Her Sacred Fires 2011

Today people around the world will be celebrating the Rite of Her Sacred Fires. This ritual was created and organized by Sorita d'Este, author and devotee of Hekate, in May of 2010. She plans to perform the ritual every May during the waxing full moon. I plan to take part in the Rite of Her Sacred Fires today with others around the world who are doing the same. For more information and access to the ritual, check out : Sacred Fires.

In honor of my matron Goddess, and for her sacred ritual, I wrote a small hymn, that I'm going to share here. Please feel free to share your own hymns/rituals in your comments as well!

Hekate! Hekate!
Queen of the night,
Your saffron robes, flowing in moon light,
Coiled with snakes,
Accompanied by dogs,
Torches in your hands,
Flames of gold.

Mistress of darkness,
Goddess of the moon,
Your sacred fires are in bloom.

Lady of the triple formed worlds,
Earth, sea and sky,
I dance in your sacred fires tonight!

Hail Hekate!


Blessings to all who will be celebrating the Rite of Her Sacred Fires today!

For more information about Sorita d'Este, check out : Sorita.co.uk



Photo courtesy of: My personal altar for Her Sacred Fires

Home Sweet Home

We have returned home from our honeymoon with lots of new stories and experiences to share! We had a lovely time during our trip, and will remember it always. Both of the countries we visited were very different from one another. Switzerland was absolutely breathtaking! The Swiss Alps are quite a site to see! The food was impeccable and the people nice and helpful. Our first stop in Lucerne, we stayed in a hotel overlooking the famous and beautiful lake there. With mountains and hills and beautiful architecture, Lucerne was a very charming Swiss city. After there, we headed off to Interlaken. We actually ended up staying in a little town near Interlaken, called Wilderswil, which was situated up in the hills at the base of some huge and beautiful mountains. This was no doubt my favorite place in Switzerland. Here, we took a train to a town called Lauterbrunnen, from there we took a few cable cars up to the mountains until we reached the peak of the Schilhtorn. Quite literally at the top of the Alps! There was still lots of snow and it was quite cold up there, but breathtaking none the less.

I loved waking up in the morning, with the windows open and a fresh crisp breeze coming in, hearing the sounds of the cows with the cow bells jingling around their necks, and the crows cawing, with a beautiful mountain sunrise. Needless to say, I wasnt ready to leave Wilderswil that day! Although our next stop in Lugano, was also an extremely beautiful place. Right on the border of Italy, it was a fusion of cultures, Swiss and Italian. While it had the Swiss scenery of large jutting hills and mountains coming out the the lake of Lugano, it also had Mediterranean villages surrounding the hills, that made it look like a Mediterranean fantasy land! Switzerland is truly a place to remember and hopefully a place we will return to one day.


The next day we took a train to Italy. My first experience here was in a taxi that was taking us to our hotel. Needless to say Rome is a very hectic, chaotic city with cars, mopeds and people going in every direction possible. No lanes, lights or stop signs to guide the roads, kind of like a free for all! I was a little scared at first, but got used to it rather quickly. Our first site in Rome was the Pantheon, which was massive and spectacular! You walk down cobblestone streets, and then the street opens up into a courtyard of sorts, with the Pantheon at its center. Stopped me right in my tracks! This, in its day, was a polytheistic temple (a temple to all the Gods), which now has Catholic influence on the inside, no longer Pagan, but magnificant none the less. The next day we toured the Baths of Caracalla, The Colosseum and The Forum. All of which left me breathless! So well preserved, you can just imagine all the events that took place there in its hay day. At the Forum, we got to see the Temple of Vesta, and the House of the Vestal Virgins directly behind it. I was surprised to see that many of the statues at the House of the Vestal Virgins are still there! I made a little offering, said my prayer, and we were off to the next fantastic ruin.

Then, our second day in Rome, we visited The Vatican. We only saw the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel, which was about a 3 hour tour. The museum was fantastic! With Egyptian , Roman and Greek artifacts, and some even from other cultures. Its one of the best museums I've ever seen. There were rooms with long halls where the walls were lined back to back with Roman and Greek statues of Goddesses, Gods, Emperors, etc. I even saw my beloved Hekate there, and of course took some pictures! As well as Selene, Ceres, Artemis, Athena, Medusa, Isis, Sekhmet, Anubis, Dionysos and many others.


Our third day in Rome, we took a day trip out to the Amalfi coast and Pompeii. This was definitely the highlight of our trip! Our driver stopped in a little town on the Amalfi coast called Positano. I will never forget the pure beauty of this place. Right on the water surrounded by huge hills and mountains covered in little Italian villages and some Medieval buildings, Positano is a place I will dream of going back to. As we only had about 2 hours there, before we set off for the Ancient site of Pompeii. We absolutely loved Pompeii! This site is so incredibly preserved, its easy to see how they once lived. There is even some paint left on the walls in the some of the buildings. It is also a huge complex, so we did not get to see the whole thing even with a two hour tour of it. Also unfortunately, the area that housed the Temple of Isis was closed for restoration, so I could not see that. Although I did get to see a Temple to Fortuna, and a Temple to the Emperor Augustus. Pompeii is a great place that I plan to learn more about, its a place I've dreamed of going for many years, and Im so happy I've been able to capture that dream fabulously!

Well as you can see, our trip was pretty full, so needless to say, we were dead tired by our last day there. So we decided to just take it easy our last day, walk around the city, do some shopping, eat more Italian food, and relax with some wine.

Looking back, I wouldn't have changed a thing about our trip. Everything worked out great and we have some wonderful memories and pictures that we will hold dear for many years. Some advice to those of you who are planning to check out Rome. This city is jam packed with people, as well as all the ancient sites. Even though Rome has a grand reputation, dont forget it is still a city, and it can be dirty, and the unfortunate smell of urine lets itself be known! There are also some pick pocketers, and scammers trying to sell you what they offer and they are very persistent. So much so, that I actually had to snap at one of them to leave me alone, because he so clearly wasn't getting the hint. You learn as you travel, to take the good with the bad, I was in Rome for one particular purpose, that was to see the famous ancient ruins. Which I had to keep reminding myself of. None the less it was a great experience that neither of us will forget.

I hope you enjoyed listening about our European adventure, as well as the pictures I posted! If you would like to see more pictures, check out my fan page on facebook, as I plan to post a few more pictures on there.

Leaving on a trip of a lifetime!

Tomorrow my husband and I embark on our late (but worth the wait) honeymoon! We will be gone for almost two weeks, exploring the mountains of Switzerland, and the ancient cities of Rome and Pompeii! We have put lots of planning into this trip, and are so excited.

We arrive in Switzerland early Thursday morning, where we will hang out in Zurich for a little while. Then we get a car a drive to the majestic mountainous town of Interlaken. From there we will end up in Lugano which is right near the border of Italy. In this part of Switzerland, there is an exotic mix of cultures, Swiss and Italian. The town and area surrounding looks like a Mediterranean fantasy land. So beautiful! After that, we take a train to the ancient, famous city of Rome.

Rome is a place I've dreamed of going for a very long time. To be in the same place of this ancient powerful culture, to be among the sacred temples and places of worship, where history was being made, is something that is very meaningful to me. I cant wait to feel the energy in this ancient city!

Of course we will be doing your typical touristy type stuff. Colosseum, The Forum, The Vatican, and the Baths of Caracalla. We will also be visiting various sites on Palatine and Aventine Hills. Such as the Temple of Cybele, Temple of Diana and the Temple of Minerva. Actually, two of these temples are no longer there anymore (Diana and Minerva), but we will be visiting the spot where they once stood. So I can stand in the very same place, the ancient priestesses of Diana stood, and pay homage to her greatness.

We will also be taking a day trip out to Pompeii and the Amalfi coast. I am so incredibly excited for Pompeii! The story and history of this place has always intrigued me. It is said to be the best preserved ancient city known. There is also a temple to Isis in Pompeii (pictured above), that Im dying to see! In Italy and many other areas around the ancient world, a mixture of cultures and deities occured, and in many places they incorporated foreign deities into their own practice. Such as the worhsip of Isis. Not only was she worshipped in Egypt, but in Rome and Greece. There was even evidence of her worship in other parts of Europe. The great thing about this, is that her temple in Pompeii is still very much intact, and is wonderfully preserved!

We then relax our last day in Italy before we return home. With another great experience to add to our lives! We are both so excited for this trip, and feel so lucky to have the opportunity to visit such beautiful places. I cant wait to share my new stories and experiences with everyone when we return!




Photo courtesy of PhilipHarland.com

Beltane, Fire Festival of Love.

Beltane is an ancient Celtic fire festival representing fertility and love. It is also known as May Day and Walpurgisnacht. This holiday marks the start of the bright half of the year. It's name stands for "bright fires" or "brilliant fires". Ancient people would light a big bonfire to kick off the celebration. People would dance and frolic around it, some would jump over the fire. This was said to bring good luck. Couples would get married on Beltane, to symbolize the Sacred Marriage of the Goddess and the God. It was a ritual to honor the fruitfulness and the fertility of Spring.

At Beltane we honor the Goddess Freyja, Goddess of love, fertility and war. She was known to be a beautiful and sexual Goddess on the Norse pantheon. We also honor Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of beauty and love, and Artemis, Greek Goddess of the hunt. Beltane is also a time when the veil between worlds in thin, and contact with the faeries is possible. It is said that the Queen of the Faeries rides out on her horse on Beltane eve, to search for people to snatch into faeryland. Faeries were known to lure people into their magical world, never to return again, on nights like Beltane. Enjoy the Fae from afar, dont get to close! To work with the Fae on Beltane, leave offerings of honey cakes, milk and butter, make little places for them to bathe like a bird bath, or leave little stones and crystals.

There are many crafts to make for Beltane. Like a May Pole to dance around or a May basket. My favorite is a flower crown. You can make it with real or fake flowers.

Beltane Flower Crown

* 2 pipe cleaners
* fake or real flowers
* ribbon
* hot glue gun
* scissors

Twist one end from each pipe cleaner together. Hold it around the upper part of your forehead and then twist the other ends together. This will make the base of the crown.

Cut the flowers from the main stem. Leave an inch or two of each stem on the flowers if possible. You can also leave some leaves, or use them separately if that works better. Glue the flowers and leaves around the pipe cleaner. Use as many or few as you want.

Once you get the flowers how you want them, you are ready to add the ribbon. Cut 8 - 10 pieces of ribbon; all different lengths, between 1 and 2 feet long. Glue one end of each piece of ribbon to the inside, back edge of the flower crown. If desired glue a flower to the other end of the ribbon. You can also wrap a ribbon or two around the pipe cleaners.

On your altar: Flowers and greenery, colors of red and white to represent the Goddess, also Spring colors of purple, yellow and green. Representation of the Goddess of your choice. Faeries and Faery dust, (if you plan on leaving an offering for the faeries, milk and honey are a good choice.) Crystals of rose quartz, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli. If you can, light a fire on Beltane, this will connect you with the ancient Celtic tradition. If you dont have access to anywhere to light a fire, you can use candles on your altar.

Wishing everyone many Beltane blessings!


Flower Crown taken from About.com



Photo courtesy of the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival

The Goddess and the Bird

The Goddess has been associated with the bird since the beginning of time. In Paleolithic and Neolithic times, there were many known bird Goddesses. It seems the bird may have been an especially revered animal. In the ancient city of Catal Huyuk, the vulture was said to be a powerful and spiritual creature. Wall paintings from some of the houses suggest possible excarnation, although it is said no actual evidence of this practice has been found. Large vultures with wings spread wide fly down to earth towards the people, painted in colors of black and red on white walls. It seems as though the vulture may have been looked at as some kind of great spirit, possibly representing death. The symbolism of the vulture swooping down to earth to take back what's her's, similar to thinking of where we go upon death, essentially back to the earth, back to our Mother.

Other cultures had figures of woman with bird heads, cave paintings of people wearing bird masks in ritual fashion, among many other bird related symbols. Such as the Vinca culture in southeastern Europe. Here, figurines were found that might look like a bird but would have breasts, others might have wings and a birds body, but have a womens head. In the book, Lady of the Beasts by Buffie Johnson, she says that the bird was thought to magically command the weather. This is because they inhabited the upper air where weather originates. Symbolism of the bird was used in rituals, where people would dress up with feathers, beaks and wings. It was thought that the person wearing the birds costume, would magically absorb the birds wisdom and power.

Since the bird lays eggs, and little chicks hatch from eggs, the bird also was seen as a symbol of fertility, and rebirth. In a cave in Merl, France, paintings were found on the walls, of pregnant women with a bird like head and winglike arms, suggesting the connection to birds and the Mother Goddess. Marija Gimbutas suggested that the Bird Goddess of old was seen as the Great Cosmic Creatrix.

Listening to the song of the bird immediately puts me in a trance. It connects me with that primordial energy of creation and life. The ancient coo of the dove reminds me of the voice of the Goddess. The best time for me to experience the primal energy of the bird, is in the early morning before the sun comes up. When all the animals start to stir, and the birds start their song. There is a light breeze and you can still see dew on the leaves and flowers. When the sun has not yet risen but it is light out. That is my time to connect with the bird. To feel the ancient female energy. Listen to their call and let it take you back to before, when our world was a much more sacred place, when we worshiped our earth and were connected to it and all its beautiful creatures. Let it remind you. Feel the song of the bird running through your body, take it all in. Meditate a little on your experience, and make sure to write everything down.

The more we connect with nature, the closer we become with our Great Mother. She can teach us all we need to know, to grow and learn.

Enjoy connecting with the ancient energy of the bird!


For more info, check out Lady of the Beasts by Buffie Johnson




Photo courtesy of Susan Seddon-Boulet

Winner of Custom Goddess Perfume!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway! And the winner is....AngelWolfStorm! Congrats!! I would also like to thank Kat at Organic Brew for donating her lovely custom perfume oil! I hope everyone enjoyed playing. Enjoy your new Goddess perfume oil AngelWolfStorm!! Stay tuned next month for our next giveaway.

Giveaway! Custom Goddess Perfume Oil by Organic Brew!

This month, our giveaway comes to us from Kat at Organic Brew. She has generously donated a custom Goddess perfume oil! You pick the Goddess you want, and the bottle you want for your custom perfume, and Kat will make a magical blend to honor and invoke your deity! I had the chance to speak with Kat a little, here's what she had to say:

1. How long have you been crafting magical products?
I have been creating magickal products for about 10 years. I started as many do creating for family, friends, and clients. I have been a Tarot Reader for almost 20 years and began creating items to aid my clients with different issues and challenges they were facing. When my youngest daughter was diagnosed with asthma and allergies I began paying attention to the products I was using in my home. I was shocked at the amount of chemicals that were in the products I was using to clean my home. Here I was thinking that I was making my home clean for my family when in reality I was coating our everyday items and the air we were breathing with chemicals. There were not many quality organic products readily available at the time with affordable prices. I was already equipped with many supplies from creating magickal items so I just expanded my inventory so that I could begin creating organic products. I saw an immediate improvement in my daughters symptoms. After creating these items for my family, I began creating them for extended family and friends so they also could have a safer environment for their own families. I started the Organic Brew in 2010. I wanted to combine my pagan knowledge with my organic knowledge and thus the Organic Brew was born.



2.Do you have a favorite type of product that you make?
That is a tough question, I love all of my creations and take pride in everything I create. I do have to say that I love creating Perfume Oils. I have always been a perfume lover and before I realized the chemicals that were in perfumes I had an extensive collection. I always have a new “favorite” scent but one of my all time favorites is my Black Forest Unisex Perfume Oil Blend. It is a woodsy blend with notes of spice. I never fail to get compliments when I wear it.


3. Please explain the product you are giving away.
The product I will be offering for the giveaway is a Custom Created Organic Alchemy Goddess Oil. The winner can choose which Goddess she would like her oil based on and I will create a blend specifically for that Goddess. The winner can also choose which bottle they would like their oil to come in. I will take into account any likes or dislike of specific scents to create a blend the winner will love wearing. The Organic Brew's Organic Alchemy Oil Line is a line of the finest quality essential oils blended into a vitamin e and calendula infused carrier oil. No alcohol, chemicals, or cheap fillers are used in any of The Organic Brew's Organic Alchemy Line! These quality ingredients cause the scent to last longer. The oils are absorbed into your skin, they do not just sit on the skin surface.


Ok everyone, now for the rules. Go to Kats shop, find a product that you like, and come back here to comment on it. In your comment, you must also include the Goddess you would like, and the bottle of your choice (pick from the three pictured above). For an extra entry, follow Kat on her blog or her facebook page. For even more extra credit, follow this blog. Thanks to Kat for donating her uniquely Goddess inspired perfume oil! Have fun playing!