Written By Priestess Hypatia

For Coven Life

19/12/2019

Priestess of Bacchus, John Collier (taken from Wikimedia commons), 1886

In Thebes the birth place of Dionysus, the God of wine, the Maenads were born. They were known as the Priestesses who were part of the Dionysus cult and performed ecstatic dance. Roaming the mountains of Thebes, trancing and dancing in fawn skin dresses and panther throws, snake crowns and barefoot. Snakes in ancient times were used as healers.

The list of Maenads is long in history, these women that maintained the Dionysian cult with ecstatic ceremonies were distinct to the Hellenic world. A religious cult unlike no other, the women maintained a frenzied state of ecstasy. Extended periods of dancing (usually to the point of absolute and utter exhaustion) and drinking wine, the Maenads participated in orgiastic celebrations dancing naked through the forests of Thrace.

Dedicated to the God of…

Image from Wikipedia

In the Southern Hemisphere, we celebrate Lammas from 1-2 February. On the flip side of the world, the festival is celebrated on 1-2 August.

Lammas(Lah-mus) – Anglo Saxon – Festive of the loaves.
Lughnasadh (Loo-na-saw) – Irish Gaelic -This word roughly translates to Lugh’s Assembly. The god Lugh is known as the Celtic God of the Sun.
Lunasa (Loo-nah-sah) – Modern Irish – This is a more modern version of Lughnasadh.

To continue reading click on to: Lammas Recipes

Article by Hypatia

Written for Coven Life

19th March 2019

Salt has an increduble ability to absorb negative energy.

It has been used throughout different cultures and across time for this very purpose.

A salt bowl is a wonderful way to ensure a peaceful and relaxing environment.

Choose a Bowl

I love copper, it’s a great conductor. You can choose any natural material you like and even reserve that bowl purely for that purpose.

Choose a Salt 

I have chosen Black Sea salt from Crete and Murray River Sea salt from Australia. The choice of salt is endless.

Adding Herbs and Oils

You can add protective herbs and oils, I have chosen Juniper berrys both the berry and the oil,  rosemary, both the herb and the oil, peppercorns and cloves. Once again the choice is yours.

The essential oils make such a beautiful addition to the atmosphere!

Set your Intentions

March 24^th 2018

Written By Hypatia Of Alexandrea for Coven Life

I started to think back to when I first started observing the different Gods and Goddesses in their glory. Coming from a Christian religion and believing that there was only one God it was difficult for me to truly grasp the Many.

Slowly converting from the monotheistic strict religious guidelines I come to realize that the One was once Many. In other words before monotheism came along there was of course many God’s observed, especially by the very creators of the now dominant monotheistic religions.

The Gods of the Pantheons became rolled into one and most others were given the titles of angels and saints. This is evident in the Orthodox Christian religion where some Gods and Goddesses have the title of saints such as Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Artemis and the list goes on!

These Gods never…

Image care of  Wicca Daily

Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways you can celebrate Imbolc. Some people focus on the Celtic goddess Brighid, in her many aspects as a deity of fire and fertility.

Imbolc is a time of magical energy related to the feminine aspect of the goddess, of new beginnings, and of fire. It’s also a good time to focus on divination and increasing your own magical gifts and abilities.

To continue reading about how to do Imbolc Rituals