Pagan Prayers

I came across a site the other day where someone was asking if Pagans said prayers. I admit I was a little taken aback . . . doesn't everyone with faith pray? Apparently, not everyone thinks so.

Triple Goddess Rosaries

Mother Mary Rosary

Green Tara Mala
(This gorgeous piece was custom made by Jayne at Infinite Spirit)

So, just to set the record straight, this Pagan prays. I pray my Goddess rosaries and my Mary rosary, and I also pray with my mala dedicated to Green Tara. I pray to the God and to the Goddess. I pray in the morning and evening and when there's something in particular I need guidance on or when I need reassurance or peace. There are a multitude of ways to pray and as many prayers to say them.

When I first started out on this path I searched for books that contained Pagan prayers. I found several that spoke to me and I'm always on the lookout for inspiring Pagan prayer books.

A few of the books on my shelf:
Living Wicca - Scott Cunningham
Goddess Bless - Sirona Knight
Be Blessed - Denise Dumars
Dewdrops in the Moonlight - Shanddaramon

The books I've listed here are just a few that I found helpful and inspiring. My most recent purchase is a book called 'Earth Psalms' by Angela Magara. It is a lovely book filled with 150 psalms that warm the heart and feed the soul.

Due to the hurricane in Angela's area (she was part of the disaster recovery team) and then an illness, shipping of my book was delayed. And although it was unnecessary, Angela sent along an extra copy of the book which she has graciously autographed.

I've given it some thought and can't think of anyone I'd rather share this book with than you, my followers. So I'm having a give-away! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll enter you in the drawing which I'll hold on October 1st. Isn't that a great way to start the month of October?

And if you know of any good Pagan prayer books please don't hesitate to share!

Green Tara Against Animal Cruelty

While browsing around the internet today I came across a site that tore my heart out. And while I didn't watch the videos of animals being mistreated, I just know that the images would stay with me and haunt me. In fact, I don't even have to watch them, I intuitively know and am saddened by the cruelty animals face every day.

And so I want to spread the word that there is something you can do, especially if you're a Green Tara devotee like me. Something that is so simple that can make a multitude of difference.

Simply print out this beautiful picture of Green Tara and repeat her mantra 1000 times.

"OM TARA TUTTARE TURE SOHA"

When you print out the image, you are making a COMMITMENT to complete 1000 recitations of Green Tara’s mantra. While reciting the mantra, focus on generating merits for all animals to take a good rebirth, and to stop animal cruelty.

DEDICATE IT to the dancing bears of India and the dolphins stabbed in Japan.

DEDICATE IT to the suffering dogs on the farms of Korea and to the bulls of Spain.

DEDICATE IT to abused working horses and to the chickens in battery farms all over the world.

Think of all the animals in the world who suffer every single day because of human selfishness. Dedicate it because YOU CARE.

Here’s another thing you can do, pass along the Green Tara image to your friends and family and ask them to do the same! Give it to them because you know they too can help reduce animal cruelty around the world. Do something about animal cruelty NOW.

Source: Kechara Animal Sanctuary (www.kechara.com)

Embracing the Goddess . . .

When I started out on my journey almost a year ago, I was overwhelmed with the amount of information and the staggering numbers of deities from which to choose from. Slowly wading my way through, I decided to focus my devotions on Green Tara. And while she has been a devoted patroness to me, it was I who chose her. Along the way I'd hear of people who were definitely chosen BY the Goddess that they serve. I couldn't fully comprehend this idea - at least not until a few weeks ago.

It all started when I was deciding how to decorate my Ostara altar. Of course there is the color scheme of yellows, greens, purples and pinks. There are the eggs and the rabbits. There are the daffodils and seed packets. What I wasn't expecting to see on my Ostara altar was a statue of the Virgin Mary. "You need to put a statue of the Mother Goddess on your altar and she needs to be in the image of Mary", the voice said to me. Puzzled, I asked, "are you sure?" (with quizzical look on face). "Yes, dear one, I'm sure", the voice said. And so without questioning further, I ordered a statue of Mother Mary for my Ostara altar.

A few days later the song "Let It Be" started playing in my head . . .

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom,
Let it be.

And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom,
Let it be

I took that as another sign that the Goddess was speaking to me, encouraging me to come to her. Remember my poem a few posts back? Mary is also named 'The Star of the Sea' and is believed to intercede as a guide and protector of those who travel or seek their livelihoods on the sea. How serendipitous is that?

And then I was led to a blog by 'City Wiccan' who had decided that she was going to incorporate the Rosary into her practice. She even went so far as to re-write the Rosary to celebrate the Goddess. And then they came, the blogs and websites with information of Mary as Goddess and prayers and devotions and hymns to her, written in a way that confirms my faith and my beliefs as a Wiccan.

Mary has many names; Anat, Aphrodite, Artemis, Asherah, Astarte, Athena, Brigit, Cybele, Demeter, Diana, Hecate, Ishtar, Inanna, Isis, Juno, Kuan Yin, Maat, Maeve, Mariamne, Sohpia, Tara, and Theotokos. I researched and read and honestly couldn't believe the information that was literally pouring into my hands. I was being led.

The similarities between Mary and Green Tara are striking. So much so that I've decided to keep both of these deities as my Patron Goddesses for as long as they'll have me . . . Green Tara because I chose her and she chose to accept my forcing myself upon her AND Mary because she's chosen me and has filled my heart to overflowing with her love, guidance and wisdom.

I purchased an amethyst (for it's spiritual nature) Rosary from Etsy. After removing the crucifix and attaching the Mary pendant I purchased from eBay I'm now ready to pray the Goddess Rosary. I've created a separate blog page for 'Praying the Goddess Mary Rosary' should you be interested.

In closing I just want to say to those of you who are searching for your 'Patron' Goddess - look for a deity who resonates with you, ask her permission to work with her and wait, patiently, for the Goddess of your heart to find you (she may even end up being the one you've chosen to work with!).

Sending you all Reiki Love and remember to Live in the Light!

Green Tara Mantra

I hope this weekend finds you enjoying peace and much needed rest from the week. This is one of the most beautiful Green Tara mantras I've come across and it always brings me peace and serenity. I love to light a candle, sit in front of my Green Tara altar and meditate on the words which mean . . .

"Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha"

"Om" - Tara sacred body, mind and speech;
"Tare" - liberating from all discontent;
"Tuttare" - liberating from the 8 external fears and 8 internal fears;
"Ture" - liberating from duality;
"Svaha" - may the meaning of the mantra take root in my mind/
may the power of mantra be achieved/
praise to the mantra

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