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!

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!

Goddess Prayer Beads

I've long been fascinated with prayer beads, but not being Catholic, I didn't give much thought about incorporating them into my practice. And then I came across some lovely Goddess prayer beads and I became fascinated by them. The more research I did, the more I realized that I could, in fact, use them in my daily prayer as a Wiccan.

I chose to have my beads represent the Maiden (white), Mother (red) and Crone (black), although at times I do incorporate the Lord's Prayer to add balance and acknowledge the God (which I normally view as Lugh, the Sun God).

This first set I purchased from the lovely lady at Infinitely Spiritual. She makes the most divine rosaries of all kinds and when I contacted her to make a custom set for me, she didn't hesitate. She made my rosary and shipped it to me within a week. I highly recommend her.

My other set of rosary beads was purchased from My Rosary Beads. It has a prayer ball at the end of it into which I can slip a short prayer or request. 'My Rosary Beads' is a terrific site where you can find more information on rosary beads and they ship very quickly as well.

I love both sets and use one or the other depending on my mood and what my intention is for the day. I begin my prayer by holding the goddess charm (or prayer ball) and saying:

"I call upon the goddess of perfect love,
who purifies the seas in which worlds are born.
Behold her image, crowned with the deepest glory of the sunset,
silver, and crystal, robed in the deepest black.
I call upon the goddess who sets the stars in motion
upon the endless mirror of night; Maiden, Mother, Crone."

The Goddess Rosary

The prayer below can be said while fingering the big beads on the Rosary. You can alternate and say the regular Lord's prayer every other time for balance if you wish. Use the Glory Be (shown further below) for the wire/string before the large beads, and then finger the large bead and say:

Our Lady who is the Essence of the Earth,
We have called you by many names.*
Return now unto Your people,
Speak Your will, and it shall be done,
As Above, so Below.
Please give us each moment our life, light and love.
If we have let you down,
Please forgive us and cleanse us,
According to our own willingness to forgive others.
Lead us away from Lures,
And deliver us from Evil,
For You are Goddess, Queen of the Universe.
Yours is the Power, the Grace, the Wisdom, and the Beauty,
Age unto Ages,
Ah-Main.

*Here you have the option of inserting a mini-litany of your favorite Goddess names, such as: Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod, Isis, Diana, Tara, Brigit, Demeter, Freya, Gaia, Quan-Yin . . .

The Glory Be

Glory Be to the Father, to the Mother,
And to the Sacred Son,
And to the Lady Holy Spirit,
They are the Four-in-One.

As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be,
World without end,
Age to Ages,
Ah-Main.

Here is another way to pray the Goddess Rosary.

Goddess Bless!