Pagan Portals: Blacksmith Gods - A Review

There is an endless fascination with blacksmiths.  Once, they were a necessary part of a community.  Now, they are amazing artisans giving us a glimpse of a past time. No matter when or where a blacksmith has been, they were viewed with a sense of awe and wonder.

Once the life of a blacksmith was often seen as sacred.  This book delves into the utmost position of the sacred blacksmith - the Blacksmith God. So often a book of this type focuses on deities in just a certain pantheon.  Here is a lovely little book that takes us around the world throughout many points in the past.  It's not just a dry treatise, but full of poems and stories that bring a number of these deities to life.

I found this book fascinating. I have always been drawn to different types of craftsmen gods, so I had to read this as soon as it was available.  It brings up some gods in cultures I never would have thought of & some I had never heard of.  That certainly was a big plus!  However, while some have extensive information others have very minimal.  Some only had the country/culture and name of deity.  That was a bit frustrating.

This may not be a perfect book, but it is still well-worth reading.  It is a short read, just over a hundred pages, but those pages are crammed full of knowledge.  The book is perfect for research into deities as well as a great bit of folklore.  The author clearly did a lot of work finding all of this information to bring it all together.  I would absolutely recommend this for anyone with an interest in the stories or simply deeper working with deities.

http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-blacksmith-gods

A Time to Heal

Healing…

This time of year it often seems as if everyone around us is asking for healing prayers. Healing for our bodies, our relationships, our careers, healing for anything and everything.  Most of the time a person posts a request online and they get a flurry of responses from well-intentioned individuals. After saying thanks to everyone the request usually goes to the back of the person’s mind to stay. Unless, of course, the outcome isn’t as they expected it to be. 

Healing, true healing isn't always a simple thing.  Sometimes in order to fix something the old has to be torn down a bit first.  Imagine our life as a house. Over time it will fall into disrepair.  Some things can be repaired easily enough.  Just call in an electrician, or a plumber, etc.  Maybe there are some wiring issues.  We work to keep the system maintained as best we can. Perhaps it stays in good condition for decades with just minor issues, such as a light switch occasionally not working right.  Perhaps instead there are serious problems such as frayed wiring causing fire hazards throughout your house.  Bringing in some “healing” won’t work at that point.  You have to accept that it is necessary to tear out the bad wire & replace it.

If we follow this example, then it is easy to see how the “healing” sometimes requires destruction first.  Healing and repair work aren’t always easy or a quick fix.  This is something our society seems to forget.  Changes and patience are required to truly repair something.  All else is just patchwork.  Even more important to remember, sometimes in order to truly heal we must take steps we don’t want to take.  The next time you think about asking for healing energy or prayers, think about what you are truly asking for.  After all, you just might get it.

The Divine Path, The Labyrinth

You never know where the Gods will direct your path.  Sometimes you get a hint of the future, but it's only a tantalizing glimpse of the future yet to come.You don't know when or how, only that something will be important one day.

That's where I am now.  I've known for most of my life where in the pagan path my life was meant to be, but I had no idea how I would get there.  The path has been much like a labyrinth.  At the beginning I could see the center, but since then I would get closer or farther, depending on where I was standing within the circuit. At certain points during the journey, there are waypoints - chances to make a needed change to get us where we are supposed to be. However, if we don't take that opportunity and make that choice we don't move forward.  Instead the center remains tantalizingly out of reach, yet still visible to us over the horizon.

I wrote the first part of this a couple days ago.  Today all is different.  Today I was denied for my Disability.  It's funny how one little piece of paper can affect your life so.  Once again, I am on a loop from which I can see the destination, yet it's not as close as it had seemed. Most of those around me responded with anger, disbelief, or tears.  However I had a long talk with someone who reminded me that this is simply another loop on this spiral.  She had no idea I was writing this blog either.  It's just what she was guided to say.

I have always been called to labyrinths. It's been almost an obsession.  Silly me, I never noticed that the times when they pop up in my life strongly are the times when i'm about to turn a new circuit.  Think about that for a moment.  Have you noticed anything that appears every time some major change is about to happen in your life? I bet you'll discover that it has some major symbolism for those changes.

Those of you who know me personally or who have been following know my life has undergone some major transitions over the past year.  Much has been very difficult.  However now that I realize why my personal symbol is a labyrinth I am much calmer and it makes more sense.  i can plan - in a way.  I know that i will have these long smooth periods with the occasional sudden drastic change.  Granted, that's not always so pleasant.  However I also can know that I will get glimpses of where I am meant to go.  That makes it easier.  I am fortunate enough to be able to see bits of my ideal future.  How lucky am I ?!?!

I admit, I am kinda down about the disability decision, but I know that it will work out at some point as it should be.  There is a reason for this.  You never know, maybe I simply need a bigger back-pay check so I can get my car fixed.  I don't know.  I do know that I am on track and going where I am supposed to. For now, I have to trust that I am doing as I'm supposed to and let things happen as they will.  Easier said than done, of course. I guess that makes this a good time to work on patience too!

www.facebook.com/whispersfromtheearth

Naming the Goddess - a Review

I was thrilled to get a chance to review this book early.  I had known about it because a dear friend has an essay within, but that just made the book extra special. Now that I have read it, I realize I have discovered what will be a much-valued book for my collection.  Enough so that I will be purchasing a hard copy to keep on my shelf.  Sometimes a book is great enough that a pdf file simply won't work.

Naming the Goddess is a remarkable collection of critical essays concerning modern Goddess Spirituality along with a large section of essays covering over seventy goddesses from around the world. I don't think there was a single essay I didn't enjoy. It has such a variety that it's easy to find something you are interested in, or if, like me, you like to learn about different perspectives and pantheons, then you will find plenty to catch your curiosity.

I was pleased at the vast variety of authors.  Some essays were more scholarly, while others spoke straight to your soul.  A book such as this is special in that whatever mood you are in you will find someone to match it.  And of course the best part... A book of so many writers, so many topics and so many goddesses means that no matter what you expect, you will find some hidden gem pop out of nowhere. I admit, I have taken to randomly flipping to a page to see what delight will show up.  Somewhat like divination, I have discovered that each time the essay will be relevant to my life at that time and give me some wise answer to a question I didn't necessarily know I needed to ask.  This may not be the book's purpose, but it has become an added joy for me.

There isn't much to say other than get this book! If you are a follower of the Goddess, interested in mythology, or simply want to get an idea of exactly what children of the Goddess believe, then pick up a copy for yourself. You won't regret it!

http://www.moon-books.net/books/naming-goddess