Blessings of the Blue Moon

Homeric Hymn to Selene

"And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus,

well-skilled in song, tell of the long-winged Moon.

From her immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth;

and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light.

The air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown,

and her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene

having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean,

and donned her far-gleaming, shining team,

drives on her long-maned horses at full speed,

at eventime in the mid-month:

then her great orbit is full and then her beams

shine brightest as she increases.

So she is a sure token and a sign to mortal men."

(Homeric Hymn to Selene, photo by Dreamtime.)

Other Devotions to the Goddess found on our site:  In Her Name

Opening of the Mundus Cerialis

The Mundus Cerialis (the world of Ceres) is an underground vault in Rome that was sealed by a stone lid the majority of the year.  On August 24th, October 5th and November 8th, it was opened for offerings to be made to various Deities, including Ceres, and to allow the spirits to rise and wander in the world of the living for the day.  The rites held during the Mundus Cerialis acknowledged the Goddess Ceres as Her role as the fruitful earth, guardian of seed-corn and guardian of underworld portals.

(Photo by Lylum of the entrance to the Umbilicus Urbis (navel of the city).  This may have been part of the underground Mundus structure. It is the symbolic center of Rome.)

Other sites sacred to the Goddess may be found on our website:  In Her Name

Enrollment Reminder - Correspondence Courses

A reminder that our next enrollment date is September 1st, and student applications need to be in by August 24th. For more information on our home-study courses in the Goddess mysteries and Priestess training, please see this section of our site:

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Perseids and Wohpe

In recognition of the annual Perseids meteor shower.  Wohpe is a Lakota Goddess whose name means Falling Star.  She is a Goddess of peace and in later stories, becomes White Buffalo Calf Woman.   Turquoise is her stone as it reflects the many shades of blue of the sky and the blue-green of the ocean.  Connect with her to bring harmony and awareness of the eternal cycles of time.

(photo by B. Inglory)



Full Moon Blessings!

In some Native American cultures the August Full Moon is known as the Green Corn Moon, so today we are honoring the Corn Mother and other Grain Goddesses:  Iyatiku, Selu, The Corn Maidens, Yellow Woman, Chicomecoatl, Demeter & Persephone, Zaramama, Ukemochi, Annona, Dewi Sri, Nidaba, and Ashnan.

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Hymn to Zarpanit (Beltis)

Hymn to Zarpanit (Beltis)

She is mighty, she is divine, she is exalted among the goddesses;
Zarpanit, the brightest of the stars, dwelling in E-ud-ul;
The ... of the goddesses, clothed with light;
Who dost pass through the heavens, dost heap up the earth;
Zarpanit whose dwelling is exalted;
Shining Beltia, exalted and most high;
Among the goddesses there is none like her;
She accuses and intercedes.
She humbles the rich and vindicates the cause of the lowly;
She overthrows the enemy, he who does not revere her godhead;
She delivers the captive, and takes the hand of the fallen;
Bless the servant who honours thy name;
Fix the destiny of the king who fears thee;
Give life to the children of Babel, thy dependants;
Plead for them before Marduk, the king of the gods;
Let them tell of thy glory, let them exalt thy kingdom;
Let them speak of thy prowess, let them glorify thy name;
Have mercy on thy servant who blesses thee;
Take his hand in need and suffering;
In disease and distress give him life;
May he go ever in joy and delight;
May he tell thy prowess to the peoples of the whole world.

(Translation by S.H. Hooke.)

Read more Devotions on our website: In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Enrollment Reminder ~ Correspondence Courses

Our home-study mystery school, the Temple of Learning, is currently open for enrollment.  The next deadline for applications is July 20th in order to be registered on August 1st.

If you would like to receive an enrollment guide, please visit the website link below for more information.  Thank you!

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Fresco at Knossos

Beautiful Bronze-age fresco of the dolphins at Knossos, Crete.

In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning

Hymn to the Moon

"Hear, Goddess queen, diffusing silver light,

Bull-horned and wandering through the gloom of Night.

With stars surrounded, and with circuit wide

Night's torch extending, through the heavens you ride:

Female and Male with borrowed rays you shine,

And now full-orbed, now tending to decline.

Mother of ages, fruit-producing Moon,

Whose amber orb makes Night's reflected noon:

Lover of horses, splendid, queen of Night,

All-seeing power bedecked with starry light.

Lover of vigilance, the foe of strife,

In peace rejoicing, and a prudent life:

Fair lamp of Night, its ornament and friend,

Who givest to Nature's works their destined end.

Queen of the stars, all-wife Diana hail!

Decked with a graceful robe and shining veil;

Come, blessed Goddess, prudent, starry, bright,

Come moony-lamp with chaste and splendid light,

Shine on these sacred rites with prosperous rays,

And pleased accept thy suppliant's mystic praise."

(From "The Hymns of Orpheus", translated by Thomas Taylor)

More devotions found on our site:  In Her Name ~ Temple of Learning