Category: Religious & Pagan

Evocation to the Morrigan (1/16/2018)

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Morrigan
Dark triple Goddess, you who make men nervous with your commanding nature,
Endlessly admired by women, powerful Celtic Queen of fate.
You who are worshiped before and upon the field of battle, and can turn the tide of war with a wave of your hand.
I hail to you!
May your many aspects of war, death, fate, and prophecy guide me through the battle of my life.

Morrigan
You who are known as Badb, the hooded crow, the grey wolf of destruction,
You who are known as Nemain, the eel of frenzy and venom.
Your Banshee cry making soldiers fall to their knees, attack their allies, or die of fright.
I hail to you!
May my ferocity and bloodlust match yours, and may you guide me to never be outmatched in battle.

Morrigan
You who are called Macha, defender of our lands and sovereignty
Ever-changing in form, water Goddess of fertility.
The watcher of the cauldron of regeneration, and guardian to the rivers and lakes.
I hail to you!
May I follow your example of courage when defending what is mine or those I love.

Morrigan
Celtic Goddess who reigns supreme during the cold darkness of Samhain.
Mistress to the night, you walk in a cloak of terror casting your curses.
You that chooses who lives and who dies upon the field of battle,
I hail to you!
May you allow me to honor you with fire and blood.

Advent Devotional: 2nd Sunday

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A few years ago I began writing Advent devotionals for my family and friends to use. I am personally agnostic but as a child/teenager was raised in the Christian faith. I still enjoy the tradition of the Advent wreathe, and light the candles year to year. Each devotional is specific to the particular theme of the week, and includes Bible verses, prayers, and Christmas carols to sing or listen to. Depending on the specific branch of Catholicism, the theme of each week in Advent varies slightly. I made a personal and Executive decision in choosing which theme to go with for the particular week, while trying to keep it as accurate as possible. These are meant to help those along who want to do something “more” during their lighting, or who don’t have any other material to refrence from. It can be printed off and read together as a group, or done alone. I hope you enjoy.

(Advent Week 2, Second Sunday)
-The “Bethlehem Candle”. Representing faith, preparation, & prophecy.
-Light the first purple candle from last week. Now light the second purple candle. Hold hands (if you want to) and do the readings.

-The themes of the second week of Advent are ones of prophecy, anticipation, and preparation. Prophecies prepared, taught, warned and encouraged people about important events, usually related to their faith. It is about having faith when you are surrounded by mystery and doubt, and a miracle appearing in our life when we least expect it. We have open eyes and yearning hearts, that this might be the Advent to realize the promise of our faith, and to prepare for all the good that will come as a result.
-It is the time of year where we have begun our preparations for the celebration of Christmas. The shops are full of gifts that we might give or receive. Streets are decorated and choirs fill the air with festive song.
-In this season of expectation we prepare to for the birth of the son, and for the Christmas season. We prepare to welcome faith and light into our homes, our hearts, and those often hidden parts of our lives. Jesus entered this world as vulnerable as any one of us. We have our own vulnerabilities-our fears, our insecurities, our sins-all that can separate us from faith. We cannot comprehend the reasoning, only marvel that faith can be strengthened in us by a swaddling babe born in a stable.

Bible Verses: (These were long passages so I referenced them for you to look up, vs putting the entire section.)
-Read “Joseph accepts Jesus as his son” Matthew 1:18-25
-Read “The birth of Jesus” Luke 2:1-21

Family Prayer:
-Stir up our hearts, O Lord. We remember Mary and Joseph, and give thanks for their faithfulness, and courage. Stepping out into the unknown with only the strength of God’s Spirit. We pray that their example might be the pattern of our lives, that we might be ready to listen. And then having listened, to act on any opportunity to strengthen our faith. As we prepare for Christmas, we remember another, John the Baptist, who would prepare a way for us, so our hearts would be ready to receive the light of the One who was to come.

Personal Prayer(s):
-Now is the time to pray any personal prayers you wish. This can be done aloud individually, with a group leader, or silently in your hearts. Prayers should be mindful of the theme of this Sunday.

Music:
-“Mary did you know?” (Penantonix or Carrie Underwood are great ones to listen to)
-“Silent Night”

Advent Devotional: 1st Sunday

alexiselizabethaella2 Comments

A few years ago I began writing Advent devotionals for my family and friends to use. I am personally agnostic but as a child/teenager was raised in the Christian faith. I still enjoy the tradition of the Advent wreathe, and light the candles year to year. Each devotional is specific to the particular theme of the week, and includes Bible verses, prayers, and Christmas carols to sing or listen to. Depending on the specific branch of Catholicism, the theme of each week in Advent varies slightly. I made a personal and Executive decision in choosing which theme to go with for the particular week, while trying to keep it as accurate as possible. These are meant to help those along who want to do something “more” during their lighting, or who don’t have any other material to refrence from. It can be printed off and read together as a group, or done alone. I hope you enjoy.

(Advent Week 1, First Sunday)
-“The Prophet’s Candle”. Representing Hope (or promise)
-Light the first purple candle. Hold hands and do the readings.

Bible Verses:
-Isaiah 9:2
“For The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; and upon those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. For to us, a child will be born.
-Romans 13:11-14
“It is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and darkness.”

Family Prayer:
-For now is the first Sunday of Advent-a time representing Hope, and all that goes with it. The longest night is yet to come, but thereafter, the Sun returns and we are born again into the light of longer days. We have hope for the bonds we shall form as our family and friends join together in festive celebrations. We have hope that we have enough food and warmth to gaurentee our survival through the long Winter. We have hope for the eventual return of spring and the birth of new life after the long quiet slumber. We have hope for all the blessings and miracles that will come to us this Christmas.

Personal Prayer(s):
-Now is the time to pray any personal prayers you wish, for yourself, your family, your friends, your life. This can be done aloud and everyone shares their own, or silently in your hearts. One person can also lead a group prayer. It’s whatever your group/family wants to do. Prayers should be mindful of the theme of this specific Sunday of Advent.

Music:
-Sing the Carol together: O come, O come Emmanuel
-Or listen to- Awake, O Sleeper by Ike Ndolo

Coffee Shop Coven [7-27-20]

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I should start a coffee shop coven; girls only, no boys allowed.

We could have themed aesthetic outfits:

Weekends black and gothic and macabre,

Tuesdays and Thursdays for whimsical floral dresses and sun-kissed skin.

Mondays and Wednesdays for battle armor and weapons of war.

Fancy Fridays for formal wear, also known as the

“I poisoned my second husband for his money” outfit.

We could gather and talk and plot and laugh and scheme and cry and debate.

We could meet at midday and dance in the sunlight,

Or meet at midnight and kiss under the full moon.

We’d trace sigils in our cappuccino cream with our spoons,

And build tiny replicas of the pyres they’ll burn us on with our wooden stir sticks.

By day we’d pick herbs and make men love us.  

By night we’d have séances and kill our enemies.

By day the right hand, by night the left.

You need coffee for both; long days and long nights.

Candlelight on Imbolc [2-2-18]

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The nights were long and the days were short,

and both equally cold and dreary.

The worst of the winter was past

and spring was right around the corner.

But the ground was still frozen,

And the food stores were running low,

And the sun still remained hidden from the land,

And the animals weren’t ready to give birth.

So they stayed together in their homes,

warm by the fireside, praying together.

Hoping for a break in the harsh conditions

and the relief that sunlight would bring.

So they lit their beeswax and tallow candles,

And wove their Brigid’s crosses,

And supped upon the last of the milk and oats,

And gave thanks for their health and their families.

And they waited, and hoped, for the return of spring.