Merry Meet dear Sister!

This course is inspired by Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic by Shekhinah Mountainwater and while it is not necessary to have read or purchased the book, I highly recommend it to any Women following the path of the Goddess and looking to reclaim their sacredness and inner Goddess.

Over the four weeks of this course, we will be learning about the Threefold Goddess, of Maiden, Mother, and Crone and learning how to honor and connect with each within ourselves, and within the Goddess Herself.

All cultures are built on myths and the tellings of stories. Within these stories are values and symbols that can be easily passed down through generations, passing on knowledge and traditions. Today, there are hundreds of Goddess stories being found, retold, and many new ones are being created daily. These tales are the threads with which we weave our magick. In many stories, the Goddesses are described as being a Triad and of three phases---Maiden, Mother, and Crone. This powerful Trinity holds infinite correspondences within daily life and nature.

By taking the time to learn with the Triple Goddess and find each within ourselves we can live our lives and work our magick in the cyclic rhythm of life, death, and rebirth and know that change is always happening.

As reference, below is a Table of Correspondence that was in Ariadne's Thread. It shows the attributes found within the Maiden, Mother, and Crone and are only some of the possible correspondences and not rigid in their meanings. These are only a useful, and flexible tool in which you can add any of your own to the tables. 

For this mini-course I would like for you to set up an Altar to the Triple Goddess to use for the rituals we will be performing. Take time to decorate it with beautiful cloths, crystals and stones, flowers and feathers, and anything else that you feel has been touched by the Goddess and her beauty. Also have your own interpretation of the Five elements on it: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Once you have your altar space set up, perform the Consecration Ritual below to Bless and Consecrate your Altar. This is the First ritual we will be performing from Ariadne's Thread, and is a great place to start our course.

When you have your altar set up, find a time in which you will not be disturbed. Light your candles and incense. Seat yourself comfortable before your altar. Do some deep breathing and relax in mind and body. Spend some time gazing and taking in the beauties and energies of your altar. Look into the eyes of your Goddess images and open yourself to Her. Take up your bell and ring it until you can feel the reverberations. Let the last chime fade out naturally, before you set the bell down again. Keeping your gaze upon the Goddess, say aloud:

"Sweet Goddess

Creatrix of all that is

Thou from whom I came

And to whom I will ever return

I call upon thee now to come and bless my altar

And the work I do in thy name.

Please hear my vows to use this sacred place of power

Only for loving and holy purposes.

So be it.

Blessed Be."

                    Close your eyes and cast your circle, envisioning a swirling rainbow surrounding you and your altar as well. Say Aloud:

"The circle is cast

The spell is made fast

Only the good can enter herein

The magick is made, so let it begin"

                    Say the following invocation:

"I am one with thee, Goddess, and thou art one with me.

Thy power is my power

Thy gifts course through me in poetry and beauty,

Thy breath is my breath

My thoughts are of thee

My eyes behold thee

My ears hear thee

My voice speaks and sings of thee

My arms reach out to embrace thee

My hands do thy work

My heart loves through thee

My womb and sex reveal thine innermost mystery

My legs bend and kneel beside thee

My feet walk and dance thy path.

Let me be ever filled with thy glorious, divine life!"

Spend a little time in silence, feeling the energies you have raised and seeing them in your minds eye. Now is the time to call in those Goddesses you would like to have appear and be with you. Use the Five elements as a guide if you would like:

Air: Aurora, Goddess of the Rosy Dawn, Iris, Messenger Goddess who brings news from the other side, Voc, Goddess of the Spoken word, who helps me to Name. Goddesses of Mind, were Light is born....

Fire: Chantico, Goddess of the sacred Hearth, keeper of the flame, Pele, flower of the volcano, rising up from Earth's inner core, Lucina, Goddess of the Golden Sun who shines upon us all....Fiery and passionate ones who rule the fires within me, awakening my creativity, strengthening my will....

Earth: Demeter, Mother who brings the animals and the grain, Gaia, Mountain Mother upon whose breasts and belly we walk in peace, Tiamat who molded us all from clay....Goddesses of my body, sacred flesh and bone, thou who are the mystery of manifestation....

Water: Oceana, swelling with the tides of compassion, Sarasvati, flowing river of inspiration. Yemaya, water goddess of the deep who brings all Life and Love...Keepers of emotion the beautiful feelings that sweep through me and are my strength as well as my vulnerability....

Spirit:_______(Name yourself) And Goddess of Ten Thousand Names...thou who reside in the universe as well as within me...I am you and you are me, and so our lives are one life for all eternity....

"Awake and come to me now and bless my venture

Hear my vows of devotion and loyalty

My pledge to be ever true

 To myself and to you..."

Visualize the Goddesses you have invoked. See them forming a circle of love and protection around you and your altar, as well as within you. See and hear their blessings. Say aloud:

"I dedicate this altar to myself and to thee

I will never betray thy trust in me."

Spend some time communing with them, receive them and experience their presence. Open yourself and listen. They nay have special messages for you. When you feel complete, thank all of the Goddesses and bid them farewell until next you meet. As you see them depart, breathe deeply for a few moments and imagine the energy you have raised being sent down through your body and into the earth. Open the circle with your mind's eye, but now that it will continue to energize and surround your altar at all times. Close it permanently around your altar. Say aloud:

"For the Good of all

and with harm to none

The spell is sealed

and the magick is done."

 Ring the bell again and snuff out the candles.

As well as setting up an altar and performing the ritual, I would like for you to begin a Book of Light, that will be your personal journey with the Goddess and can include the notes given in this course and anything else you may want to add. Feel free to add any and all rituals to it as well to use again.

--What has your connection to the Goddess been like?

--What has brought you to the path of the Goddess?

--Do you already use an altar regularly?

--How does your spiritual background compare to that of your Goddess path?

--Of the Sacred Female Trinity, Maiden/Mother/Crone, which do you feel most connected to currently?

Write up your experiences with setting up your altar and beginning your journey this week and send them over to me. xshadowxfaeriexx@aol.com
 

Love, light, and may the blessings of the Goddess grace you my dear Sister this day )O(

This page is the intellectual and creative property of Rowena Cerridwen LaFae

January 2013