Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess Gallery Presents...
Artemis
 

  Artemis, daughter of Leto and Zeus and twin sister of Apollo, is the Greek Goddess of the wilderness, the hunt, wild animals, fertility, and the moon. She was an Olympian and a virgin goddess. Artemis loved to run through forests with Nymphs, hunting while being armed with a set of bow and arrows that were made for her by Hephaestus and Cyclopes. Artemis had the ability to bring and relieve women of disease and sickness. In later Hellenistic times, she assumed the ancient role of Eileithyia in aiding childbirth. For centuries and still today, Artemis is worshipped around the globe.
  
   Artemis went by many names, her Roman counterpart being Diana, but she was also called: Agrotora the patron goddess of hunters, Potnia Theron the patron goddess of wild animals, Kourotrophos the nurse of youths, Locheia goddess of childbirth and midwives, Cynthia names after her birthplace on Mount Cynthus on Delos, and Phoebe which is the feminine form of Phoebus, another name for her twin brother. Artemis has also been identified with Bast, Luna, Hecate, and Selene. 
  
   Being a virgin goddess, she is one of the few goddesses not affected by Aphrodite's manipulations. Although Artemis is more often thought and recognized as the daughter of Leto, there is a myth that she is actually the daughter of Demeter, with no say on who the father would be. Artemis is typically shown with a bow and arrow that represents the crescent moon and it's silver rays. She is most often depicted as wearing a crescent moon above her forehead. Artemis is a maiden Goddess, never to marry or bore children but also a Mother goddess that guards and helps women during childbirth. She is also shown being followed by a fox, stag, leopard, or lion and sometimes even a combination of them.
  
   Her sacred animals are deer, geese, wild dogs, bees, and bears to name a few. Since she is a protectress of all animals, it can be said that any animal is sacred to her. Herbs and foods that were associated and sacred to her were almonds, amaranth, cannabis, cedar, cypress, daisies, date palm, hazel, honey, mugwort, myrtle, and willow. As for crystals and metals, moonstone, pearl, quartz, silver, turquoise, iron, aluminum, and diamonds are sacred to her.
 
  
   Around 550 BCE, a temple was built in honor of Artemis in the city of Ephesus which is located in present day Turkey. The temple had a total of 127 columns and was built entirely of marble. Unfortunately, the temple was burned to the ground in 356 BCE then restored to be only destroyed again in 262 CE. It is said that the temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

   The month of March is associated with Artemis as well as April. Monday's, also sometimes considered "Moon Day" is associated with Artemis, as she is closely linked with the moon. In November there is a festival called "Sagittarius Festival" that is a Greek holy day. It is dedicated to Artemis and is celebrated in November. Young greek women would often dedicate locks of hair, dolls, and toys to Artemis just before their marriage ceremonies in her temples. While Artemis did not want marriage for herself, she was not against it for others.
  
   With Diana being the Roman counterpart of Artemis, starting on August 13th the Roman's have a week long festival for this beloved moon goddess; praying that she turns any damaging storms away and protect the harvest. As we learn from Patricia Telesco's 365 Goddess, the themes for this festival are fertility, children, providence, abundance, and harvest. During the festival, Diana is remembered and honored as the huntress who "helps us capture the spiritual food we need."

 A Ritual To Bring Some Of Artemis' Attributes Into Your Own Life.
Best done during the New moon. During the day, go for a nature walk, and bring with you offerings for Artemis be it fruit, herbs, or even stones. Let your feet lead you to a spot where you feel you can leave the offering for her. Sit for a moment with your offering, let your energies and positivity flow into it.
 When ready, leave your offering and on your way back, make sure that anything that catches your eye, be it a stick, a leaf, or a rock, you bring back with you and use as a charm, for this is a gift from Artemis.
Once home, set up your sacred space with a white or silver candle, any crystals you feel you wish to have with you, a bowl of water, a glass of milk as well as the charm you found on your walk. Cast your circle and call upon the quarters, invoking your deities particularly Artemis.
Begin to meditate, focus and concentrate on what it is you want her to bring to you. Be it freedom, fertility, help in childbirth, abundance, or whatever you personally feel like she can aide you with. Once you have in mind what you want brought into your life, fill the glass of milk with those energies. Feel it's white creamy liquid soak up your thoughts and hopes, envisioning it as the moon itself with Her powerful energies bringing to you what you seek.

While holding the glass, chant the Triple Goddess Chant by Peter Soderberg:
     "Holy maiden Huntress
         Artemis, Artemis
        New moon, come to us.
     Silver Shining wheel of radiance,
     Mother, come to us!"
  
Continue chanting until you feel that the milk is full to the brim of your energy. Then, slowly pour the milk into your bowl of water that represents your life now. See how the milk and your energies slowly overcome the water, turning it milky white, and filling your life with Artemis' divine light. Carry the bowl outside at night time, and pour it into the soil, letting the earth soak up the magick and energies raised as Artemis works on sending you what you asked her for. Carry the charm you found on your nature walk to keep Her energies with you and thank her for all she gives.


My Original art: A bracelet I made that came to me during a guided meditation of a Moon Journey. When I had met with the Moon, which I related with Artemis, she gave me a necklace made of blue goldstone and moonstone to represent her so that I could always carry her with me. Ever since I had this vision during the meditation, I knew I had to make something like this. I made a bracelet made of blue goldstone beads and opalite, to represent the beautiful moon among the stars. It is charged by the full moon and carries great energies of Her.



References:
Once and Future Goddess; Elinor W Gadon
365 Goddess; Patricia Telesco
How to Ride a Silver Broomstick; Silver Ravenwolf
www.photobucket.com
http://www.witchscauldron.net/cauldron/chants.htm
http://www.teenwitch.com/divine/greek/artemis.html#certificate
http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess_symbols_artemis.htm
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/artemis.html

This page is the intellectual and creative property of Rayne Silvermoon 

May 2012