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| Image courtesy The White Goddess.UK Last day of January. Tomorrow the Wheel turns and we celebrate Imbolc/Candlemas. The Moon is waning, the year is moving on. Although in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter holds us in Her grip, Spring is coming. Light a candle to dispel the darkness and winter blues, and to herald the promise the Spring. Hail Blessed Imbolc! Bright Blessings, Priestess Najah |
Najah Lightfoot. Llewellyn Contributing Author, Freelance Writer, Sister-Priestess of the Divine Feminine.
Full Moon Glory!
Luna Bright, Full Moon Light!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Blessed Be Imbolc
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Who Can You Turn To
I've shed some tears lately. Life has been tough in our household as of late. We've been going through some shit.
I've found myself adrift, alone and wanting. Feeling let down by practicing my Craft as a religion and the lack of direction for when times get really tough.
One thing that I have always found difficult about the Pagan path is its lack of reliable dogma (for lack of a better word) when things get hard and you're reaching for guidance. Sure I love the beauty, the mystery and the freedom, to practice any way I please, but sometimes, one needs a sure foot to stand on when life gets hard.
I don't belong to a coven. I'm solitary. Solitary also means alone. I'm very grateful for my friends. It seems in time of need, truly the only place we can turn to is each other. The Moon for all Her glory has felt far away and distant.
Spellwork has lost its luster, taking on a persona of something you do for fun and entertainment. Perhaps we have done the community a disservice by rambling on and on, about the legitmacy and effectiveness of Spellwork. I have found it to be a distraction from the real work one needs to do, which is to be right within yourself. Sure, I like my talismans and I have truly found comfort in the light and prayer of a candle, but spellwork, not so much.
And a book. The Craft, Wicca, whatever you want to call it, has no central book. So where do you turn when you need comfort and reassurance. Perhaps if I had grown up Pagan, I would be used to wandering all over the place for reassurance, but I came to the Craft from traditional organized religion and for all its deficits, there is something to be said about the word "organized".
I do have one book, which I was led to by my Year and A Day teacher. Its called "Earth Psalms" by Angela Magara. It truly is Goddess Psalms for life. I'm glad I have it. I turn to it daily and it is becoming my book.
And I have found comfort and strength through my daily practice of Shao-lin Kung Fu. As Elder Ed Fitch so succintly put it "the world is not a peaceful or tranquil place". My daily practice and training in Shao-lin Kung Fu and Tai Chi has helped me weather these times and become strong in ways I could have never imagined.
We're a new religion and new way. We don't have the legacies of time behind us and that makes it hard sometimes. We're all still figuring it out. Sometimes that's good and sometimes that's annoying.
I had to find a new way to be with the Moon. Last night's Full Moon was in Leo, a selfish Moon. A time to ask what for you need. I asked to find a new way, a new way to stand and be in right relationship with Her. I realized in my dark hours the Moon is ever changing. She appears, disappears, waxes and wanes. She leaves us in the dark every month. But she leaves her stars behind to guide us, help us and to let us know we're not alone. Even though the stars are not as bright as the Moon they are still there as our guides. The Sun and bless you Sun, is always there. It is constant, never changing. But the Moon has her ups and downs and then she goes away. While she goes away, we have to faith that She will reappear. And when She does, oh what joy when we see Her first silver Crescent in the sky.
So perhaps this is the way of faith. Of our path with the Goddess. Sometimes she goes away and feels cold and dark. But She's never gone for long.
Blessed Be.
I've found myself adrift, alone and wanting. Feeling let down by practicing my Craft as a religion and the lack of direction for when times get really tough.
One thing that I have always found difficult about the Pagan path is its lack of reliable dogma (for lack of a better word) when things get hard and you're reaching for guidance. Sure I love the beauty, the mystery and the freedom, to practice any way I please, but sometimes, one needs a sure foot to stand on when life gets hard.
I don't belong to a coven. I'm solitary. Solitary also means alone. I'm very grateful for my friends. It seems in time of need, truly the only place we can turn to is each other. The Moon for all Her glory has felt far away and distant.
Spellwork has lost its luster, taking on a persona of something you do for fun and entertainment. Perhaps we have done the community a disservice by rambling on and on, about the legitmacy and effectiveness of Spellwork. I have found it to be a distraction from the real work one needs to do, which is to be right within yourself. Sure, I like my talismans and I have truly found comfort in the light and prayer of a candle, but spellwork, not so much.
And a book. The Craft, Wicca, whatever you want to call it, has no central book. So where do you turn when you need comfort and reassurance. Perhaps if I had grown up Pagan, I would be used to wandering all over the place for reassurance, but I came to the Craft from traditional organized religion and for all its deficits, there is something to be said about the word "organized".
I do have one book, which I was led to by my Year and A Day teacher. Its called "Earth Psalms" by Angela Magara. It truly is Goddess Psalms for life. I'm glad I have it. I turn to it daily and it is becoming my book.
And I have found comfort and strength through my daily practice of Shao-lin Kung Fu. As Elder Ed Fitch so succintly put it "the world is not a peaceful or tranquil place". My daily practice and training in Shao-lin Kung Fu and Tai Chi has helped me weather these times and become strong in ways I could have never imagined.
We're a new religion and new way. We don't have the legacies of time behind us and that makes it hard sometimes. We're all still figuring it out. Sometimes that's good and sometimes that's annoying.
I had to find a new way to be with the Moon. Last night's Full Moon was in Leo, a selfish Moon. A time to ask what for you need. I asked to find a new way, a new way to stand and be in right relationship with Her. I realized in my dark hours the Moon is ever changing. She appears, disappears, waxes and wanes. She leaves us in the dark every month. But she leaves her stars behind to guide us, help us and to let us know we're not alone. Even though the stars are not as bright as the Moon they are still there as our guides. The Sun and bless you Sun, is always there. It is constant, never changing. But the Moon has her ups and downs and then she goes away. While she goes away, we have to faith that She will reappear. And when She does, oh what joy when we see Her first silver Crescent in the sky.
So perhaps this is the way of faith. Of our path with the Goddess. Sometimes she goes away and feels cold and dark. But She's never gone for long.
Blessed Be.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
"Drawing Down", Myth, Mythology and Religion
"Arms outstretched wide, I open my Spirit and Being to the Goddess. I recite "The Charge" fueled with Her presence and feel the glory of the Divine wash over and through me". It occurs to me that as I describe my ecstatic experience, I use words describing the experience as outside myself, bringing something into myself which is not within me. Have I done myself a disservice?
Lately my thoughts have been turning to Myths, Mythology and Religion. I have found myself returning to the powerful PBS series, "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. How refreshing it was for a deep thinker such as myself to find the series online. I recently reviewed the Episode 5, "Love and the Goddess" and you can view it here:
My altar is covered with statues of the Goddess. She who cannot be named, She of ten thousand names and faces; Yemaya, Isis, Ishtar, Lilith, just for starters. I call to Her, pray to Her, but am I really calling to a place deep within me? When I meditate I close my eyes and go within. All pointers for a making connection with a Higher Power, say to go within. Perhaps in the ritual of "Drawing Down the Goddess", instead of "Drawing Down", we should be "Drawing Out". If we are made of Stardust and Earth, She dwells within us. The Moon reminds of us of what is within. Tapping into that innate Higher Power is the hard part. Bringing it forth and acknowledging the Power is within us is even harder, all the while maintaining our humility.
And so I venture forth into the morning dawn and dark night, greeting the Sun, the Moon and Stars. Trying hard to see inside myself, that which exists in timeless, nameless spaces and places. Let the Moon and Stars remind me of my true Divinity, that which is within and not separate from myself.
Blessed Be and Happy New Moon,
Priestess Najah
Lately my thoughts have been turning to Myths, Mythology and Religion. I have found myself returning to the powerful PBS series, "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. How refreshing it was for a deep thinker such as myself to find the series online. I recently reviewed the Episode 5, "Love and the Goddess" and you can view it here:
My altar is covered with statues of the Goddess. She who cannot be named, She of ten thousand names and faces; Yemaya, Isis, Ishtar, Lilith, just for starters. I call to Her, pray to Her, but am I really calling to a place deep within me? When I meditate I close my eyes and go within. All pointers for a making connection with a Higher Power, say to go within. Perhaps in the ritual of "Drawing Down the Goddess", instead of "Drawing Down", we should be "Drawing Out". If we are made of Stardust and Earth, She dwells within us. The Moon reminds of us of what is within. Tapping into that innate Higher Power is the hard part. Bringing it forth and acknowledging the Power is within us is even harder, all the while maintaining our humility.
And so I venture forth into the morning dawn and dark night, greeting the Sun, the Moon and Stars. Trying hard to see inside myself, that which exists in timeless, nameless spaces and places. Let the Moon and Stars remind me of my true Divinity, that which is within and not separate from myself.
Blessed Be and Happy New Moon,
Priestess Najah
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Winter Prayers
The icy days of winter are upon us, in my corner of the World. Thanks to Llewellyn, Ellen Dugan and the wonderful Witches' Calendar for 2013, we are ready for winter prayers. The festival of Holda and Perchta. Wonderful prayer for January 6, 2013:
"All around me now, icy winter winds do blow,
I call Holda and Perchta, the Queens of Snow,
Leaders of the Wild Hunt,
Great Ladies please hear my cry,
Watch over and defend me as you sail through the sky.
By the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Guard and protect your magickal sons and daughters".
Blessed Be.
"All around me now, icy winter winds do blow,
I call Holda and Perchta, the Queens of Snow,
Leaders of the Wild Hunt,
Great Ladies please hear my cry,
Watch over and defend me as you sail through the sky.
By the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Guard and protect your magickal sons and daughters".
Blessed Be.
May your Winter be a Magickal One!
Bright Blessings,
Priestess Najah
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Hail and Welcome 2013! It Hath Arrived!
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| 2013 Circle of 13 Candles and Potted Rosemary |
In the 13th hour, the above candles were lit to celebrate the arrival of 2013. How awesome to be alive in the year which ends in the number "13".
I find strength and power in the number 13. It is sacred to me. It is sacred because it is the number of Full Moons in a year. I embrace the number 13 and honor it.
We can thank Pope Gregory XIII for 2013. Without his embrace of the calendar that replaced the Julian Calendar, we wouldn't be counting years that led to 2013. Hence the name "Gregorian Calendar". Actually, there are several calendars running in the World at all times.
Our New Year is a celebration of the Civil Calendar which actually runs on an agreement the Church made for tracking Easter! Can you believe that one? We're all running on a calendar made to design and track Easter! Mind-boggling isn't it?! As a Goddess Devotee, Earth worshipper, Nature Lover, I say we remove the veil from our eyes and realize the illusion and break it!
The Witches calendar actually started on October 31, 2012. That was our New Year's Day. The Chinese are still running their calendar and Chinese New Year doesn't begin until Feb. 10, 2013. Of course there's the calendar of your solar return, your birthday, so there is another calendar that's running. Orthodox Hebrews and Muslims also follow their own calendar for religious events. So pretty much whatever time you're following is up to you! Of course for business sake and to keep the world from going wonky the World agreed to follow the Gregorian Calendar. But knowledge is power. I know now from whence this calendar comes, so for me this is year 1!
May we all be Brightly Blessed whatever calendar and time we are following.
Blessed Be!
Priestess Najah
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