GODDESSES (Source: Goddesses and Heroines, Patricia Monaghan)
Al-Lat (Arabic, female of Allah)
Anahita (Persian)
Anna Perenna (Roman)
Artemis (Greek)
Asase Ya (Ashanti African)
Bo Find (Irish)
Boann (Celtic/Irish)
Brag-srin-mo (Tibetan)
Brigit (Celtic)
Cerridwen (Celtic)
Deae Matres (Celtic via Latin)
Djanggawul Sisters (Australian)
Epona (Celtic)
Eumenides (Greek)
Fortuna (Italian)
Freya (Scandinavian)
Helen (Greek)
Hertha (Germanic)
Isis (Egyptian)
Isong (West African)
Madder-Akka (Saami)
Megaera (Greek)
Niobe (Greek)
Numma Moiyak (Australian)
Omamama (Cree/Native American)
Po Ino Nogar (Cambodian)
Ranu Bai (Indian)
Ymoja (African)
Zarpandit (Assyro-Babylonian)
ANIMALS (Source: Animal Medicine Powers by Dolfyn)
Bull—strong fertility totem, can impregnate large herds of cattle
Duck—protective and patient mother, to develop mothering energy
Rabbit—breed rapidly, for fertility and success
Salmon—fights her way upstream to spawn, for difficulty in becoming pregnant
Spider—creative power, manifestation of dreams
FRAGRANCES & HERBS (Source: A Salem Witch’s Herbal Magic, Laurie Cabot)
Cherry - love-making magick
Frangipani - sexual and sensual magick
Carrot Powder - to bring a baby
Damiana - an aphrodisiac
Mugwort - to protect a mother in pregnancy
Rice - symbol of fertility
Shavegrass Herb (horsetail) - hang on bedpost to bear a child
Cuckoo-Flower - wear to bear a child
Pomegranate - put the seeds in a dream pillow to become pregnant
STONES (Source: Pyramid books)
Carnelian - red - sexual and creative energy
Lapis - blue - vitality and virility
Rose Quartz - love, creativity
Smokey Quartz - increases fertility
COLORS (Source: Practical Candleburning Rituals, Raymond Buckland)
Red—Strength, vigor, sexuality
Green—Fertility
DAYS OF THE WEEK (Source: Power of the Witch, Laurie Cabot)
Obtaining goals and success - Sunday
Action, partnership, passion, sexual love - Tuesday
Speed, creativity - Wednesday
Love, growth, health, fertility, new beginnings - Friday
MOON PHASES & HOLIDAYS (Source: To Ride a Silver Broomstick, Silver RavenWolf)
New Moon - new beginnings
Full Moon - to pack power into the spell, to attract the power of the Goddess
Ostara - fertility energy of the earth
Beltane - fertility and love energy of humans
ANGELS (Source: Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver RavenWolf)
Samandiriel
Yushamin
PREGNANCY RITUAL (By Avalon)
This ritual is designed specifically to ask for Divine help in becoming pregnant.
It is a powerful ritual that I have performed twice: once for a close family member
who became pregnant within a month, and once for myself, who also became pregnant within
a month. I was also blessed with two babies, so do not underestimate the power of ritual!
In other words, if you do not want to be pregnant, do NOT do this ritual!
This ritual is also based on one presented in the book Tarot Spells by Janina Renee.
It can be adapted to be performed in a group setting or by a couple, but it was designed
by and for a Solitary practitioner.
Items needed:
- Tarot cards the Ace of Wands, the Ten of Cups, and The Sun
- One green candle
- Rose oil
- One baby item purchased just for the ritual (a rattle, teething ring, etc.)
- A Goddess image and flowers for Her
- Any other ritual implements, according to your tradition
Prepare your altar and your ritual space according to your taste and tradition. My altar
always faces North in my workroom, but in this instance, I performed this ritual in my
bedroom, with a temporary altar facing South, to invoke the element of fire and the
power of passion. I chose the bedroom for obvious reasons and cleaned and consecrated
the space beforehand.
Appropriate colors for the altar cloths and flowers for this ritual
include red for passion, energy, and quick action; pink for love; and green for fertility
and growth.
The Goddess image you choose should be a special one for you and should be
placed prominently on the altar. The Tarot cards will be laid in the center of the altar,
so save space for them, as well as a prominent spot for the green candle and the baby
item you have selected.
Lay out any other altar implements you need before beginning.
Before starting the ritual, take a long bath to clear your mind and prepare yourself.
Scent the bathwater with a few drops of rose oil (or you might want to try the Empress
bath that follows!), which invokes the image of love and pleasure. Perform the ritual on
the evening of a New Moon, when new projects can be undertaken, and choose a Goddess to
devote the ritual to according to your tradition’s Pantheon. Some appropriate Goddesses
include Brigit, Cerridwen, and Isis, all Mother Goddesses. When your bath is finished,
go to your ritual space. Light your altar candles and center and focus. Call your Deities
and/or cast your circle according to your tradition.
Once you are ready to begin the heart of the ritual, take the Ace of Wands Tarot card.
This card symbolizes new beginnings and undertakings and can often represent a pregnancy
in a reading. Lay it on the altar and visualize yourself becoming pregnant. See yourself
in the appropriate act of creating a child, and see you and your partner eagerly
anticipating the pregnancy. Imagine yourself taking a pregnancy test and discovering it
is positive. See yourself and your partner celebrating the joyous news. Visualize all the
steps you will be taking throughout the pregnancy, always seeing yourself happy and healthy.
Next, lay down the Ten of Cups to the right of the first card. The Ten of Cups symbolizes
great happiness and joy in family matters. See yourself giving birth to a beautiful baby.
See it being born healthy and strong, and feel the joy of motherhood. Feel the strength of
the bond between yourself, your partner, and the baby. See all three of you living together
in great happiness and love.
Finally, lay down the Sun to the right of the second card. The Sun represents children
and warmth in a reading. Visualize the loving light of the Universe enveloping yourself
and your family once the child is born. Visualize the light of the Goddess encircling you
now as you prepare for motherhood. Imagine that light protecting you and your unborn child.
Call to your child's soul and ask it to come into your life. Tell it that you are ready
to love it, to care for it, and to make it a priority in your life.
When you are finished with your meditation, take the green candle. Anoint it with rose oil
to draw in love. Take your athame or a ritual knife and carve appropriate words into the
candle. The candle will draw power into those words. Words to use include pregnancy,
motherhood, baby, family, etc. When you are finished, light the candle and chant the words
you have carved. Continue chanting and raise the power of the words. When you have raised
the power, release it into the Universe, and see the words taking effect.
Next, take the baby item you have chosen and sprinkle it with a few drops of rose oil.
In your own words, ask the Goddess to bless the item as a talisman for your pregnancy.
Keep it near you as a reminder of your ritual.
Finally, close your ritual with the following Words of Power statement (adapted from
Marion Weinstein):
There is one Power, which is ultimate happiness and fertility,
And I, _______, am a perfect manifestation of that Power.
I hereby draw to me only perfect happiness and fertility,
specifically as a successful and healthy pregnancy
culminating in the birth of a happy, healthy baby.
I hereby release any cause, effect, form, manifestation,
or essence of worry
that may be preventing the free flow of happiness and fertility in my life,
And ultimate happiness and fertility is mine, here and now.
I work these words of Power for the good of all,
according to the free will of all,
with perfect ease and perfect timing,
And so it must be.
Otherwise end your ritual as you usually do. Allow the green candle to burn until it goes
out on its own. The above Power statement is also a good affirmation to repeat several
times a day. Obviously, the ideal way to end the ritual for the evening is by spending
time with your partner in order to help the ritual work! Please note, too, that this
ritual should only be performed if BOTH parties are willing and hopeful to begin a
family. It should not be used in any way to manipulate someone into parenthood. Good
luck, and bright blessings!
Mountain Rose Herbs: Rose Essential Oil, Aromatherapy
(Amazon.com has a large selection of various types of tarot cards available besides the Rider-Waite style.
However, this is the one I use for rituals.)
OTHER HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS THAT CAN BE USED PRIOR TO THE ABOVE RITUAL:
EMPRESS BATH (From Tarot For Everyday by Cait Johnson)
Avalon suggests a pre-ritual bath with a few drops of
Rose oil; here is something just a tad more elaborate.
Honor your sensuality with this lovely aphrodisiac bath, which also promotes creativity
on several levels. (Unless you want to conceive a child, be especially careful after
this bath!)
Several drops each:
This is a perfect bath to share with a partner. If your partner is male, do not worry:
Empress energies will not unman him (just the opposite). But if you wish, you may add a
few drops of
Cedarwood or
Pine oil in honor of his maleness.
After your bath, anoint yourself with some
Jasmine or
Rose
oil and celebrate the tenderness and passion of sensual love with your partner or, if you are solitary,
celebrate alone. It is good to know that all acts of love and pleasure are the Goddess' rituals.
GODDESS OF LOVE RITUAL (TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL ATTRACTION & PASSION)
Ellen was inspired by the many red "wishing" ribbons that adorned her yard after the
Solar Circle's Beltane celebration to do a ritual for Aphrodite that more people might
understand Her energies.
Aphrodite is well known as the Goddess of Love, but what many people do not realize is
that She does not rule ALL forms of love that many people seek. Happy domesticity, strong
partnerships and friendships are all beyond the typical scope of Aphrodite's interests.
Aphrodite does rule physical attraction, and passionate love; She is "the Lady who plays"
and delights in the joys of loving for the moment. The one long term relationship that
Aphrodite IS helpful with, is one's relationship with him/herself.
Aphrodite is served by handmaidens called Graces; She is the chief Grace. This ritual
and hymn can help to attune you with Aphrodite's energy.
Cast the circle with
Sea Salt
and spring water.
O Thou Circle
Be thou a circle of Love
Guard us now
And protect our rites!
Call the Graces of the directions. In the East:
Hail Grace of Air!
We call you, we invoke you,
We invite you into our circle here.
We know you in the lovers whisper,
We know you in kisses blown to friends,
We know you in the caress of the breeze.
Blow us who acknowledge you
A healing kiss
And be here now!
In the South:
Hail Grace of Fire!
We call you, we invoke you,
We invite you into our circle here.
We know you in the rush of passion,
We know you in noon-day heat,
We know you in the cauldron of Bridgit.
Singe us who acknowledge you
With a transforming flame
And be here now!
In the West:
Hail Grace of Water!
We call you, we invoke you,
We invite you into our circle here.
We know you in salty tears of joy,
We know you in the coolness of the well,
We know you in the freshness of the rain.
Lick us who acknowledge you
With a cleansing wave
And be here now!
In the North:
Hail Grace of Earth!
We call you, we invoke you,
We invite you into our circle here.
We know you in the glory of the garden,
We know you in the firmness of the earth,
We know you in the beauty of our bodies.
Plant us who acknowledge you
With seeds of greatness
And be here now!
And the Goddess:
Hail Mighty Aphrodite!
Queen of the Graces
We call you, we invoke you,
We invite you into our circle and into our lives.
We know you in the beauty of the lily,
We know you in the fragrance of the rose,
We know you in the juicy sweetness of the pomegranate,
We know you in the throbbing of the drum
We know you in the undulation of the dance
Hear us as we sing and dance for you!
And be here now!
Chant:
I am the Goddess
I am the lover
All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals!
Sacred pleasure, pleasure sacred
Sacred pleasure, pleasure sacred
A Hymn to Aphrodite:
I sing of Aphrodite, the lover's goddess,
beautiful, gold-crowned, a blossom riding on the seafoam, resting on the wind.
She comes ashore, and women in gold bracelets meet her,
bearing silken garments for her lovely body,
copper rings for her shell ears,
chains of gold for her silver breasts.
The lead her from the seashore.
Do not look upon her!
Your eyes would dazzle from such beauty.
But you do not need to see her
You already know her
It is she who moves you in the dance
She is the music of your life
Do you need to ask her name?
Call her Love. Call her Joy.
Call her golden Aphrodite.
She is the moment when body knits to body
and the world flowers.
She enlivens everything: plants in the meadow, the ocean's fish,
animals hidden in the forest,
birds tumbling on the wind.
She is our darling,
she who under the wheeling stars makes all things blossom and bear fruit.
At her approach storms clear,
dark clouds dissolve to blue,
sweet earth and all the oceans smile,
and her light dances brilliant through the flourishing world.
Chant!
She came to Ida, flowing Ida, Ida of the streams,
with gray wolves behind her and bright lions
and thick bears and quick hungry panthers.
They moved like dancers around her.
She moved like a woman in love.
And when they saw this, they grew hot and full of longing
—even animals grow hot and full of longing in her presence—
and two by two they left her,
following each other into the valleys to mate,
their bodies hot and full of longing.
And so, we too. And so, we too.
Chant!
The golden one has left us, gone to her island,
gone to her temple there, gone to her shrine with its incensed altar.
She has left us behind and closed the door.
If we could see her now how beautiful she would be there,
the Graces bathing her —those lovely handmaids—
and oiling her with fragrant sweetness,
covering every curve of her bountiful body with sacredness
and the green scent of olives,
and dressing her in filmy silken robes,
and roping her neck with golden chains,
dropping gold from her ears,
ringing her fingers with gold.
She is laughing.
How our darling loves to laugh!
And now look!
she is leaving her temple again,
coming back to bring us more joyous trouble,
laughing and laughing, cutting a path right through the stars.
Chant!
I will build you, goddess, an altar
high up in the mountain peak,
where everyone can see it,
and each season I will cover it with the richest offerings.
think kindly of me therefore,
grant me a long and sunny life,
let me be happy among my loves,
and prosperous up to the ripe edge of age.
Chant!
She has come back,
piercing us all with her sweetness, her power.
Birdsong swells, the antelope leaps swift mountain streams,
the west wind wraps us in honeyed warmth.
She has returned, our golden one.
She moves laughing through our world and we follow her.
Through the forest, through the fields, across the hills,
we follow her, all of us in love,
loving each other, in love with her.
When she returns, it is always summer.
Don't you hear the swallows and cicadas?
Don't you hear the nightingale?
Don't you hear the brooks running silver,
the rivers running darkly to the sea?
Don't you hear the whole world singing her praises?
Everything is singing, everyone is in love, because our goddess has come home.
Chant! Drum! Dance! Sing! Celebrate!
Thank the Goddess and the Graces, and close the circle.