Pronounciation- Per sefe ne
Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is also known as the Goddess Kore (meaning young one) or Proserpina. She is the maiden Goddess who inspired the changing seasons, and is also known as Queen of the underworld.
Persephone was a beautiful young maiden who while playing in a meadow with her friends the nymphs was abducted by Hades, the God of the underworld. Her mother Demeter was so distraught when Persephone was abducted she showed her grief by making the earth barren. After many people died from starvation Zeus demanded his daughter be returned.
Hades gave Persephone pomegranate seeds to eat knowing that when she ate them she would not be allowed to return from the underworld. Persephone also knew that if she ate the pomegranate seeds that she would have to return to the underworld.
Having grown fond of Hades Persephone decided to eat the pomegranate seeds anyway. The result was that she would spend part of the year with her husband Hades and the rest of the year with her mother. This is how the cycle of seasons began. When Persephone was with Hades, Demeter made the earth cold and barren but when her daughter would return to her the spring renewal would begin.
This created our cycles of death and rebirth. All which begins to grow in the spring continues through summer, until the the fall harvest and then begins to die in the winter just to be reborn again in the spring. All of life must come full circle and begin again.
Persephone is known for carrying a sheaf of grain in her maiden roll of fertility and rebirth and a representation of spring and new growth with flowers. Blooming all around her, and with leaving the past behind and beginning new as the ice melts and waterfalls and rivers begin to melt of all old outdated beliefs, ideas and unneeded aspects of ourselves as we begin to sprout and grow like the vegitation of flow like the rivers in new growth and direction.
Animals which are known to Persephone are birds, bears and opposum. The plants which are associated with Persephone are pomegranate, lilys, narcissus, jasmine, lavender, daisys, willow trees and lotus. The gemstones and metals that are associated with Persephone are crystals, agates, onyx, pink tourmalines, rainbow obsidian, silver with gold (for as above so below) and mercury. Colors associated with Persephone are white, black, pinks, greens, and yellows.
You should call Persephone when you need assistance in ridding yourself of all outdated notions or aspects of yourself. She will also be helpful when you need a release or positive re-birthing of self. Persephone will provide assistance in giving you strength to remove all negative aspects of yourself for continued growth and develpment.
A new Maiden will be featured next month.
Pronounciation- as appears
Baba Yaga is portrayed as a hag who flies through the air in a mortar, using the pestle as a rudder and sweeping away the tracks behind her with a broom made out of silver birch. According to Russian folklore she lives in a log cabin that stands on chicken legs (at least two or more).
The cabin is said to spin around and emit loud screeches or sit facing opposite any visitors. If spinning the cabin will only come to a halt when a secret incantation is said. Once it stops, it turns to face the visitor while lowering itself down on the chicken legs. The door is then thrown open with a loud crash.
The cabin is a frightening site surrounded by a fence of human bones (complete with skulls on top). The key hole to the front door is a mouth filled with teeth waiting to bite any who might try to break inside. The fence has one pole that is missing a skull in order to frighten any intruders away.
Baba Yaga is known as the fearsome witch with iron teeth. She is also know as Baba yaga "Boney Legs" because despite her appetite she is very thin. Some stories indicate that Baba Yaga has two older sisters who were are also called Baba Yaga.
According to some folklore Baba Yaga is connected with three horsemen. One in white, who rides a white horse with a white harness- this rider is said to represent Day. The second rider is red and represents the Sun and the third rider is black and represents Night. Baba Yaga is also served by invisible servants while inside her cabin. Accoding to the lore she will explain the riders but has been known to kill visitors when asked about the servants.
Baba Yaga has been shown as both an antagonist and a source of guidance. She has been known to help people with their quests but is also known to kidnap and eat (or threaten to eat) children. Seeking the help of Baba Yaga is usually frowned upon under any circumstance. If you must seek her out then you need to be certain that you are spirtually prepared while adhering to general rules of etiquette.
Baba Yaga is cranky because she ages a year every time someone asks her a question. You would be frustrated too... She rejuvenates herself by drinking a tea made from blue roses. Visitors who are respectful to their hostess always do best. Those visitors who bring her gifts of blue roses are often rewarded by having wishes granted.
In the event that a visitor does come to the cabin Baba Yaga will ask them one question. Remember- only one answer will be correct. Did you come of your own free will or were you sent here? Baba Yaga always deals more on the dark side. Be aware of what you are calling her for before you begin to ask for her help during an incantation, spell and or ritual. Baba Yaga appears to have no power over the pure of heart, and those of us who are "blessed" by their mothers love.
The stones that are associated with Baba Yaga are hexagonal. They are crystal for clarity, jet for knowledge, lapis or hawk's eye (all seeing eyes) and bone which represents the mother. The colors associated with Baba Yaga are green which represents earth, the heart, mercury, and mom. The color blue which represents water. The color black which represents death, rebirth and the crone. The color purple is the last color with heals the ego.
A new Crone will be featured next month.
Pronounciation- Ree ann in
Rhiannon is the Welsh mother horse Goddess. She is the daughter of Hefeydd the Old. Rhiannon was married to Pwyll and later she married Mahawydan.
As Rhiannon was riding thru the forest one day she was spotted by Pwyll who sent his men to find her. His men were unable to catch her and Pwyll went to find her. When he found her he wanted her so much he decided to trick the man she was promised to marry into walking inside a magic bag and refused to let him go until he let Rhiannon marry him.
After her marriage to Pwyll, Rhiannon had a son. The son was kidnapped one day while she was sleeping. Her ladies in waiting who attended to the child smeared Rhiannon with blood from a puppy that they had killed in order that they would not be blamed for allowing the baby's disappearance.
Rhiannon awoke to find the child missing. She was blamed for killing her child as a result of the puppy's blood that the ladies in waiting had smeared on her as she slept. As punishment Pwyll made Rhiannon sit outside of the castle gates and tell her story to whomever would listen. She also had to offer them a ride to the kindom door on her back.
The child was found outside of the castle stable as a foal was being born. King Teyrnon adopted the boy. The child grew to adulthood in seven years and was given the foal as a gift. King Teyrnon finally revealed who the child was and returned him to Rhianon and Pwyll. They named the child Pryderi which means care.
General symbols associated with Rhiannon are horses, horseshoes, birds, gates, and the moon. Animals associated with Rhiannon are horses, dogs, birds, unicorns, dragons, and badgers. Plants associated with Rhiannon are sage, rosemary, bayberry, cedar, pine trees and lavendar. Scents for Rhiannon are sandlewood, lavendar, and geranium. The gemstones and metals associated with Rhiannon are silver, gold, moonstone, calcite, redspinnel, ruby, bloodstone, amethyst, turquoise, cat's eye, crystal quartz, tsavorite, and garnet. Colors associated with Rhiannon are greens, maroons, slivers, golds, brown or any other earth tones, white, black, ruby red and corals.
You can ask for Rhiannon's assistance for any situation where you are wrongly accused of things. She can aid in assistance with patience and for protection of children. Rhiannon can help you make the most of life lessons for growth and evolution of self.
A new Mother will be featured next month.
