god

Perthro’s Pronouncements

Perthro Pathfinder February, 2012

Today’s article finds me with questions. Questions about the god’s involvement in our lives. Do they merely observe, and guide, and not interfere, or are they actively changing circumstances in our lives to teach us lessons, or to provide for certain experiences?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what is really going on in our lives. Is it all random, with no discernable path, or is there someone pulling the strings? Do the gods and goddesses watch us, and see where we are going, without taking an active role in what happens? If they do, they how do we explain how certain events seem to correlate, or as the term is used, are “synchronous”, whether in a good way or a bad way? We’ve all had that feeling, when one thing goes wrong, it seems others follow, and then there are times when a seemingly minor fortuitous event happens just before it’s needed, such as finding a 50 dollar bill on the road, just when an unexpected bill comes in to the amount of exactly 50 dollars. Is that the gods? I’d like to think so. Some things that happen are just too synchronous to be thought of as coincidence. Think about the people in your life right now too. Everyone you interact with on a daily basis, if you think about it, is probably there for a specific reason. My life is full of instances when I can say I learned a certain concept from a certain individual, and if that person had not been there at that exact time and place, and it had been sooner, or later, the outcome would not have been the same. So there is definitely an argument for the gods, or fate, or whatever you want to call it, having an influence in our lives.

But what if it’s all set up ahead of time, by US even (see some of my previous articles if you want to check out my opinion on that), and then all the gods have to do is sit back and watch how it all plays out? They may have even chosen to make themselves available as guides, or just to make their presence known, but to adopt a strict posture of non-interference. This is also a likely scenario, because while to our perceptions they can do amazing things, in actuality, most of the encounters I’ve heard about with deities involve them not changing a person’s life or course, but rather showing the path, and allowing the person to choose to take it.

There is also the possibility that it could be a little bit of both. They could be actively making things happen, while guiding us along our paths. I know in my own life, and the situations I’ve encountered, it’s a good bet they’re watching while poking and prodding too. I’m only human though, and have no idea about the truth of it all. I can only live my life and hope that it’s a good one, and rest easy knowing the gods are out there, one way or the other, taking an interest in what we are, and where we’re going.

It’s good to know we’re not alone.

Tags:

Moon Owl Observations

Jazz January, 2012

The God Tyr

Tyrspear 217x300 Moon Owl Observations

Tyr is a Norse god of war. He is known to be the lawgiver of the gods and was the leader of the Norse Pantheon, until he stepped aside for his father, Odin. It is not known who his true mother is but there are mentions of it either being Friggo or an unnamed giant. This god of law and order is also one the 12 principal deities of Asgard. Tyr is excellent in all manners of justice, fair-play and right action. He is honourable, brave and inspires courage in others.

A few things are named after Tyr, but the most prominent are the day Tuesday (Tiws day) and the rune. Depending on what set or style of runes being used, his is usually called Teiwaz, Tiwaz or just Tyr. It is the rune of balance and justice. The rune of sacrifice for the self for the well-being of society. His rune signifies positive regulation that needs personal sacrifice to carry it through to a successful result. It also is the rune of law and order of the human world and orderliness in the cosmos. It is part of the third aett and in rune lore Tyr and Frigg guard the eastern quarter.

Tyr is also known as Tiw, Ziw, Tiwaz, Teiwaz and the maimed god. Why the maimed got? Well there is an interesting story to explain that. Tyr sacrificed his hand to help his people from the monster Fenris. Fenris the wolf was one of Loki’s children and Odin saw him as a threat and wanted to lead him to Asgard in hopes of making the wolf gentle and tame. Tyr was the only god who was brave enough to bring Fenris food, but as the days passed Fenris kept growing in size, strength and fierceness. It was decided among the gods that the dangerous wolf needed to be bound. The wolf knew how strong it was and agreed to being bound many times since he knew he could break free, which he did. The gods then got a slender, magick, silken rope made, called Gleipnir. When Fenris saw the slender rope, he did not trust it and refused to be bound- that is unless someone put their hand into his mouth as a pledge of good faith. Only Tyr was bold enough to step forward and place his hand between Fenris’ jaws. The gods then quickly bound the wolf, and it held. When Fenris discovered that he bit off Tyr’s hand at the wrist. Hence why he is known as the maimed god.

Tags: ,

Noblemen of God

Carly Griffith January, 2012

freyr Noblemen of God

FREYA’S BROTHER

Freyr is known as the God of peace, warriors, abundance and most of all Freya’s twin brother.  Except his chariot is pulled by the golden boar Gullinbursti, instead of two blue cats like his sister.  Freyrs chariot was made for him by dwarfs for the mischievous God Loki to give to him.  The brother and sister duo do have much in common, like the fact that they are both Gods of prosperity, fertility, and fun.  Both are well liked by the opposite sex and show no shame in it.  Freyr is married to the ginatess Gerd, and Freya to Odin, God of war and wisdom.  Freyr fell in love with Gerd after he released her from Odins throne…funny how Freya then came to marry Odin.  Freyr’s father was the sea god Njord, making Freyr very connected to water as well as the sun.  He is also the God of elves.

With his name meaning “Lord”, Freyr owns a ship called Skidbladnir, that was meant to hold all Gods ever created.  The ship had to be big enough for this task, yet small enough to fit in ones pocket.

CONNECTING WITH FREYR

Get comfortable and sit or lay any way you like.

Ship Meditation:

Imagine a big ocean sprawled out in front of you

Off in the distance you see a big ship and it get closer and closer with each blink

Soon it’s right in front of you and is taller than any tree you’ve ever seen

As you look around the body of the ship a man appears at the very top

He looks down with smiling eyes and asks for all of your troubles to be thrown onto the ship.  Every stress, worry, or angry feeling is to be placed on this ship to be taken away.

Take as much time and thought as you need to do this

Once you are finished, the ship slowly turns around and disappears into the ocean leaving you rejuvenated.

SYMBOLS AND THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR ALTER

Gold, water, swords, boars, ships, sails, holly, St. Johns Wart, green, rose oil, nuts, mint

Tags: , , ,

Noblemen Of God

Carly Griffith November, 2011

GOD OF THE VINE - Dionysus

OlymDionysus 300x207 Noblemen Of God
If your mother was killed and descended to the underworld would you go down and save her?  Greek God Dionysus did exactly just that.  When his mother Semele, a mortal, was impregnated by Zeus, she wanted more than anything to see this truly divine presence.  Hera came to Semele in disguise, and told her that she must see Zeus and everything that he was.  So the next time Zeus came to Semele, she made him promise to show himself to her.  Zeus, being madly in love with her, quickly agreed and presented himself in front of her.  Instantly shocked and overwhelmed, Semele was burned to a crisp my Zeus’s goriness.  When that happened, Zeus immediately realized that Dionysus was in her, so he removed Dionysus and stitched him onto his leg for safe keeping until he was ready to be born.  Because Dionysus was born from Zeus, this made him immortal like the rest of the Gods.
As Dionysus grew older he began to grow upset with Hera for causing hid mother to get herself killed.  So one day, while fully equipped with anger and courage, Dionysus went down into the underworld to find and retrieve is mother Semele.  Once he found her, he was able to bring her back to Mount Olympus with him.

On a lighter note, Dionysus is also the god of wine and fertility.  His worshipers would go into the forest to drink wine, and act like savages.  Some say that Dionysus was the inventor of wine itself.

CONNECTING WITH DIONYSUS
Dionysus reminds us of the drive within us all to sacrifice anything in order to save our family..even if it means going down into the underworld.  Although, Dionysus’s journey can symbolize a variety of things for people.  All in all it has to do with going to great depths to get what we want, and not stopping.
The most obvious thing to do would be to go to a wine vineyard and do some tasting.  This is a fun activity to do with friends and just have a good time.  Or prepare sangrias with apples for a Samhain treat!

SYMBOLS AND THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR ALTER
Wine, gold, vines, pleasures, red, pine,

Tags: ,

Noblemen Of God

Carly Griffith October, 2011

THOTH EGYPTIAN GOD OF MAGICS AND WRITING

thothbluescroll 171x300 Noblemen Of God


Some ancient Egyptians believe he invented writing itself, and taught it to humankind.  Others go further to believe that he was the creator of all religion an science of the world.  That being said, Thoth was a God of magnificent knowledge and vast skill in learning.  He is said to be messenger of the Gods, because of his writing and language abilities.   Thoth had the head of an Ibis bird.  A white bird with a beak in the shape of a crescent moon.  His connection with the moon and magic is just as strong as his connection to wisdom, making him a profound teacher in the magical arts.  Known as the author of spells in the Egyptian Book Of The Dead, Thoth was believed to usher the dead into the underworld.  Helping them review their life and lessons learned   He also had is own book, The Book Of Thoth.  The Egyptians believed, that whoever could read this book would become the most powerful magician of the world.  Another equally profound divine being was Thoth’s female counterpart Seshat.  The Goddess of writing, magic, and arithmetic much like Thoth.  She was said to be his lover and trusted companion.  Although sometimes the two were said to be the same person.

CONNECTING WITH THOTH

Since its harvest time, try writing down the things you want to harvest in the upcoming year, and what things you need to weed out of your life.  Ask Thoth to help you make these decisions.   

SYMBOLS AND THINGS TO PUT ON YOUR ALTER

Birds, moon, pens and pencils, scrolls, wands

Tags: ,

Moon Owl Observations

Jazz May, 2011

A Brief Glimpse at Apollo

Apollo and daphne 230x300 Moon Owl Observations


Apollo is one complex God! There are countless versions and tales of him from all around the world, so just bear with me if you have heard something slightly different.

Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto and he has a twin sister named emis. He goes by many names and some of those are: Phoebus (meaning bright and radiant), The God of Light, The God of Truth, Apollon and Apulu. He was never married but did chase after many women and a few men, but in general was very unlucky in love and had many disastrous relationships in his life.  Some of his mates include Marpessa, Chione, Daphne, Arsinoe, Kyrene and  Hyakinthos. His most well know child is Asclepius.

Apollo is a God that taught medicine to the humans, making him well associated with the healing arts and medicine. With his association to medicine it is also believed that he can bring plague and death with the arrows from his silver bow. The bird he is represented by is the crow or raven, and he can also be symbolized by the dolphin. Apollo represents the ideal Greek man and is also associated with the hyacinth, music, archery, the laurel tree and the sun.

The hyacinth has meaning since Apollo was in love with a beautiful young boy by the name of Hyakinthos. Unfortunately Apollo hit him in the head with a discus and killed him. From the blood of Hyakinthos Apollo created the beautiful hyacinth, and it is easy to identify as it is a white flower with red splashes on it. The sacred laurel tree is another lost love tale. Apollo was in love again, but this time with a nymph named Daphne. He chased after her with no prevail and she finally got so tired of him that he begged help from her parents, and her father was persuaded to help her and turned her into the Laurel tree.*

Some of Apollo’s talents are playing a golden lyre, archery, and the ability and job to drive the sun across the sky in his chariot. He is known as the God of truth since he is unable to speak a lie. The Greek God Apollo has influenced many and is seen a lot in the media and is easily one of the most popular and well know Gods. It is a well known fact that people like Cesar were influenced greatly by Apollo and in today’s world there is still mention of his name. You can find him in comic books, movies, T.V shows and more.  His shrine is in Delphi, where he killed a giant python. As beautiful and powerful as Apollo was, he got in trouble with Hades from bringing people back from the dead and so as to keep peace within the gods, his father Zeus killed him.

* Some myths dictate it was her father that was finally persuaded to help her, but in other versions it was her mother, Gaia.

Tags: ,

The Grove

Jenna June, 2010

Hera

HeraDrawing The Grove

Temperatures rise & the days lengthen. June brings with it the scent of jasmine on a warm breeze. The month bears the name of the Roman goddess Juno. I, like the Greeks of old, know her by another name. Hera is the child of titans Cronus &

Rhea.  From early on their relationship didn’t run smoothly.  Initially she refused his attempts until wily Zeus thought to transform himself into a cuckoo. When she held the shivering, miserable-looking bird to her breast he took his true form & ravished her. In her shame she had no choice but to marry him.

Hera was venerated as a mighty goddess by her own right in the ancient world. She was respected as a patroness of women & protector of marriage. She was honoured every four years at Olympia, where there was a festival held in her name. However, it is inevitable that she be defined by her relationship to Zeus. Tales of his extramatiral exploits are numerous, to say the least. Perhaps she can be forgiven for striking back from time to time.

Once Zeus fell for the charms of the Lybian queen Lamia. One version of myth says how Hera killed Lamia’s children & grief turned her into a monster.  She was cursed with the inability to close her eyes so that she would not be able to escape the image of her dead babes. Zeus softened the blow by allowing her to be able to take her eyes out to rest. Lamia grew envious of other mothers & ate their children.

Hera almost caught Zeus out once. Zeus turned the hapless Io into a white heifer.  However, she wasn’t completely fooled & demanded that Zeus give her the creature as a gift. Hera left Io to the care of  many-eyed Argus to keep her separated from Zeus. The king of the gods ordered Hermes to kill Argus. When Hera learned of this she placed all his eyes into the plumage of the peacock. Ever notice the eye-like pattern in its tail?

Hera’s parenting skills aren’t fantastic. Her marriage to Zeus yielded a small few minor goddesses, including Hebe goddess of youth, as well as war-god Ares. Homer’s account states that she is also the mother of the lame smithy-god Hephaetus. Hera became jealous of how Zeus produced Athena without her, so she managed to give birth to a child on her own. However she was so offended by the baby’s physical imperfections that she threw him from the heights of My Olympus. Hephaestus later got revenge on his mum for her rejection by crafting a throne for her which would not let her get up after she sat on it. The other Olympians begged him to free her but he refused until Dionysus got him drunk. Hephaestus was taken back to Olympus thrown over a mule. He eventually released Hera after being bribed with the offer of  Aphrodite for his wife.

Hera often comes across as the archetypal wicked stepmother. Consider her treatment of the hero Herakles, Alcemene’s son with Zeus. To be fair it would be hard for any woman to cope with knowing her husband spawned an offspring with another. Hera took her hurt & jealousy to extremes from the start. When Alcemene was pregnant with Heracles, Hera tried to prevent her giving birth by tying her rival’s legs into knots. The servant Galanthis tricked Hera by saying she’s already given birth. When Herakles was a newborn, Hera sent two serpents to kill him. The baby strangled both creatures & was found happily playing with their limp bodies.

The image of a wife left at home alone & crying in in the dark whilst hubby has his fun is all too easy to see, be it god or mortal. No doubt Hera may have a ‘human’ side where she weeps or gives way to darker emotions like sorrow or fury. Many have difficulty looking past the image of an angry, shrieking shrew. There is more to her than this, however. She possesses a deep, abiding strength & more patience than she’s often given credit for. It must take a certain amount of intestinal fortitude to endure the scandals & constant emotional drama life with a philandering partner of this magnitude would put her through. Hers is an enduring love. She must truly feel deeply for Zeus if she has remained by his side no matter what their life together has thrown at her.

Hera teaches us to acknowledge the flaws in others even if we can’t always accept them. Imperfection is inevitable; even the gods themselves have quirks or weaknesses. Don’t try to love someone because they are perfect; instead love them for who they are, warts & all. The flip side to this is that Hera urges us to develop

self-respect. It is no less loving to speak out with all the dignity of a queen if a situation or behaviour in another becomes unbearable.

Sure, she is the queen of heaven & mother of all. There’s no disputing that in many ways Hera is the ultimate wife. However, remember that she renews her virginity yearly by bathing in the sacred spring of Canathus at Argos. Family life doesn’t mean one must give up his or her identity. Certainly marriage doesn’t, & shouldn’t, require either partner to become a creature bent perfectly to suit the other’s will. In renewing herself on a regular basis she constantly reclaims the part of herself she holds most dear. Whilst her methods might lack in tact at times, Hera lives by her own terms.  For better or worse, she is herself.

Tags: , , ,

Musings of a Massachusetts Witch

CricketSong April, 2010

With God All Things Are Possible

I had a recent conversation with someone in reference to preparedness and being ready for the unexpected whether it is a medical emergency or, on a grander scale, a national disaster. The individual I was speaking with didn’t mean for it to be a spiritual conversation, however for me, everything evolves around spirituality. I pointed out to this individual, who happens to be Christian, that if he had faith in God then he would have faith that God would provide for him in his greatest time of need. In fact Scripture tells us so. In 1 Peter 5:7 of The New American Standard Bible we read, “Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” And in Philippians 4:6 we find this verse, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” There are many other verses that encourage us to turn to God and have faith that He will provide if we only ask. “… ask, and it will be given to you …” Luke 11:9

Now, while it is true that I no longer follow the Christian way, I have not disregarded all that I have come to learn and understand from Scripture. The Bible holds many wonderful teachings and lessons that can be and, in my opinion, should be applied today. In fact, the individual I was speaking with was astonished to find the similarities between my Eclectic Wiccan beliefs and his Christian ones. My labels may be different but the underlining message is still the same.

I have learned about and deliberately utilize the Universal Laws. These three laws affect all things physical and non-physical in all times within the Universe. They are as described by Abraham-Hicks: The Law of Attraction (That which is like unto itself is drawn.), the Science of Deliberate Creation (That which I give thought to and that which I believe or expect – is.) and the art of Allowing (I am that which I am, and I am willing to allow all others to be that which they are.). By applying these laws I am able to manifest the things I desire in my life. I’ve been actively living this way for a year and my life has been a plethora of happiness. I don’t worry about natural disasters or medical emergencies. I don’t obsess about what will happen “if this” or “if that”. I don’t give in to the media hysteria that is easily created in our society. In fact, my home has not had access to television or newspapers in over five years. If I want to hear about national news then I need to proactively seek it out online or from others. Now, some may suggest that I am not doing my part by staying current on what’s going on in the world but I am quick to ask them if there is any good news because that is the only news I want to hear about.

The Law of Attraction clearly states that which is like unto itself is drawn. This means that whatever it is you are feeling or thinking, that which you are focusing your energy on, is what is being drawn back to you. Each and every thought, every emotion we have is made of energy and these vibrations are sent out into the universe attracting back to you what you are focused on. When you are happy and maintain a positive attitude, good things come to you. People with the same positive attitude are drawn to you. Wonderful opportunities present themselves to you. Your life is full of blessings from God.

Unfortunately many are unaware of how The Law of Attractions works and will out of fear or worry, unknowingly draw negative experiences, feelings and people into their life. I’m sure that you’re familiar with the saying, “Bad things happen to good people.” Well, when you are unhappy and maintain the attitude that “it’s just not your day/month/year” then negative things are drawn to you. People are rude and argumentative with you. Unfortunate or bad events surround you. Your life steadily rolls down hill and you seem to be cursed or be in Satan’s clutches. Both the positive and negative situations above are simple examples of The Law of Attraction.

Now, in my discussion with the Christian individual I explained that spending all their time and energy planning for and worrying about what might happen would in fact, cause that which they were worrying about TO happen. Expecting “bad things” to occur makes it so. I suggested focusing their energies and emotions on what they wanted to happen. I pointed out that feeling at peace, feeling happy and truly believing that God would provide that which they needed when they needed it would manifest it for them. God answers your prayers and it was Jesus that said in Matthew 19:26, “…with God all things are possible.”

Bright Blessings!

Tags:

The Grove

Jenna January, 2010

poseidon The Grove

The Wheel turns once again, bringing with it the silly season. Recently a well-meaning acquaintance asked me what did I have planned for the holidays. This sort of got me thinking… what was I going to do?

I don’t claim to have a complete understanding of the Athenian calendar system.

However I’ve read that in parts of ancient Greece there’s a month that roughly corresponds to our December/January that’s called Poseidon for the sea god of the same name.

Why honour Poseidon? Isn’t he just a mood-swinging meathead surfer dude chasing booty as much as waves?

To start with the basics Poseidon was most notably the god of the sea. He also presided over lakes & rivers. He was the mighty Earthshaker, the bringer of earthquakes. His trident can shake & shatter anything at his whim.

His parents were the titans Cronus & Rhea. You think your dad’s tough on you? Cronus feared a prophecy that said one of his children would overthrow him & so he ate each of his newborn offspring as they came along. Rhea managed to hide the infant Zeus, who eventually liberated his siblings by causing daddy to vomit them all back up. After Cronus was overthrown, somebody had to take up the slack. The Olympians held a lottery to determine who took control of each realm. Hades drew the Underworld, Poseidon was granted control of the oceans, & Zeus got the heavens.

Poseidon was never quite content with his lot in life. Although his kingdom was huge, he was still under the ultimate rule of Zeus. Once he grew tired of living in the shadow of his brother & attempted to knock him from his lofty perch. The attempt failed, of course. Clever Zeus was able to escape & punished the perpetrators. You think being grounded for a week with no TV is rough? Zeus exiled Apollo & Poseidon from Olympus, sending them to a year of hard labour helping to build the walls of Troy as humans. No magick, no funky tricks to make the job easier. Harsh!

Perhaps he had a little bit of a greedy streak. He has a history of land disputes, the most notable being the squabble he had with Athena over control of Athens. A competition seemed fair. Whoever gave the finest gift would take the city. Poseidon gave what he knew best: water. He struck the ground with his trident & a spring shot up. Unfortunately it was brackish & unfit for consumption. Athena gave the olive tree. It was able to grow on the rocky Greek soil, providing the people with a source of food, oil, fibres to weave, & opportunities for trade. Guess who lost out?

Sure, he could be a bit cranky at times. Usually quick to take offence, Poseidon turned revenge into an artform. Remember when Odysseus got on his bad side? He got upset when the hero blinded his one-eyed monstrous son Cyclops, nevermind that Odysseus was trying to defend the lives of his shipwrecked crew! Try telling that to the Sea Lord. Poseidon went on an 8-year-long rampage, throwing everything from storms to deadly monsters at him.

His tendency to try & take what he wanted regardless of consequence extended to women too. One of his more noteworthy conquests was the goddess Demeter. A version of myth describes how he tried to get her mind off her grief over losing her daughter Persephone by hitting her up. She wasn’t having any of it. The goddess turned herself into a mare & hid amongst a herd of horses. Persistent Poseidon merely turned himself into a stallion & raped her.

Eventually Poseidon married the goddess Amphitrite, the living embodiment of the sea. Hubby was often unfaithful, but she usually turned a blind eye to his  flings. Then there was the nympth Scylla. A jealous Amphitrite threw certain herbs into the nymph’s bath & changed her into a grotesque monster.

Whilst he undeniably had his negative side, consider this. Men once prayed to Poseidon & made offerings to the Sea Lord in hopes of having a safe journey. He could calm storms with his presence & sea beasts would rise to swim playfully around his chariot. He could bless land to make it fertile & gave protection to sailors.

Ultimately his lesson is one of personal strength. He wasn’t happy to settle for second-best & tried to throw off the mantle of an intolerable situation. If you feel you’re being treated unfairly in some way, remember what the Sea Lord stands for. Succeed or fail, the act of trying can initiate change & bring energies of growth into your life. Whilst his methodologies were certainly questionable at times, Poseidon encourages us to reach for goals that might seem impossible. His gift is that of possibilities.

Tags: , ,

The Grove

Jenna December, 2009

You know the type, or think you do.

Hot-headed young thing… thinks he knows it all… is pretty sure he’s seen everything… speeds around in a flashy car pumping out

tunes. What could someone like that possibly have to offer?

Quite a lot, actually.

With chill fingers Winter spreads its shroud over all. The start of the season sees the days shrink, growing increasingly shorter & at

last culminating in a point here the shortest day meets the longest night at around the 21st of December. Winter Solstice marks a turning point, both seasonally & otherwise. Soon after the days begin to lengthen again. Yule brings about the rebirth of the Sun & awakening of its divine children.

You might be more inclined to think of jolly fat men in red suits or babies that got kicked out of the Bethlehem Hilton & forced to shack up in a manger somewhere at this time. Its pagan counterpart might tend to get overshadowed by the mainstream Christian holiday these days, but in its own way Christmas also acknowledges the birth of the ‘sun’ & in this way celebrates the rebirth of the Divine Male in all his forms.

Consider golden-haired Apollo. The son of Zeus & Leto, & twin brother of the virgin huntress emis for that matter, takes the hot-headed thing quite literally. After all, he is the quintessential solar deity. There’s more to him than just his role as god of the sun,

though. He’s an all-around bright guy, in every sense. He governs the realms of prophecy, foresight, archery, healing ( & ironically, the plague ), music, & poetry.

Aside from driving his sun-chariot across the heavens each day, Apollo is best known for establishing the oracle at Delphi. Forget anything you might’ve read about, say, Mel & Oksana. The lives of the Olympians easily put such tabloid fodder to shame Zeus has always had an eye for the ladies. This time he managed to get his plaything of the moment pregnant. Perhaps understandably wifey didn’t take the news too well. One version of myth has Hera once sending a creature known as the Python, serpent-like & carrying with it stench & the spread of mischief, to harass Apollo’s mum. She couldn’t find a safe haven to give birth anywhere thanks to this. Soon after his birth, Apollo took revenge & killed the beastie. Afterwards he buried its corpse under Mount Parnassus & on its surface built his temple.

Not only was it the home to oracles, Delphi was also known as the centre of the world. Zeus proved it when he released two large eagles from opposite ends of the earth, & where they met in the middle was Delphi. Dionysus, the god of wine, had perhaps grown a bit comfortable there. Apollo allowed him to stay for three months of the year whilst he was off visiting the Hyperboreans up north of Thrace. Dionysus represents the allure of madness & the wild freedom of ecstasy, where Apollo stands for orderly structure & a rational mind. Consider how they share this sacred site. Apollo’s gift to us is balance. He reminds us that too much of one or the other ultimately won’t work. Both are valid in the right amount & the proper season.

At this time of year the coldest part of the season is yet to come. However, don’t forget that this is a time of rejoicing. Remember

Apollo’s promise. He will return, no matter how dark the days might seem to get, bringing with him new light & warmth to renew us. His ultimate lesson is one of faith. Have faith that the seasons… literal, emotional, or otherwise… will inevitably turn.  He is the

light of all light. Let him guide you. Do you have any habits or issues that are holding you back? Now is the time to let them go. Be

reborn with the sun & step free of winter.

Tags: , ,

Next »