The Maiden Goddess

The Maiden Goddess before the spring

Seeing as we are nearing Imbolc, it’s only fitting to talk about the Maiden Goddess. At this time of year, the Goddess has given birth (at Yule) and now renews herself, preparing for the coming Spring. The Maiden is the bud of creation, she is raw potential ready to create or to destroy. She is youth, energy, and possibility. She is often a virgin goddess in many mythologies – do in part to her innocence, but also her fierce independence. The Maiden is strong, charismatic and likes to provide for herself. Being virgin, however, does not mean that she rejects her sexuality. Instead she is comfortable in her sexuality; understanding it as an important part of herself.

Some examples of Goddesses usually categorized as Maiden are: Pandora, Arachne, Kore, Tana, Flora, Athena, Brigid, Gaia, Blodeuwedd, Ostara, and Persephone (though I don’t really put her here).

As we draw nearer to Imbolc, I’m sure I’ll have more to share about the Maiden.

Yule 2010

This year, I decided to try something different for Yule. I usually do a simple ritual involving a reflection on the darkness and lighting a candle, letting it shine through the long dark night. This time ’round, I’m holding a vigil – watching the sky and waiting for the sun to rise. During this, I’m reflecting on the darkness and it’s purpose and preparing for a little celebration when the sun does rise. It’s only right to celebrate the return of the sun, even if we are heading into the coldest part of winter. We are coming out of the darkness.

Dawn of the Winter Solstice as seen at Stonehenge.

When the dawn comes, I’ll don my coin belt, grab my drum and encourage the  coming light and see the Goddess through her labor. Where I live, dawn (the beginning of twilight before the actually sun rise) occurs around 7:40 this morning and the sun will rise nearly 35 minutes later.

I find active ritual that includes dancing, chanting, singing and the like to be the most amazing experience. For many years I planed out my Sabbat rituals meticulously, which isn’t really a bad thing to do at first. This allows you to truly understand the purpose for the Sabbat and the symbols often used; but, I think I’m ready to try out new things and experiment. If I don’t like what I do this year, I can always do something else next year.

Sing a Song

To me, music is very important in both my spirituality and religion. I sing in ritual, out of ritual, before and after ritual, and a few times in place of ritual. Music stimulates the energy flow and can facilitate healing (ever heard of music therapy?) and just feels good! I just wanted to share a few of my favorite chants – all are pagan themed today.

Lyrics:
Mother I can feel you under my feet,
Mother I can hear your heartbeat,
Mother I can see you when the eagle flies,
Mother won’t you take me higher…
(Sometimes I decided to say “feel your heartbeat” but that’s okay)

Lyrics:
We are the flow, we are the ebb
We are the weavers, we are the web

We are the weavers, we are the web
We are the spiders, we are the thread

We are the spiders, we are the thread
We are the flow and, we are the ebb…

Lyrics:
She changes everything she touches,
And everything she touches changes,
(Repeat as desired)

Changes, touches, touch us, change us (repeat as desired)

We are changers, and everything we touch can change (Repeat as desired)

~Take care and Blessed be

Full Frosty Moon

I call the full moon in November the full Frosty moon, because where I live the cold of winter is really setting in right about now.  This is a time for reflection on past choices. This is a time for thankfulness too, in a sense – being thankful for being able to be comfortable about the onset of winter.  Where I live, winter is generally cold, long, and ruthless. On this moon, I take the time to realize that winter is now here; it’s no longer something I can plan for or pretend isn’t creeping up on me – it’s here.

~Take care and Blessedbe