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