Persephone -I

Who was Persephone?
Also known as Kore (young maiden), Persephone is queen of Underworld and wife of Greek god of underworld Hades. He was brother of Olympic greatest god – Zeus. The mother of Persephone was Demeter – (goddess of earth fruits and harvest), she was daughter of Zeus. Her sisters were the famous goddesses Athena and Aphrodite. (total pages - 6) 

Persephone in Greek myth ~

One day Persephone played with her beautiful companions oceanides (nymphs), she was mesmerized by the time of spring. Light rays were penetrating the forest and touching the gentle leaves and each flower. Persephone was occupied by the game with the nymphs, they ran freely in the vast fields, hiding behind the trees. Meanwhile Persephone, as every young girl, picked up flowers – roses, hyacinth, pansies, white lilies…She felt the amazing scent of her bouquet and ran further. Exactly in this time, when she was lost in her admiration and game in the forest, god of the underworld Hades saw her. He fell in love with her and wanted she to be for him forever.

Now Hades, as brother of her father Zeus, didn’t hesitate much to ask for hand of Persephone. She was already part of his family. Zeus couldn’t refuse to Hades, so the dark god of underworld made a plan. It was not possible to simply ask for Persephone from her mother, as she was too attached to her daughter. The plan was to abduct the beautiful maiden Kore – when she is in nature or forest. Hades asked the goddess of earth Geia to create of amazing beautiful flower with unique aroma that can make the senses drunk and hypnotized. So she did, and the flower bloomed in the same place where Persephone played – Neeseian Valley. When she stretched her hand to pick up this flower, the ground opened suddenly below her feet and from there appeared the figure of the mighty Hades. He took Persephone without objection to his underworld Kingdom and married her. In this way she became the queen of Underworld, the place of dead souls.

The search for Persephone ~

Goddess Demeter heard the scream of her daughter – in her heart and mind. So she knew something awful happened and ran to search Persephone. She soon understood about the unwilling marriage and that her only child maiden was given to god Hades from his brother Zeus. Demeter was restless, grabbed by feeling of strong grief and lost in her sorrow she refused to give blessings for the middle earth anymore. Soon after that the trees stopped to produce fruits, all the blooming ceased, grass and flowers wilted. The time in all nature was frozen. The sadness of Demeter continued until her daughter was returned to her. As the people faced hard times and famine on earth, the Olympian god finally agreed to the deal – he returned Persephone for a while to her mother.

Persephone` s gift from Hades ~

The underworld queen was much more found of her beloved husband now – after spending long time with him. She took her role and felt pain of separation with Hades, even though she missed her mother too much. Persephone prepared to be taken by god Hermes – divine messenger. Hades gave her on one special gift – pomegranate. This is special fruit of “forgetfulness” that would prevent any soul from underworld to return back to earth plane. Persephone was aware of that, and didn’t want to completely lose her chance to meet her mother. In the same time, to have a vow for Hades, that she will return back, she ate seven seeds from the pomegranate. Now she had choice to stay a while and return back. Because of the strong bound between Persephone and Demeter, now agreement was made. The queen of underworld will stay with her husband in land of dead for four months each year –this time was dedicated to winter season, when all trees and nature stand still and barren. The earth will be covered by cold winds and snow. The rest of the months will be dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, they will be united and all the time the nature will be flourishing and producing fruits.

This myth gives us clear perspective on seasons and nature cycles on earth. The returning of Persephone is associated with awakening, spring, blooming flowers, love, innocence, aroma. The decent to underworld each year is symbol of winter sleep, stillness of nature, frozen time, preparation.

In the same time Persephone didn’t neglect her duties as Queen of underworld. As she ate the Pomegranates seeds, she always managed to return to her kingdom when needed, so she was successful queen.

In such way of wisdom and grace Persephone helped many heroes with tests from gods – Psyche, Hercules (she loaned him the three headed dog Cerberus – guardian of the underworld). She accepted the hero Odysseus when she came to travel the kingdom of Hades. Persephone also hid the young Adonis from his lover –Aphrodite, when she was searching for him.

Later she also fell for his charm and wanted him to stay in the place of darkness.

She was goddess similarly to Isis and Ishtar with two sides and many faces. She was symbol of spring and of winter in the same time, of innocence and femininity, of fertility of land and emptiness, of living and dead souls. But more she was committed to the underworld and Hades. She was goddess of dead and rebirth, acceptance, devotion and purity.

Visualization of Persephone ~

(For the purpose of initiation). You will see the queen of underworld dressed in light transparent black tunic covered with silver stars and crescents. Her hair is light black, long and silky, her face is very gentle, and she has light brown- yellow eyes. She is wearing pendant with silver crescent moon on the forehead, and white poppies in hair. On her side you can see a figure of griffin – mythological animal. She has in both her hands blue circles with silver stars – pentagrams. Sometimes she is holding a pomegranate. She has sad smile and looks very fair. She can be called by the name –Star of underworld, silver star. She has special divination of Tarot (divination of Persephone).

Magical symbols of Persephone ~

Element – blue river of underworld, waterfall, hot springs

Directions – north, west

Incense – frankincense, lotus, jasmine, rose, geranium, orange

Flower – all blue flowers, forget me not, pansies, violets, lavender

Geometry form – leaf, crescent moon; oval

Crown – white poppy flowers on head, silver crescent, silver moon

Sacred sign – pentagram in circle (silver), crescent

Planets – Saturn, Neptune, Moon

Minerals – silver, clear quartz, blue quartz, kyanite, black onyx, black obsidian, black agate.  

Trees – pomegranate, willow tree, ivy

Scent – vanilla, bergamot, lily of the valley

Colors – black, silver, lavender, indigo.

Other names – Queen of underworld, Silver star, awakening goddess, bright star;

Angelic colors – indigo, violet

Earth color – red, white, silver

Attunements with Persephone ~

Elements included – underworld, blue river, springs, waters of river –potion, initiation –fish, sign of pentagram in blue circle; rain and mythical crow, Anubis – transformation; animal – griffin; pomegranate tree and fruit. Silver crescent moon initiation – going deep down. Cleansing the sub consciousness, mind. Flight of griffin. Persephone star – silver pentagram – accepting on both palms of hands and forehead. Third eye opening, crown and soul star opening. Indigo crescent sign above crystal in oval shape. 

...I hope you enjoyed my article about Persephone, feel free to share it or add your comment below! thank you. 

[ nina Lea-nura * ]

Rhiannon -I

In this article I`ll give some short points on who was Rhiannon, her legends, her appearance, magical abilities and sacred symbols. (total pages -6)

     I. Who was Rhiannon?

    She was an old Celtic goddess, connected with moon energy, earth, fertility, birds songs, magic, wind, herbs, trees, seasons. She is symbol of feminine sovereign power and abilities to defend her own freedom, to stand for her values. She has incorporated also the two aspects – of earth goddess of day (riding white horse) and ruling over Moon. She was connected with goddess Rigantona and Epona. Her name was probably derived from “rhiain” [ maiden ] and Annwon [ meaning in Welsh Otherworld ] She was named “Great Queen”, or “Queen of fairies”.

Rhiannon and Pawyl ~

One day prince Pawyl [ closely to the name Paul, Pooul ] was playing with his companions in the beautiful green grass mound of Tors, in a forest near to his castle. This mound was claimed to be magical place, full of spirits and ghosts, so people avoided to step there. It was thought, that people who stood in such place would become enchanted from fairies. That didn’t stop the prince to enjoy that place in his horse.

Suddenly Pawyl noticed from far away lovely young girl, riding on white horse and dressed in glittering golden robe. He thought this is phantom and not real, so he started chasing her. Avoiding the recommendations of his friends to not follow her, the brave man rode fast behind her, but Rhiannon was swift as the wind, so no one could catch her. Finally the mesmerized prince took the fastest horse, but still he didn’t succeed to come very close to mysterious maiden. She soon disappeared from look. The next day the restless prince returned to the same mound in search of the woman on white horse. She appeared and was fast riding her horse with speed of arrow, hardly touching the ground. But whatever efforts he made to ride faster his horse, the distance between them remained the same. Finally exhausted, the prince stopped his horse and called on Rhiannon to wait. She stopped and waited him surprisingly.

She said to him, it would have been much easier and more kind of him to just call on her, instead of chasing her horse.

She admitted her love for him, astonished and happy, the prince wanted to take her quickly to his castle. It is never so easy to marry a goddess –they had to wait one more year, before being able to be united.

One year later ~

Rhiannon appeared as before in the place of magical mound, on her white horse. Pawyl was expecting her, so he rode after her in the deep woods. The trees welcomed them, whispering with language of birds and wind. The branches of trees parted to open the way in front of him. The goddess led him to the magnificent palace of her father, surrounded by a lake. The castle was divine and was build of special silvery crystal, going high into heavens. She was not allowed at first to marry a mortal man, but she defended her willing in front of gods and her father. So she had success and finally married the prince Pawyl with lavish festivals.

Now, as she made her choice to stay with the mortal people on earth, she could never return again to her heavenly castle of gods.

Back to the earth kingdom ~

They went back as wedding couple to the palace of the prince, through the tick magical forest. People admired her for her beautiful face, mystic eyes and amazing singing. Two years then went away without Rhiannon to be able of giving birth and secure the throne with heir. On the third year she delivered a healthy baby, a son. Sadly he became also source of big sadness for the kings family.

Misfortune ~

One day all the six servants who took care of the little infant, fall asleep. When they woke up, they found the cradle empty, so they started to be afraid of hard punishment for the missing baby. The made a horrific plan to accuse the beautiful Rhiannon of hard crime against her own child. They killed a puppy and smeared some of its blood on face of sleeping goddess, scattering little bones around her bed. She was blamed of gravious sin of eating her child.

The Punishment ~

The story tells of amazing harsh punishment on the innocent Rhiannon. She had to stay seven years outside of the castle, with a heavy horse collar on her neck, and her task was to tell her story (about eaten child) to anyone who visited the castle in any time. Moreover she had the humiliation to carry the man on her own back to the castle. This was her symbolical transformation as a horse. Rhiannon endured for long years this punishment with acceptance of her fate.

Rhiannon visualization (appearance) ~

She can be visualized with dark brown waving hair and blue eyes. Dressed in white long gown with golden glittering stars on it. She has bracelet of red crystals. Her hair is decorated with red flower – rose or peony. Sometimes she is seen with golden star on her head pendant on the fore head. She is swift and has the ability to disappear and to fly. You can see her surrounded by animals – specially birds, and horses. Sometimes riding white horse.

Magical symbols (attributes) of Rhiannon ~

Element – wind, air, clouds, middle earth

Direction – west, north

Incense – sandalwood, myrrh, rose, geranium, cedar wood

Flowers – rose, rosehips, daffodils, cedar, pine (all herbs), sage

Geometry form – circle, sphere, sphere with rose

Crown – head wear with golden star (pentagram); roses, peony

Sacred sign – pentagram in a circle (golden), rose in sphere

Planets – Neptune, Saturn, Venus

Minerals – lapis lazuli, blue topaz, turquoise, blue moonstone, bloodstone

Other names – Divine Queen, queen of fairies, lady of birds. Lady of Wind

angelic color – dark blue, dark green, turquoise

earth color – garnet red, golden

Birds – hummingbirds, dove

Working with Rhiannon includes magical rituals for binding of wind, cloak of invisibility, time freezing, ability to see beyond the veil, herbal potions. Moon phase – waning, fig tree, blossoming trees, blue butterflies. 

...I hope you enjoyed my article, feel free to share it and add your comment below! thank you. 

References ~ 

~ Rhiannon - sacred wicca

~ Rhiannon -journeying to the goddess 

~ Rhiannon - crystal wind ca 

[ nina Lea-nura * ]

Morgana Le Fay -II

   Literature early ~ “Vita Merlini” ( ca.1150)  by Geoffrey of Monmouth  the books gives good description of Morgana as shape-shifter, magician, having ability to fly, and not in rage with king Arthur. She was a healer, living in a mythical place of isle growing “Apple trees” that when tasted gave the person immortality. Morgana shared the mysterious Avalon with nice other women (devas), who had also abilities of shape-shifting and animal transformations, to move the seas and winds creating storms using incantations.

Morgana appears also in romances of Chretiene de Troyes “Erec and Enide” and “Yvain”, where she is represented as benevolent healer.

Later literature give the sorcerer much darker and negative image of fatal woman, who wants to achieve her goals in all coast.

Appearance of Morgana ~

She can be visualized – as described in many poems and novels – with black waving hair, beautiful white face, soft magnetizing dark grey eyes. She has gentle silhouette, but powerful look. Dressed in black long gown or dark blue, she has a silver necklace with sign of pentagram on it, decorated in the middle by shining stone of blue Tanzanite. Her moon connection is presented by diadem (tiara) decorated with carved stones in flowers, and the magical sign of moon with crescent moons from both sides. Her skirt has imprints of silver moons and stars. She has scent of Jasmine and Lilac. In her hand she holds magical glass with potion, that is gift from here to her initiate. Her element is crystal, mineral her connection is the depths of the earth. She can be seen with blue crystal Merkaba above her head. Also holding an apple in one hand, as symbol of the fruit of Avalon and returning back to life cycle. She wears sometimes a gossamer veil covering her hair, and waving on the wind. On her shoulder, or behind her you can visualize a crow –her magical helper.

   The same as Inanna –Ishtar, Morgana has earth color –red, and heavenly color –dark pale blue. She is part of Blue goddesses (devas of the Blue ray) together with Isis-Aset, Inanna –Ishtar, Rhiannon, Persephone. Each of them rule above one element, but they share the same minerals, similar spells and direction, and belong to order of Blue Pentagram. That makes them powerful magicians, who can protect you in all levels, when asked for help. They are also strong in art of magical potions for love and affection. Their rituals include elements like – White, dark blue candle, frankincense, myrrh, apples (pomegranate), lotus flower (picture), roses, sign of pentagram in a circle.

Powerful deities they can work with are: Osiris, Anubis, Hades, Enki.

Sacred symbols of Morgana Le Fay ~

Element – dark blue crystal (tanzanite, lapis lazuli), underworld water, under earth.

Direction – west, North (water, air) 

Incense – Frankincense, Sandalwood

Flower – blue lotus, blue bells

Geometry form – Merkaba, cube

Crown – tiara with silver moon of magic with two crescent on both sides.

Sacred sign – blue pentagram in circle with silver outer circle

Planets, stars – Moon, Pluto

Minerals – Tanzanite, Lapis Lazuli

Other names – Queen of Moon, Queen of Magic, Nymph of magic, Shining Star, Queen of blue Crystal, Nimue, Lady of Avalon.

Sacred place -  Blue crystal garden (near the Blue lotus lake)

Attunements – Heart clearing, overcoming fear of judgment; against lies; 2. with blue moon –increasing magical and psychic abilities, levitation, flying dreams; 3. Prophetic dreams, protection circle, increasing willpower, reading signs of present-future events.

Elements used – blue flowers (bells), essences (sandalwood); potions

Totem animals, birds – crow, black horse, white horse

* I hope you enjoyed reading my article, feel free to share it or add your comment below! 

[ nina Lea-nura * ]

Morgana Le Fay - I

This is my article dedicated to the amazing queen of witches, deva of the Blue ray, and character from the Celtic legend of king Arthur.

Who was Morgan Le Fay?

   The links to the name of Morgan Le Fay are traced back to the old British – Celtic and Irish legends. First her features can be recognized in the face of powerful goddess of Death, darkness and destruction –Morrigan (with her totem symbol crow). She was also blended in the names of Lady of the lake and Nimue or Vivienne. In many ways she is connected with water nymphs, underworld, esoteric knowledge and magic. She was also shown as fatal woman (similar to Ishtar - Inanna), who had ability to attract lovers in her trap of sorcery.

Connections with Morrigan ~

   Goddess of fate, war and death (similar to Ishtar, Rhiannon), she was also ruling the earth and responsible for fertility. She was very powerful Triple Goddess in many Celtic myths. Her symbolic animal was crow, often seen in battle field near the dead soldiers.

Mysterious enchantress ~

   Morgana Le Fay was believed to be even historical figure, who lived in time of kind Arthur. She was great enchantress, and possessed many spiritual talents and magic power. She was known as “wise” woman (or witch), that can influence environment and things in her favor. In the story of King Arthur, Morgana appears as an evil character, daughter of Queen Igreine and King Gorlois (her first husband), she was also a half-sister of Arthur. Morgana felt hatred to her brother, visible in all legends.

According to legend by Thomas Malory (1415 – 1471), Morgana was unhappily married to King Urien. She has also many lovers, and was great temptress (she attracted Merlin with his own power).

Connection with Merlin ~

   The famous magician Merlin fell in love for Morgana, in her appearance as “Lady of the Lake” near fountain. Some stories give light and make parallel between Morgana and Lady of the lake Nimue, who kept the magical sward Excalibur in her kingdom in bottom of the lake, before giving it to king Arthur through Merlin` s magic.

Merlin was in the trap of his fatal love to Morgana (Lady of the Lake), so he didn’t hesitate to make her close student in art of magic, and entrust her great esoteric power. She was his scribe and his lover too. Morgana then used his own teachings against him, abandoned his love and closed him in a glass tower.

Affection to Lancelot ~

   The story of her strong unrequited love to hero Lancelot sounds very similar to the myth of Inannas love to Gilgamesh. Both Lancelot and Gilgamesh didn’t fall in her trap of sorcerer and fatal woman. That` s why the love of Morgana was without end, unmanifested. Morgana managed to keep Lancelot closed in prison with her magic spells power. But not for too long. After he gets ill and near to die, the sorcerer releases him, which shows the depth and purity of her feeling.

Morgana as beautiful witch ~

   Her main characteristic was her appearance as a witch possessing great magical power. She could transform herself into any animal (specially black crow, or horse). She became Queen of island Avalon, where she moved to live with other women, according to the legends. The final myth shows Morgana as one of the three ladies covered in black hoods, who took the body of the dead Arthur to the island Avalon.

Until today she plays role in witch craft pantheon and loved by many people, who are inspired by art of magic. She was symbol of high magician, enchantress and fatal woman, who will make all her sexual desires fulfilled. 

Morgana as Fairy Queen ~

   In later days, the legends of Morgana make focus on her magical powers and ability to work with natural elements. Her natural connection to earth lows, specially in island Avalon (place in border between life and death), made her famous as Fairy Queen. There are reasons for that – she was working her witch spells, herbal potions and essences with help of fairies that lived with her on Avalon. In old folklore of Britanny, special kind of fairy spirits were called “mari-morgans”. 

...I hope you enjoyed reading this article, feel free to share or add your comment below! thank you. 

[ nina Lea-nura * ]