Joyous Eostar

Poem

This a piece I wrote to commemorate Blodeuwedd coming into my life...

Blodeuwedd's Charge
Copyright © 0ct. 2008 S.E.J.

From realms beyond, Barn Owl soars;
To awaken the land, Great Lion roars;
Warrior Queen with Her army of Shades;
All stand with me to welcome the Maid.

Under the Sun, high on a hill,
The wind dies down to a reverent still.
The Lady of Spring sparkles with dew,
Banishing old and welcoming new.

Her visage composed of sweet flowers nine.
Clad in grey mist as Dawn is Her time.
Her skin like the Moon, glowing and white.
The wind lifts Her hair like pale firelight.

Fixing Her gaze, She looks to my soul,
Drawing forth knowledge of Witch-child’s goal.
She knows the next step, what must be done,
The task is set forth for what’s yet to come.

She pushes my body deep in the ground,
Still from my throat comes not a sound.
Swallowed by terra, alone in the dark.
Conquer this trial and receive the Art.

As I try to find my way,
From above I hear Her say,
“Out of the Earth,
Climb to your birth!
Out of the Earth,
Climb to your birth!”

Pagan Music

I've yet to meet a Pagan who doesn't like music, and I'm sure there are times when most of us look specifically for Pagan music. There are a few "old standards" that come up when someone asks after Pagan music, Emerald Rose, Wendy Rule, Gaia Consort. I myself like stuff that's a little "harder" and "darker," some of my favorites being Within Temptation, Inkubus Sukkubus, and my new discovery, Faith and the Muse.

However, I also sometimes find Pagan-like messages and themes in the works of those who are not (publically) Pagan. I call these songs "Paganesque," and my current list can be found past the cut below. (Now with a playlist!)

Bella Strega Aradia

Found out something interesting recently; "ara" in Italian means altar, and "dia" is the feminine form of "dio," which means god, so dia = goddess. So, in essence, "Aradia" means "altar to the Goddess." The specific Goddess, in this case, presumably being Diana, Aradia's mother. Hmm......

Also, as folks may or may not be aware, Italian Witchcraft has a long history of familial intermarriage - this is because it was believed that Witchcraft was carried in the blood, and so to keep the magick strong, Italian Witches would often marry and reproduce with relatives. I figured out today that this must stem from Aradia's parents, Diana and Lucifer, being siblings and giving the world Aradia, who taught Witchcraft to the Italian people.

Behind the cut are the lyrics to two songs by the British Pagan Goth band Inkubus Sukkubus. One is called "Aradia," posted here for obvious reasons, and the second is "Lord of the Flame," just because.

Native Meditation

Is it wrong for me to want to assist my roommate with meditation? She recently received a CD of Native American instrumental/meditation music, and is considering buying Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards. She is herself part Native, Oglala Lakota-Sioux to be more precise, so I guess that's why I hesitate; I'm not native, and I don't want to feel/appear to be getting into all that nasty cultural appropriation business. Thoughts?