deities
Finding A Snow White Feather
Some time ago, I was sifting through my box of notes and papers collected over the years, and among all the documents and media cuttings, I found a list which describes the symbolic meaning of various colored feathers. Finding the list was a lucky coincidence. Or was it?
My husband and I live in a rural area outside a small town in South Eastern Spain. The people here are very friendly. Yet, without intending any disrespect, it is unlike many beautiful Spanish towns. I guess you could say that ours is somewhat soulless? It certainly is devoid of much in the way of any natural beauty, or cultural architecture. Another thing we don’t see much of either, is bird life.
More recently, I was thinking hard about an upsetting situation, while leaving the town hall. The outlook of the problem I was dealing with seemed bleak. But, as I left the building and turned a corner, I looked down and there was a beautiful snow white feather! A sign, or another coincidence? Continue reading
Past Lives With Dolphins
Whilst clearing out some papers yesterday, I came across a magazine containing an fascinating article on dolphins, which literally jumped out at me. I had only just been thinking about my framed dolphin pictures, dolphin ornaments, and other dolphin memorabilia – all packed away until we get a bigger home, there isn’t anywhere to display them.
According to the magazine article dolphins were worshiped in ancient Greece. The temple at Delphi was actually dedicated to a Dolphin God. Recently we have been rediscovering that dolphins are sentient souls with large, evolved brains. Although they cannot speak as such, they really do communicate. Continue reading
A Message Of Hope From Hel’s Pond
A yellow butterfly guided me to Blanke Helle, or “Hel’s Pond” during a recent visit to Berlin, Germany. It darted ahead of me all the way from the bus stop in AlboinStraße, until I reached the entrance to the park where lies forgotten, and hidden from public notice, the ancient pagan site sacred to Hela, or Hel, the Norse-Germanic goddess of death and the underworld.
I have been guided by butterflies on a regular basis over the past two years, since the first one appeared to me at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. I was much encouraged by the sudden presence of this golden, magical creature, because it predicted that my visit to this sacred pagan site would be less somber than I had imagined. Yellow butterflies represent rebirth, new life, transformation and resurrection in several cultures. The Irish believe yellow butterflies to be an indicator of the peaceful transition of departed souls. And in Christian tradition yellow butterflies are symbolic of the Christ’s resurrection from death. They are also regarded as a sign of the presence of angels. Would Hel’s dark waters ultimately leave me with a message of hope? Continue reading
The Sun Will Rise Again
The world seems to be fighting against us. Just as soon as we get out of the bitterest cold winter of our lives, we are hit with extreme heats, tornadoes, storms. Thor, on his winged horse, has ridden through… angry, wild, crazed, keeping all of us on our toes.
In our lives, in our relationships, we have all sorts of weather as well. These ups and downs, the setbacks, the craziness of life and love sometimes make us feel that the Sun has left us forever. It seems as if even the clouds try to cover up its warmth, heat, its nurturing, smiling face. Yet, the Sun always rises to bring light to a new day.
The bright light of the sun shows all in truth, both the harsh and good. Although we can’t see him behind the tornado, behind the storm, he is there. Behind the darkening clouds that overshadow all the light, that trouble the skies with lightening, thunder, and rain, the Sun remains like the Most High Spirit of Light. He is still there. Continue reading
Free Will – Is Freedom Truly Free?
When mankind first became a sentient race, we were given the power, by the gods, to make our own decisions. This might seem too good to be true, and in fact it is. The consequence, as we soon discovered, was the idea of karma: our actions have far-reaching consequences, and to live for oneself alone is not enough.
If we accept the idea that our actions are pre-determined for us in the form of destiny or fate, and that nothing we do matters, what is the meaning of this ability to make our own choices? Even if we don’t and we believe in the idea of Tabula Rasa, or a ‘clean slate’ at birth, why do our actions in life matter in the grand scheme of the Universe? Continue reading
The Magic Of Flowers
Like all living things, flowers and plants have unique personalities, wants and needs. Because they don’t speak, it is easy to overlook them. They have auras and have been shown to possess memories.
Anyone thinking of practicing magic should become familiar with a variety of plants and flowers. It is also a good idea to have a few favorites around the house.
Flowers speak to us. There is a good reason celebrations from birth to death, and everything in between, are synonymous with flowers. If you don’t know a Daisy from a Dogwood, here’s a look at some of the more familiar blooms and what they magically represent: Continue reading
The Pentacle – Ancient Magical Symbol
Possibly no other spiritual or religious icon in our culture is as misunderstood as the pentacle, or five-pointed star. Many people automatically believe the pentacle is connected to some form of darkness, evil or satanic worship. This could not be further from the truth.
Along with its powerful symbolism in Wicca and other pagan traditions, the pentacle also has roots in Christian and Jewish mysticism, as well as Native American religion.
Over the centuries the symbol has taken on many meanings. Its most lasting symbolism, however, is that of the five classical elements: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water, with Spirit at its head. Continue reading