Happy 2020!
Let us nurture the seeds of hope as we walk bravely into the future.
(© "Divine Gardener" copyright F. Rassouli)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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12/31/2019
Happy New Year
(© "Divine Gardener" copyright F. Rassouli)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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News: Demeter statue found in Turkey
From the article:
"Hurriyet Daily News reports that a slab of limestone thought to have been engraved some 1,800 years ago has been unearthed at the site of Hadrianopolis in northern Turkey. Ersin Çelikbaş of Karabük University said the woman shown in the carving is wearing a traditional dress, a snake-shaped belt, and is holding ears of wheat. She may depict Demeter, the goddess of harvest and agriculture, he explained."
(© photo, Ersin Celikbas)
12/21/2019
Happy Solstice
Solstice Blessings!
May you find Peace in the reborn light.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
12/18/2019
News: Greece's Parthenon temple has had the wrong name
From the article: "The real Parthenon was in fact an ancient Greek treasury which contained offerings to the goddess Athena, according to the research by Utrecht University. Rather than being known as the Parthenon, the big temple should be known by its original ancient Greek name, the tongue-twisting Hekatompedon. “That means ‘the hundred-foot temple’ and the main room of the big temple was indeed exactly 100 feet long,” Janric van Rookhuijzen, the archeologist behind the research, told The Telegraph."
(© photo AP)
News: Greek Royal Tombs Discovered
From the article: "Among the findings inside the tombs were evidence of gold-lined floors, a golden seal ring and a gold pendant with the image of the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor. The amulet suggests that Pylos traded with Egypt during Greece's Mycenaean civilization, which lasted roughly between 1650 and 1100 B.C. Homer's epics are set in the latter stages of this period."
(© photo Greek Culture Ministry/AP)
12/12/2019
Virgen de Guadalupe
"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)
December 12th is the Feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom many believe evolved from the ancient Goddess Tonantzin, (Mother Earth) of the Nahuan.
(© Our Lady of Guadalupe by Marina Castillo)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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12/11/2019
Happy Full Moon!
Blessings of the Long Night's Moon in Gemini.
May She always reflect your inner Beauty.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
11/26/2019
News: Statues Unearthed in Egypt
"Over the weekend, the Egyptian Antiquities Ministry unveiled a huge cache of ancient artifacts and mummified animals—most significantly, the rare remains of at least two lion cubs—discovered in Saqqara, a necropolis located just south of Cairo. . . the trove includes 75 wooden and bronze statues of cats; 25 decorated wooden boxes filled with mummified cats; and statues of animals and birds ranging from bulls to a mongoose, an ibis and a falcon. Crocodiles, cobras and scarab beetles are among the other mummified creatures found at the site. Archaeologists also uncovered a large stone scarab and two smaller wood and sandstone depictions of the sacred beetle. . .Additional discoveries detailed in the statement are 73 bronze statues of the god Osiris, 6 wooden statues of the god Ptah-Soker, 11 statues of the lioness goddess Sekhmet and a carved statue of the goddess Neith. The cache also holds amulets, mummy masks and papyrus scrolls covered in drawings of the goddess Tawert. An item containing the name King Psamtik I dates many of the items to the 26th dynasty, which ruled Egypt between 610 and 664 B.C."
(© photo by Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)
11/25/2019
News: Statues Unearthed in Catacombs on Nile River
"The communal cemetery, unearthed in the Saqqara ancient burial ground in suburban Cairo, contains mummies and six goddess statues that show both Greek and Egyptian features . . Among the items found in the cemetery was a 57.5-centimeter terra-cotta statue bearing characteristics of both Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, and an ancient Egyptian female deity known as Isis, who is said to offer protection for the deceased in their next life. The Aphrodite-Isis statue wears Greek-Roman-style clothing as well as an Egyptian crown on her head. The team also unearthed a stone monument showing an image of Demeter . . Greek characters are engraved below the deity."
(© photo Kanazawa University)
11/21/2019
Kagaba Prayer
Only one thought.
Only one Mother.
Only one single word reaches upwards.
Only one single trail leads heavenward.
skími alúna hangu ité.
iskími hába guaselgukú hangu ité.
iskími mulyigába nici gataugénka.
iskími hiúngulda guxa nici naugénka.
Kogi Traditional Prayer
(© translation by Reichel-Dolmatoff, photo of staircase to Ciudad Perdida by D. Reilander; copyrights reserved.)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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11/11/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Blessings of the Frost/Beaver Moon in the sign of Taurus.
May the visions you hold for the future be manifested on earth in beauty.
(photo © Susan Lu/pixabay)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
10/30/2019
Dia de los Muertos
Many blessings on this Dia de los Muertos.
May you walk with the wisdom of your ancestors.
(© art by Ari de la Mora, copyright reserved)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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10/27/2019
News: 2nd Century statue of Goddess Cybele found in Plovdiv
From the article:
"Archaeologists working at the Forum site in Bulgaria’s city of Plovdiv have found a marble statuette of the Roman goddess Cybele . . The statuette is believed to date from the second century CE and was part of the pantheon of Philippopolis, an ancient name of Plovdiv, during the Roman era. . .In Roman mythology, Cybele was the universal mother, not only of the gods, but also of all humans, animals and plant life. Her equivalent in Greek mythology was Rhea."
10/25/2019
10/19/2019
Earth Prayer
Let us give thanks for the world around us,
Thanks for all the creatures, stones and plants.
Let us learn their lessons and seek their truths,
So that their path might be ours,
And we might live in harmony, a better life.
May the Earth continue to live,
May the heavens above continue to live,
May the rains continue to dampen the land,
May the wet forests continue to grow,
Then the flowers shall bloom
And we people shall live again.
(Traditional Hawaiian prayer)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
10/12/2019
Happy Full Moon
Blessings of the Moon of the Falling Leaves in the sign of Aries.
May you release that which no longer serves with grace,
allowing the space for future renewal.
(photo © K.Omini, Getty Images)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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9/28/2019
Happy Sharad Navratri
The nine-day Hindu festival of Navaratri begins on September 29th, 2019. In the Sharad Navaratri, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are honored. Each region in India celebrates this festival in their own tradition's manner, but in some areas three days each are dedicated to Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. This holiday culminates on the tenth day with the observance of Vijayadashami.
(Goddess Durga/Getty Images)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
9/22/2019
Equinox Blessings
Happy Equinox!
May Light and Dark be balanced in Beauty.
(© art by Severine Pinaux, copyright reserved)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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9/13/2019
Harvest Moon
Happy Harvest Moon in Pisces!
May both your inner and outer world harvests be blessed.
May both your inner and outer world harvests be blessed.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
8/26/2019
Earth Prayer
Cover my Earth Mother four times with many flowers.
Let the heavens be covered with the banked-up clouds.
Let the earth be covered with fog; cover the earth with rains.
Great waters, rains, cover the earth. Lighting cover the earth.
Let thunder be heard over the earth; let thunder be heard;
Let thunder be heard over the six regions of the earth.
Zuni Prayer
(© photo P. Oldham)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
8/15/2019
News: Artemis in Amarynthos
From the article:
"A partially preserved inscription linking Artemis with the ancient town of Amarynthos was found in Paleochoria, Evia, 2 km east of the modern-day town with the same name, the Ministry of Culture said on Monday. The fragmentary inscription, '… of Artemis in Amarynthos', was reused in a Roman-era fountain, confirming that the foundations of the building in Paleochoria were related to the sanctuary of the goddess Artemis, first mentioned in Linear B tablets found in the Mycenaean palace of Thebes as 'a-ma-ru-to'."
8/14/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Happy Full Moon in Aquarius.
May Her blessings flow freely upon you!
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
8/12/2019
Hail Hekate
"Asteria of happy name, whom Perses once led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she conceived and bore Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the Earth and the unfruitful Sea. She received honour also in starry Heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For to this day, whenever any one of men on earth offers rich sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls upon Hekate. Great honour comes full easily to him whose prayers the goddess receives favourably, and she bestows wealth upon him; for the power surely is with her."
(quote: Hesiod, Theogony, 404 ff, trans. Evelyn-White; marble relief from Crannon, Thessaly, 4th century BCE. The British Museum.)
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8/08/2019
News: Guray Museum
From the article:
"The Güray Museum, an underground museum located in the Avanos district of Nevşehir province, is showcasing a number of 7,000-year-old figurines... 'The oldest of the pieces dates back to the 5th century B.C., making these artworks approximately 7,000 years old. They are actually mother goddess figurines, which are unique to the eastern Anatolia region. They bear the influences of mostly Northern Syria and the Mesopotamia,' said archaeologist Burcu Tüysüz."
7/31/2019
Blessings of the Harvest Season
Wherever this harvest season leads you, may you
be blessed with the abundance to share with all.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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7/22/2019
Artemis and Apollo Statues Unearthed on Crete
From the article:
"The Chania Ephorate of Antiquities will present a group of small sculptures portraying the twin gods Artemis and Apollo, on Wednesday, July 24, at the Archaeological Museum of Crete.The Ephorate’s announcement states “Artemis, the protector goddess of Aptera, is made of copper, while her twin brother Apollo, is made of marble. The goddess stands on an elaborate box-shaped copper base and is depicted in intense stride, wearing a short, slender chiton, and she is ready to shoot. Although Apollo is depicted in a more modest way, his attitude conveys internal tension.”
7/16/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Happy Buck Moon and Eclipse in Capricorn!
May the beauty of the Earth and Moon
always bring deep connection and peace.
(© photo by Larry Ditto)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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6/20/2019
Happy Solstice!
Blessings of the Summer Solstice!
May the rays of the sun bring healing and joy.
(photo © D. Lyons)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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6/16/2019
Happy Full Moon
Blessings of the Strawberry Moon in Sagittarius.
May She illuminate your intuition and sense of adventure!
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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5/28/2019
For Tellus
Precatio Terrae:
"Holy Goddess, Tellus, Mother of all Nature, engendering all things and regenerating them each day, as you alone bring forth from your womb all things into life. Heavenly Goddess, overseeing all things on earth and throughout the seas, in whatever by silent nature is restored in sleep and in death, in the same way that you put to flight the night with the light you restore each day.
Earth, Enricher of Life, you dispel the dark shadow of death and the disorder of vast endless Chaos. You hold back the winds and storms, the rain showers and tempests. You alone regulate the weather cycles, either bestirring or putting to flight the storm, interspersing them with cheerful days.
You give the Food of Life unfailingly, in fidelity, and when the soul by necessity departs, in you alone do we find refuge. Thus, whatever you give, in you all will be returned. Deservedly are you called Great Mother of the Gods. Piously then are all the celestial powers distilled in you. The One and True Parent of all living things, human and divine. Without you nothing could be born, nothing could grow, and nothing mature.
You are the Great Goddess, the Queen of Heaven, you, Goddess, I adore. I call upon your power, come. Make what I ask to be readily and easily accomplished, and draw my thanks, Mother Earth, that, in fidelity, you do rightly merit.
Hear me, please, and favor me. This I ask of you, Holy Mother, and may you willingly give answer to me: may whatever herbs grow by your providence bring health to all humankind. May you now send these forth to me as your medicines. May they be filled with your healing virtues. May everything that I prepare from these herbs have good result, each and every one in the same way. As I shall receive these herbs from you, so too shall I willingly give them out to others, so that their health too may be ensured through your good graces. Finally, Mother Earth, ensure your healing powers for me as well. This I humbly ask."
(Written by Antonius Musa, trans. M. Piscinus; photo of relief from the walls of the Ara Pacis Augustae,13 BCE.)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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5/18/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Happy Flower Moon in Scorpio!
May you always find Wisdom and Beauty in Her rays.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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4/30/2019
Happy Beltane
Beltane Blessings!
('Fairies' painting by Gustave Dore)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
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4/22/2019
4/18/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Blessings of the Pink Moon, the second in a row in Libra.
May Her Beauty bring Balance!
4/17/2019
News: Aphrodite Rises from Thessaloniki Excavation
From the article:
"Idols, clay lamps and amphorae, drinking cups, perfume vases, jewelry and other utilitarian and decorative objects make up the 300,000 or so finds unearthed during excavation work for the Thessaloniki metro. Most striking among them, however, are the pieces related to Aphrodite, testifying to the northern port city’s enduring bond with the goddess of love.
The most interesting of these are a marble sculpture and a mosaic depicting the goddess that were found during digging for the Aghia Sofia station. Dating to different periods, they are indicative of the fact that the goddess was worshipped in the what is now downtown Thessaloniki as recently as early Christian times.
Aphrodite is represented by a plethora of statues and idols in a variety of different ways, and this was particularly the case in Roman times, explained Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, an archaeologist and head of the Culture Ministry’s General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.
'A large number of statues depicting Aphrodite have been found in the city center, while several more came to light in the area around the Church of the Acheiropoietos. They are mostly related to the worship of Thermaia Aphrodite, who was associated with the element of water,' Adam-Veleni said at a recent conference on the finds discovered during metro excavations in Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus."
(photo © ekathimerini.com)
4/09/2019
Eirene: Peace
The Goddess Eirene is one of the Horae and the personification of Peace. She was depicted as a beautiful young woman carrying a cornucopia, sceptre, torch or rhyton. In the statue she is bearing Plutus, son of Demeter.
"Daughters of Zeus and Themis, Horae bright, Dike (Justice), and blessed Eirene (Peace) and Eunomia (Lawfulness) right, vernal and grassy, vivid, holy powers, whose balmy breath exhales in lovely flowers; all-coloured Horae, rich increase your care, circling, forever flourishing and fair: invested with a veil of shining dew, a flowery veil delightful to the view: attending Persephone, when back from night the Moirae and Charites, lead her up to light; when in a band harmonious they advance, and joyful round her form the solemn dance. With Mother Demeter triumphing, and Zeus divine, propitious come, and on our incense shine; give earth a store of blameless fruits to bear, and make these novel mystics' life your care."
Orphic Hymn 43, 'To the Horae, Fumigation from Aromatics' (trans. Taylor)
Photo: Wikipedia. Roman copy after a Greek votive statue by Kephisodotos.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
3/27/2019
Goddess News: Shanghai Flower Goddess Festival
"Shanghai's first huashen (flower goddess) festival kicked off at the Guyi Garden in Jiading District on Saturday, inviting residents to vote for their 12 favorite flowers. The ancient ritual of worshipping the Flower Goddess was replicated, with people wearing hanfu while reading blessing articles and putting flower lanterns into the river to pray for a good harvest and smooth year ahead. The tradition can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) in China. The 15th day of the second month based on the Chinese lunar calendar marked the flower goddess festival in ancient times, said folk custom expert Zheng Shulin."
3/20/2019
Happy Full Moon and Equinox
Blessings of the Spring Equinox
and the Full Moon in Libra!
May you always find Balance and Beauty in Nature.
(painting © Susan Seddon Boulet)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
3/08/2019
2/18/2019
Full Moon Blessings
Blessings of the Full Moon in Virgo.
May your dreams manifest in Beauty!
May your dreams manifest in Beauty!
(art © Christian Schloe)
2/13/2019
For Aphrodite
"She clothed herself with garments which the Kharites and Horai had made for her and dyed in flowers of spring - such flowers as the Horai wear - in crocus and hyacinth and flourishing violet and the rose's lovely bloom, so sweet and delicious, and heavenly buds, the flowers of the narcissus and lily. In such perfumed garments is Aphrodite clothed at all seasons."
(Homerica: Cypria Fragment 6 from Athenaeus 15.682, trans. E. White; Painting of Aphrodite and Anchises by William Blake Richmond, circa 1889)
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
2/05/2019
1/31/2019
For Brighid's Day
"O Brigid, Mary of the Gael,
May thy protection never fail.
Spread thy mantle over me,
Where’re I pass, where’re I be."
1/20/2019
Lunar Eclipse
Blessings of the January Wolf Moon with an eclipse in the sign of Leo!
See this page for more information on when the eclipse will take place in your area:
(photo © F. Espenak, Nasa website)
1/09/2019
Babylonian Creation Myth
"They kissed Her feet, saying
'The Creatress of mankind we call Thee;
The Mistress of all the Gods, be Thy Name!'
They went to the House of Fate,
Ninigiku-Ea and the wise Mama.
Fourteen mother-wombs were assembled
to tread upon the clay before Her.
Ea says, as he recites the incantation.
Sitting before Her,
Mama recited the incantation;
When She completed Her incantation,
She drew upon Her clay.
Fourteen pieces She pinched off;
Seven pieces She placed on the right,
seven pieces She placed on the left,
between them She placed a brick.
Ea was kneeling on the matting;
He opened its navel;
He called the wise wives.
Of the seven and seven mother-wombs.
Seven brought forth males,
seven brought forth females.
The Mother-Womb, the Creatress of Destiny,
In pairs She completed them,
In pairs She completed before Her,
The forms of the people Mami forms.
In the house of the bearing woman in childbirth,
Seven days shall the brick lie,
from the house of Mah, the wise Mami.
As the Bearing One gives birth,
May the mother of the child bring forth by herself."
Ancient Babylonian text from "The Great Mother" by Erich Neumann, trans. R. Manheim.
Photo of female figure, Khafajah, Nintu Temple VII, Early Dynastic period, 2600-2500 B.C. Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago.
In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning
1/01/2019
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