1^st

--Gamelia (Roman-Modern era) Festival of the New Year

January 1 has only been celebrated as a New Year holiday by Western nations for about the past 400 years even though the celebration of the New Year is the oldest cultural holiday. From 567 AD, the Catholic Church banned the celebration of the Roman New Year as pagan until Pope Gregory XIII reinstated January 1^st New Years observances in 1582 AD.

New Years was first observed as the holiday Akitu in ancient Babylon about 2000 BCE on the first Crescent Moon after the Vernal Equinox (approx. March 20^th) and the celebration lasted for eleven days. At the end of the Akitu festival "oracles were cast” to foretell the fate of the coming twelve months. Celtic New Year is the great fire festival of Samhain begun at sunset on October 31^st and ending at sunrise on November 1^st where divinations for the coming year was also a tradition. Norse New Year was observed on Winter Solstice, approx. Dec 21^st. Welsh New Year occurs on January 13^th. Chinese New year is a Movable Feast calculated on a lunar calendar and marks the holiday from New Moon to Full moon after the first of the year.

Modern New Year originated when the Roman senate moved the New Year from the Spring Equinox or the start of a new moon to January in 153 BCE.

--Sacred offerings: Romans gave friends a glass jar full of dates and dried figs in honey, branches from sacred trees, bay leaves, fruit, and Janus coins were thrown after resolutions were made to insure a year of good fortune.

--Traditions and Rites: The first water drawn from a well on January 1 is supposed to bring fortune and happiness, and is called 'the cream of the well'. It is customary to leave flower petals floating on the water (Britain). Celebrating with loved ones and family. Making resolutions (Babylonian). Having coins, bread, salt, new clothes and a clean home draws good fortune. (Irish) It was particularly lucky if the first visitor of the new year to one’s home was a tall dark-haired man especially if he brings a gift of coal for the fire or shortbread. (Irish/Scots). Eating twelve grapes at midnight to secure twelve happy months in the coming year. (Spanish) Lighting bonfires made of Christmas trees. (Netherlands) Fireworks replace bonfires sympathetically. (Chinese and Modern) A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake, the receiver get good luck. (Greek) Eating eyed peas and ham hocks. (Southern America/African American). Noise makers and bell ringing to scare away bad spirits. (Chinese & Celtic)

--This day is Sacred to: the Great Father gods like Jupiter (Roman); Zeus, Cronus, Uranus (Greek); Ptah, Osiris, Ra (Egyptian); Bel, the Dagda (Irish); Odin (Norse); Beli (Welsh); Olorun (West African), Indra (Hindu); Izanagi (Japan). Also the Great Mother goddesses (Juno, Fortuna (Roman); Hera, Rae, Gaia (Greek), Anat (Egyptian); Danu (Irish), Frigg (Norse), Arianrhood, Cerridwen, Rhiannon (Welsh)&); Oshun (West African), Indrani (Hindu); Izanami (Japan). Also the god/desses of the between times (Janus, Carmentas, the Lares, Mercury (Roman) ); the god/desses of beginnings and endings, the Fates (Roman: Lachesis, Clotho & Atripos); the Norns (Norse: Urd, Verdandi & Skuld); the Three Mothers (Hindu: Sarasvati, Lakshmi, & Parvati) and the Morrighan (Irish: Anu, Badb & Macha).

Traditional rhyme for toasting and singing.

Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the false
Ring in the true.

--Feast of Fortuna (Roman) She was a grain goddess of abundance, of fortune and fate. She was an goddess of prophesy and her oracles were consulted regarding the future. She was an eccentric goddess, not only favoring the brave, according to the familiar maxim of Terence, “Fortuna favet fatuis” – Fortune favors the foolish.

--Sacred Names and titles: Golden or Royal Fortune, Fortuna Dubia doubtful luck, Fortuna Brevis fickle luck, Fortuna Mala evil luck, Fortuna Annonaria the luck of the harvest, Fortuna Primigenia the fortune of a newborn child at the moment of birth, Fortuna Virilis attended a man's career, Fortuna Respiciens fortune of the provider, Fortuna Redux brought one safely home, Fortuna Muliebris the luck of a woman, Fortuna Virilis the fortune of a woman in marriage, Fortuna Victrix brought victory in battle, Fortuna Belli fortune of war, Fortuna Balnearis fortune of the baths, Fortuna Conservatrix fortune of the Preserver, Fortuna Equestris fortune of the Knights, Fortuna Huiusque fortune of the present day, Fortuna Obsequens fortune of indulgence, Fortuna Privata fortune of the private individual, Fortuna Publica fortune of the people, Fortuna Romana fortune of Rome and Fortuna Virgo fortune of the virgin.

--Sacred to her: the cornucopia, the rudder, a ball, a blindfold, and the wheel. Fortuna was not always the bringer of good fortune.

--Dates also sacred to her: February 5, (St Agatha’s day)

From: the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Incantiation to Fortuna (Virgo)

Dea Fortuna, Golden One

Bless this day with your abundance

Bless my sight with eyes to see

All Good Fortune in the future

With this now, I draw to me.

--Festival of Juno. (Roman, Etruscan ) The divine patroness of the female sex, patroness of marriage and childbirth, protectress of Rome. She married Zeus in the Garden of the Gods where Gaea created in her honor a tree of life bearing golden fruit. Sacred Names and titles: Juno Regina (Queen), Queen of Heaven, Juno Lucina (birth, bringing children to the light) Juno Opigena (opulence), Juno Moneta ("Juno who Warns" or "Juno the alone"), Juno Interduca ("she who leads the bride into marriage"), Juno Domiduca ("she who leads the bride to her new home"), Juno Cinxia ("she who loses the bride's girdle"). Sacred offerings: fruit. Dates also sacred to her: July 1, September 1 and September 13.

--Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) Anthropologist, Folklorist and Classical Scholar. Author of the Golden Bough

2^nd

--Birth of Inanna as early as 2320 BCE

Sumerian goddess of earth, queen of heaven. Ishtar, also known as Htar (or Inanna in Sumerian mythology, The famous story of the goddess' descent into the netherworld, circa 1750 BCE), the name of the chief goddess of Babylonia and Assyria, the counterpart of the Phoenician Astarte. The meaning of the name is not known, though it is possible that the underlying stem is the same as that of Assur, which would thus make her the 'leading one' or 'chief'. Where the name originated is likewise uncertain, but the indications point to Erech or Uruk or Ur an ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, where we find the worship of a great mother goddess independent of any association with a male counterpart flourishing in the oldest period of Babylonian history. She appears under various names, among which are Nanã, Innanna, Nina and Anunit.

As the "Lady of Myriad Offices," she acted as a mediator. Her duty is to light fires as well as put theme out, to cause tears as well as joy. As the "Lady of the Palace," she ruled as queen. As "Mother of All," she was the goddess of fertility, birth, and nature. As the goddess of war and strife, battle was called the "Dance of Inanna. Bound to her skill at war is her power over storms. With wings and serpents adorning her shoulders we can see a trace of the ancient Neolithic Bird and Snake Goddess. Sacred to her: cow, serpent, the caduceus & the double-headed axe (life and death), the eight-rayed star, gold and lapis lazuli.

Sacred offerings: Offerings of scented oils, wine and precious stones (Lapis Lazuli) were made to her in the morning. Light a candle and surround it with gold or lapis lazuli. Or burn or place under the candle a picture of a cow or serpent as a sympathetic sacrifice. Take a feather and blow it from your hand. Or take a cup of spring water and pour it on the earth. And say…

THE ADORATION OF INANNA OF UR

Exerpt from: Hymnal Prayer of Enheduanna –

“...The kingship of heaven has been seized by the woman (Inanna),

At whose feet lies the flood-land.

That woman (Inanna) so exalted,

who has made me tremble together the city (Ur),

Stay Her, let Her heart be soothed by me.

I, Enheduanna will offer supplications to Her,

My tears, like sweet drinks.

Will I proffer to the Holy Inanna, I will greet Her in peace…”

--Advent of Isis

The Egyptian deity Isis was honored with a temple at Rome. Today, singers, musicians and dancers, mostly female, would perform at this temple during the festival of the Advent of Isis. Actors playing the parts of Isis and Nephthys in the mystery plays celebrated the death and resurrection of Osiris. These might have been the oldest mystery plays on earth, predating even those of Mesopotamia.

Isis possessed great skill in the working of magic, who not only used the words of power, but she also had knowledge to pronounce them so those to whom they were addressed would be compelled to listen. She possesses the powers of a water goddess, an earth goddess, a corn goddess, a star goddess, a queen of the Underworld, and a woman.

The Egyptians believed that if the best effect was to be produced by words of power they must be uttered in a certain tone of voice, and at a certain rate, and at a certain time of the day or night, with appropriate gestures or ceremonies. There were both priests and priestesses of her cult throughout her history. By the Graeco-Roman era, many of them were healers, and were said to have many other special powers, including dream interpretation and the ability to control the weather by braiding or combing their hair, the latter of which was believed because the Egyptians considered knots to have magical powers.

--Sacred Names and titles: Her name means "(female) of throne", interpreted as “Queen of the throne” or “She who is The Throne” itself (upon whom the King sits). The empty throne was represented by the emblem worn on her head dress. However, the hieroglyph of her name originally meant "(female) of flesh", i.e. mortal, and she may simply have represented deified, historical queens. Most of the names Isis holds signify her as the goddess of protection of the dead. The great lady, the God-mother, lady of Re-a-nefer; Isis-Nebuut, Lady of Sekhet; Lady of Besitet; Isis in Per Pakht, Queen of Mesen; Isis of Ta-at-nehepet; Isis, Dweller in Netru; Isis, Lady of Hebet; Isis in P-she-Hert; Isis, Lady of Khebt; Usert-Isis, Giver of Life, Lady of Abaton, Lady of Philae, Lady of the countries of the south," etc. --Sacred offerings: the Knot of Isis, lotus, sycamore tree, ankh. Hathor's attributes, the sacred sistrum, a percussion instrument that rattled, and the fertility bearing menat necklace. Isis's headdress is replaced with that of Hathor: the horns of a cow on her head, and the solar disc between them. The cult of Isis rose to prominence in the Hellenistic world. In the Roman period, probably due to assimilation with the goddesses Aphrodite and Venus, the rose was used in her worship. The demand for roses throughout the Empire turned rose growing into an important industry.

The Mysteries of Isis,

by deTraci

Awake, awake, awake,
Awake in peace,
Lady of Peace,
Rest thou in peace,
Rise thou in beauty,
Goddess of Life
Beautiful in Heaven.
Heaven is in peace,
Earth is in peace
O Goddess,
Daughter of Nut,
Daughter of Geb,
Beloved of Osiris,
Goddess rich in names!
All praise to You,
All praise to You,
I adore You,
I adore You,
Lady Isis!

--Monthly: The second day of every Greek calendar month is sacred to Agathos Daimon, (Athenian, Greek) the good spirit, god of the vineyard. Also called the good demon, was the god of fortune, worshipped in the area of Alexandria and depicted in the form of a snake. He was regarded as a friendly household guardian, or Lare; ancestral spirit that protects and preserves family lines and family knowledge.

--Sacred offerings: Librations of unwatered wine were made regularly to this deity after meals.

3^rd

-- Feast of Pax - (Roman) Goddess of Peace, Daughter of Jupiter and Justitia. Pax was often associated with springs.

--Sacred offerings: are the olive branch, a cornucopia, and a scepter.

--Dates also sacred to her: January 29: her birthday

From: Ovid, Fasti. I. 709

Come, Peace, thy dainty tresses wreathed . . .

and let thy gentle presence abide in the whole world.

So but there be nor foes nor food for triumphs,

thou shalt be unto our chiefs a glory greater than war.

May the soldier bear arms only to check the armed aggressor,

and may the fierce trumpet blare for naught but solemn pomp.

Add incense, ye priests, to the flames that burn on the altar of Peace.”

--Birth of J.R.R. (English) John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (b.1892) Author of Lord of the Rings

--Monthly: The third day of every Greek calendar month is sacred to Athena (Athenian, Greek) Goddess of Wisdom.

4^th

--The Feast of Janus (Roman) - Janus, the god of gates, doors. doorways, openings, beginnings, and endings.

Hail, Lord who stands at the boundary
Of then and now, of there and here.
We stand also at that boundary.
Teach us to see how the past
Shapes the future in its hands,
That we may not be blind to our own divinity.

--Festival of Fufluns (Etruscan God of Wine) Fufluns (or Puphluns) was a god of plant life, happiness and health and growth in all things. He is the son of Semla. He was worshipped at Populonia. He was adopted by the Romans, but was quickly replaced with other Italic gods of fertility.

--Birth of Doreen Valiente (1922-1999) Heroine of the modern witchcraft movement. Doreen Valiente was perhaps one of the most respected English witches to have influenced the modern day movement of Witchcraft. She was an early initiate and High Priestess of Gerald Gardner and did much to co-write with him the basic rituals and other materials that helped to changed and shaped contemporary Witchcraft.

Abstract From: http://www.controverscial.com/Doreen%20Valiente.htm

by George Knowles

Dear Lady of the Sacred Charge

Help us to know that we are

children of earth and Starry Heaven

and there is no part of us

that is not of the Gods.

Help us see that what people call

the world of everyday reality as unreal,

and know that what is behind that unreality

is something very real and very potent.

Open us to the world of force behind the world of form.

Remind us that in culture and community

the things which unite us are more important

than the things which divide us.

--Monthly: (Egyptian) The fourth day of every Egyptian calendar month is sacred to Isis and Hathor

--Monthly: (Greek) The forth day of every Greek calendar month is sacred to Dionysus and Aphrodite. In Athens, it was also sacred to Herakles, Hermes, Aphrodite, and Eros

5^th

--The Feast of the Lares Compitales (boundary and crossroads spirits)

It used to be a movable feast falling on a single day between December 17 (Saturnalia) and January 5th (usually on the 3rd, 4th or 5th). Shrines to the Lares were erected at boundary meetings where the paths of three or four farms merged. The doors of the shrines where then opened in four directions so the Lares could pass in any direction. Later celebrations were held over three days where ceremonies, games and feasting turned a rural celebration into a state celebration. Leave an offering of food or value to the Lares, the gods who guard your boundaries.

--Traditions and Rites: Honoured every day, but especially this day, are gods of doorways and windows, land boundries, goddesses of the hearth & home, patron deities, heroes and ancestors.

--Sacred offerings: A good time to ward your property by offering charmed stones, coins, precious objects, food or libation to the boundary gods at the quarters or corners of your yard. It was my family tradition to see the boundary Lares (spirits) of the four corners of anything as ruled by the Elements, so placing stones of appropriated color at the corners was one of our traditions. That tradition evolved so that if the four directions were positioned at the cross quarters to the corners, then that area is what was warded. Mark each corner or threshold opening (windows, doors, fireplace) of your home or office with sacred oil or incense. This day also known as --The nones of January (Roman) A day of the Half Moon. The nones were the days that fell nine days before the ides (depending on the month, these could be the 13^th and 15^th day; traditionally the day of the Full Moon.) The nones fall on the fifth day the months of January, February, April, June, August, September, November, and December, and on the seventh day of March, May, July, and October and are dedicated to the Lares, the house and ancestral gods of a family.

-- Eve of Epiphanios for (Greek) Kore/Proserpina/Proserpine/Persephone (Roman) Preparing the way for Kore/Persephone's rise back into the world from the darkness of the underworld. *Festival begins at sunset, ends the day after.

From: Sillius Italicus Punica VIII.140-42

Gods of the endless night,

whose powers grow stronger with the approach of death,

I pray, come to me, and gently admit

a life spent in ardor among the Manes.*

(In Roman mythology, the Manes were the souls of deceased loved ones.)

--Festival Eve of La Befana (Italian) the night before Bafana, when a kindly witch flies down chimneys on her broom and bestows gifts on good children and leaving lumps of coal for
the bad children. She carries with her a big black bag filled with sweets and presents for children all over the world. La Befana is a good person and loves children very much. She is also known as Tabina, but Tabina is the beautiful version of La Befana to the Italians. If one sees La Befana one will receive a thump from her broomstick, as she doesn't wish to be seen. She is a pre-Christian tradition that was Christianized. Her principal function is that of reaffirming the bond between the family and the ancestors through an exchange of gifts. In many European countries the tradition still exists of burning a puppet of “ old lady New Year” in a bonfire to clean away the old to make way for the new.

--Sacred offerings: Leave a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food for La Befana.

--Ploiaphesia EVE/The Ship of Isis (Greco-Roman), Although sometimes listed on Roman Imperial calendars, the festivals of Isis were never part of the state religion of Rome.

Romans celebrate this festival on January 5-6, also called Isidis Navigum, (the Ship of Isis) celebrates Isis as sea goddess and as the goddess of navigation. Egyptians celebrate Isidis Navigum on March 5 (begun on the eve before and it was also a festival honoring Isis as Mother of the Spring.)

6^th

--Ploiaphesia EVE/The Ship of Isis (Greco-Roman), Romans celebrate this festival on January 5-6, also called Isidis Navigum, (the Ship of Isis) celebrates Isis as sea goddess and as the goddess of navigation. Egyptians celebrate Isidis Navigum on March 5 (begun on the eve before and it was also a festival honoring Isis as Mother of the Spring.)

--Traditions and Rites: In Rome, ships were dedicated to Isis during the festival, to place them under her protection.

--Sacred offerings: lights, music, mirrors, flower garlands, perfume, balsam, carnival, and torch-lit processions, going sailing, carrying garlands of roses to the sea, pouring libations of milk into the sea, dedicating a ship to Isis, or making and launching a small votive boat in honor of Isis.

-- Epiphanios* - Festival day of Kore (Greek) (Proserpina, Proserpine, Persephone)

A festival of rebirth, bringing light out of darkness. The feast of the Great Mother going to the underworld to rescue her child/lover to bring the light of love back into her world…and the world at large. Like: Demeter/Persephone (Greek), Ceres/Proserpina (Greek), Isis/Osiris (Egyptian), Inanna/Tammuz (Sumerian), Venus/Adonis (Roman), Erzulie/Damballah (Vodoun), Cybele/Attis (Phrygian).

--Last day of Roman New Year’s festival. (Roman) The Romans celebrated New Years with six days of festivities, ending on January 6 with the final feast of their Winter Festival that began with Saturnalia. Christians also end their twelve days of Christmas from December 25^th to January 6^th.

--Festival of La Befana* (Italian) - The good witch who brings Yule gifts to children who hang their stockings by the fireplace. (Preceding Santa Clause) She is usually portrayed as an old lady riding a broomstick through the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both. La Befana is also known as Tabina, the beautiful version of La Befana.

--Birth of Dion Fortune(1890 - 1946) Violet Mary Firth - Behind the shadows of Gerald B. Gardner, lurks Dion Fortune. Unappreciated during her own time she was perhaps his lesser-known equal, working quietly behind the scenes she developed her own tradition and was unconcerned with the need for publicity. Dion was a respected psychiatrist, occultist and author who approached magick and hermetic concepts from the perspectives of Jung and Freud. She was a prolific occult writer of novels and non-fiction books, an adept in ceremonial magick and a pioneer psychiatrist on religious thought in occultism.

http://www.controverscial.com/Dion%20Fortune.htm

Excerpt from: the "Magical Battle of Britain" Letter No. 50, November 24^th, 1940

Meditation on Power

The initiate of the Greater Mysteries is known by his serenity…

He knows how to be still and let the powers

he has set in motion carry out the work.

He knows how to await the ripening of souls

and not force a premature development by personal pressure.

The initiate never goes about doing good;

he never trespasses uninvited

upon the spiritual privacy of another.

He acts by what he is, not by what he does.

He works on himself, makes something of himself,

and then the forces that radiate from him

without effort on his part bless and illuminate.

If he is calm, he calms his environment.

If he has wisdom, those who are in his company

unconsciously take on his attitude

and he has no need to proffer unsolicited advice.

Because he knows the reality of eternity,

he is content to let time do its work.

He is characterized by two things, the power to be still and wait,

and the power to stand absolutely alone.

Until we know how to be still… how to stand absolutely alone

in perfect equilibrium and contentment… mentally as well as physically,

we cannot handle power…

--Birth of Gibran Khalil Gibran (Lebanese-American) (1883-1931) Philosophical essayist, novelist, mystical poet, and artist. His most famous book, THE PROPHET (1923), has been a bestseller from the 1920s. Khalil Gibran was born in Bechari (Bsharri), Lebanon, a mountain village of Maronite Christians. The Maronite sect, formed during the schism in the Byzantine church in the 5th century A.D., was made up of a group of Syrian Christians, who joined the monk St. Marun to lead their own sectarian thought. A talented child, he was modeling, drawing, and writing at an early age. Gibran's mother, Kamila, took her children to the United States; their father, Khalil, who owned a walnut grove, remained in Lebanon.

Gibran believed that if a sensible way of living and thinking could be found, people would have mastery over their lives. The Mount Lebanon area was a troubled region, due to the various outside and foreign interferences that fostered religious hatred between the Christian, especially the Maronite sect, and Moslem populations. Later in his life, Gibran was to seek and unite the various religious sects, in a bid to abolish the religious snobbery, persecution and atrocities witnessed at his time.

--Works: The Madman (1918), Twenty Drawings (1919), The Forerunner (1920), The Prophet, (1923), Sand and Foam (1926), Kingdom Of The Imagination (1927), Jesus, The Son of Man (1928), The Earth Gods (1931),

From: Sand and Foam (1926)

· It was but yesterday I thought myself a fragment quivering without rhythm in the sphere of life. Now I know that I am the sphere, and all life in rhythmic fragments moves within me.

· I am ignorant of absolute truth. But I am humble before my ignorance and therein lies my honor and my reward.

· Inspiration will always sing; inspiration will never explain.

· We often sing lullabies to our children that we ourselves may sleep.

· The song that lies silent in the heart of a mother sings upon the lips of her child.

· When you reach the heart of life you shall find beauty in all things, even in the eyes that are blind to beauty.

· Only great sorrow or great joy can reveal your truth.
If you would be revealed you must either dance naked in the sun, or carry your cross.

· Generosity is not in giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is in giving me that which you need more than I do.

· I too am visited by angels and devils, but I get rid of them. When it is an angel I pray an old prayer, and he is bored; When it is a devil I commit an old sin, and he passes me by.

· Trickery succeeds sometimes, but it always commits suicide.

--Monthly: The sixth day of every Greek calendar month is sacred Artemis. (Athenian, Greek)

7^th

-- Birth of Sekhmet - (Egyptian) Goddess of Justice. The goddess of the healing arts, protection, the destructive Eye of Re, she was depicted as a lion-headed woman with a sun disk and uraeus serpent headdress, or was often shown as a woman with lionesses. Although she is connected with Bast, she has no relationship with the cat goddess.

--Sacred Names and titles: included in the 100 names she was called: Powerful one, Mighty one, Beautiful Light, Beloved Teacher, Bountiful One, Terrible One, Winged One, Sparkling One, One of Magic, Eye of Re, Beloved of Ra, Her Father, Beloved of Bast, Her Sister, Beloved of Ptah, Her Husband-Brother, Lady of the Arts, Flaming One, Lady of the Scarlet Garment, Destroyer of Rebellions, Awakener, Lady of Enchantments, Lady of Jubilation, Opener of Ways, Lady of Transformations, Lady of the Magic Lamp, Destroyer By Plagues, Great One of Healing, Lady of Intoxications, Great One of Laws, One Who Holds Back Darkness, Lady of Books, Lady of the Knives.

--Dates also sacred to her:, August 12 - Day of Sekhmet's repulsion of Set, October 17th - The feast of Sekhmet, October 31st - Feast of Sekhmet, Bast and Re, November 20th - Day of Sekhmet and the Purifying Flame, November 24th - Day of Offerings to Sekhmet, November 28th - Feast of Het-Hert (Hathor) and Sekhmet, December 14th - (Thoth) sends Bast and Sekhmet to guide Egypt, December 28th - Day of Sekhmet Going forth to Letopolis, December 31st - Feast of Sekhmet, March 12th - End of the World by Sekhmet

Spell from the chapter of ‘Giving a Heart to the Osiris’,

Book of the Dead from 'The Papyrus of Ani', (1240 B.C.E.)

May the goddess Sekhmet raise me,

and lift me up. Let me ascend into heaven,

let that which I command be performed in Het-ka-Ptah.*

I know how to use my heart.

I am master of my heart-case.

I am master of my hands and arms.

I am master of my legs.

I have the power to do that which my KA* desireth to do.

My Heart-soul shall not be kept a prisoner in my body

at the gates of Amentet* when I would go

in peace and come forth in peace.

*Het-ka-Ptah. - The Place where the Projection (spirit) of Ptah, is Manifested. Combination of Het (place), KA ("the physical projection of the soul"), and Ptah, (a Creator God)

*KA (the physical projection of the soul without the body),

*Amentet – Beautiful goddess of the dead, fertility and rebirth.

Prayer to Sekhmet for nursing mothers:

O thou who lives on the water,

hasten to the Judge in his divine abode,

to Sekhmet who walks behind him,

and to Isis, ruler of Dep*, saying,

“bring her this milk”.

* Dep – the name of one of two lower Egyptian cities that became Buto (its Greek name). The city was an important site in the Predynastic era of Ancient Egypt that includes the cultural developments of ten thousand years from the Paleolithic to 3100 B.C.E.

--Festival of Frigga – (Norse) the goddess of love, marriage, household management, marriage, motherhood, domestic arts. and destiny. She was the wife of the powerful Norse god Odin, The All-Father. A sky goddess, responsible for weaving the clouds (and therefore for sunshine and rain and the fertility of the crops), she was also responsible for weaving the fates. The Goddess Frigga, who sat at her spindle weaving the destiny of man and gods alike, was the goddess associated with the beginning of each new year (as Winter Solstice).

--Sacred offerings: Keys, Distaff, Drop spindle (spinning wheel), Mistletoe.

--Dates also sacred to her: March 15^th, May 20^th, 30^th, and the Day: Friday

Invocation to Frigg

By Russ Anderson

Frigg, Daughter of Jord, Join us.
Frigg, Daughter of Fiorgyn, Join us.
Frigg, Wife of Odin, Join us.
Frigg, Sister of Thorr, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Balder, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Hodr, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Hermod, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of the gods, Join us.
Frigg, Wise in all fates, Join us.
Frigg, Who will tell no fortunes, Join us.
Frigg, First among the Asynjur, Join us.
Frigg, Queen of Asgard, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of home and hearth, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of Eire, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of healing, Join us.
Frigg, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!"

--Nanakusa/Festival of Seven Herbs (Japan), a festival that dates back to the 7th century and recalls the seven plants served to the emperor that were believed to have great medical value. Eaten this day to bring longevity and health.

Water dropwort (seri, Oenanthe javanica)
Shepherd's purse (nazuna)
Cudweed (gogyo, Gnaphalium affine)
Chickweed (hakobera, Stellaria media)
Nipplewort (hotokenoza, Lapsana apogonoides)
Turnip (suzuna)
Daikon (suzushiro)

--Birth of Marie-Bernard Soubirous 1844 (St. Bernadette of Lourdes - Catholic), On February 11, 1858, when she was 14, French shepherdess and visionary claimed to have experienced 18 of the most famous apparitions of “The Beautiful Lady.” Bernardette is a patroness of the sick.

From: the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Oh! Bernadette, of the Beautiful Lady of Lourdes

Help us to see the goddess in every apparition!

--Monthly: The seventh day of every Greek calendar month belongs to Apollo, Sun god. (Athenian, Greek)

8^th

--Dark Moon Esbat (Astronomically called the New Moon)

Religious and/or magickal celebration for pagans and witches. Magick is banishing or binding. --Goddesses of the Dark Moon are Hacate (Greek), The Morrighan (Irish), Cerridwen (Welsh), Lilith (Sumerian).

--Goddesses of magick: Isis (Egyptian) Circe (Greek), Freyja (Norse).

--Gods of the Dark Moon are Kalfou (Vodoun)

--Gods of magick: Thoth, Heka (Egyptian) Odin (Norse).

Solitary Banishing Rite

From: The BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Banishing Rite

Invocation to the Matron Moon

By Ardriana Cahill

We call to Her - through the Wisdom Light

Of the Dowager Moon in Her robes of Night

We ask of the Old One to lend Her power

And whisk away, from us this hour

All that restrains us, all that taints us

All that is hidden that complicates us

Into the dark earth, into the dark night

Dowager Lady, attend us tonight.

Envision the thing or things you want to release as a dark ball of mist drawn from the extremities of your body. Draw down from you mind and focus the ball of balck mist into the center of your chest. Take your empty cauldron/goblet/chalice in both hands; hold high above your head to salute the Dark Mother. Lower to chest level, visualize the habit, person or experience you have allowed to bring negativity into you, name it in your mind. Slowly breathe into the cauldron/goblet as many times as you need to purge every tendril of black mist from your chest. With each exhale name the thing you wish to banish. When you are finished, turn the goblet upside down into the earth. When complete say the cuplet below and then sit quietly for bit, meditatie on something pleasant or simply take in the beauty of the night:

The whole of this vessel I offer to thee.

Absorb and take it - Away from me.

Ardriana Cahill

--Day to Honor Freya (Norse) In the Eddas (poems and tales of Norse Mythology), Freyja is portrayed as a goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Blonde, blue-eyed, and beautiful,Freyja is described as the fairest of all goddesses, and people prayed to her for happiness in love.She was also called on to assist childbirths and prayed to for good seasons.

--Sacred Names and titles: Daughter of Njörðr, Sister of Freyr, Wife of Óðr, Mother of Hnoss, Possessor of the Slain, of Sessrúmnir, of the Gib-Cats, and of Brísingamen; Goddess of the Vanir, Lady of the Vanir, Goddess Beautiful in Tears and Goddess of Love.

--Sacred to her: blue cats and golden boar, a necklace called Brisingamen (Jewelry of Fire). Gold is called Freyja's Tears

--Dates also sacred to her: April 30 and October 14-15th

Invocation to Freya

Variation from: Idunna #35, p. 38

http://www.hrafnar.org/goddesses/freyja.html

You are the core of fire at the center of my being.

You are the storm that washes over me in sleep.

You are the heart of the dream.

You are the lover of my soul.

You are darkness unspeakable and light beyond bearing.

I am moved into places of resistance

that I do not understand and then

into the twin-flames of pain and transformation.

You do not ask me for my leave.

It is as though the world shifts around me

and I find I once more face the burning.

Yet, You bring an unfathomable beauty into my days.

You pour out joy like mead.

Peace flows through my heart like water.

Your love is a never-failing fountain of strength.

I will never willingly be parted from You.

~*~

I give thanks to the Lady of Life and Love

who has shares with us the delight of dance, music and movement,

the sweetness of honey, the fire of wine.

We give thanks for your gifts of spirit and flesh.

--Lessor (Or Rural) Dionysia, (Greek) – A rural festival for the month of January to honor Dionysus who was the god of wine, revelry and ecstasy. He was the son of Zeus, and Semele (Greece), Zeus and Demeter (Eleusis specifically). "The fertility god Dionysos (Greek Dionusos), whose cult emblem was the erect phallus, was also a god of healing, and his name, when broken down to its original parts, IA-U-NU-ShUSh..."Semen, seed that saves', and is comparable with the Greek Nosios, 'Healer', an epithet of Zeus." - John M. Allegro, The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross

The notion of the soul freed from the body was a core belief of a cult devoted to the worship of Dionysos. Water was turned to wine by Dionysos in a separate myth and his rites included the slaughter of animals which his followers ate and drank as his body and blood. The first large scale religious worship of Dionysos in Greece seems to have begun in Thebes in around 1500 BC.

--Sacred to him: The Kantharos, a drinking cup with large handles, originally the Rhyton, a drinking horn (from a bull), and later a Kylix, or wine goblet; the Thyrsos, a long wand with a pine cone on top, carried by initiates, and those possessed by the god; the Stave, once cast into ground to mark ritual space; the Krater, or mixing bowl, the Flagellum, or scourge; the Minoan Double Axe, once used for sacrificial rites, later replaced by the Greek Kopis, or curved dagger; the Retis, the hunter's net; the Laurel Crown and Cloak (purple robe, or leopard or fawn skin nebix); the Hunting Boots; the Persona or Masks; the Bull Roarer; the Salpinx, a long straight trumpet, the Pan Pipes, Tympanon, Bells and Drums; and the Liknon, a sacred basket;

--Sacred offerings: Musk, civet, frankincense, styrax, ivy, grapes, pine, fig, wine, honey, apples, Indian Hemp, orchis root, thistle, all wild and domestic trees, black diamonds.

--Dates also sacred to him: January 27: Lenaia, March 16 and 17: Bacchanalia.

An invocation of Dionysos

from the Orphic hymns

I call upon loud-roaring and revelling Dionysos,
primeval, double-natured, thrice-born, Bacchic lord,
wild, ineffable, secretive, two-horned and two-shaped.
Ivy-covered, bull-faced, warlike, howling, pure,
You take raw flesh, you have feasts,

wrapt in foliage, decked with grape clusters.
Resourceful Eubouleus, immortal god sired by Zeus
When he mated with Persephone in unspeakable union.
Hearken to my voice, O blessed one,
and with your fair-girdled nymphs

breathe on me in a spirit of perfect agape."

-- A day sacred to Justitia, (Roman) goddess of Justice. She was a virgin living among humans until the wrong-doings of mortals forced her to take flight and become the constellation Virgo, according to the Adkinses in "Dictionary of Roman Religion." As Ma’at (Egyptian), she was depicted carrying a sword with an ostrich feather in her hair. As Themis (Greek) classical representations did not show her blindfolded (because of her talent for prophecy, she had no need to be blinded) nor was she holding a sword (because she represented common consent, not coercion). As Justitia, she was portrayed as a woman holding a cornucopia and evenly balancing both scales. Later she was portrayed carrying a sword and wearing a blindfold. She was sometimes portrayed holding the fasces (a bundle of rods around an ax symbolizing judicial authority) in one hand and a flame in the other (symbolizing truth).

-- Midwife’s day (Macedonia & Greek) honoring Hecate in her Crone or Divine Hag aspect as the Divine Midwife. Also called Baubo's Day (Greek) for the wild goddess of laughter and sacred sexuality. She depicted as middle aged or in her Crone aspect as the archetypal goddess of life, death and fertility but as the goddess of mirth she teaches the profound lessons of living joyfully, dying without fear, and being an integral part of the great cycles of nature. One can also honor Cailleach the Irish old wise woman. A Sheela-Na-Gig can be used as an icon to represent the Midwife who brings “life to the light.”

Hail Baubo, Mother of Laughter,
Great open door upon your belly,
You who open all things,
The woman's womb, the hard-bound heart,
The eyes shut tight in fear,
The belly full of mirth repressed,
Today no weeping will sound through our halls,
And only mirth shall walk our paths,
O Baubo upon the bridge!
You watch those who walk down to the dark places,
You see those who weep their sorrow
Like Mother Demeter trailing in the dust,
And your great heart of understanding
Who knows when no word of sense

Will ever help when the shadows are darkest.
Only absurdity can make its way
Under the tight doors of desolation,
Through the cracks of misery.
Hail Baubo, Mother of Mirth!

-- Birth of S.L. MacGregor Mathers (1854-1918) He was a prominent occult scholar, author and a leader of the occult revival in the late 1880’s. He had a life long fascination with magic, mysticism and Celtic symbolism that led him to hold high office in the S.R.I.A. (Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia). He, together with Dr. William Wynn Westcott and Dr. William Woodman was a co-founder of the influential secret occult Order known as the “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn”.

--Monthly: The eighth day of every Greek calendar month belongs to Poseidon and Theseus (Athenian, Greek)

9^th

--The first Agonalia, (Roman) in honor of the god Janus, after whom the month January is named and to whom the Romans prayed for advice. The tradition of the day was blessing the thresholds of homes and offices.

--Sacred offerings: The sacrifice of ram was done to honor him. Also meal, frankincense, cakes and wine were offered. To Janus, he advises offering a strues, which means a pile of small offering-cakes, while to Jupiter, he uses a fertum, a particular type of cake.

--Dates also sacred to him:: the second Agonalia on May 21^st and the third Agonalia on December 11^th.

Invocation to Janus

From: Cato:

Father Janus, in offering to you this heap of cakes,

I pray virtuous prayers, in order that you may be

favourable and gracious to me and my children,

to my house and to my household."

Father Janus, as in offering to you the heap of cakes

virtuous prayers were well prayed,

for the sake of the same things

be honoured by the humbler wine."

10^th

--First Crescent Moon (Astronomically called Waxing Crescent) (What my family tradition calls: The Children’s Moon.) Taught to me as a child, stand with you back to the First Crescent Moon just after sunset and while looking over your left shoulder, make a wish. When you are done, blow a kiss to the new Moon.

From: the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

--The First Carmentalia. (Roman) The Carmentas – the goddesses of prophecy, Porrima (Future) and Postvorta (Past). Women hold rites to benefit pregnant women and their children, especially with regard to their futures. No woman should do housework or accept their husband’s advances on this day. Carmenta was invoked in it as Postvorta and Antevorta, epithets which had reference to her power of looking back into the past and forward into the future.

--Traditions and Rites: One aspect that we know about the cultus of Carmentis was that no leather was permitted inside her sacred grove. It meant that She was to be approached while barefoot, as was also the case in some rites performed for Ceres and other goddesses. Her cultus seems to have been one of the earliest in the City.

Where we hear of worship made while barefoot it usually refers only to women, and the cultus of Carmentis was primarily a women's cultus. The prohibition against leather also meant that no blood sacrifices were to be performed in the sacred grove of Carmentis. One reason for that was that her cultus related to childbirth. We see the reason given for this with the ceremony to a person's genius or juno on his or her birthday, "For on the day when they had received life, they did not want to deprive another life (Varro in Cens. 2.2) ." This was even carried over into the celebrations held for the birth of the City at Parilia. "In the beginning, so it is said, they sacrificed no living creature, but thought that they should keep pure and bloodless the festival commemorating the birth of their country ( Plutarch, Life of Romulus 12.) ." Augures also, who rites were established by Numa, supposedly were not to perform blood sacrifices lest they should pollute themselves. Another aspect of her cultus was that it probably used milk rather than wine as a libation. That is not certain, but, first, her cultus supposedly went back to the time of Romulus. "Romulus poured libations of milk, not wine; proof of this lies in rites established by him that preserve this custom today (^{Pliny Natural History 14.88)}." Also women were generally prohibited from using wine, and again the cultus of Carmentis was primarily performed by women. Another probable aspect was that her cultus would have prohibited use of iron inside her grove or for her rites. Such a prohibition is known in the case of rites held for Ceres, and it appears in the temple rules at other locations. Such a prohibition may refer to the antiquity of a cultus, where bronze implements were preferred as the material for ritual tools. On the other hand iron was specified in the cultus of Mars. Iron was associated with war and death and thus, like blood sacrifices, would have been inappropriate in a cultus concerned mainly with childbirth.

The more ancient a cultus, the simpler and more native offerings were to be used. Flowers and herbs, fruits and vegetables that were locally grown rather than exotic plants that were later introduced into Rome. This would have been the same with incense used in her rites. Not cinnamon or nard, myrrh or frankincense that came from distant lands. Instead bay laurel would have been used, and other trees among the arbores felices. This played in again with the prohibition against blood sacrifices in her cultus, since "it is forbidden to pollute laurel... even for making a fire at altars and shrines when divinities are to be propitiated. (^{Pliny NH 15.40)}

--Sacred offerings: incense, cakes and honeyed milk

Invocation to Carmentis

Frm: http://www.novaroma.org/

Mother Carmentis, may You be strengthened by these cakes,

May You be warmed by this portion of our milk.

Accept, O Carmentis, this offering of incense.

Cheerfully have your daughters come

To adorn your shrine of matrons.

Come, most venerable Goddess,

Appear in flowing robes and nod your assent to the milk

That is poured in your honor and the cakes piled high to await you.

Bring with you every soothing song to sing;

every charm to bring peace and solace.

Across the seas, from distant shores,

bear with you the words by which we may praise the Gods.

O most merciful Mother, we pray for a blessing

from your generous and temperate right hand.

11^th

--Feast of Juturna (Roman) Goddess of fountains, wells and springs. Wife of Janus. Like her husband, who was worshipped in square temples, Juturna's wells were often built with the same design, such as the famous Lacus Iuturnae (Spring of Juturna) adjacent to the Temple of Castor & Pollex in the Forum Romanum. However along with the square fountains, there are also round wells dedicated to her.

--Sacred offerings: Romans prayed and asked for favor from her by throwing coins, garlands of flowers and jewelry inscribed with the spirits name into wells and fountains. Water was taken from a sacred well to be used in state offerings.

Invocation to Juturna

From: the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Spirit of the Sacred Well

Source of life, deep from the earth

Portal from our world to yours

Grant my wish for health and mirth.

--Birth of Nut

12^th

--Festival of Sarasvati/Saraswati (Hindu)-mother goddess The literal meaning of her name is the one who gives the essential knowledge (Sara) of our own Self (Sva). She is also considered the Goddess of Learning, education, intelligence, crafts, arts, and skills.

--Sacred Names and titles: Smirtishakti (the power of memory), Jnanashakti (the power of knowledge) and Kalpanashakti (the power of forming ideas), Goddess of 64 arts (described in Kama Sutra, includes arts and sciences - with no distinction between them-of singing, music, dancing, painting, writing, poetry, sculpture, games, magic, cooking, mimicry, languages, etiquette, chemistry, gambling, logic, religious rites, sports, and others.)

--Sacred to her: She is often depicted sitting on a lotus, which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth. She holds in her four hands a vina instrument, an akshamala (prayer beads) in the right hand, and a pustaka (book) in the left, which represents the knowledge of all sciences. Other objects that she may hold include the pasha (noose), ankusha (goad), chakra (disc), padma (lotus), trishula (trident), and shankha (conch). Sometimes she is also seen riding on a swan, the carrier of her spouse, Brahma. The union of Brahma and Sarasvati is a harmony between spirituality and materialism. At other times she is seen riding on a peacock or sitting with one nearby. The peacock represents the worldly beauty, which can distract the spiritual aspirant. Her Sanskrit Mantra is recited for higher knowledge and wisdom.

Oh! Goddess Saraswati,

my humble prostrations unto Thee,

who is the fulfiller of all wishes.

I start my studies with Thy worship

and always pray for success.

May Goddess Saraswati,

who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,

and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;

who is adorned in radiant white attire,

on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,

and whose throne is a white lotus;

who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.

May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.

--Monthly: The twelfth day of every month belongs to Oddudua (African Mother goddess)

13^th

--Feast of Fools – a popular festival during the Middle Ages. In 990, Theophylact, Patriarch of Constantinople in 990, ordered the Feast of Fools and the Feast of the Ass, with other "religious farces," to be played in the Greek Church. The two feasts would continue to be associated through the centuries. The festival evolved into a mock service in which the ass was led into the church and treated as an honored guest while the priest and the congregation brayed like asses. Ecclesiastical ritual was parodied, and low and high officials changed places. Such festivals were probably a Christian adaptation of the pagan festivities of the Saturnalia were slave and master traded places. By the 13th century these feasts had become a burlesque of Christian morality and worship often played in a theater. In spite of repeated prohibitions and penalties imposed by the Council of Basel in 1431, the feasts did not die out entirely until the 16th century. The Feast of Fools has seen a revival and can be found celebrated throughout the month of January in theater productions of baudy medieval revelry, in the similar way that early Greek theatre grew out of the rowdy Dionysian worship. It has also been adopted by the gay and lesbian community. Traditions and Rites: Modern interpretation treats the Feast of Fools as a time to not take ourselves so seriously. A “dumb supper” is often served to risqué and blasphemous humor.

Anyone who feels like a fool

has made a good beginning.

- Mason Cooley

--Galileo Galilei discovers Callisto, 4th moon of Jupiter. 1610

--Monthly: The thirteenth day of every month belongs to Athena (Athenian, Greek) Goddess of Wisdom. Dates also sacred to her: The third day of every month.

--Midwinterblot (Norse)

14^th

-- Thorrablot, (Norse) Asatru celebration: "Husband's day," once sacred to the Norse sky and thunder god Thor that begins the Old Norse month of Snorri. It is still observed in Iceland with parties and a mid-winter feast. On this day a blot is performed to Thor and invite the mighty Asaman to the feast.

Invocation to Thorr

Russ Anderson

"Thorr, Red-beard, Join us.
Thorr, Son of Jord, Join us.
Thorr, Brother of Frigg, Join us.
Thorr, Father of Modi, Join us.
Thorr, Father of Magni, Join us.
Thorr, Father of Thrudr, Join us.
Thorr, Husband of Sif, Join us.
Thorr, Jtunn bane, Join us.
Thorr, Foe of Jormungandr, Join us.
Thorr, Who bears Marriage Hallower, Join us.
Thorr, Who bears Death Hallower, Join us.
Thorr, Who wields Mjollnir, Join us.
Thorr, Defender of Asgard, Join us.
Thorr, Thunderer, Join us.
Thorr, Storm Lord, Join us.
Thorr, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!"

-- The festival of Makar Sankranti begins (Hindu) Three day festival celebrated as Makar, or Uttarayana, Sankranti, or Lohri, in the North, and as Pongal in the South. The movement of the earth from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti. Day 1 - Evil spirits are driven out of the home and burned in bonfires, and the house is whitewashed. Day 2 is the Feast of the Sun Goddess Surya, Day 3 - Cows and bullocks are washed, decorated, and worshipped for their role in ensuring a good harvest.

-- Birth of Apep (Egyptian)

15^th

--The Second Carmentalia (Roman) The Carmentas – the goddesses of prophecy, Porrima (Future) and Postvorta (Past). Women hold rites to benefit pregnant women and their children, especially with regard to their futures. No woman should do housework or accept their husband’s advances on this day. Carmenta was invoked in it as Postvorta and Antevorta, epithets which had reference to her power of looking back into the past and forward into the future.

--Traditions and Rites: --Traditions and Rites: One aspect that we know about the cultus of Carmentis was that no leather was permitted inside her sacred grove. It meant that She was to be approached while barefoot, as was also the case in some rites performed for Ceres and other goddesses. Her cultus seems to have been one of the earliest in the City.

By Livius Andronicus, from Equos Troianos

Da mihi hasce opes,

quas peto, quas precor porrige opitula

Grant me the strength,

Goddess, to whom I ask,

to whom I pray;

extend your assistance to me.

-- Feast of the Ass – (Roman/French)Celebrated to honor of the Goddess Vesta/Hestia and the ass that saved her. Vesta/Hestia is patroness of hearth and home. Her temple was lit by a sacred fire tended to by six virgin priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins. Vesta was much more important to the Romans than Hestia was to the Greeks. Little is known about the goddess, as unlike other Roman deities, she had no distinct personality, was never depicted and went without mention in myths. Vesta's presence was symbolized by the sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples. Vesta was particularly important to women of the household as the hearth was the place where food was prepared and next to it the meal was eaten with offerings being thrown into the fire to seek omens (the future) from the way it burned. (January 14?)

--Day of Surya – (Hindu) the chief Sun god. Surya is notably mentioned as the visible form of God that one can see every day. Mantra done at the rising of the Sun. A Movable Feast calculated according to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn which falls in the middle of the month of January.

--Traditions and Rites: Family members new clothes and cook - on a new stove and in new pots - a dish with the newly harvested rice, jaggery and moong dal. Sugarcane stalks characterize this festival, as do sweets made from jaggery (unrefined sugar) and peanuts. Children visit homes of neighbors, sing traditional songs and ask for coins and sweets in return. When the winds change they celebrate by flying kites. The winter sky bursts into colour with thousands of paper kites. To honor the Sun God they build a symbolic bonfire to say good bye to the departing winter.

Prayer to Surya

From the Rig Veda, Book 1 Hymn 35:

Throughout the dusky firmament advancing,

laying to rest the immortal and the mortal,

Borne in his golden chariot he cometh,

Savitar, God who looks on every creature.

--Monthly: The fifteenth day of every month belongs to Juipter (Roman) A white ewe is sacrificed.

16^th

--The Festival of Concordia – Honoring the Roman goddess of harmony and reconciliation. Daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, she was depicted as a woman, veiled and heavily draped often seated, holding an olive branch in her left hand and a cornucopia in her right emblematic of peace, and a cornucopia, to symbolize the abundance that can be achieved when people work together in harmony. Her temple was the meeting place of the Roman Senate.

--Sacred Names and Titles: Concordia Militaris, "the Harmony of Armies", Concordia Provinciarum, "the Harmony of the Provinces", Concordia Conjugalis, "Harmony of Marriage.”

--Sacred to her: She sometimes wore a crown and held a sceptre, caduceus, or patera, a small offering bowl from which libations were poured. She is associated with the stork, which symbolized family devotion to the Romans, and the dove, universally a symbol of peace and gentleness; and sometimes a star, as emblem of hope, is shown near her. Another attribute of Concordia is the image of two clasped hands, both of which are right hands (like in a handshake), symbolizing two people agreeing. She is often shown on coins commemorating joint rule of leaders or the marriages of the imperial family.

--Dates also sacred to her: March 30th, January 30th, and on April 1st at Veneralia.

Prayer to Condordia

From the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Goddess of Harmony

Help us to see through the veil

of our discord with others

Help us to make reconciliation,

through understanding

To see how our differences are

the many threads of the larger tapestry.

Lead us to the knowledge of living

in harmony with nature and each other.

17^th

-- The festival of Pax, Felicitas & Concordia (Roman) Pax, the goddess of peace was depicted in art with olive branches, a cornucopia and a scepter. Felicitas became a prominent symbol of the wealth and prosperity and was depicted as holding a caduceus (a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it) and a cornucopia, symbols of commerce and abundance. Concordia was the goddess of agreement, understanding, and marital harmony. Concordia was depicted sitting, wearing a long cloak and holding onto a patera (sacrificial bowl), a cornucopia (symbol of abundance), or a caduceus (symbol of commerce).

From: the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Invocation

Ardriana Cahill

Goddesses of the Cornucopia

Peace, Accord and Prosperity

Lead us to your wisdom

That in all things,

if we work together,

Everyone prospers.

--Birthday of Benjamin Franklin (British/Amaerican) 1706 –1790 Major contributer to the American Enlightenment movement that lead to the American Revolution and the United States of American. Franklin was a Deist believing that god was unknowable and unnamable. Although Franklin adhered to no dogma, John Adams wrote that Franklin was a mirror in which people saw their own religion: "The Catholics thought him almost a Catholic. The Church of England claimed him as one of them. The Presbyterians thought him half a Presbyterian, and the Friends believed him a wet Quaker." Whatever else Benjamin Franklin was, concludes Morgan, "he was a true champion of generic religion." His believed that humans were no more precious to the divine than the animals. He was as a freemason and Grand Master of the Lodge Les Neuf Sœurs (The Nine Sisters or Muses) for three years while Ambassador to France. He believed that God created beings who interfere in wordly matters, a point that has led some commentators, most notably A. Owen Aldridge, to read Franklin as embracing some sort of polytheism, with a bevy of lesser gods overseeing various realms and planets.

18^th

--Festival of Theogamia – Day of Hera (Greek) goddess of marriage wife of Jupiter or Juno/Saturnia (Roman) wife of Zeus, honoring Juno as healer. The divine patroness of the female sex, patroness of marriage and childbirth, protectress of Rome.

--Sacred to Hera: peacocks, the crow, pomegranate, diadem, veil and cow.

--Sacred offerings: cakes and wine.

Invocation to Juno

From: Tibullus IV.6.1 sq.:

Come, most chaste Queen of Heaven,

appear in royal robes and nod your assent

to the wine that is poured

and the cakes piled high that await you.

With you bring every herb for ending pain,

and soothing songs to sing.

--Day of Eris (Greek) goddess of chaos, discord and confusion, sister of Ares. She is Discordia in Roman philosophy. There is not much history on her, however, she has been adopted as the Mother Goddess of the modern Discordian Religion. And -- just for fun -- I place one of their prayers to her (which actually, through humor, includes some wisdom!)

An Erisian Prayer

adapted from Pages From The Book Of Life
by Felix Faustus Nothus

Lady, protect my enemies.

Let them remain strong enough

to continue blocking my path

whenever I might otherwise run into danger.

Let them know they have helped me

almost as much as my friends.
Lady, protect my enemies,

locked inside their closed minds

with the shades drawn tight

and the doors barricaded against fresh thought,

which might *poof* them like sunlight

on the vampires they’re becoming.
Thank you for their sensitive kneejerk reactions.

I enjoy making them dance when I’m bored.

Don’t let me gloat when I scare them so easily.

If I were small, and grey, and cold, I’d get scared too.
You might let them know how pathetic they look

in their pointy headed-bigot caps,

hatred congealed on their faces like drool.
Should they ever become brave enough

to abandon their brain’s musty attics,

and come out to play in the sunshine,

please make me big enough to not hold a grudge.
Amen.

--Pooh Day – Birthday of A.A. (Alan Alexander) Milne (English) 1882 – 1956 Playwrite and author of the Christopher Robin series of books which today are better know as the Winnie the Pooh books. The books were inspired by his son and his son’s toys. Part of the fortune earned by the Pooh books and their copyright sale to the Walt Disney Company goes to the Royal Literary Fund, providing for writers in financial distress. Like so many children who have lived vicariously through the adventures in the “Seven Acre Wood,” Milne is a personal saint of mine. That in death he is still a patron of writers in distress, aids in my deifying him, as well. Favorite Quotes:

“To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks.” - Eeyore, Pooh's Little Instruction Book

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together..

there is something you must always remember.

You are braver than you believe,

stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think.

But the most important thing is,

even if we're apart..

I’ll always be with you.”

-Winnie the Pooh

19^th

--Day of Ti-Lung – the Earth Dragon. (Chinese) This is a movable feast that honors this benevolent earth dragon. It occurs every year on the last day in Capricorn. Called Dilong (mythological creature) or ti-lung (literally "earth dragon"), he is the controller of land, rivers and seas. He spends springtime in heaven and autumn in the sea. He can fly through the sky, speed across land or ride the waves. Nowhere is beyond his reach.

--Monthly: the nineteenth day of every month is dedicated to Minerva (Roman) Goddess of Wisdom, Weaving, (later: Battle and War)

--Sacred to her: Snake, Owl, Spider

From: Ovid Fasti 6.652

Come, golden-haired Minerva,

and favor the task I have begun…

20^th

Festival of Jubilation for Osiris (Egyptian) Osiris is the oldest son of the Earth god, Geb, and the sky goddess, Nut as well as being the brother/husband of Isis. Osiris is one of the oldest gods for whom records have been found and first appears in the Pyramid Texts around 2400 BC. He was the redeemer and merciful judge of the dead in the afterlife, but also the underworld agency that granted all life, including sprouting vegetation and the fertile flooding of the Nile River.

--Traditions and Rites: Plutarch mentions that two days after the beginning of the festival “the priests bring forth sacred chest containing a small golden coffer, into which they pour some potable water…and a great shout arises from the company for joy that Osiris is found (or resurrected). Then they knead some fertile soil with the water…and fashion therefrom a crescent-shaped figure, which they cloth and adorn, this indicating that they regard these gods as the substance of Earth and Water.” (Isis and Osiris, 39)

"I, King Neferkare, am Osiris who goes forth by night."
Pyramid Texts - Late Vth - VIth Dynasty - § 1761d.

"Lord of All Men, at the head of the Two Lands as a whole !
(He) who comes in peace !
Lord of the Blooming of the Heart !"
Hymn to Osiris - stela - XIIth Dynasty - British Museum

"Hail Osiris, son of Nut ! (...)
Whose awe Atum set in the heart
of men, gods, spirits and the dead. (...)
King of gods, great power of heaven,
ruler of the living, king of those beyond !"
Hymn to Osiris - Stela of Sobek-iry - XIIth Dynasty - Louvre

21^st

--Day of Brighid – Brigit(Old Irish), Brighid (Modern Irish) Bríd, (Reform Irish) Bridget/Brigid, (Anglicized) Brìghde/Brìde (Scotland) , Brigan, Brigandu (Gaul), Brigantia or Brigantis (Great Britain), Brigindo (Switzerland), Bríghde, Breda. Sun Goddess, Goddess of the fire. Brighid is the goddess of inspiration, poetry, healing, augury and smithcraft.

--Dates also sacred to her: 1 Feb, 29 Feb, 3 Mar, 6 Mar, 12 Aug, 30 Sep

For Protection

A Bhrigid, scar os mo chionn
Do bhrat fionn dom anacal

Oh Brighid spread above my Head
Your mantle bright to guard me.

--The first day of the month of Luis (Rowan) in the Celtic Tree Calendar. The evidence for this calendar is poetic not archaeological. The Song of Amergin, appears to be the basis for this calendar and it has never been proved to have actually been used by the Celts. However it’s a lovely modern tradition.

--Sacred Colors: Grey and Red

--Day of Yngona (Danish) Wolf Goddess. Young women seek visions of their future.

--Day of Ezili Alaila – (Afro- Caribbean/Yoruba/Lukumi/Santeria) Nuestra Senora de Altagracia (Our Lady of High Grace)

--Sacred to her: are the colors blue and white.

22^nd

--Bright Moon Esbat - (Astronomically called the Full Moon) Religious and/or magickal celebration. Magick is attractive or healing.

--Goddesses of the Bright Moon include: Anumati (Hindu: of the nearly full moon) Artemis, Selene, Phoebe (Greek), Diana, Luna (Roman), Ishtar (Babylonian) Sin/Nanna (Sumerian/Babylonian/Arabian), Aine, Danae (Irish) Rhiannon (Welsh) Nimue (Welsh/Cornish) Heng-O (Chinese), Mawu (African).

--Gods of the Bright Moon: Khons, Thoth (Egyptian), Soma, Chandra (Hindu), Tsuki-Yomi (Japan), Mani (Norse).

--Names of this moon include: January: Wolf Moon (English Medieval), Snow Moon, Old Moon, Great Moon, Storm Moon, Cold Moon (Cherokee), Great Spirit Moon (Chippewa), Winter Moon, Alder moon (Irish) The names of the Moon change with the environment of the people who named them. The Moon’s names reflect the seasons, hunting or planting cycles or a particular climate. Since I live in a desert climate, some of the names don't reflect my seasons accurately. May is too late to name its Moon, the Budding Moon because our trees bud in February and March, and October is too early for a Moon called Falling Leaves although I could use that for the November Moon. Next month that some of the Moon’s names repeat themselves for neighboring months, thus following the graduating changes in the seasons of different latitudes. One can choose the names that best describe one’s environment, magickal intention or personality. Besides those above, there many more Native American versions, Neo Pagan versions, New Age versions and other versions that people just made up.

From the BoS of Ardriana Cahill

Drawing Down the Moon

Invocation to the (Bright) Goddess

Scott Cunningham

Crescent One of the starry skies,

Flowered One of the fertile plain,

Flowing One of the ocean's sighs,

Blessed One of the gentle rain;

Hear my chant 'midst the standing stones,

Open us to your mystic light;

Waken us to your silver tones,

Be with us in this sacred rite!

Take three cleansing breaths...exhale all negativity. Feel the tension and restless seep in to the inky night. Meditate on this or on the beauty of the night or the blessings of friendship or the gifts of the goddess. Sink into the Slow Will until you are very relaxed but still able to focus. Hold your chalice filled with spring water (and a tiny pinch of salt) in both hands. Hold it high above your head to salute the Bright Lady. Lower to chest level, then Gaze at the Moon’s reflection in the water. (Or visualize it if you can’t capture her reflection do to having to be inside or an overcast sky or low hanging moon.) For a slow and silent count of nine create a symbol or picture and name the intention you ask the Goddess to draw to you. See the intention as your request is manifest and already accomplished. Close your eyes and hold the image of the moon floating in the water in your mind. Slowly drink the water to the last drop. See yourself taking in the moon’s reflection. Her light radiating from the center of your chest. Sending light to every corner of your being. Healing, blessing and drawing your intention to you. When complete, say:

I cleanse the mirror of my heart...

now it reflects the moon.

Renseki

2004 Ardriana Cahill

--Festival of the Muses (Greek)

Calliope (Epic Poetry) - Clio (History) - Erato (Love Poetry) - Euterpe (Lyric Poetry) - Melpomene (Tragic Poetry) - Polyhymnia (Sacred Song & Poetry) - Terpsichore (Choral music & Dance) - Thalia (Comedy) - Urania (Astronomy)

Daughters of Zeus and Titaness Mnemosyne, the goddess of Memory, are the handmaidens of Apollo, the god of sun and light and of the arts and sciences, reason, revelation and agricultural production in peace and prosperity. They are known for the music of their song, which brings joy to any who hear it. Traditionally, the muses were believed to reside on Mt. Helicon, in Boeotia, Greece, and in fact they were the center of a cult there. The muses as we know them today are of relatively recent origin. In their most ancient form they were probably not differentiated, or even named. Initially they were the patronesses of poets and musicians (since poets were also musicians and accompanied themselves on the lyre). Over the centuries they became associated with all of the arts and sciences, which is why the word "museum" is used for a repository of works of art or of scientific collections.

The eighth century BC poet Hesiod provides a list of the muses with specific names for each. Other lists from early times are not consistent with Hesiod's list, but the names he gives the muses have become standard. The association of specific muses with specific arts actually comes from Roman, rather than Greek, times.

Incantation

I call the Muses to my aid

As this sacrifice is made

--Day of Apollo (on this Feast Day of St Vincent of Saragossa) Apollo hid in the Catholic Church as St. Vincent whose feast day traditions mirror those of Apollo’s rites which were performed at this time of year to bring warmth back to the frozen land. Consequently, St Vincent’s feast day is associated with fire, the energy of the Sun god.

Associated with bow and arrows, a stag or roe, and also pictured with lions. A gracious player of the lyre, he became the patron god of poets and leader of the Muses.

--Birth Day of Lord Byron, (English poet). George Gordon Noel Byron, Baron of Rochdale 1788 –1824). “There is something Pagan in me that I cannot shake off. In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.”

“…there is that within me
which shall tire torture and time
and breathe when I expire;
something unearthly . . .
like the remember'd tone of a muted lyre. "

--Celtic Tree Calendar Month of Luis (the Rowan) begins

23^rd

--Day of Hathor'(Egyptian) Dedicated to the 'Goddess of the Underworld', 'Celestial Cow' and 'Mother Goddess'

--Monthly: the twenty-third day of every month is dedicated to Hermes (Roman)

24^th

--Paganalia Day 1 (Roman) RURAL Festival of Sowing begins and ends January 26.

Festival dedicated to Tellus (Tellus Mater, Terra Mater both mean "Mother Earth" in Latin) and Ceres (goddess of grain and agriculture). Prayers were offered for the protection of the seeds against the birds, the ants, cold, rust, bad weather and rye-grass.

--Sacred offerings: spelt (wheat) cakes and milk (also, at one tine, a pregnant sow)

--Dates also sacred to Tellus: April 15: Feast of Fordicia or Hordicidia,

--Dates also sacred to Ceres: February 2: Her Sementivae festival, April 19: Cerealia, Ceres festival, End of May: Ambarvalia, Ceres Festival.

Winter Garden

Excerpt: by Cheryl Magic-Lady

Though days are short, my vision's clear.
And through the snow, the buds appear.

--Sementivae begins/A Day of Tellus (Roman) CITY Festival of Sowing begins and ends January 26. Festivals dedicated to Tellus (Tellus Mater, Terra Mater both mean "Mother Earth" in Latin) and Ceres (goddess of grain and agriculture). The second half of the Sementivae festival honoring Ceres occurs one week later, starting February 2.
Also called Sementivae Feria. Feriae holidays were days or seasons when free-born Romans suspended their legal and political issues so their slaves could enjoyed a day off. Not all Feriae days were religious, many were secular.

--Candle Blessing day (Hungary) Pre-Candlemas celebration. A light ceremony celebrating the returning sun by purifying candles.

25^th

--Paganalia Day 2 (Roman) RURAL Festival Pray to Tellus and Ceres for protection of seeds against birds.

--Feast of Amen-Amenet (Egyptian) (Amon, Amun, Ammon, Amoun) Authors Note: I have found no historical foundation for this feast to fall here. So, I shouldn’t post it. But then, I asked myself if Amen and his consort Amenet cares that today is not a historical day for his remembrance. So...remember, away.

Amen/Amun Creator God and patron deity of the city of Thebes. He as a primeval deity whose shadow protects the other gods. Amen means "Hidden One." In the ancient city of Hermopolis, Amen was viewed (along with his consort Amenet) as primordial creation gods.

--Sacred to him: were the goose and the ram.

--Tu Bi-Shevat (Hebrew) holiday respecting trees and growing things. A minor holiday with Kabbalists overtones in rituals that are meant to remember Earth as the Garden of Eden and worked for her restoration.

--Traditions and Rites: Ritual begins with a glass of wine or fruit – first white, then pink, then light red, then deep red; each representing the Four Seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall respectively. The object of the ritual is to consider what goals or hopes might be seedlings within you. If there is the seed of something inside of you, deep in winter's darkness, Tu Bi-Shvat is the time to take notice of it and encourage it to grow.

From: Gender-neutral prayer by Rabbi Marcia Falk in her prayer book published in 1996, The Book of Blessings:

Blessings over the fruit and wine

Creator of the fruits of the vine.

Let us bless the source of life

that ripens fruit on the vine.

Creator of the fruit of the tree.

Let us bless the source of life

that ripens fruit on the tree.

--Monthly: the twenty-fifth day of the month is dedicate to Ashi Vanguhi, (Persian/Zoroastrian) a moon goddess. She is described, therefore, as a goddess of Fortune and Wealth, and is invoked in company with Parendi, the goddess of Treasures.

--Sacred offerings: libations. She rejects the offerings of all sterile people (old men, courtezans, and children.

From: The Avesta (Ancient scriptures of Zoroastrianism)

We sacrifice to Ashi Vanguhi,

to Parendi, of the light chariot;

who is shining, high, tall-formed, well worthy of sacrifice,

with a loud-sounding chariot, strong, welfare-giving, healing,

with fullness of intellect, and powerful…

she also brings heavenly wisdom at her wish,

and comes to help him who invokes her from near

and him who invokes her from afar,

and worships her with offerings of libations.

26^th

--Paganalia Day 3 (Roman) RURAL Third and final day of the Festival in honour of Ceres and Terra. --Sacred offerings: spelt (wheat) cakes and milk.

--Sementivae ends Third and final day of the Festival in honour Terra,

(Also see February 2 for the second half of the festival dedicated to Ceres)

--Birth of Robert Cochrane (real name Roy Bowers) (1931-1966) Hero of Modern Witchcraft. Robert Cochrane (real name Roy Bowers) was by all counts an impressive, flamboyant, charismatic yet controversial person whose contribution to the rise of contemporary witchcraft, was perhaps overshadowed by that of Gerald Gardner. Cochrane was a practicing English witch who had founded his own coven the “Clan of Tubal Cain”, at about the same time as Gerald Gardner started his first coven in the early fifties. As Gardner's coven formed the base of the Gardnerian tradition, so the Clan of Tubal Cain, after its import to America, became known as the “1734” tradition.

Abstract From: http://www.controverscial.com/Robert%20Cochrane.htm

Mentor of Clan Tybal Cain

Remind us that as we live in the material world,

We also belong to the world of dreams and images.

That wisdom comes only to those who deserve it,

and that a teacher is our self, seen through a mirror darkly.

Remind us that the answers to all things are in the Air,

that Inspiration comes to us on the winds if you ask them properly.

The Trees of the Wood will gave you power,

and the Waters of the Sea will give you patience and omniscience,

since the Sea is a womb that contains a memory of all things.

--Monthly: the twenty-sixth day of the months is sacred to Cerridwen (Welsh) mother/earth/moon goddess. Cerridwyn's magical cauldron held a potion brewed for a year and a day that granted knowledge and inspiration. She is both Mother and Crone goddess. Cerridwen is often symbolized by a white sow.

27^th

--Re-Birthday of Dionysus (Roman Festival of Lenaia), Festival honoring Dionysus as a child. Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, revelry and ecstasy. Nine day Festival honoring Dionysus as a youth or honoring his rebirth after he was murdered by the Cyclopes. Comedic plays and poetry contests were the highlight of the festival which included, processions, rituals and sacrifices.

--Traditions and Rites: Wine tasting, plays, poetic and singing competitions. Perform a libation to a poem of your own making in praise of the young wine god.

--Dates also sacred to him: January 8, March 16 and 17. (!!!This entry was previously on Jan 1^st. I have since not been able to verify it there, but can here. I reworked it too. Sigh.)

An Invocation of Dionysos,

From the Orphic hymns

Hearken to my voice, O blessed one,
and with your fair-girdled nymphs

breathe on me in a spirit of perfect agape."

--Birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Austrian composer. Mozart played the harpsichord at age three, composed his first minuet at five, wrote his first sonata at the age of seven, and was only eight when he composed his first complete symphony. He then wrote at least one symphony a year, eventually producing "some 600 symphonies, operas, operettas, concertos, string quartets, sonatas, masses and other classical pieces". He did all this before his early death at only 35.
From: Meyers, James, Mammoth Book of Trivia, A and W Visual Library, NY, 1979

28^th

29^th

--Birthday of Pax/Natalis of Pax (Roman) Goddess of Peace. Daughter of Jupiter and Justitia. Pax was often associated with spring.

--Sacred offerings: are the olive branch, a cornucopia, and a scepter. A Concordia Festival included Concordia’s powers of bringing harmony and agreement, and other Deities invoked were Janus, the double-faced God of New Beginnings, Salus, the Goddess of Health, and Pax, the Goddess of Peace. These four Divinities were honored with statues grouped together at the Altar of Peace.

--Dates also sacred to her: January 3

From: (Tibullus I.10.67-68).

Peace, O come to us, holding corn with its tassels,

and pour from the breast of your robe a harvest of fruit!

--Up Helly Aa (Shetland, Scotland) ***A Movable Feast held on last Tuesday of January) It is a fire festival and torchlight procession celebrating the end of winter. Performed by squads of "guisers" (performers in disguise), traditionally no women allowed. Each year a replica of a Viking galley is built, dragged through the streets of town after nightfall in a torchlight procession then burned.

--Sounkyo Ice Festival Begins - Sounkyo Onsen, Hokkaido, (Japan) Jan 29 - Mar 5 It is a festival with "ice and lights", is held on the coldest part of the winter. Ice statues which are made to enhance the natural beauty of ice, along the Ishikari-river through the canyon, makes a fantastic world. This is very popular among foreigners and also Japanese as the events held in winter in Hokkaido. An exhibit of ice sculptures, lights, Hyobaku drums, Ainu ethnic dance and fireworks.

--Monthly: the twenty-ninth day of the month is sacred to Hacate

30^th

--Feast Day of Quan Yin (China) (also spelled Kuan Yin, Pinyin, Guanyin, Kuannon) Quan Yin's name is a translation of the Sanskrit name of her chief male attribute which is Avalokitesvara, also known as Avalokita which means ‘one who hears the cries of the world’, is a the of compassion In its proper form it is Kuan Shih Yin, which means "She who harkens to the cries of the world." --Sacred Names and Titles: In Korea, Japan, and China she is called Quan Yin. She is roughly equivalent to Green Tara in Tibetan Buddhism. one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), Guān Yīn; Guān Shì Yīn; Kuan Shih Yin; Kun Yum; Kanzeon; Gwan-eum; Gwan-se-eum; Kwan-ŭm; Kwan-se-ŭm; Quan Âm; Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát and Bodhisattva (which literally means "enlightened (bodhi) existence (sattva)"). She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. Quan Yin enjoys a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess Tara. She is the protectress of women, sailors, merchants, craftsmen, and those under criminal prosecution, and is invoked particularly by those desiring progeny. Beloved as a mother figure and divine mediatrix who is very close to the daily affairs of her devotees, Quan Yin's role as Buddhist Madonna has been compared to that of Mary the mother of Jesus in the West. There are numerous legends that Quan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears. One such legend included the mandate that Quan Yin could only enter heaven as a Buddha if she turned male, something she rejected. (Thus making her an ancient feminist!<--Ardriana Cahill)

--Sacred to her: are a willow branch, with which she sprinkles the divine nectar of life; a precious vase symbolizing the nectar of compassion and wisdom, the hallmarks of a bodhisattva; a dove, representing fecundity; a book or scroll of prayers which she holds in her hand, representing the dharma (teaching) of the Buddha or the sutra (Buddhist text) which Miao Shan is said to have constantly recited; and a rosary adorning her neck with which she calls upon the Buddhas.

--Dates also sacred to her: March 28: Quan Yin’s birthday, January 30 or 31, and February 8 are Quan Yin’s feast days. January 18^th: First Kwannon Ceremony @ Saidai-ji Temple, Feb 7, March 7: Quan Yin’s Day Mahayana School, China Vietnamese, March 13, March 20, April 5, July 18: Quan Yin’s Setting on the Path Mahayana School, China, December 12: Her feast day in Mexico,

Quan Yin’s Mantra

OM MANI PADME HUM

Hail to the jewel in the lotus!

-- Ara Pacis, a peace festival (Roman) Confused with the birthday of Pax (Peace) which is the day before. Celebrates an an altar erected by the senate in honour of the victorious return of Augustus from Spain and Gaul in 13 B.C., on which the magistrates, priests and Vestals should offer annual sacrifices. If Augustus is one of your personal heroes then it’s a day for you. Augustus (born Gaius Octavius, 63 bc- ad 14) was the first emperor of Rome. He restored unity and order after nearly a century of civil wars.

--Dates also sacred to him: September 23: his birthday

--Basant Panchami *** (Hindu) The festival of Basant (Spring)is a Movable feast calculated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the dark fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of January/February of English calendar (Magh). in the Punjab province of Pakistan is the most famous of the seasonal fairs. It heralds the advent of spring with kite-flying, song and dance. The Basant fair is held in many villages of the Punjab. People put on yellow costumes appropriate to the season when the area is filled with mustard blossoms

It is largely a secular festival but in the Vedas it was a day dedicated to Goddess Sarasvati. Sarasvati is a water deity, goddess of a river of the same name and the goddess of learning. Sarasvati associates her with the holy rituals performed on the banks of the river Sarasvati.

From: the Vedas

Oh Mother Sarasvati remove the darkness of my mind

and bless me with the eternal knowledge.

(Editor’s note: After spending an hour trying to understand the Hindu lunar calendar, trying to calculate this holiday as either the fifth day after the dark moon or the full moon, I quite to research when the holiday is being celebrated this year and found that the Spring Festival of Basant, depending on where it was held, celebrates from mid-Janaury to early February. So placing it here is cut and pasted from another calendar.)

--Feriae Senentiva (Feast of Spring) Feriae holidays were days or seasons when free-born Romans suspended their legal and political issues so their slaves could enjoyed a day off. Not all Feriae days were religious, many were secular.

--Birthday of Z Budapest, Zsuzsanna Emese Budapest (1940.) Founder of Dianic Wicca, a Goddess-centered, witchcraft tradition which combined elements of Gardnerian Wicca, Italian folk-magic recorded in Charles Leland's Aradia, feminist values, and ritual, folk magic, and healing practices learned from her mother. It is a women-only tradition.

31^st

--Feast of Hecate/Hakate (Greek) Hecate, (meaning Worker from Afar) known to the Romans as Diana Lucifera was celebrated as the Bringer of Light. In Greek mythology Hecate was a goddess associated with witchcraft, tombs, demons and the underworld. The earliest evidence of her cult, a round-temple with bustrophedon* inscriptions and the cult law of the Molpoi - written down about 100 BC - originated from Miletos, and one of her main sanctuaries stood in Lagina in Caria. Hesiod praised Hekate as All-Goddess, who as Helpfully sit in judgement. According to the most genuine traditions, she appears to have been an ancient Thracian divinity. She was one of the Titans, who ruled in heaven, on the earth, and in the sea, who bestowed on mortals wealth, victory, wisdom, good luck to sailors and hunters, and prosperity to youth and to the flocks of cattle; but all these blessings might at the same time be withheld by her, if mortals did not deserve them. She was the only one among the Titans who retained this power under the rule of Zeus, and she was honored by all the immortal gods. For divination, the Greeks used an instrument called 'Hecate's Circle', a golden sphere with a sapphire hidden inside it.

Her earliest appearance was that of a young woman. Later depictations was of her as a triple-headed, six armed solo figure (often confused with Kali, the Hindu crone goddess) or triple goddess carrying three torches, a rope, key and dagger. Her affiliation with the Dark Moon has erroneously cast her in the role of Crone to modern pagans and witches, but in ancient art, all ancient images of her cast her as a beautiful young woman…(and thus is better suited to the role of the maiden aspect of the witches triple goddess, Maiden, Mother & Crone). There are no ancient images of her as a Crone. I’m guessing that through history the Queen of Witches, who was always a beautiful woman, was slandered by her religious critics into a green, warted, stooped old woman. Perhaps other Crone goddess were that. Hacate never was.

--Sacred Names and titles: Distant One, Night-wandering, Far-working, Torch-bearing, Bold one, Bright-coiffed, Goddess of the Dark of the Moon, Queen of the Night, Queen of Witches, Queen of Crossroads, Queen of Death, Guardian of the Gateways (thresholds), Goddess of the Scene of the Crime, She Who Works From Afar, and She Who Has Power Far Off.

--Sacred to her: the torch, candles, black female dogs or black shewolves, black female ewes, martens, sapphires, the Dark moon, raisin & currant cakes, crossroads, yew trees, the number 3, the dagger, whip, cord, key and three-headed animals: the dog, snake, and lion or alternately the dog, horse, and bear,.

--Dates also sacred to her: May 3, August 13: Hecate is honored in Greece, in her storm aspect. Offerings would be left at the Crossroads (raisin honey cakes, mushrooms, black female dogs) hoping to appease her so she wouldn’t bring crop destroying storms. September 7: The Elusinian Mysteries, Around the 7^th beginning with a procession, the festival would start in Eleusis and end in Athens. Hecate would lead the procession of initiates into the underworld, September 21: Feast of Divine Life; Maiden , mother and Crone. October 31, November 16, This is called Hecate’s Night. This is the night that she roams the earth with her hounds. This is also the night that new initiations are made for Witches who follow her. Hecate’s Supper is left out on the steps of her followers dwellings, usually consisting of honey and mushrooms. Hecate then blesses those inside. November 30: Day of Hecate at the crossroads. And December 31.

--Sacred offerings: Laid at crossroads or at one’s threshold, known as "the Supper of Hecate," sources say, leave meal, honey and milk on pottery shards, another source says eggs and fish; another adds roe; still another says goat cheese and bread is appropriate on the 3^rd of every month and on her feast days.

From: Virgil Aeneis IV.609

Nocturnal Hecate, who is called

at the crossroads throughout the City,

and Avenging Dirae*, and Elissa’s gods of the dying,

hear our prayers, heed them, and direct

your awful powers against those who deserve it.

*The Fates, goddesses of retribution

--Sacrifice to the Kitchen God/Zao Jun *** (Chinese) *This is a Movable Feast calculated week before Chinese New Year (which is a Movable Feast calculated by the second Dark (New) Moon following Winter Solstice). The Kitchen God, for this day only, is transported to the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, to report on the family's behavior from the previous year. Sacrifices are made by the family to the Kitchen God to garner a good report to the Jade Emperor.

--Traditions and Rites: In ancient times, an antelope was sacrificed by head of the household to sacrifice to TsaoWang, the kitchen god. Only men participate in ritual, smearing honey on his picture and burning it along with paper spirit money. On Chinese New Year's Eve, a new picture will be put up. Fireworks are lit to speed him on his way to heaven and thus this day is sometimes called "Little New Year."

Good wish poems called "spring couplets" are put up on gates and doors. The spring couplets are written by professional calligraphers, usually on red paper, and say things like "May there be a single universal peace, with true wealth and honor. May the spring colors of the Nine Heavens appear in profuse elegance."

--Sacred offerings: candies and sugar cakes for Zao Jun to encouraged him to say sweet things about the family and pure water, grass and beans are offered to his horse.