Author: Lady Beltane

I am the founder of the website, covenlife.co. I am an ordained Pagan High Priestess, coven leader of the Coven Life's Coven plus mentor to novice and adept level witches. Our Esbat, Sabbat, and Open Chats gatherings are open to all pagans no matter what tradition they may follow. I currently have two wonderful dogs that are also my familiars Cleopatra and Starbabie.

Goddess Knowledge – The Sphinx

The Sphinx is an ancient moon goddess, the goddess of birth and death. Part animal, part human, she remains connected to her deep instinctual nature. Most stories empathize her aspect as a death goddess who carries the dead to the underworld. Often portrayed as a lion, she shares in the solar and regal symbolism of that animal. Her role as an oracular deity, given to enigma and riddles, points to her as the keeper of the great mystery. A symbol of strength, wisdom, and royal power, she reminds us that nothing comes to creation without some destruction and that sometimes to solve a mystery we must enter the darkness. This image reminds us that there is beauty even in the heart of that which terrifies.

More Information on The Sphinx Goddess

Images of Goddess The Sphinx

Advertisements

Update of Life in The Craft Newsletter

Lady Beltane’s computer ate a half-finished document that was supposed to be the FREE sample issue of Life in The Craft Newsletter the bi-monthly publication written by pagans for pagans. Now she needs to redo the part that went somewhere in cyberland and to hopefully get it finished off so we can have it in your inbox on March 1 or 2, 2019. If you are a Coven Life student you will automatically be sent a copy. If you are not a student but want a copy please send an email with your e-address in the body of the email to LifeinTheCraft@outlook.com. The Life in The Craft Newsletter will be in a PDF Format that you can download to your computer and then print off whatever pages you want or the entire thing. The issue coming out the beginning of March 2019 is the only free issue we will be offering. The subscription rates are $4.00 USD per bi-monthly issue or you can choose to pay $20.00 for 6 bi-monthly issues per year (which means you pay for 5 issues and get the 6th issue free). Every bi-monthly issue will contain information and a simple ritual for whichever Sabbats will fall during those two months for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, a couple of spells, and informative, interesting articles covering many traditions of Paganism, a page with advertisements for other pagan sites and information (we hope). In different issues, articles, spells, recipes, book reviews of reference books and fictional books with that portray witches in a positive way, poems, articles, maybe a word search or crossword puzzle was written not by just Lady Abyss and Lady Beltane but by guest authors and scribers to the newsletter.

Again if you want a copy of the FREE sample issue of Life in The Craft Newsletter emailed to you please write us at LifeinTheCraft@outlook.com be sure to include your email address in the body of the email. Thank you

Happy Valentine’s Day

A Call of Love

This is a love spell using only words and your own sincere intentions. Face to the west (the direction associated with love and emotions) and raise your hands to the air. Repeat the following, out loud if possible.

I call on Aphrodite, on Isis, on Freya
Hear the sound of my own heart
Hear my call.

I ask to be blessed with love,
That my heart’s partner be found
I ask to be blessed with love,
As my magick spirals round.

Thank you great Goddesses,
I welcome your assistance
In my search for love.

After speaking the spell, concentrate on the outcome you are hoping for, and give your energy to your purpose.

From Word Spells

Goddess Knowledge – Eagle Woman

Despite the fact that the life-giving and death-wielding Bird Goddess is one of the oldest representations of the goddess, eagles have usually been linked with the masculine, with a few exceptions (the Sphinx of Egypt had the wings of an eagle, and the Aztec goddess Cihuacoatl was also called Eagle Woman). This Eagle Woman shows a new marriage of the feminine and the eagle. SHe represents all an eagle stands for: spirit, valor, majesty, renewal, accuracy of sight, spiritual aim, and the ability to soar to the heights. She also holds in her hands a vessel, the traditional symbol for the feminine, for that which receives, contains, and nourishes. Here both sets of values are joined, emblematic of a different combinations of strengths that are part of women-born.

Eagle Woman is a joyful affirmation of our ability to break out of millennia-old stereotypes and find new definition the embraces our entire continuum of being alive. She teaches the women can express qualities of the eagle while continuing to contain and nurture.

For more information about the Goddess Eagle Woman please click on this link: Informaton about Eagle Woman

To see images of Eagle WOmen please click on this link: Images of Eagle Woman

Open Chat – All Are Welcome to Join Us

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time

IN THE COVEN LIFE CHAT RUOM

Many different topics are discussed about The Craft or whenever anyone wants to talk about with a few exceptions.

PLEASE READ THE CURTSEY GUIDELINES FOR ALL GATHERINGS 

ON OUR HOMEPAGE IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY GATHERINGS WITH US BEFORE. THANK YOU

A Tought for Today

Actually here are a couple of this to think that I felt go together.

Always remember the Threefold Law and the Witches Rede then your magick will work for the good. Even if you get so mad at someone you think a hex or a curse is what you should do there is a way to take care of problems without being concerned on what the backlash to yourself might be.’

Blessed be dear ones.

Goddess Knowledge – Pele

Pele is the fiery Hawaiian volcano goddess. The daughter of the earth goddess Haimea, Pele came to Hawaii on a boat. Killed in a fight with her sister, the ocean, sho took refuge in the glowing cauldron of Mount Kilauea (this is the volcano that had the major eruption in July 2018 – a link will be below) where she receives the souls of the dead and regenerates them with fire. In a tempestuous relationship with Kamapua`a the ferocious pig god,  she is portrayed as a jealous goddess, her rages manifesting as volcanic eruptions. Revered by Hawaiians even today, she carries the force of the volcano, with its molten lava flow, which even in destrud=ction creates new land. Pele stands for the molten, fierce aspect of life that is unable to do anything halfway. She reminds us that even in the midst of fiery eruption there s creation and new life.

More Information About Pele

Images Of Pele

More Information on Pele’s Home – Mount Kilauea, Hawaii

A Thought for Today

Many of you know about the recent shut down of the USA Government, part of that shut down included the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since only parts of the USA government have been recalled to work now it is about for 6 weeks we gain face the truth that more Americans can get very ill possibly fatally with the FDA only concentrating it’s few workers in what is considered by the agency as high risk. So while this cartoon may give you a chuckle it is also here to remind you our voices speaking as one to get the government that is supposed to be for the people back on the right track again. Remember to write to your districts congressperson and your state senators demanding the work for all the people in their district and state no matter whether the person voted for them or not is a babe in arms or a person nearing the end of this lifetime. It is time these officials start taking care of our citizens instead of those half-way across the world. Do not get me wrong I believe in helping those that need it in other parts of the world too but remember the old saying, “Charity begins at home.” In this case “home” is the United States of America,

Also, write to your state’s and county elected officials that have the ability to change and/or modify laws. No one in the United States should ever go to bed hungry or without a warm and at least semi-comfortable to lay their head at night, to be able to shelter from bad weather (snow storms, extremely cold or hot temperatures) thunderstorms, etc).

One person’s letter can make a teeny difference but thousands of letters can and should make a big difference in how our elected officials run our country and states. Let our voices be heard from, Alaska, Hawaii, and all 48 contiguous states, as one for the betterment of the country we live in and the people who need help to build or re-build a better life. Are we not the “land of opportunity?”

Imbolc/Lammas GAthering Hosted by Coven Life’s Coven Saturday, February 2, 2019

Thess Sabbats were written and being led by – Imbolc our coven’s almost adept Garie. Lammas by our coven’s Priestess Hypatia. Imbolc represents the coming of spring not too far away and love of all kinds from person to person in the Northern Hemisphere. Lammas is the first harvest and the coming of the fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

WHEN:

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Social Hour 6:00 to 6:59 PM CT

Circle cast at 7:00 PM CT

Please do not enter chat room once the circle has been cast as this will release the energy built up for the chants and possibly let something negative enter the sacred space. Thank you.

WHERE:

Coven Life’s Chatroom

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Please scroll down to the hemisphere you live in for the list of things you need for that hemisphere’s ritual. Thank you.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE – RITUAL FOR THE SABBAT IMBOLC: IN HONOR OF THE GODDESS BRIGHID AND GOD CUPID

 

EVERYONE: Set up your altar before the ritual starts. Placing an object represents each of the elements so they form a pentagram. In the upper right-hand point of the pentagram – Air: Dream catcher, feather, incense, lower right-hand point Fire: A symbol of the Sun, red or orange candle, a picture of a fire. lower left-hand point Earth: gnome, a bowl of salt or dirt, upper right-hand point Water: Seashell, a bowl of water, any type of sea creature, the top point Spirit: Angel Statue or whatever represents the element of Spirit to you.

 

Goddess: Goddess candle will be on the right side of altar decorate in colors of Silver, White, and Yellow – you can use markers to color the candle. You can also use a picture or statue of the Goddess Brighid

 

Gods: Gods candle will be on left side of altar decorate it in the colors of yellow, red, green – again you can use markers to decorate the candle. Or a picture or statue of the God Cupid

 

GARIE: I walk this circle three times asking that all who are in it be kept safe from harm and our magickal workings bring harm to know outside our circle.

 

 

EVERYONE: Invoke the object for the each Element at the Cardinal points:

Starting with the Element of Air/ East and say, – We call upon the Element of Air/East, bring us mental clarity as I cast my Magick Circle

 

Next turn South towards the Element Fire, and say, – We call upon the Element Fire bring the light and heat to your transformative bring your stability, and residence to my Magick Circle.

 

Next turn to the West as the Element of Water and say – We call upon the Element of Water to bring us your fluidity and compassion as I cast my Magick Circle.

 

Next turning North the direction Earth say, – We call upon the Element Earth, to bring forth growth and abundance as I cast my Magick Circle

 

Next face you altar and call upon Spirit say – We call upon Spirit to let us embrace the power of the other elements

 

While still facing your altar say – (Light the Goddess candle or touch picture or statue of the Goddess) Blessed the beautiful Goddess Brighid, of healers, smiths, and poets. I call upon you to enter our Magical circle on the Sabbat Imbolic. When the days of Winter are ending, and we can see light ahead. Knowing it almost a time for Spring.

 

(Light the God candle or touch the picture or statue of the God) Bless the handsome God the god of love, lovers and fertility.

 

Mediate for 2 minutes letting the power of the Goddess, God, and Elements rise.

 

Holding your candle or picture or staute for Brighid – Chant three times;

“Goddess Brighid please bless this home we dwell

Every fire side, every wall and door

Bless each heart that beats under this roof

Bless every hand that toils to bring you joy

Bless every foot that walks through its portals

May Brigid bless this home that shelters you”

(Set the candle or other object representing the Goddess down)

 

Holding you candle or picture or statue of Cupid – Chant three times

“God Cupid please bless my family and beloved

Keeping us close in touch no matter how far away from each other we dwell

Let our homes be filled with happiness and love all the yearlong.

Let us not forget those we love who dwell in the Summerlands.”

(Set the candle or object representing the God down)

 

Have a snack of some of your family’s favorite foods in honor of the Sabbat Imbolc after the ritual has ended.. (For dinner I will be having homemade potato gravy, cornbread, and banana pudding, and milk to drink). Hold hands with family members and/or friends that are with you and give our blessings to the bountiful of food that we have. Be sure you leave a bite and sip of everything to offer up as thanks to the God and Goddess for their power and presence in this evening’s ritual.

 

Southern Hemisphere- Lammas

 

Setting up you alter ready for the feast

 

Basket of grain heads

Fruits and seeds of choice

Corn dolly if you choose

1 X orange candle

Bread and cider to feast

 

Lammas in the S.H-

 

As the day marking the first harvest of early grain, this is a good time to bake your own bread. The loaf that is broken and shared in the name of the Goddess.

This is a time of great change that needs to take place in one’s life.

The Great God gives his energy to the crops to ensure life, while the Great Goddess prepares to enter Her Crone aspect, the Great God slowly loses his strength and it’s a time for the days to grow shorter.

If you are in the Southern Hemisphere you may want to decorate your alter with grains and wheat, husks and freshly baked breads, corn dollies and fruit.

 

Lammas in the S.H-

  • Now is the time to light your orange candle

Take a handful of grain and face the East, the land of the rising Sun God.

And Say

Now let us honour the Goddess in all of her fullness. Because of her nurturing we are blessed with the fruitfulness and the Divine Gods energy wanes. As the mother of all nature, we love and adore her with fullest honour and are in reverence that she chooses to share her power of beneficence.

 

Now:

Rub the grains in your hands and allow them to fall on the ground or on your alter cloth.

Take a piece of fruit, taste it and appreciate and saviour its flavour.

And Say:

“As the energies of the Goddess become ours, we are one with the fruits of the harvest. Hail Great and Divine Goddess of the Moon, Great Mother of all creation, and Hail to the Sun Lord and light our path with your pure light of goodness. May all your harvests be bountiful.”

 

Everyone-

Feast on the fruit and seeds.

 

2 Minute Meditation

Spend some time meditating on the sense of community bought about in the sharing of the fruits of the land.

Think about the bounty that fills your life. What are you getting ready to harvest? Have you taken time over the summer to enjoy the fruits of your labour? How are you preparing to shift into the darkness of the coming months?

 

FAREWELL

 

Lammas in the S.H-

Now say-

“Brighid, Goddess of Healing, Goddess of Smith craft, Goddess of Inspiration, I thank You for Your presence and Your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

“Ancestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

“Spirits of the land, spirits of this place, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

At the end of the ceremony please feel free to feast on your cider and bread.

After the ceremony:

If you wish to burn your candle in safety please do so, or snuff out and light over the next few days enjoying this transition of seasons.

Continue to feast on the bounties that have been gifted by the Great Mother and Father, and finally please dispose of anything sacred or not finished in an appropriate way, with a blessing and back to the great Mother with respect. Honour her with the greatest respect and show your gratitude! The Great Goddess is here for everyone!

GARIE: Thank your beautiful Goddess Brighid for bringing your protection, healing, and wisdom in this Magickal circle.Say, You are free to go.

 

Thank you handsome God Cupid for bringing your protection, healing, and wisdom in this Magickal circle.Say, You are free to go..

 

The Element Air thank you for bringing your Magickal energies into the circle, You may leave,

.

The Element Fire thank you for bringing your Magickal energies into the circle. You may leave.         .

 

The Element of Water thank you for bringing your energies into the circle. You may leave

 

The Element Earth for bringing your energies into the circle. You may leave.

 

Thank you Element of Spirit thank you for bring your Magickal energies into the circle. You nay leave.

 

The circle is open, but not broken, until we meet again