Litha, Summer Festival of the Sun

Today marks the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, from now until the autumn equinox the days will be getting shorter. Litha is a celebration of the great solar diety's , the ocean and the growing crops. This is the time of year where we swim in her oceans and bathe in her warm sunlight. Where her flowers are in bloom, and her animals are pregnant with life.

At Midsummer, we call on Aphrodite Goddess of love, or Domnu Goddess of the sea. Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, brings you the passion and warmth of the sun. Many Goddesses of love are prayed to at this time of year, to help bring fertility to crops, people and animals. Call on her for passion in your own life, or ask for her passion to be given to your plants for growth.

Domnu, Goddess of the sea, represents the great flowing of our emotions, and teaches us to open up to our emotions, so they flow freely. Her name means "Abyss of the Sea", and she is a Celtic Goddess. She teaches us to be true to ourselves and to not be afraid to express what we feel. She is also known as The Lady of the Lake and Lady of the Holy springs and wells. Her animals are the whales, dolphins and salmons of the sea.

On your altar at Litha, you'll want to have different representations of the sun. Think of colors like yellow, orange and red. For example, you could have an orange candle, with yellow and red stones like citrine and red jasper. You could also go to the ocean and gather some salt water for your altar to represent the flowing ocean. Sea shells are also good for this sabbat as well.

Try at some point during Midsummer, to go outside and feel the warmth of the sun, if you can try to have your ritual outside. Enjoy your Summer Solstice celebration!

Blessings )O(


For more info on Litha check out About.com


Photo courtesy of GoddessaDay.com

Goddess Temples of Malta

Located off the coast of Italy, this little Mediterranean island was once home to an ancient Goddess worshiping culture. The island was inhabited in approximately 5200 BC, by a highly developed neolithic people. The great temples of Malta, are some of the oldest free standing structures known, and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The temples themselves date to about 3000 BC.

There have been remains of about 50 temples on the island of Malta. In these temples, artifacts of pottery, bones, figurines of women and signs of fire have been discovered. At some point, it is said that red ochre covered some of the walls in these temples. You can imagine, in the ancient time in which these temples were used for ritual, how beautiful it must have looked. Red walls with lit candles, Goddess sculptures and statues fill the rooms, small altars with offerings, and priestesses dressed in white flowing dresses worshiping her great presence. The most famous of these temples is the Ggantija temple, with its curved walls in the shape of a woman. Very obviously a representation of a great mother Goddess.

The well known "Sleeping Goddess of Malta" figure, was found in the temple Hal Saflien. It is also said, that at the Mnajdra temple complex, some of the stones are aligned with the sunrise on the winter and summer solstices , and also the spring and autumn equinoxes.

The culture in Malta was matriarchal, and lived very peacefully for many years. At some point around 2300 BC, the temples were mysteriously abandoned. Later, in around 2000 BC the island was inhabited by a bronze age culture.

The ancient peoples and temples of Malta fascinate me. Thanks to archaeologists like Marija Gimbutas, we have had the opportunity to learn about our ancient Goddess worshiping ancestors.


Blessings )O(


For more info on Malta check out : SacredSites.com and also Carnaval


Photo courtesy of : HowardBloom.net

Celtic Tree Month of Oak begins today

Today starts the month of the Oak tree on the Celtic calendar. It goes from June 10 - July 7. This is a great time for magic concerning protection, strength and success.

The Oak was one of the three sacred trees to the Druids. Although it was actually their primary sacred tree, the others were Ash and Thorn. The sacred Oak is one of the longest living trees, and can also grow up to 150 ft tall. It symbolized the turning of the year and was considered to be the king of the forest. Many cultures worshiped the Oak, but the Celts held it with a very high degree of reverence.

During this time of year, it is said that the Druids would carve a circle into the tree for protection against lightning. They used the sacred tree for medicinal purposes and divinatory purposes as well. Ancient Celtic priestess's were said to listen to the rustling of the Oak leaves to receive divine messages.

When my fiance and I visited Ireland, we got to explore the ancient Oak forest at Charleville Castle. This forest surrounds the castle on all sides. Walking among these huge sacred trees was a great experience. You could really feel the ancient energy these trees carried. The forest was quite except for a few birds chirping and some leaves rustling in the wind. Very haunting and mysterious place this was. While there, I pondered the thought, that maybe one day long ago, the ancient Druids walked these forests as well.

Celebrate the sacred Oak tree at Midsummer, if possible try to visit an Oak tree and connect with it's ancient energy.


Blessings )O(




Photo courtesy of : My personal photo album of Ireland

Rhea, Great Mother of the Gods

There is a famous myth associated with Rhea, although you don't really ever hear much about her, you always hear of her husband, Cronos, and one of her sons, Zeus. This famous myth is about the birth of her children. Her husband Cronos, heard a prophecy that he would be taken over by one of his children. In hearing this, he decided to swallow each one them as soon as Rhea gave birth. Finally, when Rhea had enough of this, she decided to give birth to her youngest son, Zeus, in secret on the island of Crete. When she returned to meet Cronos, she handed him a rock dressed up like an infant, and he swallowed it.

Rhea was the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, and mother to Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Aides, Poseidon, and Zeus, some of the most popular Gods and Goddesses in myth. She is known to have been worshiped in different variations around the Mediterranean, and was associated with the Goddesses Hecate and Cybele. Rhea was originally a Cretan Goddess, and since Zeus was born there, they were both seen as sacred.

She was seen as an earth Goddess, a mother Goddess, and the mother to all the Gods. She kept all things in balance and kept the flow of life in her hands. In ancient art, she was portrayed on a throne with two lions at her side. Much like the Anatolian Goddess, Cybele.

To honor the Goddess Rhea, honor your mother earth, and help keep the balance in your own life flow naturally.

Blessings )O(




Check out Theoi.com for more information on Rhea



Picture courtesy of Paleothea.com

Our journey to Brigid's Isle

We arrived home from our trip over the weekend, filled with new experiences and stories to share. Ireland is truly a beautiful and magical country, and the people are some of the nicest I've ever met. It's a country rich in fascinating history and folklore, and we got to experience that firsthand. Signs of it's ancient and sometimes brutally violent history are all around you.

Dublin is a cool city, very busy, kind of reminded me of New York, with all the cabs buzzing about. We loved sitting in the pubs enjoying a nice drink with the locals. But the best part of our trip was exploring the country side. From Glendalough to Kilkenny, Cashel and so on, every town has it's own little story. Glendalough was just beautiful, this was an old monastic site dating back from around the 10th century. After this we made our way down the coast of Wicklow to Arklow and then over to Kilkenny. This was probably my favorite city, it's a medieval city with a magnificent castle at it's center. We would have liked to have spent more time in Kilkenny, but we had to move on to our next stop.

Cashel castle was bigger than I expected! Also the town of Cashel was very quaint as well. After this we got the pleasure of exploring Grange stone circle at Lough Gur. This huge stone circle is made up of about 100 stones. It dates back to the Neolithic time period, and it is said that this stone circle aligns with the sunrise on the summer solstice. Visiting this sacred place has spiked my interest to learn more about it's secret history. You will see one of the photos I posted is of the stone circle.

After this we headed over to the Cliffs of Moher. This is the most strikingly beautiful landscape I've ever seen. You will see in the photo how steep these cliffs really are! We also got to see puffins which are native birds to that area of Ireland.

Any amount of words and pictures just doesnt give justice to this beautiful and mysterious country. It's history is so vast and ranges all the way back from the Neolithic time period, to the Viking invasions, Christianity and so forth. I recommend anyone (especially if your pagan) to visit Ireland! We had a wonderful time. Enjoy the pictures!

Blessings )O(

Off to the Emerald Isle

Tomorrow I embark on a journey to the place of my ancestors. A place I've dreamed of visiting since I was a child. A place where faery tales really do come to life, this magical place is Ireland.

My fiance and I have been planning this trip for about 3 years now, and we couldn't be more excited! I have planned to visit many Goddess sites around the country. We plan to stay 2 days in Dublin when we first arrive, and then we are going to drive around the country until we get to the other side at the Cliffs of Moher. Our trip sites are as follows:

* Second day in Dublin we take a private day trip tour to Newgrange and the Hill of Tara

*First day on the road we visit Glendalough, Wicklow, and hopefully end up in Kilkenny that night.

*Second day on the road we plan to stop off at Cashel (family history here) and then go on from there to Lough Gur and the Grange Stone Circle. That night we stay in Adare, Limerick.

*Third day on the road we go to the Cliffs of Moher and see The Burren. That whole day is pretty much going to be spent at the cliffs.

*Our last day on the road, on our way back to Dublin, we plan to stop at Clonmacnoise monastery, and Charleville Castle.

I plan to write all about my experiences with the Goddess in Ireland. I decided to bring small offerings of quartz crystals and mini kyanite wands to leave at sacred sites. I wont be posting for about two weeks now. I cant wait to share this life changing experience!

Blessings )O(




Photo courtesy of Photos.Igougo.com

Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn begins today

Today starts the month of the Hawthorn tree on the Celtic calender. It goes from May 13 - June 9. This is a great time for magic concerning peace, prosperity, protection, fertility and marriage.

The Hawthorn tree can be seen in variations of trees and shrubs. The druids were said to use it's leaves and flowers to make medicinal teas. And the wood from the Hawthorn was known to provide the hottest fire. The Greeks and Romans saw the Hawthorn as a symbol of marriage. Although in Medieval Europe, the Hawthorn was associated with witchcraft, and was therefore seen as unlucky.

In Ireland, Hawthorns covered in "clootie" prayer strips guard sacred wells. These are little strips of cloth blessed in the well, and then tied to the tree with a prayer. This magical little tree is also associated with the faeries. It is said that a Hawthorn growing on a hill near a sacred well is a marker for the faery realm.

To celebrate the Hawthorn tree, pray to the Goddess Cardea, for the Hawthorn was her sacred tree. She is known as the Goddess who protects the home, put a piece of Hawthorn over any windows or doors in your home for protection from this Hawthorn Goddess.

For more information on the Hawthorn tree, check out : Dutchie.org

For more information on the Goddess Cardea, check out : ThaliaTook.com


Blessings )O(



Photo courtesy of TypesofFlowers.org