 

5/21/2014

Reminder: Home-Study Enrollment

 
Our next application deadline is this Sunday, May 25th. If you would like to learn more about our correspondence courses and becoming a student in our mystery school, please go to our website link below.  Thank you!

In Her Name - Temple of Learning: http://www.inhername.com

5/14/2014

Hail Hecate!

 
"Hekate Einodia, Trioditis, lovely dame,
of earthly, watery, and celestial frame,
sepulchral, in a saffron veil arrayed,
pleased with dark ghosts that wander through the shade;
Perseis, solitary goddess, hail!
The world’s key-bearer, ...
never doomed to fail;
in stags rejoicing, huntress, nightly seen,
and drawn by bulls, unconquerable queen;
Leader, nymphe, nurse, on mountains wandering,
hear the suppliants who with holy rites thy power revere,
and to the herdsman with a favouring mind draw near."

(Orphic Hymn 1 to Hekate; Hekate sculpture from Athens, National Archaelogical Museum)

5/13/2014

Full Moon Blessings


Blessings of the Full Moon in Scorpio and the Lunar Beltane.
May this moon bring deep introspection
and release of that which no longer serves.



(artwork from Wordpress, artist unknown)

4/30/2014

Hymn of Inanna and Dumuzi

 
Inanna at the command of her mother,
Bathed, anointed herself with goodly oil,
Covered her body with the noble pala garment
Took…her dowry,
Arranged the lapis lazuli about her neck,
Grasped her seal in her hand
The lady directed her step,
Opened the door for Dumuzi,
In the house she came forth to him
like the light of the moon,
Gazed at him, rejoiced for him,
Embraced him.
 
(Hymn of Inanna and Dumuzi
translation by Samuel Kramer)

4/22/2014

Pawnee Earth Prayer

 
Behold! Our Mother Earth is lying here.
Behold! She gives of her fruitfulness.
Truly her power she gives us.
Give thanks to Mother Earth who lies here.

Behold on Mother Earth the growing fields!
Behind the promise of her fruitfulness!
Truly her power she gives us.
Give thanks to Mother Earth who lies here.
 Behold on Mother Earth the spreading trees!
Behold the promise of her fruitfulness!
Truly, her power she giveth to us,
Give thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here!

Behold on Mother Earth the running streams!
Behold the promise of her fruitfulness!
Truly, her power she giveth to us,
Give thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here!

Traditional Pawnee
(translation by Alice C. Fletcher)
 
(Artwork copyright Steven Kenny.)

4/14/2014

Blessings of the Pink Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse

 
As the brightness of the full moon slowly fades during the lunar eclipse,
may we take a moment to look within and acknowledge
the beauty of the dark, as well as the light.
 
 
 

4/03/2014

Hymn to Cybele

 
Hail Great Idaean Mother of the Gods!
Hail O Most Holy Elder Goddess!
I humbly pray, O Cybele,
Berecynthian Mother Dindymene!
Take us under Thy protection
That Thou may defend us.
We offer this prayer
To graciously grant peace and joy,
And health to our families.
Look favorably upon us
and never abandon Thy children.



(Cybele, Nicaea, Bithynia. Ä°stanbul Archaeological Museum.)

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

3/20/2014

Happy Spring!


Blessings of the Equinox to one and all!
 
 
 
 
(Spring Spreads One Green Lap of Flowers by John William Waterhouse, 1910)

3/18/2014

Azalea Prayer Ceremony


This time of year the Huayao, Yi people of China hold a traditional azalea prayer ceremony that goes back thousands of years.  Each Spring they celebrate the blooming of the azaleas and honor the flower Goddess to ask for good luck and a good harvest.  There is also one ancient Chinese belief that each earthly woman is represented in heaven by a flower or tree.



In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

(photo of women in traditional dress, copyright Cultural China)

3/16/2014

Full Crow Moon

 
As the call of the Crow heralds the end of Winter's hold,
may this Full Moon hold new promise and hope for all.




(The Crow copyright Crossie, DeviantArt)

2/28/2014

Hymn to the Goddess Artemis

 
"I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earthquakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, there to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed."

Homeric Hymn XXVII "To Artemis"
(trans. Evelyn-White)



(Statue of Artemis, Musei Vaticani, Vatican City)

For more devotions to the Goddess:  http://www.inhername.com

2/19/2014

Pathmavathi Temple Relief

 
 
Relief from the Chitharal Jain Temple of the Goddess "Thirucharanathu bhataariyar- Pathmavathi", located just northeast of Kuzhuthurai.
 
 
 
(photo copyright Sidharthrajan)

2/14/2014

Happy full moon!


Blessings of the Full moon in Leo,
let your Spirit roar!
 


(artwork C. Swift, Corbis, copyright reserved)

2/04/2014

Happy Vasant Panchami!


 "May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me."
(Traditional Sanskrit prayer.)


In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning