Dria El
July 13th, 2001, 06:48 AM
Demeter, the Protecting Mother
~ Full Moon ~
The goddess Demeter was an Earth Mother, the Corn Goddess, the Sorrowing Mother. People honored her by wearing flower garlands while they marched through the streets, often barefoot. Fruits and crops of the season were made into feasts. It was believed that placing the bare feet on the Earth intensified the communication between humans and the goddess.
To the Greeks, Demeter was the creatress and measurer of time in all its forms. Her priests were called Sons of the Moon. This goddess was portrayed as a matron with beautiful hair, wearing a blue robe, and carrying a sheaf of wheat. She was crowned with ears of corn or ribbons and held a scepter. The Greeks said that Demeter gave them the first wheat seeds, taught them how to cultivate the soil, and how to make bread from the grain. She instituted the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Demeter was the protectress of women and a deity of marriage, motherhood, maternal love, and fidelity. She ruled over crops, corn, the plow, initiation, renewal, rebirth, vegetation, fruitfulness, agriculture, civilization, law, magickal philosophy, expansion, higher magicks, and the soil.
The goddess Potnia of Crete was very similar to the Greek goddesses Demeter, Hera, and Rhea. Potnia was called Magna Mater, the Lady, and the Lady of the Labyrinth. She was the principal Minoan goddess. Her symbols were the labyrs (double-axe), the pillar, and the snake. It is quite likely that Potnia had a sanctuary within the Minoan labyrinth itself, as well as major temples at Kydonia, Phaistos, Mallia, and Zakro. She had a young male son/consort whose name was Velchanos, who "died" each year in the autumn and was "reborn" each spring, much the same as Persephone.
For incense in this ritual, use sandalwood, frankincense, cassia, or pine. You will need a wand decorated with colored ribbons, a wicker basket in which to place the wand, a bell, and an apple.
Cast your circle as usual, visualizing it surrounded by a circle of flame. Call upon the four winds to stand guard.
Stand at your altar facing the East and raise your arms in greeting. Say:
Between the worlds I build this sacred altar.
Outside of time, this rite leads to the ancient way,
Where I may find Demeter of high Olympus
And conjure magick great. Be here, I say.
Place the decorated wand in the wicker basket and carry it to the East. Say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
Weep not, Earth Mother,
For the Divine Child of love is here.
Carry the basket to the South; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
Although the Light is fading,
It shall return to the Earth.
Take the basket to the West; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
The cold of winter comes,
But only for a short time.
Finish by carrying the basket to the North; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
The Earth shall lie in slumber
Until the Light of this Divine Child
Once more grows in strength and shines full upon us.
Place the basket on the floor before the altar. Ring the bell three times. Take the ritual dagger in your power hand and the apple in the other. Say:
Reveal to me your hidden secrets
That I may come to understand your sacred Mysteries.
Cut the apple crosswise to reveal the pentagram in the core. Contemplate this hidden sacred symbol for several moments. Then say:
In life is death, in death life.
All must follow the sacred dance into the cauldron,
Time after time, to die and be reborn.
Help me to remember that every beginning has an ending
And that every ending has a new beginning.
Take a bite of the apple. What is left put outside later to share with the birds. Say:
Holy Mother, Demeter,
Comfort and protect me in my times of tribulation.
Instruct me into the Mysteries.
You, with your daughter Persephone, have the power
To lead me to new understanding.
~ Full Moon ~
The goddess Demeter was an Earth Mother, the Corn Goddess, the Sorrowing Mother. People honored her by wearing flower garlands while they marched through the streets, often barefoot. Fruits and crops of the season were made into feasts. It was believed that placing the bare feet on the Earth intensified the communication between humans and the goddess.
To the Greeks, Demeter was the creatress and measurer of time in all its forms. Her priests were called Sons of the Moon. This goddess was portrayed as a matron with beautiful hair, wearing a blue robe, and carrying a sheaf of wheat. She was crowned with ears of corn or ribbons and held a scepter. The Greeks said that Demeter gave them the first wheat seeds, taught them how to cultivate the soil, and how to make bread from the grain. She instituted the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Demeter was the protectress of women and a deity of marriage, motherhood, maternal love, and fidelity. She ruled over crops, corn, the plow, initiation, renewal, rebirth, vegetation, fruitfulness, agriculture, civilization, law, magickal philosophy, expansion, higher magicks, and the soil.
The goddess Potnia of Crete was very similar to the Greek goddesses Demeter, Hera, and Rhea. Potnia was called Magna Mater, the Lady, and the Lady of the Labyrinth. She was the principal Minoan goddess. Her symbols were the labyrs (double-axe), the pillar, and the snake. It is quite likely that Potnia had a sanctuary within the Minoan labyrinth itself, as well as major temples at Kydonia, Phaistos, Mallia, and Zakro. She had a young male son/consort whose name was Velchanos, who "died" each year in the autumn and was "reborn" each spring, much the same as Persephone.
For incense in this ritual, use sandalwood, frankincense, cassia, or pine. You will need a wand decorated with colored ribbons, a wicker basket in which to place the wand, a bell, and an apple.
Cast your circle as usual, visualizing it surrounded by a circle of flame. Call upon the four winds to stand guard.
Stand at your altar facing the East and raise your arms in greeting. Say:
Between the worlds I build this sacred altar.
Outside of time, this rite leads to the ancient way,
Where I may find Demeter of high Olympus
And conjure magick great. Be here, I say.
Place the decorated wand in the wicker basket and carry it to the East. Say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
Weep not, Earth Mother,
For the Divine Child of love is here.
Carry the basket to the South; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
Although the Light is fading,
It shall return to the Earth.
Take the basket to the West; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
The cold of winter comes,
But only for a short time.
Finish by carrying the basket to the North; say:
Persephone returns to the Underworld.
The Earth shall lie in slumber
Until the Light of this Divine Child
Once more grows in strength and shines full upon us.
Place the basket on the floor before the altar. Ring the bell three times. Take the ritual dagger in your power hand and the apple in the other. Say:
Reveal to me your hidden secrets
That I may come to understand your sacred Mysteries.
Cut the apple crosswise to reveal the pentagram in the core. Contemplate this hidden sacred symbol for several moments. Then say:
In life is death, in death life.
All must follow the sacred dance into the cauldron,
Time after time, to die and be reborn.
Help me to remember that every beginning has an ending
And that every ending has a new beginning.
Take a bite of the apple. What is left put outside later to share with the birds. Say:
Holy Mother, Demeter,
Comfort and protect me in my times of tribulation.
Instruct me into the Mysteries.
You, with your daughter Persephone, have the power
To lead me to new understanding.