I use a variety of materials including plant absolutes, essential oils, fragrances, resins, botanical oils and natural essences from roots, flowers, herbs and stones. Forests, Blood Red Apples,Herbs, Resins, Spicy Peppers,Caramel, Vanilla. When I am working with Her and I want to harness the power of Her ferocity, and Her petrifying gaze I will set up my work area so that it faces away from Medusa, and only look upon Her image in a mirror that is on the work altar. All of a sudden a strong urge for Her Protection. Hail the Guardian Queen!. There are several versions of the Medusa myth. His name is probably derived from herma (see herm), the Greek word for a heap of stones, such as was used in the country to indicate boundaries or as a landmark. Medusa is also counted as one of the Gorgons, three daughters of Phorcus. Dohalice, which is a small village in the Czech Republic also uses her head in its coat of arms. Adamantine Guardian, enthroned in every kingdom, most powerful sorceress Who can destroy all curses, Whom none can conquer, not even Death, by which You gained Your divinity. Both Aeschylus and Hesiod mention Medusa in some of their early stories. The flag and emblem of Sicily also features her head. 4. The pomegranate fruit was important as a symbol of fertility and marriage and played a role in several myths. When linked to the solar Great Mother, She is the destructive force of the Sun rather than its life supporting force. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. To sneak the fire past the watching eyes of the gods, he hid it inside of a fennel stalk. Those familiar with my work know I do a lot with spiritual vessels and Medusa is no different. It wouldnt be too far fetched for a Sea Goddess like Medusa to have a horses body, especially as mother of Pegesus. Her snakes are usually just considered snakes to make Her hideous and their purpose is neglected, but the snakes themselves have power. Apollo wanted to become mortal and die with him, but instead, he turned his blood into flowers. From a very early age in Britain, I was known to sit at the breakfast table reading encyclopedias about many of the major world mythologies. Several authors working on a book interviewed hundreds of women to find out what they knew about the myth. In one version of the Medusa story, she was a gorgeous young woman who agreed to become one of Athenas priestesses. The ancient Greeks depicted Medusa in various ways that seemed to evolve over time. Although you can theoretically call upon a deity with extensive amounts of worship, deities often reach out to us when they want to work with us. To begin, it is important to understand each of Medusas symbola has very specific power because it isnt just Her gaze that I utilize in my cult practice. Sicily uses both Medusa and the trinacria on its flag. Pegasus, the famous horse with wings, arose from her dead body. Zeus was furious when the deception was discovered and punished Prometheus to eternal torture. Your email address will not be published. Fair-cheeked Gorgon, be present! After the baby was born, Aepytus forced Evande to abandon the child. 2. The once lovely hair was morphed into poisonous, dangerous snakes. In her anger and in retaliation, Persephone (or sometimes her mother, Demeter), transformed Minthe into a mint tree. A taxidermy snake head, widely available in souvenir or oddity shops, or a bronze snake figure that will fit inside your vessel. In this example, based on Euryale, the Gorgons are depicted the same as Athena on the reverse, so They are most likely less grotesque and more akin to Goddesses. The closest I have ever come to finding iconography with a snake tail is winged Gorgon from a 6th century BCE shield where Medusa is depicted with a helmet and the tail of a serpentine fish and legs of a lion. Her vessel not only stores Her dynamis but it is an active ward for protection. It can be difficult to determine if she is the entity reaching out to you, but there are a few specific tells. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. I live with my child. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. Aconite was also the deadly plant used in the attempted poisoning of Theseus by the devious queen Medea. For me personally I like to use snake fangs over tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work. Medusa is all about finding your own inner power and using it, so this reading has always made sense to me. She gained Her immortality being placed on the aegis of Athena, and is now the most recognizable symbol of the ancient world. You will add your name and the names of anyone you want protected that resides in the home or place. Medusa herself had a chilling face topped with serpents that sprang from her hair. Until next time, Nocturnal Blessings! Chrysaor also came from Medusa. When the nymph Echo fell deeply in love with the handsome human known as Narcissus, he scorned her altogether, and she fell into misery. Euphorbia requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and tolerates temperatures in the low 90s (33-35 C.). A "colophon" He treated other potential courtships similarly, believing himself too beautiful for them. Thence, by Athenas curse anyone she looked upon turned to stone. The most significant of these was the myth of Persephone, who was captured by or eloped with Hades to the Underworld against the wishes of her mother, Demeter. (That said, if you are experiencing troubling symptoms, consult your doctor. Turmeric. May I ask is it safe for me? She is incredibly powerful, and since I have started working with Her, She has removed a lot of things and people that have been holding me back. If youre just getting going working with the Goddess Medusa, start small. The three-headed dog of Hades, Cerberus (or Kerberos), was the fearsome guardian of the Underworld. Though she died before Helios could save her, the god intervened and sprinkled her with fragrance so that she could live again as the frankincense tree. Her profile is engraved on coins of the reign of Seleceus I Nicator of Syria from 312-280 B.C. Among the earliest depictions of the Perseus and Medusa myth is a bas-relief from the seventh century BCE depicting Perseus averting his gaze as he beheads Medusa, although curiously She is depicted as a centaur with the lower half of a horse putting it from around the time of Hesiod. Thank you for sharing the Gorgons are called on in Jason Millers Sorcery of Hekate course too I have a Medusa pendant which I charge for protection on the 29th day of the month in the lunar calendar, traditionally protector deity day in Tibetan Buddhism which I have been practicing since the mid 90s, always seems good to have an extra layer of protection I mentally hear them hissing when visualising them whilst Im reciting invocations the pendant feels hot whilst doing so nice to have gorgon bodyguards in my astral field who get recharged every 4 weeks or so. This version claims that Athena became spiteful and used her powers to turn the woman into a monster that no man would ever want. It almost sounds like a win-win, to me. Zeus intervened before it could turn into too much of a fight, and they were sent the human, Paris. SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE SALE ANNOUNCEMENTS + UPDATES. But for each one I awaken it by first cleansing and fumigating Her in an incense of the following ground together: This incense is formulated with strong protective and evil averting properties. Listen, Gods of the Infernal Den, I am the witch NN, and my words have power! One of her works said that similar stories focused on sister trios and that authors likely added Medusas sisters. Instead, shell push you to find your inner power and actually use it to change your life. You are free to take from it as you please, use all, part, or none of it, or even use it to inspire your own practice. He explained that when a man saw something frightening such as a naked woman, he associated it with his mother because it was his first experience with the female form. If this isnt your preferred medium, then creating any sort of art for Medusa is perfectly fine. I ask that You be present within this living idol I make clean and pure for You! Mix a bowl of spring water with some sea salt, wormwood, cedar, and rue. Gorgons are described as winged serpentine creatures. This is a good starting point when you want to connect with her. In the British writer Iris Murdochs novel A Severed Head (1961), the heroine is a Medusa figure. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a terracotta jar created by Polygnotos that shows Perseus murdering her in her sleep. She claimed that Medusa was the ultimate guardian and protectress of women. Legend says that when invaders attacked the city, Sterope used the hair to bring forth a storm that sent them running away in fear. Poseidons gift was a saltwater spring raised miraculously from the ground. Much less, if any man did, then he would be instantly turned into a statue and doomed to an eternity in stone. He claimed that both groups of sisters were monsters. She becomes Gorgo, one of the three Gorgon sisters. Perhaps the most well-known Medusa myth involves Perseus and Medusas death. The Greek hero Perseus is sent to take Medusas head in order to save his mother from marrying a selfish, evil king. Perseus was granted help by the gods including a reflecting tool. The portrait was done on a convex board made out of poplar with Medusas visage, bringing out its reference to Aegis. Her pure white milky skin turned a scary green hue. Widen Your frightening eyes, flashing with fire, and look upon (enemys NN) so he/she/they may be destroyed! Early artwork depicted both Medusa and her sisters as gruesome creatures capable of frightening any man. If its mouth is open, place the lodestone in the mouth, if not put it next to it. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. Adonis had been killed by a ravaging boar, and while Aphrodite wept over his body, his blood on the grass transformed into the fl Legend says that Medusa was one of three children born to Phorcys. The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao came out the same year and told the traditional story of Medusa. On the bottom of the vessel draw a Gorgoneion and around it write I protect NN. Herodotus the historian said her home was Libya. She lost all of her looks and found snakes growing in her hair. The Goddess Medusa loves to help her children find their own ways of breaking free! Often they had extensive knowledge of herbs to compliment their spiritual practice, including contraceptives like the seeds of poplars and willows, silphium from Harrison further backed up her claims with a translation that said the horror did not come from the woman but that the horror gave birth to the woman. The talismanic image of the Gorgoneion is believed to be at least as early as the 8th century BCE and some scholars propose they could reach as far back as 6,000 years from the Sesklo region of Greece where a terracotta mask was discovered that bears a striking resemblance to early Gorgon imagery and most likely represented an early Mother Goddess cult. I cannot use any Medusa image that does not have eyes, or has voids for eyes. Nowadays, many scholars feel that this tale may have been warped over time and that we shouldnt take the female monster at face value.. Medusa is an aroma hop that is typically used in only late boil additions, including dry hopping. Call upon Medusa when you need the strength to challenge your enemies, to face your fears, or to hex your abusers. She will wait until you recognize the signs, so dont worry about missing these indicators. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. In my practice it also paralyzes the Evil Eye and any malicious intentions sent against me, rendering them useless. Around the 6th century we start to see Her iconography become a mix of the grotesque, large eyed, hideous monster that makes up most of Greek Gorgon imagery. She is the Queen among the Gorgons, by far the most powerful. Versace still uses a log of a woman with terrifying features and serpents coming from her head as its brand logo. Though many know the story of Medusa and her powers, not as many know about her sisters. To start, Her gaze is indeed important and probably the primary symbola I work with. Athena immediately added the head to her shield called Aegis. Before we can explore how I serve Her we need to take a look at Her mythology and discover who She is.The most common version of Her myth you will see all over the internet is that of a once beautiful Medusa, Whose shining jewel was Her hair. Come, rise from the Hellish Pit on swift wing and turn to me Your petrifying gaze so You may witness this rite! 9 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants and Herbs, Backed by Science Natures 9 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants and the Science Behind Them Gingko Turmeric Evening I work hard tokeep my creations and packaging cruelty free, responsibly sourced and eco-friendly. Also known as Phorkys, he lay with his sister Ceto. Take the snake head and place it on the sea sponge so it faces toward the front of the vessel. Athena removed a lock of the womans hair and gave it to Hercules. Flax seed. Lavender. Read about Medusa in literature. Hera and Athenas vengeance for this slight led directly to the Trojan War. Shes definitely a deity who can teach you how to stick up for yourself and fight back! 2021 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Her rage is unmet, and her ferocity is as deep and as strong as the seas. WebMedina is one of the most popular of all Afro Caribbean herbs, especially so in Jamaica where it is commonly used to combat a variety of ailments but it is probably best known of Separated from her sisters and unable to find love, Medusa wandered through the African desert. She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Apollo then took her wood to make his lyre. For these types of rituals I will offer Her red church wine, whole uncooked eggs, and spring water in addition to any ingredients or materials for my spellwork. Last Updated on December 18, 2017 by Coven of the Goddess. Natures 9 Most Powerful Medicinal Plants and the Science Behind Them. This is the version I subscribe to because it is how Medusa has shown Herself to me, not as a tormented, mournful monster, grieving Her lost beauty, but a powerful, proud Goddess Queen Whose sight paralyzes and obliterates enemies. She gave birth to a son, Iamus, and Apollo sent the goddess of childbirth (Eileithyia) and the Fates to serve as her midwives. This leads us to our final point: Perseus wasnt supposed to survive his encounter with Medusa. As the interpretations of her story are better understood through a lens of empathy and empowerment, the general publics opinion of the goddess has also shifted with the times. Another Greek poet, Pindar, noted that she was fair-cheeked. If the idea that you need to do more to make the world a safer place has been a prevalent notion for some time, then its time to embrace the spirit of Medusa and act on it. He then returned to the goddess Athena with Medusas head, which she mounted to her shield so that any foes she encountered on the battlefield would then be turned to stone. The two quickly fell in love and married. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth Nerd is our place for all things related to world mythology. She was so enchanting that She caught the attention of Neptune Who raped Her in the temple of Minerva. They can be applied to the pulse points and worn as a perfume or cologne or used to anoint the body before a ritual or ceremony. Medusa spent the rest of her days wandering the earth alone. Aphrodite took pity on her and turned her into the myrrh tree, in which form she gave birth to Adonis. 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