STONEHENGE & THE SALISBURY PLAIN (Photo from duidry.org) There are not many places on this earth that evoke more emotion amongst Pagans, Wiccans, Druids and Witches than Stonehenge. It has become a place to gather on the Solstices, and other sacred holidays. It is a place of healing, a place of powerful energies. Several thousand gather on the Summer Solstice annually to watch the sunrise through the stones. It has become a place of pilgrimage for many. Theories abound as to who built it and why. How was it built, considering that the bluestones come from 250 miles away in South Wales, and the upright stones are 7 feet tall,…

Summer/Sun Goddesses Aurora (Greek)/ Eos (Roman) Her name, which means “light”, is the Goddess of Dawn. She rode her chariot, bringing light across the sky. It is said that She had strong sexual urges, kidnapping men for her own uses. She brought forth hope in every new day, and it is said that Her tears create the dew of the morning. Hemera A Greek Goddess of the Day. Her mother, the Goddess Nyx, brought darkness each night and each day, Hemera would brighten the world once again with her morning greeting. Aestas While there is not much known about this Goddess, She stands with Phoebes, the Sun-God. Her name means…

The 2nd Chakra After taking a break from the chakras last month to discuss healing meditations, I return to the chakras with the 2nd chakra. As I mentioned previously, when doing any chakra work, it is imperative to keep yourself grounded. While you can use any grounding exercise that you prefer, I have always used this one in my chakra classes: **Stand up, grip toes to the ground, long deep breathing, visualize your roots going deep into Mother Earth, keeping you grounded and centered. Inhale and bring the earth energy up to the base of your spine; exhale and let the energy return to the Earth. With each inhale, receive…

Healing “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a *person* changes *their* own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards *them*. … We need not wait to see what others do.” ~~ Ghandi (Pronouns changed from gender specific to gender neutral by me) I am going to be taking a break from the chakras this month; we will return to the 2nd chakra with next month’s column. While I realize that many people who read PaganPages are international, I also know that many of us are from the U.S. This past week, another tragedy occurred in yet another violent mass…

Healing Goddesses   Like so many others this week, I am saddened and devastated by the recent racist murders in South Carolina, US. In memory and honor of those whose lives were taken and in hopes that this country, and this world can begin to heal the hatreds that tear it apart, this month’s Goddess column will be on just a few of the Healing Goddesses, whom I ask to please look kindly upon us all.   COVENTINA – The British Goddess of springs and wells, she was also a Goddess of abundance and inspiration. Her sacred well, located in Northumberland, is considered a sacred healing site.     ANAITA…

The 1st Chakra In last month’s column, I briefly reviewed the major chakras (energy centers) in our bodies. This month, I will start a more in-depth discussion of each one, starting with the first Chakra. As I mentioned last month, when doing any chakra work, it is imperative to keep yourself grounded. While you can use any grounding exercise that you prefer, I have always used this one in my chakra classes: **Stand up, grip toes to the ground, long deep breathing, visualize your roots going deep into Mother Earth, keeping you grounded and centered. Inhale and bring the earth energy up to the base of your spine; exhale and…

Kwan Yin, The Goddess of Mercy and Compassion (This column is dedicated to my dear friend, Denise M.) I think that, at least one time or another, we all need a little mercy and compassion in our lives. When times are such that this is what you need, look no further than Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. She is known by many names in many place – Kannon in Japan; Gwan-Eum in Korea, Kuan Im in Thailand; and other similar pronunciations in bordering countries. ****************************** A mind perfected in the four virtues, A gold body filled with wisdom, Fringes of dangling pearls and jade, Scented bracelets set…

SHAKTI GODDESSES Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Namo Namo Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Sarab Shakti, Namo Namo Pritham Bhagvati, Pritham Bhagvati, Pritham Bhagvati, Namo Namo Kundalini Mata Shakti, Mata Shakti, Namo Namo Translation: I bow to the primal power. I bow to the all encompassing power and energy. I bow to that through which Goddess creates. I bow to the creative power of the Kundalini, the Divine Mother Power. You Tube Link for above Mantra: Shakti is, at it’s root, power; divine feminine creative power. This power is infinite and is always present; it manifests itself in awareness, in peace, in ecstacy, in our willfullness, in our intuition. There…

The Chakras The past few months, we have been talking about meditation, it’s benefits, the why’s, where-for’s and how-to’s. In Kundalini Yoga, the yoga that I teach, we move toward systematically raising heat and energy through our bodies and up our spines through use of the chakras. The word “chakra” means “wheel” in Sanskrit and are the energy centers within your body. These chakras can be blocked by long-held stresses, tensions and other factors. Meditation is key in helping to release these blocks. When working with the chakras, it is important to stay grounded and centered. To start always do a grounding exercise, such as the following: **“Stand up, grip…

Ostara/Eostre Ostara is the Goddess of Spring and of the Dawn. Her name, which in German, means “movement toward the rising sun”, is also used by some for the Spring Equinox. Legend has it that Ostara found an injured bird. In order to save its’ life, she transformed it into a rabbit. The transformation was successful in that the rabbit survived, but it was not quite complete, as this rabbit could lay eggs as if it were still a bird. In gratitude, the rabbit would decorate its’ eggs and leave them for the Goddess. In Anglo-Saxon, her name is Eostre or Eastre. Her name has lived on in the holiday…