Aditi

[Litha]

brought to you by the wonderful book:
365 Goddess/a daily guide to the magic and inspiration By Patricia Telesco

About Aditi:
Aditi means "unfettered".
In India, she represents the infinite sky
and boundlessness of time and space.

She offers us this expansive perspective-
one in which we are citizens of eternity.
Additionally, Aditi is a protector who aids
in averting or surmounting difficulties.

In regional prayers, people refer to her
as the ever-young protectress who guides
life's boat safely through the roughest waters.

Buddhists believe that the world
is transient-that only spirit is eternal.

The Butter festival illustrates this concept
with huge butter statues of heroes that are torn, distributed to participants for luck, or tossed
in a river to melt away into time.

Following this custom, take out an ice cube.
Relax and watch the ice as it melts.
Consider: Is the ice still there even though it is gone?? Similarly, does the spirit exist outside it's "shape"??

For a less ponderous way of honoring Aditi,
light 12 candles (yellow is ideal) and watch the flame.

Hindus use butter lamps but this is far easier.
If the flames appear dark red, your spirit is filled with strife. Mottled flames indicate weakness, tall flames symbolize mental clarity, crescent-shaped ones reveal a peaceful soul, and round ones proclaim magical power.

[Agaliha]

I read about Aditi when I was focusing on the Hindu pantheon. She's mentioned a lot in the Vedas.


Aditi
In Hindu mythology, Aditi was the goddess of the boundless sky. Her name means "free from bonds" or "the unfettered" or "Limitless" and the Vedas hint that she was once all-encompassing. She undoubtedly pre-dates them, and was once the goddess of the past and the future, the seven dimensions of the cosmos, the celestial light which permeates all things, and the consciousness of all living things.
In later times, she was known better for her children, who were called the Adityas in honor of her. She was named as the consort of Kasyapa or Brahma. She is sometimes depicted in the guise of a cow. She eventually was degraded as a guardian goddess who helped her worshippers find a smooth path to what they were looking for.
pantheon.org


:)