Goddess of the Day – The Moirae

Goddess of the Day – The Moirae

 
The Moirae, also known as the Fates
“O Fates of Life, I ask your aid.
To clear my path and set me free.”
(Prayer to the Fates)
 

The Greek Goddess of Fate is a daughter of Nyx, Goddess of the Night. In Her singular form, the Goddess of Fate is called Moira; and in Her triple form She becomes three sisters known as the Moirae. The Moirae are: Klotho the Spinner, who spins the thread of a person’s life; Lachesis the Measurer, who decides how much time is to be allowed each person, and Atropos the Cutter, who cuts the thread when you are supposed to die. The name ‘Moira’ actually means ‘part and in fact, the triple form of the Fates mimics the triple moon phases and the three phases of life – maiden, mother and crone. Moira is known to the Romans as Fortuna, to the Scandinavians as Norns, to the Anglo-Saxons as Wyrd, and to the Celts as Morrigan. During the middle ages, the Fates became known as the Parcae.

As the spinner of Fate, Moira spins out the days of our lives as yarn and weaves it into a tapestry. The length of the yarn – hence your life span – is decided solely by the Goddess of Fate. All the Gods are subject to the whims of the Fates as are mortal man. Because of this, even though the other Gods are almighty, and supposedly immortal, even Hera has reason to fear Moira. Moira’s function is to see that the natural order of things is respected and She possesses the gift of prophecy – Her priests and priestesses are always oracles or soothsayers (seers of the future). Moira is often accompanied by the Keres (Dogs of Hades), who are three beings with sharp teeth and who are robed in red. In ancient times, the Fates were honored by sacrifices of honey and flowers.

Moira is associated with December’s full moon – which is often called the Cold Moon or the Wolf Moon. The colors of Moira are red, black and white.

January’s Full Moon – The Cold Moon

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January’s Full Moon – The Cold Moon

In January, the nights are long and dark, and many of us are trying to stay warm under a blanket of snow as the Cold Moon approaches (in some cultures, the Cold Moon is the name given to December’s moon, instead). Some of the native tribes of North America called this time the Wolf Moon, because this was when the wolves were howling, hungry, outside lodges where people stayed warm within. Other groups referred to it as the Snow Moon, for obvious reasons.

This time of year, we’re all feeling a bit slow and “off” as our bodies adjust to chillier temperatures. It’s easy to just lie on the couch watching Netflix and eating comfort food when it’s cold and gloomy outside, and making any kind of magical effort can seem like a real challenge right now.

Correspondences:
Colors: Black and white, silver
Gemstones: Hematite
Trees: Birch, Hazel
Gods: Inanna, Freyja
Herbs: Thistle, nuts and seeds, marjoram
Element: Air

Cold Moon Magic
This is a good time to work on magic related to protection, both physical and spiritual. Use this time to develop your inner self, and advance spiritually, becoming closer to the higher aspects of your deities.

Take the time in your busy schedule to meditate and think about what it is you really want out of life, and whether you’re showing people your true self.

January is also a great time to work on full moon magic – after all, the nights are long and dark, and in some areas the moon itself is the only source of light. Put aside your lethargy, and focus some energy on developing your intuition and wisdom.

Finally, for many people, winter is a season of simplification. Set aside everything you don’t need, and try a minimalist approach instead. On a mundane level, try doing a thorough cleaning of your physical space – get rid of the clutter. On a spiritual and emotional level, try to do the same thing – teach your mind to let go of the things that are creating excess baggage for your spirit and soul.

 

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Noteable Days In January

GOTHIC RED WOMAN BY FABRYKING61

January 2016

⦁ 1: Birthday of folklorist Sir James Frazier, 1854
⦁ 13: Last of Austria’s witchcraft laws repealed in 1787
⦁ 19: Birthday of  Dorothy Clutterbuck
⦁ 20: Celtic Tree Month of Birch ends
⦁ 21: Celtic Tree Month of Rowan begins
⦁ 23: Full moon — Cold Moon at 8:46 p.m.
⦁ 24: Sementivae
⦁ 25: Birthday of poet Robert Burns, 1759
⦁ 26: Up Helly Aa celebration, Shetland Islands, Scotland
⦁ 30: Birthday of Z Budapest, founder of Dianic Wicca
⦁ 30 – Feb. 2: Roman celebration of Februalia

 

Author

Article published on & owned by About.com

Wolf Moon (January)

Wolf Moon (January)

 

Wolf Moon (January)Also known as: Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon, Disting Moon, Moon of Little Winter
Nature Spirits: gnomes, brownies
Herbs: marjoram, holy thistle, nuts, cones
Colors: brilliant white, blue-violet, black
Flowers: snowdrop, crocus
Scents: musk, mimosa
Stones: garnet, onyx, jet, chrysoprase
Trees: birch
Animals: fox, coyote
Birds: pheasant, blue jay
Deities: Freyja, Inanna, Sarasvati, Hera, Ch’ang-O, Sinn
Power Flow: sluggish, below the surface; beginning and conceiving. Protection, reversing spells. Conserving energy by working on personal problems that involve no one else. Getting your various bodies to work smoothly together for the same goals.