deities
The Pagan Origins Of Valentine’s Day
Did you know that the Valentine’s Day that many people all over the world will be celebrating today, has its origins in pagan rituals of the past? This is in fact true of many of our modern holidays. But how did we get our modern day cards, cupids, and hearts?
In ancient Rome, the Festival of Lupercalia was annually celebrated on February 15th. As with similar Roman holidays, such as Ostara (Easter), this was a time to celebrate fertility and love. The deities honored were Lupercus, Patron of Shepherds; Juno, Goddess of Marriage; as well as Pan, a pastoral god who came to be regarded in Roman times as the representative of paganism and the personification of all nature.
In a festival custom that survives to this day in the form of valentine’s cards, young men would randomly draw the names of eligible women from a jar or urn. In the Middle Ages, Emperor Claudius II believed single men made better soldiers so he declared marriage illegal. As a concession, he encouraged temporary romances.
Drawing the name of a lady during the festival determined who a soldier’s partner would be for that coming year. He would then wear her name on his sleeve for the rest of the festival. This gave rise to the saying “wearing your heart on your sleeve.” Whether or not they also exchanged flowers, candy or gifts is uncertain.
It is also interesting to note that Cupid, the son of the love goddess Venus, was not originally linked specifically with this festival, even though he is associated with it today.Venus, it turns out, was particularly fond of red roses and this custom still survives after 2,000 years. As for the symbolism of the heart, this is also an ancient image found across many cultures, including Greco-Roman, Indian, and Meso-American. Instead of romantic love, it was often used to represent rebirth, purity, and spiritual love.
Your Spirit Guides And Guardians
We all have trusted friends, family members and others we seek support and guidance from, but what about our helpers in the spiritual realm? They can be powerful allies, not only in our mundane day-to-day activities, but also when we need assistance in more important and urgent matters.
Our spiritual helpers are always there for us. I have felt throughout my life that I’m never alone, that I have constant protection and guidance. Just like friends, we have our favorites in the spirit realm too. They may be a family member that has passed, whose presence you can feel. They often also give us signs that they are here. Our favorites may also be the Archangels and Saints we adore, or some of the Ascended Masters like Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Vishnu, Quan Yin, Mother Mary, Parvati, Guru Nanak, Krishna, Lakshmi, Merlin, Saint Germain and Maitreya.
There may be one spirit guardian or guide you would like to have a closer relationship with, to form a bond and have them on your side as spiritual advisor, guru and friend. Well, all you need to do is ask! It makes a world of difference. They always have our backs in ways we often don’t see, and can intercede for us in matters of the material realm, as well as with other beings here and on the Other Side.
It has been my experience that the more we check in with our helpers in spirit, show them gratitude and build a closer relationship with them, the deeper the bond and connection that will be formed. It’s the same as relationships here on earth. When we reach out and communicate with our friends, that bond grows stronger too. In both realms, as we connect and get to know them more, we also learn to better understand their gifts and how they can help us, as well as how we can honor them and carry on some of their work in this life.
The Hermetic Principles And Conscious Creation
The Seven Hermetic Principles are based on the philosophical teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, the amalgamation of the Greek god, Hermes, and the Egyptian deity, Thoth. It reflects universal laws which are thought to illustrate how the Universe works. This philosophy can guide our understanding of manifesting in our own world.
The Hermetic principles are Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender. Taking time to understand the meaning of these principles can help us see how they can apply in everyday life and enhance one’s everyday life. These principles are thought to all work together, and when understood, give you deeper insight into the spiritual nature of reality.
When you understand and practice the Seven Hermetic Principles, you will be less a ‘victim of circumstance,’ and more aware of your power to manifest. The first three principles, Mentalism, Correspondence and Vibration, can be particularly useful for understanding how we create the reality we live in, and how we can use both our mental and emotional bodies to magically manifest what we truly desire in this world.
Mentalism
All is mind, the Universe is Mental.
This principle states that everything, all of creation, is mental in nature. As such, thoughts are creative in nature and therefore physicality is from the mind. In essence this means that what we think we become. Our definition creates our reality.
The Return Of The Divine Feminine
Sometimes when I do psychic readings, I sense a powerful female presence from Spirit, with wings spread wide, who appears to be lending strength and support to my clients. I recognize her as the Egyptian Goddess Isis, or by her Greek name, Auset.
When Goddess Isis comes into a reading, I know that serious business is at hand and that my client needs to be brave, strong, and to believe in themselves. This brings in the grander subject of the Divine Feminine and how that is showing up during my client’s reading.
The awakening of the feminine is alive and happening all around us, and more widely recognized now than ever before. The rise of the Divine Feminine is showing up in all sorts of arenas, including the corporate workplace. Women, as a whole, are speaking up and no longer have much tolerance for sexual discrimination, lower pay rates, or other outmoded ways of female disempowerment.
However, the interesting thing about the Divine Feminine is that it has a quality of power that is not based on forcefulness. It works more in alignment with the psychic realm and intuition. The Divine Feminine works in harmony with what is, and ways to empower everyone.
Little Miracles – Charms, Milagros And Ex-Votos
Years ago, my Grandfather gave me a gold bracelet. Upon his travels, or on special occasions in my life, he would gift me a charm to add to this bracelet. It was to remind of the things I loved or accomplished.
These charms are all special to me, but the one that stands out is the gold angel he gave me one Christmas. I remember when opened the box, the Angel was sparkling. I knew she was inviting me through the doorway to the unseen – to be able to speak through the veil.
This was my initiation to charms. Today, I use them as talismans, jewelry, mementos, and for divining. I’m also a collector of small, unique boxes and that’s where my charms reside. Many of my charms are items that were passed down to me, such as a thimble, buttons, coins, safety pin, small crystal figurines, toys from cereal boxes’ I also have found objects, like feathers and an acorn. Some are purchased charms, and charm kits from my favorite artists.
No matter our background or culture, symbols are universal and they tell a story. When I use my charms for divination, I ask clients to select charms at random, or intentionally. I then read their chosen charms before they leave from a session. There is usually a charm or symbol that speaks to them that about a loved one, or someone that passed on. It’s often through this symbol we can speak to them or make that connection.
Power And Protection From Your Ancestors
I come from a long line of female herbalists of European origins on my mother’s side of the family. They were seers, healers, and prophets who combined their psychic gifts with ancient healing practices. Today, they still come to me during meditation, to offer wisdom.
The family’s mainly Germanic connection is one I’ve researched for many years, but more recently I discovered that my ancestors crossed into Scandinavian and Norse territories too, which suggests a bloodline of fierce women who were warriors of their time. It’s really not surprising to me, as even my own mother today, who is 84 years old, can still kick anyone’s butt who crosses her path in an unkind way! I always knew she was strong when I was little, and I always admired her power and independence.
Can You Really Sell Your Soul To The Devil?
Can you really sell your soul to the devil? I’ve heard this question asked and I’ve heard some ridiculous answers, often coming from those who claim to be experts on the subject. In truth, this question cannot be easily answered, as it is a complex matter. And, it seems as though many people do not want to hear the truth.
So, what happens when one makes a deal with the devil, so to speak? Let me begin by saying this is not a new concept. These types of pacts are believed to have been going on since before recorded history. One of the earliest tales of such a deal was in the 10th Century. Pope Sylvester II was rumored to have made an unearthly, dark pact. The same is alleged of famous violinists Giuseppe Tartini in the 17th Century, and Nicolo Paganini in the 18th Century.