Greek Mythology is known for its many fearsome beasts such Mantikhoras and Cyclopes. I believe that deities exist in slightly different dimensions/realms yet their power extends to where we currently reside. This is not a tale of woe, where a rape victim is punished, but the story of a mighty Goddess earning Her place among the Deathless Gods. I cannot use any Medusa image that does not have eyes, or has voids for eyes. I recommend that you work with Medusa using a pendulum or cards if youre new to divination work. She has really strong energy with the pendulum so youll definitely know when shes around. The goddess Medusa may also reveal herself in dreams or through symbols in life, such as the snake, or by sending other outcasts your way. After her death, Perseus immediately left to fight Atlas. Take the Evil Eye charm and fumigate it in the incense. Gorgons are described as winged serpentine creatures. (That said, if you are experiencing troubling symptoms, consult your doctor. The goddess Medusa may also reveal herself in dreams or through symbols in life, such as the snake, or by sending other outcasts your way. Offer Her spring flowers separate from those you used to asperge the idol as well as more incense, and sweet red church wine. All she asks is that you become the best and most powerful version of yourself. Place the coral, malachite, and bronze around it and add another layer of parsley leaf, rue, then the dirt. The flag and emblem of Sicily also features her head. If you are handling it with your hands, wear gloves. Hail the Guardian Queen!. After all, Medusa took a vow of celibacy she never wanted to be touched in the first place. She wears snake jewellery and a chiffon fishtail skirt. Her hair forms long curls that, according to Mattel, foretell the serpents that will become her hair. Moon (many, including Orpheus disciples, have seen Medusas face in the moon) Like Crocus, Hyacinth was killed in a discus game, possibly deliberately by a vengeful wind god. The mortal woman who became the Gorgon, Medusa, was cursed by Athena after being raped or seduced on the floor of one of Athenas temples by Poseidon. The two quickly fell in love and married. She was so enchanting that She caught the attention of Neptune Who raped Her in the temple of Minerva. Hear me, Gorgon Queen, come to me as I come to you, kindly and in good form. They claim that she spent most of her life in Sarpedon, which was close to Cisthene with her Gorgon sisters and also died there. In the British writer Iris Murdochs novel A Severed Head (1961), the heroine is a Medusa figure. Athena then gifts Medusa with a special weapon that frees her from the possibility of ever suffering such an assault ever again. Instead, many modern-day witches now interpret Athenas response as one from a place of understanding and concern. Cherry quartz (a redder version of rose quartz) and clear When you are done it is important to flatter the Goddess so She returns to Her guardian aspect:Empress Medusa, Lady of Snakes, Mother of the Golden Blade, I beg You to return to good form, and keep me in Your favor, as You are in mine, as Your humble servant. He was found amongst a bed of violets, for which he was named. Fumigate again with the incense then whisper into the vessel Empress Medusa, protect NN (3x) saying whatever you wrote and gently blow into it three times. Legend claims the was a giant who carried a golden sword. Strike vengeance together with her strength. Unlike other stories that claim she caught them in the throes of passion, this version says that she was upset that her priestess went against her rules. She was never raped by the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon, but His lover. In the marble statue from the temple of Artemis in Corfu Medusa embraces Her children Pegasus and Chrysaor, as well as Her lions. Nowadays, many scholars feel that this tale may have been warped over time and that we shouldnt take the female monster at face value.. Of course I have a lot more but I could write an entire book on it! Metamorphoses Book V, by Ovid - Tells the story of Medusa from Greek mythology. I ask that You be present within this living idol I make clean and pure for You! In her anger and in retaliation, Persephone (or sometimes her mother, Demeter), transformed Minthe into a mint tree. This version claims that Athena became spiteful and used her powers to turn the woman into a monster that no man would ever want. Knowing that Polydectes forced her into marriage, Perseus forced him to look at the head and turned him into stone to free his mother. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. An urn type vessel with a lid (I use either antique sugar bowls or terracotta cantarito cups that I cap off with small terracotta planter dishes which can be easily painted, legend mentions it as a bronze urn). Aphrodite caused Myrrha to fall in love with her own father. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. The two other prominent circles of the Underworld were the Elysian Fields (fields of joy) or Elysium, where heroes spent eternity, and Tartarus, an abyss for the most wicked. You may see Medusa herself or some of her common symbols in your dreams, such as snakes.Artistic representations of Medusa find their way to you. When a studio remade the film in 2010, she played a major role. Splash a small amount of church wine onto it as well as a small amount of honey. I highly recommend inviting Medusa into your practice if you find yourself in need of some of the strongest protective energies the Inferno has to offer. This means that She is not the beheaded Medusa, but restored after the event as a Great Mother akin to Kybele. Medusa, in Greek mythology, the most famous of the monster figures known as Gorgons. One of the divinities I am asked most about is Medusa. Rise to the occasion. I created this oil to honor Medusa and the feminine strength that she symbolizes. Medusa doesnt just choose anyone she selected you because you are a warrior and because she wants you to learn how to stand up for yourself and fight back in one specific way. Daphne had sworn herself to perpetual virginity and refused him. There are many herbs associated with Hecate, including mugwort, rue, hyssop, marjoram, fennel, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, wormwood, and dill. It should there come as no surprise that there are many myths and stories from Greek myth associated with these plants and flowers. It was said that anyone who looked directly at her was immediately turned to stone. Sacred Plants: Corn. Next add a layer of the basement or cave dirt, then rue, followed by a bed of parsley leaves, and place the sea sponge over this. Athena gave Perseus a shield with mirrors to deflect Medusas gaze, while Hades helped him remain invisible to her. These blood-red perennial spring flowers are named for anemos, the wind, which carries their seed. For me, this is a way of reclaiming the Gods as a valid religious cult, not just antique figures reduced to myths and stories. 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 Hope you found the article useful, please comment below! She isa guide to many women and a source of power, wisdom and creativity to those who seek her assistance. There are many stories and interpretations of the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology and later years. However, be really for some kind of intense imagery: Medusa isnt for the faint of heart! Michelangelo and Picasso are just two of the famous artists who created work based on her. Fennel features prominently in the myth of Prometheus. Over the years I have used several idols for Medusa, the first being a small Halloween decoration in the form of a resin bust. Now, with snakes for hair and a long serpentine body, what man would ever dare to look upon her? He was being led away as a distraction and potentially to his death! I have always been interested in mythology. 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. When Minerva caught them in the act, she changed Medusa into a terrifying Gorgon. 4. Reflect and meditate on what the actions and outcomes of these stories mean to you. In my experience, Medusa doesnt care too much about the social or political climates. You may choose to forego this step but I do so out of respect for Medusa, that She isnt treated as harmless, or unfrightening. Cerridwen's Myth One of the most well-known stories is that of Eriss apple, the apple of discord. 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. There are a few different myths that include Medusa in Ancient Greek culture. Turmeric. According to legend, Athena gave Herakles one of Medusas serpent locks in an urn that He used to protect the town of Tegea as it would make enemies flee in fright. Clytia was a spurned lover of Helios who revealed the relationship between Leucothoe and the sun god to Orchamus. WebRose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens, Geraniaceae) has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes wound healing. Some believe that she was a beautiful sea spirit who was transformed by Athena into a creature with snakes for hair that turned anyone that looked at her into stone. Hesiod used her in Theogony. Joseph Campbell was one historian who believed this theory. There are several versions of the Medusa myth. Some people find they benefit from using them together. However, afternoon shade is beneficial in hotter Its no surprise, then, that the Ancient Greeks had several important mythological explanations for the origin of a number of different plants and flowers! Chrysaor also came from Medusa. 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. You can also simply put I protect this house or this building or so on. Gingko. Lets not forget her most famous power: the ability to turn men to stone. Mix a bowl of spring water with some sea salt, wormwood, cedar, and rue. To make matters worse, in the works of ancient Greek artist Polygnotos, Perseus is shown cutting off Medusas head while she lay sleeping, further highlighting the absolute cowardice of this champion of the gods. 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. She will wait until you recognize the signs, so dont worry about missing these indicators. 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. While those are the two main things I look for, there are other things you can consider when finding or making a cult image for Her. Medusa is all about finding your own inner power and using it, so this reading has always made sense to me. Elizabeth Johnston released an essay in 2016 where she talked about how men used the legend as a way to disparage Hillary Clinton as she ran for President. Homer never named Medusa in the Odyssey but did talk about a monsters head that Hades could send o Persephone. This can be a really direct sign that Medusa wants to be in your life. 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. The idea of encountering her was terrifying to the likes of men, for a single glance from her wide, yellow eyes would turn one to stone in an instant. 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. This potion is consumable and can be added to teas, but it can also be used on poppets or other tools to heal, cleanse, and restore. She is not to be pitied, but adored. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. Greek poet Hesiod wrote that Medusa lived close to the Hesperides in the Western Ocean near Sarpedon. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. Seeing claims that Athena saw Medusa in her temple and instead of catching her in the midst of consensual intercourse, she found Poseidon raping her. Open now the Iron Gates of Night so I may do my work! WebHermes, Greek god, son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri. Here are my recipes:The Blood of Medusa (Left) *Toxic, This potion is not to be consumed but added to poppets or other tools for cursing. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Many neglect to realize this is a much later telling of the Medusa myth. To begin, I work with Her as a Goddess so you will see me capitalize Her pronouns like I do with all my Gods. Ask for this goddesss guidance when you need strong feminine power and the innately intuitive energy of water in your rituals. She is often used in ancient spells as a Gorgon Herself, and is mentioned interchangeably in certain charms, such as making protective amulets out of red coral which is to be inscribed with the face of Hekate or head of a Gorgon. Pindar wrote in 490 BC that she had fair cheeks. The goddess carried the womans head on her shield. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The two Gods lay with each other in soft meadows among spring flowers. You may also feel controlled in a more mental or emotional way (rather than physical) and seek your independence. Like Ambrosia, Dionysus honored Ampelos by transforming him into a grapevine so that he could live forever. 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. After the nymph Smilax was turned into a vine or bindweed, his lover Crocus appealed to the gods. 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