Akitu and the Celebrations of Inanna
Activities
Altar and Gods
3 cups sand
2 cups cornstarch
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar
3 cups of hot water
Mix dry ingredients in large heavy saucepan, then add water and stir over medium heat until too stiff to stir. Cool
Store in airtight container until ready to use
Will air dry in 2-3 days
Use this to mold a female and male figure, two thrones, and an altar. You can use ancient statues and artwork to style yours on, or create a more modern look with yarn for hair, paint, and anything else that takes your fancy
On your walk keep an eye out for found objects that you can use to decorate your altar
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Bird Feeder
Clean, empty plastic gallon-sized bottle
Green acrylic paint
Clear-drying, waterproof craft glue
Lots of dry fallen leaves
Lots of twigs
Left of picture hanging wire
Draw and cut out a circle with a 3-inch diameter about 3 inches from the base of the bottle. Punch a small hole below it (thinner than a pencil width)
Paint the outside of the bottle green. When dry glue the leaves all over the bottle. Paint a coat of glue (or a clear acrylic varnish) over the leaves to seal them
Wind the wire around the bottle neck below the tightly screwed on cap, and then secure it to itself to form a loop to hang the bottle by
Glue the twigs over the bottle�s top to create a "roof" and paint with glue or clear acrylic paint
Poke a thick twig half way through the small hole below the entrance to create a perch - if necessary, punch a hole through the back so the twig is held firmly in place
Decorate the outside with any other natural found objects
Add birdeed and hang - ensure that it is easy to refill, but out of reach of predators!
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Fertility within your life
A plant pot
7 river rocks
Paint and brush (a spray can of varnish is always nice)
Seedlings (the plants from "Restoring Spiritual Creativity" work well)
Soil
Water
Use the paint to decorate the plant pot. Colors that symbolise creativity, fertility, spirituality, and joy are best. Paint symbols and images - even words - that signify these qualities. As you do this, try and think only about the work. Focus intensely upon it and the qualities you are endeavouring to bring to your life. When you have finished, let it dry and then varnish it inside and out.
Take the seven rocks. Upon each one paint a symbol or word to signify the following: earth, fire, air, water, sun, moon, and yourself. Let them dry and then varnish as well.
When the pot and rocks are finished, place the rocks in the pot and fill it with soil, transplant in the plants, water and place in your home to draw in those elements.
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Green Man
long stemmed grasses - preferably with seed heads
Works best with green grass - take care as it is easy to break the stalks as you work.
Holding the grass just below the seed heads, seperate out a few strands and wind them about all of the grass to secure in place. Fold back down with the other stalks
Divide out a few strands and bend up at a right angle to make an arm - repeat on the other side. Take a few strands and wind diagonally about the body, over and under the arms to hold them in place. Tuck the strands back into the main body of grass
Take a few strands and divide in two. Wind about the body, beneath the arms, and knot securely at the back
~ submitted by Catherine M.
"Let's Explore" Notebooks
With Spring underway, and summer soon to arrive, it�s a wonderful time to get outside and explore - not so cold and wet, and not yet too hot. These notebooks are easy to create and a great way to record some of the adventures you have.
School notebook - the kind with 2 staples and a cardboard cover
Clear Contact
Flat found items from a walk - leaves, feathers, bark
Craft glue
Strip of coloured ribbon - twice the length of the book from top to bottom
A piece of carboard in a colour you like
Find the center of the book, open it up and lay it face down on the table. Using glue, cover the spine with the ribbon. 1-inch should hang free at the bottom, and the rest at the top. Flip the book over and glue the bottom of the ribbon to the inside of the spine. You may need to lift the pages out of the way
Lay the book back down on its face and cover both back and front with the found objects - leave the spine uncovered though.
Use the cardboard to write out the title of your book - maybe "My Adventures". You can use nice markers and fancy scissors to make it look good. Glue this on the front cover
When the glue has dried, use the contact to cover the book
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Look and See
Empty, clean plastic bottle - preferably the 1/2 gallon size with a handle
Strong plastic wrap
Thick rubber band or a couple of thinner ones
Cut the base off the bottle - trim any jagged edges. If necessary use a nail file to smooth it down.
Cover the bottom of the bottle with two layers of plastic wrap. Smooth them out and use the rubber band to hold them in place. The plastic forms a clear window
Take the "look and see" to your local pond or stream and use it to see into the water. Push it past the surface and look through the top (take off the lid!). You will do better with shallow (1 foot or less) water that has some plants and rocks
It may take a bit of effort, but try and hold it steady as you look into the water and see the animals living there
You can also make a collector's bucket from another bottle - cut off the top and poke a hole through each side about 1 inch down. Thread some thick jute string through to make a handle. Just make sure that you only collect things you are allowed to. State parks have strict laws about removing both living and dead plants and animals. Your local playground park, however, is likely to be more relaxed. You can collect leaves, rocks, seed pods, empty snail shells, and feathers after your pond hunt!
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Rituals
New Moon Ritual
If you have an old plate you are willing to discard, break it and leave it out piled high with an offering for Hekate on the evening of the New Moon. Uncooked grains make the best offering. If there is a three-way intersection near by, that is the best place to leave the offering. Otherwise, consider the layout of your home! Is there a three-way intersection there that you could use? The alternate possibility is to leave the offering on the windowsill of an open window. Windows and doors are passageways and the otherworld is more easily accesible from these locations. Hekate, a goddess of passageways and the next world, can be reached thus.
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Restoring Spiritual Creativity
After winter it can be hard to get motivated and moving again. This ritual can help
Cauldron or chalice
Fresh soil
2 sheets of paper and pen
Candle (choose a colour that represents passion)
7 paper cups
7 sets of different seeds
Water
An old plate
If possible, sit under the light of the new or first quarter moon. On the first sheet of paper write out every negative thing you think and feel. Every thing you would change, you wish recalled, you regret. On the other write out every positive thing you think and feel about yourself. Write out your desires - no matter how far fetched or strange. Fill the page with passion. Put the papers aside.
Take the soil and pour it into the cauldron. As you do, imagine you are pouring all the exhaustion, cobwebs, and inertia within yourself out into the cauldron of change and rebirth. Using your fingers, comb and till the soil, breaking up all the lumps until it is fine and smooth. Recite, "I am the farmer that sows the seed", as you do this. Take the seven cups and fill each with soil, reciting one line for each cup:
"One for birth,
One for death.
One for joy,
One for loss.
One for passion,
One for slumber.
One for the Wheel."
Plant one set of seeds in each cup and water them all.
Light the candle, pick up the paper of negativity and set fire to it. Drop it on the plate and let it burn out. Take the ashes and blow them to the winds, releasing the negativity from your life. Repeat with the other sheet of paper only this time mix a little water with the ashes to make a soupy liquid - pour this into each of the cups. This will draw passion to you - whether creative, physical, or mental. It will release your inner energies from their wintery slumber.
Tend the plants as they grow.
~ submitted by Catherine M.
Ritual Honouring the Gods of Childhood
The ancient Romans lived with their religion - although there were priests and temples, the heart of religious belief was in the home. There the pater familias (head of the family) took on the role of Head Priest for the household. With the assistance of wife and children, he honoured and tended to the shrine of the Lares Familiaris - the family spirits. As well as the lar, there were the penates to be venerated. The penates looked after the larder. Then there was the gens - the clan to which the family belonged. The families within the gens all had the responsibility of honouring their common ancestors - a seperate matter to the lares who were recent ancestors. Maintaining the family rites of the gens was essential to helping maintain a healthy country
Prayer and sacrifice should be made at the household shrine every morning.
This month our magazine is looking at the development of spiritual paths - what we believe and how we work to develop our beliefs and our relationship with the Divine. This ritual is one that definately builds a relationship with the gods.
Start be deciding upon a place for your shrine - it should be centrally located, where you will see it daily. Once you've decided upon it, start putting it together. What gods do you wish to place in your shrine? The lar is a family spirit, devoted to looking after your family. This might be a good choice to include. Are there any particular gods from your family's pantheon that you really like? Maybe you should include them. Try not to have more than 3 or 4 gods in the shrine though. Otherwise it will get a bit crowded. You need some cult statues - these are objects that represents the gods you are honouring. They may be small statues, or a special rock, or a drawing. The only requirement is that the cult statue represent the god to you. Once you have your statues set in place, it's time to decorate the shrine. Start with some permanent features - maybe a mirror to reflect the world, a small mat to lay everything upon, a vase for wildflowers you collect each day. Choose things that make the shrine feel "right" to you. Finally, think about including photos or hand-drawn images of your own ancestors and honour their memories as well.
Having set up your shrine, you will need to decide upon a morning ritual. Usually, this would involve a prayer to the god/s for health, happiness, and prosperity for yourself and your family. You should make an offering as well - a bowl of milk and honey, small cakes or sweets, and/or incense are all good.
Each morning, after getting up, wash your face and hands, brush your hair, and make yourself presentable - afterall, you are about to honour your gods! Then tend to the shrine. Recite your prayer - along with any special needs that you have that day (such as a test), and lay out a fresh offering.
If you have an item you want blessed and empowered by the gods, your shrine is a good place to do it. Take the item and hold it while you make your prayer. Then place it on the shrine amongst the offerings and explain to the gods what it is and what you need done to it. Ask them to bless the item. Leave it in the shrine all day and night, and then when you tend the shrine the next morning, thank the gods for their help.
~ submitted by Anne S.
Spring Divination
With all the new growth, why not engage in some divination? Take some time to meditate and clear your mind, and then go for a walk. Take a bag with you and gather found objects. Any flowers or leaves that you see that "call" to you - collect them as well (after a request to the plant and a thank-you, of course). Make a mental note of any animals you come across, or odd formations.
While walking, keep an eye open for the place that most seems filled with spring. Pause there and drink in the beauty. Remember it.
When you get home, take a piece of paper, some crayons, markers or pencils, and sketch that place. Using glue, attach your found objects to the page as seems right.
Then write out what feelings, thoughts and emotions this picture raises within you. List the animals you encountered and then start some research.
What message might the animals have carried? The flowers and leaves you collected - what do they symbolize?
Take everything you wrote, read it once, and then write it out as a vision or story.
~ submitted by Catherine M.
|
2004-2007