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This poem came about when I decided to research who Baubo is.  I ran across many theories.  (Interestingly enough there are many similar figures in other cultures such as Sheel-na-gig in Ireland and Uzume in Japan.  I also wonder if Baubo may be the original “bearded lady“.[grin] ) Overwhelmed with information that conflicted, I settled for the truth.  Ultimately it doesn’t matter.  All that matters is that her actions caused Demeter to relax, to forget her pain long enough to laugh and break her long fast.  Baubo’s actions were the turning point that put Demeter on the path to making the earth green again.  That is why she is remembered.

"a year of exploring the Pagan world through blogging"

Any way that really isn’t the interesting part of this reading.  After I did the reading, I got to wondering who IS the Agathos Daimon?  What is its/his/her function?  How do they differ from spirit guides and such?  Also a name, I really want a name.  (What can I say?  It’s the engineer in me.  I like things well defined.)  I figured I’d draw cards and see if I could get a name spelled out using just the author’s short definition for each card.  So I went to grab a single card.  You should have seen my jaw drop when 14 cards slid out of the deck.

Did it spell out a name?  Not one that made any sense to me but when I started reading the complete definition instead of just looking at the first letter, I realized that several of my curiosity questions were being answered.  Rather spooky eh?

• I make sure you get your just rewards.
• I help you reap your rewards.
• I am the leader of your guides.
• I help you deal with negativity.
• I help you deal with the unexpected changes in direction.
• I help you plan for the future.
• I bring you news.
• I grant your wishes when I can.
• I help you find happiness/success.
• I help you with your transformation.
• I help you deal with loss.
• I help you deal with failure.
• I help you deal with unexpected pleasant times.
• I help you deal with gains and losses.

When I posted the original blog link on Facebook, a friend said they would make great devotional jewelry.  Below is a picture of a few tiles in progress.

works in progress

The tile on the right was a drawing that I colored with color pencils.  (To get the vivid color, wet the pencil tip before coloring.)  The tile in the middle is of a cross-stitch chart that I haven’t stitched yet.

Now because I think they are neat and fun to do…I will make a decorated tile for the first 4 people who comment with what they would like to have on a tile.  I reserve artistic license on how I interpret your request (but I promise it will be nifty). The tile can then be made into a pendent or magnet…or maybe even something for a travel altar.

"a year of exploring the Pagan world through blogging"

I thought long and hard about what B-word I wanted to write about and nothing satisfied me.  Bull kept coming up, yet nothing there caught my fancy either. Bulls are one of the animals associated with Zeus (also associated with Poseidon).  It is a sacrificial animal yet also an animal found in many myths due to its strength, size and commanding presence.

I stumbled upon the story of Europa and rolled my eyes, great another story about a lover of Zeus…but something caught my eye.  I came to see Zeus was a mere player in this tale, while he got the maid, I think he was being manipulated by the only one who can…Aphrodite, Lady of Love and Lust for Zeus has never denied his need to create…  When I have time, I may look farther to see if I can figure out why she wanted Europa in Crete so badly…

Europa’s Living Boat

The Cyprian brought me a dream
A true dream in the early hours of morn
With her honey sweet touch
A dream of two lands, of two women
One was unfamiliar to me
The other like the dames of my country
Both vying for me, body and soul.
“She is mine! I bore her and nursed her.”
The strange woman rent me away saying
“The Aegis-Bear said she is mine!”
And I was not unhappy to go with her.
She filled me with desire and longing
Gladly I would be her child.
Upon waking I prayed for the chance
To find this land spirit that holds my heart.

“Europa!” my maidens, my friends called out to me
“Leave your prayers and come with us!”
To the longshore meadow we traipsed
With flower baskets in hand
To enjoy Spring’s perfumed greenery
To dance to the sound of the waves.

While they fell to plucking the yellow saffron,
I in remembering my dream
Grab the red, red rose of desire
And look up to see a bull
With silky golden skin
a white blaze between storm grey eyes
framed above by two gleaming horns
curved to shape a moon.
He came before me, oh so gentle,
Licking my neck, receiving my kiss.
Lowing sweetly, he kneels slowly,
Silently begging me to mount
His wide smooth back for a ride.

I grab his horn and settle
Cautiously onto his back
Wide, warm and soft to the touch
Only to find him at an even run
Straight down to the beach
Then into the endless, restless sea.
I grab at my wrap with my free hand
To keep from losing it to the sea
Only to have the wind fill it like a sail.
Off I flew on my living boat
My golden bull taking me
From the land of my childhood.
Is he taking me to the land of my dreams?

So I am sending her a stitched card that I made.  The chart/directions was a freebie from StitchingCards.com

stitching detail

That I stitched on white card stock.  I also used the paper trimmer that Hubby got me for Solstice to make the inside of the card nice too.

trimmer and inside of card

I am also sending her some of the rose pictures that I took of my wedding anniversary bouquet from my Hubby along with money to buy some frames so that she can hang them in her room.  Looking at these pictures, I can still smell their wonderful scent…

peach rose

yellow rose

two roses

red rose

secretive rose

Additionally, as a pick me up for my sister, I made a bracelet.  I hope Sis likes it.

All but the spacers are actual stone beads: pink quartz, moss agate or a dyed green quartz, malachite, rhodochrisite and fluorite.

What kills me more is I wasn’t there to help her make better decisions about her marriage and how to handle the internal issues.  I wasn’t there to give her the “Umm sis, that isn’t right and you should not take/do that.“ I’m not there to elbow her to shut up when needed or nudge her to speak up when she should.  (What do you mean how do I know she would listen?  Of course she would I’m her SISTER!)  I feel like I’ve failed her.

Logically I realize that this is not my fault. She isn’t a child and not even my child.  I can’t do it for her and I can’t make her do it the way I would do it as she is NOT me.  She has got to take responsibility.  She’s got to fix her own problems and roll with the punches as they come at her.  She/I need to face that things probably will NOT go the way we would like and that we will have to deal with them the best we can.  This is NOT my responsibility but hers.

I need to be supportive and advise where I can…yet it doesn’t feel like I’m doing enough.  My gut is churning like I’m making a bunch of butter.  I’m not doing my sleep issues any favors either.  Can you tell I’m on a hamster’s wheel of doom?  Running, running, running and not getting anywhere but tired…oh so tired.

"a year of exploring the Pagan world through blogging"

My history with acorns starts back in late 2005 to early 2006.  I had a dream about an acorn pendent.  So at first I thought the dream was spiritually related.  Acorns were worn by ancient priestess in various religions as a symbol of their office.  I was so excited.  Finally I thought, I have found my way into some deity’s heart.

Acorn symbolism is very vast.  Very briefly it symbolizes:  fertility, wisdom, independence, antiquity, strength, longevity, creativity, male sex, life, immortality, wisdom, longevity, growth, inspiration, abundance, youth, potential, health, vigor, plenty, authority, victory, patience, fruition, possibilities, knowledge, birth and luck.

When I found out that I was pregnant after 11 years of no birth control, I figured that my original assumption was wrong.  That the acorn symbolized my coming child.  Before I could delve into the matter farther, my world fell apart when my polyamorous relationship fell apart.  My support base that I wanted to be there, that had been in place for 6 years, was no longer there.  My other love and I were forbidden relationship beyond platonic. (His wife still refuses to allow it.  I try not to be bitter about…occasionally I succeed.)  The break-up would have been devastating even if I was not completely hormonal, but I was newly pregnant and could find no joy in it.  All I could think about was the love I was no longer allowed to act upon.  I think I sobbed more than anything else those first three months after the break-up.

Any way, I never looked any farther into the acorn symbolism.  I chalked it up to a fertility symbol and left it at that.  I had no time or brain space to deal with anything more.  Looking back I wonder though.  In October of 2007, I got back into studying deities with the ultimate hope of finding one that would call me to them.  I got Zeus and he never went away.  At some point, I’m not sure when, I asked him for a goddess to even him out so that I would not fall into a mode of spirituality similar to my childhood religion.  So Hekate came readily into my life (and she was/is so much more than I expected…see this PBP blog for more of her as I see her). Yet looking back, I think she had tried to get through to me in various ways but I never quite caught on.  (me?  Stubborn?  Whatever gave you that idea?)  I knew I had a fascination for her but somethings I learned scared me off or I figured my overactive imagination and wishful thinking were acting up.  Looking back there is a tarot reading in March of 2006, when I first started actively trying to learn the tarot, that sounded like a definite “listen up my child” yet I discounted it as an inexperience reading and wishful thinking.  How does this relate to acorns?  Both divinities include the oak tree among their symbols and acorns are the seed/nut of the oak tree.

So I think that the meaning of the acorn for me is many layered. Yet I admit to being a bit nervous whenever I wear that pendent as I do not wish for another child.  Lately however, I am pulled more and more to the image of the Oak World Tree.   Maybe my acorn has grown into a tree through the trials, tribulations and missteps I have taken along the way.  I have seen an Oak World Tree pendent on ebay that I want but it is out of my price range.  I have looked and looked and looked at various other World Tree pendents with longing but no spare money to buy.  One of my mantras not so long ago was “I am a bridge between earth and sky in service to the gods.”  The image that corresponded to this was an oak tree with my roots sunk deep into the earth and my branches lifted in praise to the gods.  I liked it so much I use the phrase in my rituals right after the purification section.

To end the meandering route of this post through the past, I end with a poem that I wrote after a woman’s ritual at a Pagan festival.  Every time I read it, it puts a smile on my lips and a happy wonder in my heart about where my path will lead me next.

My Tree

"a year of exploring the Pagan world through blogging"

I found a year round blogging project bandwagon that I’m going to jump upon.  Hope I don’t fall off!  ;)

A few years ago, I compiled some Greek myth ABCs in hopes of finding an artist to draw my imaginings for a children’s book or flash cards or a book to explain the myths seen in the flash cards.  It never happened and so instead of letting it rot on my computer, I’m going to share with you my vision.

Something like this would be a great way to introduce children (and adults) to the myths and would be great conversation starters about the gods.  Miscellaneous background items would be incorporated into the picture representing the desired letter including the Greek letter than corresponds to the English letter.

A for the apple of Eris

a woman with a mischievous smile tosses a Golden apple that says “for the fairest” at three pairs of sandled feet

B for the bow of Artemis

Artemis pulling a bow in a forest clearing, crescent moon high in the sky with bears and other animals

C for Hera’s crown

Hera sitting upon a cushion on her throne wearing a delicate crown with cows in the background holding a cuckoo scepter

D for day lit by Helios

Helios driving across the blue sky in his chariot with land below him

E for Pan’s ears

Pan with pointed ears playing his pipes with his music echoing off the nearby mountain-side.

F for Hestia’s flame

Hestia sitting in the hearth fire surrounded by friends and family holding a cup so that the libation that they pour into the flame ends up in her cup.

G for Demeter’s grain

Demeter holding grains of wheat in a field surrounded by greenery with a golden sickle and gecko nearby.

H for hounds of Hades

Hades wearing a helm surrounded by Cerberus and other hounds, his black horses in the back ground

I for Apollo’s instrument

Apollo playing lyre with an image of Icarus behind him and the Delphic Maxim “Respect your parents” underneath.

J for Hebe’s jug

Hebe with jug/pitcher pouring Heracles’ drink at a banquet

K for Hekate’s keys

Crossroad pillar where only one woman of indeterminate age is seen clearly and she is holding keys and a book.

L for Kybele’s lion

Kybele/Rhea wearing a dress decorated with black leaves surrounded by lions 

M for messages from Hermes

Hermes sitting at a desk surrounded by books, a computer, fax machine, phone, mail and cell phone with Greek and English letters on the wall.

N for night lit by Selene

Selene in her chariot in the night sky with the land below.

O for Athena’s owl

Athena with owl on shoulder standing near an olive tree.

P for Persephone’s pomegranate

Kore-Persephone holding an open pomegranate in a meadow that is spring, summer and fall

Q for quail of Hephaistos

Hephaestus designing a quail statue in his forge 

R for Aprodite’s roses

Aphrodite in a garden of roses

S for shield of Ares

Ares cleaning his shield, spear and sword with a snake nearby.

T for Poseidon’s trident

Poseidon holding a trident with the sea behind him and an earthquake in progress before him

U for urns of Zeus

Zeus in a doorway with two urns labeled blessings and curses.  Near the urns an umbrella

V for Vine of Dionysos

Dionysos dressed like a vagabond with vines, vegetation and vessels of wine all around him in a valley

W for wings of Eros

a young man (NOT BOY) with wings aiming an arrow at a couple, above him blowing winds

X for x-ray of Asklepios

Asklepios with snake on staff next to an x-ray and other medical equipment

Y for Aion’s year

Father Time surrounded by the zodiac/wheel of the year

Z for Gaia’s zoo

Gaia standing among animals including man and woman

Come in from out of the rain,
you’ll catch your death of cold.
I waited until she was gone
to sneak out back.
Hidden by fences,
I enjoy the rain,
drenched in seconds.
I whirled around until dizzy.
I sang, I danced, I laughed,
filled with a wondrous joy.
Throwing my face up
to catch the rain on my tongue.
Cocking my head to hear
thunderous drumming
rumbling in time with my heart.
I saw blue-grey storm clouds
shaped like the form of a man.
Delirious I was with happiness
drenching me to the pore.
I didn’t know why then,
too young and too ignorant
to recognize god from myth.
That storm was my first introduction
to You and to dancing for joy.
These bones are much older now.
I am no longer as naive as I once was.
Yet I am still nimble enough
when the clouds drape the sky,
when the wind whispers sweet nothings,
when I feel that thunderous drum
to kick off my shoes and rush outside
to sing, to dance, to laugh
under blue-grey storm clouds
shaped like the form of a man.

I enjoyed this book.  (As with all my reviews there are spoilers ahead.)  I will admit that when the story first starts out, it is pretty dull and slow but be patient.  There is a reason for the slowness.  Pay attention…though I admit I figured what was happening very early in the book which is always satisfying intellectually yet disappointing entertainment-wise.  Despite that I found the book a very good read.

The tale starts out with a Harvard student attending her orals before being accepted into the doctorate program.  In the midst of trying to discover the topic of her thesis, her new-agey mother talks her into handling the sale of her grandmother’s abandoned home in a town near Salem.  In perusing the antiquated house, the frustrated student stumbles across the name of Deliverance Dane which sends her all over the area trying to determine who this woman was.  In the process of searching, she finds romance, the topic for her dissertation and learns about herself and her family.

This is a tale about a cunning woman getting swept up in the religious fears and superstitions of the Salem witch trials…one who was a witch but not the source of bewitchment bedeviling girls.  It is about a recipe book, an almanac, a book of shadows and the hands it passed through.  It is about a man whose ego and hunger for prestige causes him to become twisted and debased.  It is about a woman finding out that maybe, just maybe her mother is not as ditsy as she thought.

The idea that bewitchment may refer not to the use of magick against another but the use of inorganic substances is an intriguing one.

Overall, I recommend this book especially if you ever found the Salem witch trials sad and interesting all at the same time.