Tag Archives: Goddess

On the Goddess Babalon

01 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in Babalon, Crimson Craft, Magic, occultism, Sex Magic

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I’m thrilled to share with you that I’ve just signed a new book contract… an introduction to the Goddess Babalon!

And yes, this is the Babalon my first two singles – “Red Goddess, Come“, and “Her Body, The Temple“ were written in honour and praise of!

Pagan Portals: Babalon

Goddess of life, love, lust, liberty, & death

Due out 2026 with Moon Books publishing.

If you haven’t heard of Babalon (the Goddess, not the city “Babylon”) then here’s the short version: Babalon is a modern goddess with ancient roots, and could be best summarised as an earthy goddess of life, death, love, lust, and everything in between.

She embodies total, unconditional, self-acceptance, and is a powerful ally in reclaiming your personal power, pleasure, and freedom. For many she is a symbol of feminine empowerment and liberation, but she goes beyond that, encompassing all genders as she encompasses all of life, and even being the moment of dissolution-creation that is the gateway between potential and manifestation.

Creatrix, seductrix, initiatrix.

Babalon found her birth (or rebirth) as we know her today within the occult religion/philosophy of Thelema, founded by Aleister Crowley in 1904 – in which learning your True (Divine) Will and striving to live it is key – and through ritualists and devotees inspired by her vibrant, challenging appearance within, but, as you can see, she has much to offer people outside of Thelema as well. (To my Thelemite friends, please excuse the simplification!)

Perhaps you’ve met her in her role as goddess of pleasure through my book, Crimson Craft, (or in my magical poetry in Twisted) perhaps you’ve caught glimpses of her in occult spaces as a femme fatale figure, or as a goddess that holds space for feminine rage in modern writings about her.

Perhaps you’ve been put off by the hypersexualised imagery that so often gets associated with her – she was, after all, presented as a stereotypical model of women’s sexual liberation, with titles such as Holy Harlot. Or perhaps you’ve heard her whispers of queer understanding and felt that there is something behind the sensationalism in the “Woman Girt with a Sword”.

Babalon is all of these things, and more.

The hypersexualised, free-loving, femme fatale, and the unconditional love. The Earth of the womb and the tomb. The queer space of the othered, the reclaimed rage, the sweet touch under the tough personae.

And this is why I’m writing about Babalon as a pagan and an occultist, as a queer woman and a sensual witch. I first met her over 15 years ago and about 10 years ago began to work with her in earnest. Most people I meet seem to feel like you must be promiscuous, masochistic, or hedonistic to connect with her, but that isn’t true.

You can be, of course.

Babalon calls you to be those things if they are true to you. And she calls you to not be if they are not.

Babalon asks one thing: that you live your life as your full self.

And I can’t wait to introduce you!

Meet Babalon

In celebration of the new book contract I’m offering a live class, free and online, on 16th June. “Introduction to Babalon” – will be a talk on the basics of Babalon as I understand her, with a magical mini-ritual to connect with her magic, plus a special offer on an upcoming adventure with Babalonโ€ฆ

Sign Up Here to Meet Babalon

As always, there will be a replay, but I always make time after the recording for those who do come live to ask questions and share… so pop it in your calendar now and make sure you’re signed up to get the Zoom and replay link here.

Do you know Babalon? Share in the comments what she means to you, I’d love to hear.

Is she new to you? What does the description above make you feel?

Come and dance with the Scarlet Goddess.

She’s never far away.

Sign up here for the Recording

Want to go deeper?

Red Button labelled: Babalon Book Club & Circle

Join the Babalon Circles (& Book Club) for:

  • A live circle on Zoom each month to explore ritual and practices to meet and build a relationship with the goddess Babalon and her lineage.
  • PLUS an asynchronous Book Club in the forum to read Pagan Portals: Babalon before release!
  • and a forum to get direct magical support from Halo and your peers in this work!
Step into the Circle ~ Only ยฃ15 a month

Covens, Belonging, and The Crimson Coven

05 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by in Crimson Craft, Following Delight, Magic, Sex Magic, witchcraft

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Join the Coven Button - embodied magic, divine love, and sacred sexuality. Live classes for red witches and open hearts.

Growing up I always loved the idea of a coven, a space to learn and weave magic, to celebrate and heal, a space of community and immersion in enchantment.

I think the biggest thing that called me about it though was a desire for belonging.

A circle in which I could both explore magic with others, and be accepted, to come home to the sacred nature of life together.

Over time I realised I needed to feel at home in my body first, to find a sense of safety that would let me relax into the divine and tap into the witch-power within, and this fed into my crimson craft work.

But more, this is my dream for the Crimson Coven.

Offered as a training space, but, more that that, a magical circle in which you can experience the divine, your power, a space to belong in all of your parts.

(This is why I’m offering a free talk on kink and magic on 9th September in TEA – one part of ourselves that is often excluded is our desire and it’s role in any spiritual path, โ€‹RSVP for Kinky Magic hereโ€‹.)

This is a big part of why I want to invite you into the Crimson Coven as a member, rather than focussing on stand-alone courses.

Can you imagine the deep healing and magic possible when you find a sense of belonging?

Can you dream of what it would be like to gently uncover your heart’s desire, to find safety in your body, to feel loved by the gods?

Will you gather your courage to step into a Crimson Coven and be all that you are?

Come Home to the Crimson Coven.

Join the Crimson Coven

Doors Open for The Crimson Coven

The Crimson Coven Membership is now open! Within the academy schools of magic are slowly blossoming, and the first is the Crimson Coven (not to be confused with the Collective, which has now merged with the main space and remains free). You can sign up to the courses as stand-alone offerings, but I love making space for people to really explore the topics at hand.

In the Crimson Coven you’ll learn tools and concepts for your own embodied magic, and experience the energy of divine eros to help you tap into your power. You’ll work on creating deeper relationships with the deities of love and passion, and discover their support.

Included in your Crimson Coven Membership is:

  • a live, experiential, class every month (starting with the elements of eros series),
  • access to the pre-recorded course Deities of Love,
  • heart-centred meditations,
  • a growing library of pre-recorded crimson classes…

This is also where I’ll be sharing previews of my work-in-progress show Blood & Roses, and offering the Rope for Ritual and Magic classes in the New Year.

You can sign up for just ยฃ49 a month, or get discounts for a quarterly or annual membership.

Join the Coven Here

(PS: There are a number of scholarships available – get in touch if you need to apply for one.)

Join the Crimson Coven

Included in the Crimson Coven…

Button - Elements of Eros with Halo Quin. Tune into your sensual nature, rediscover your sacred body, and unlock your embodied magic.

My debut single: Red Goddess, Come

27 Tuesday Jun 2023

Posted by in Crimson Craft, Following Delight, Magic, Music

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I’m so thrilled to be able to announce my debut single!!! It’s been sent out to distributors, the release date is set, the art is made… all there is to do now is tell EVERYONE so that people can listen! This song was crafted in ritual, written with love, and based on the Crimson Craft invocation to the Divine Lovers, used to hold space for our work in the Crimson Coven with embodied magic, divine love, and sacred sexuality… (Discover more about Crimson Craft here.)

OUT 1ST AUGUST 2023!

My debut single, Red Goddess, Come, is a hypnotic invocation to the occult Goddess of passion and pain, Babalon, and the Goddesses of Love who share Her lineage, inviting you into the temple of your heart with bone-deep beats and sensual chanting. Calling you home to where Love and Desire become magic.

Sign up here to get your invite to the launch party tomorrow!

Launch Party and Blessing Ritual – 1st August 2023

A blessing ritual and launch party for a magical, musical, project, on the Full Moon! Come along, celebrate the launch of my debut single, and then I’ll lead us in a Crimson Craft blessing ritual for both the Blood & Roses album/show and your own life filled with pleasure, play, and love… starting in the hour of Venus!

If you’d like to participate in the ritual bring a drink you enjoy (red is good, but anything is fine), a red (or white) candle if you can, and something to offer to the Red Goddess – rose petals or incense are great, or have somewhere to pour some of your drink to share with Her.

In this party we will celebrate love, pleasure, and the Red Goddess, asking for Her blessings on this project, and on your lives too – if you so desire.

I hope you’ll come to celebrate with me on 1st August 2023!

Have you ever turned up your favourite song and felt its pulse in your bones, your heart? Felt that vibration that tells you “you are here, you are alive, you are part of this moment, this song”?

Felt that bass line anchoring you in your body, even as the melody lifts your spirit and your mood?

Drum beats have always carried us into the otherworld by speaking to the part of us that is manifest, physical, flesh. The ritual drum calls to the bones of you to dance… To let your spirit fly into possibility.

Today, we have sounds at our fingertips beyond the skin of the drum… And still they play the beat of magic.

Red Goddess, Come is my offering to you of beats to feel in the bones of your spirit, calling you into the temple of sensual magic. Calling you home to yourself.

And calling to the Goddesses of the Crimson Craft, the ones who hold the lineage of Inanna, Aphrodite, Freya… To bless the bodies that give you the gift of sensual pleasure. This pleasure which opens the door to the magic of the red witch.

Let this music enchant you back into your body, back into your self.

Let it reintroduce you to the wisdom of being present in your flesh, the intuition of your body.

Let it open your heart to the blessings of Babalon and the lineage she carries.

Listen now, and come home to love.

Launch party tomorrow: Red Goddess, Come

In other news, you can find the replay of the Summer Solstice ritual here for a taste of the work we do in the Crimson Coven, and the next workshop is magic with water, love, and selkies on Wednesday…

Find out more about upcoming workshops

Red Goddess, Come is the first in a series of songs inspired by a Thelemic Mass of Babalon, working with the magic of the Crimson Craft – embodied witchcraft rooted in Divine Love and sacred sensuality. Find out more about the project, Blood and Roses, here.

Banner: Re-enchant your life - Magic & Witchcraft - Learn real magic, explore Red Witchcraft, and dance with the old gods... Click here.

Crimson Chat – Aphrodite with Irisanya Moon

09 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in Crimson Craft, Magic, Reflections

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On Monday 29th May ’23, at 10:30am Pacific / 6:30pm BST (UK time) Irisanya Moon (she/they) will be joining me in the Crimson Coven Collective Zoom Room for a deep dive into the waters of love… discussing Aphrodite, life as a love spell, and the goddess as both inspiration and powerful initiator. I’m really looking forward to this conversation as Irisanya is a fellow Moon Books author and Reclaiming teacher… but we’ve never actually had a proper conversation… and what better topic to start with than the goddess of love Herself?

You can watch the livestream directly in YouTube even if you’re not a member, or perhaps you might consider joining us… read on for more!

Find the Livestream here – subscribe to be notified when we go live

Life is a Love Spell: Aphrodite as Inspiration and Initiator

Aphrodite is a misunderstood deity, often limited to the role of a seductress or the most beautiful of beings. But Love has always been wider than the ocean, with more waves and movement than is comfortable: challenging and desperate, an initiation of surrender.  

Irisanya Moon (she/they) talks with Halo Quin (they/she) about her popular book, “Aphrodite: Encountering the Goddess of Love & Beauty & Initiation,” as well as about how initiations into the mysteries of love may not be wanted, but they are necessary. They are vital for reclaiming and restoring our lifeforce while nourishing the deepest parts of ourselves to fuel activism and the challenges of being a human in this world.ย 

About Irisanya Moon:

Irisanya (she/they) is an author, Witch, priestess, international teacher, and initiate in the Reclaiming tradition. She is a priestess of Aphrodite who isย passionate about the idea that life is and we are a love spell, a dance of desire and connection, moving in and out of the heart, always returning to love. Irisanya seeks toย cultivate spaces ofย self-care/devotion, divine relationship (whatever that means to you), and community service as part of her heart magick and activism.

Find Irisanya’s website here, follow her on substack, and find upcoming classes and recent posts on bio site here.

Irisanya is also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Oh, and I’ve reviewed two of Irisanya’s other books here: “Reclaiming Witchcraft” and “Honoring the Wild”.

Find the Facebook Event here
Red background - Crimaon Coven - Divine Love, Sacred sexuality, and embodied sensual magic...

And in case you’re new here…

The Crimson Coven is our private group for exploring divine love, sacred sexuality, and embodied magic through a pagan lens. Each week there are prompts and a livestream on a related topic, usually including a meditation to support your connection to the divine within and without.

Each month or so I host a guest speaker for a Crimson Chat… and members of the Collective get to hang out in the Zoom room after the livestream and chat off the record with our guests.

Join us Here
Decorative Image with details as above for Crimson Coven Chat with Irisanya Moon

PS: I also run monthly workshops, and regular crimson craft retreats… join my mailing list to hear about upcoming offerings!

Join my mailing list for updates & a free gift
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Announcing the Summer of loveliness

13 Thursday Apr 2023

Posted by in Crimson Craft, Events, Following Delight, Magic, Storytelling, Witchcraft 101

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Yesterday, storms rocked the town. Today, the sun is warming the land. Spring is definitely here, which means summer is just around the corner and I can’t wait! I’ve got a bunch of workshops and events lined up for you, including a workshop this Sunday, weekly livestreams in the Crimson Coven collective FB group, storytelling, rituals, and even a retreat or two already lined up.

Your Body is Your Temple (workshop)

Workshop Button: Your Body is your Temple - Embodying the Divine You

Embody the Divinity You Are

Join Halo on the 16th April, at 7pm, for a Crimson Craft workshop, where you will explore your body as the Temple to the Divinity you are, your Divine nature, and the Desire that is divine love seeking expression in your life.

In this workshop you will:

~ experience your body as a temple, paving the way for a deeper sense of safety in yourself.

~ tune into your desire as the holy fire of divine love, stepping into acceptance that allows for your heart’s desire to manifest in your life

~ explore ways to feel divinely embodied, even when it feels like your body has let you down, leading towards a greater connection between your body and spirit and a deeper capacity for love and pleasure.

Register for 16th April here.

Beltane Retreat: Untame your Heart with Blodeuwedd

30th April – 6-9pm (UK time)

A Beltane intensive with Blodeuwedd, Goddess of the Flowers, remembering what it means to be untamed and in love with life.

In this retreat working with the rising magic of Beltane, as spring begins to blossom in the Northern hemisphere, we will call on (and be called on by) the goddess of the flowers, Blodeuwedd, to support us in stepping into our desire and manifesting our dream lives.

30th April 2023, 6-9pm (UK time)

You were made for pleasure, for play, for love.

Are you ready to say yes to something wonderful?

Find out more about the Beltane Retreat here.

Retreat: Untame your heart with Blodeuwedd this Beltane - 30th April 2023, 6-9pm BST

And more!

Cream Flyer with text: Summer 2023 with Halo Quin 1. Your Body is a Temple. A Crimson Craft Workshop - online - 13th April 2. Beltane Ritual. A ritual at Star Club - Bristol - 22nd April 3. "Wild, Wise, or Wicked? Meeting Welsh divinities". A talk for Totnes Moot - online - 26th April 4. Beltane: Untame Your Heart with Blodeuwedd. A Crimson Craft Retreat - online - 30th April 5. The Soul Doctor - a storytelling walkabout at Portmerion's Steampunk Coronation Weekend - 6th-7th May 6. Land, Sea, & Sky and Magic of the Bard. Workshops at ๏ปฟDruid Camp - Pembrokeshire - 26-30th July. 7. "Thereby Hangs a Tale" a Show at ๏ปฟWillow Globe - Powys - 16th September. 8. Land, Sea, & Sky and Tales After Dark. Workshop & storytelling at Wylde Spirit Camp - Stonehenge - 22-24th September. 9. And weekly events in the Crimson Coven Collective!
  • Crimson Craft Workshop: Your Body is a Temple โ€“ Embody the Divine โ€“ Online, Sunday 16th April โ€™23 (Register for โ€œYour Body is a Templeโ€ here!)
  • Ritual: Star Club Beltane Ritual โ€“ Bedminster, 22nd April โ€™23 (Details and booking here)
  • Talk: โ€œWild, Wise, or Wicked? Meeting Welsh Divinitiesโ€ โ€“ an online talk hosted by Totnes Moot โ€“ 26th April โ€™23 (Totnes Moot event page here)
  • Crimson Craft Beltane Retreat: Untame your Heart with Blodeuwedd โ€“ online, Sunday 30th April โ€™23 (Register for the Beltane Retreat here!)
  • Workshop: Land Sea and Sky โ€“ the World of Ceridwen โ€“ at Druid Camp in Pembrokeshire โ€“ 26th โ€“ 30th July โ€™23 (book your Druid Camp tickets here.)
  • Workshop: The Magic of the Bard โ€“ in the Footsteps of Taliesin โ€“ at Druid Camp in Pembrokeshire โ€“ 26th โ€“ 30th July โ€™23 (book your Druid Camp tickets here.)
  • Performance: Thereby Hangs a Tale โ€“ at the Willow Globe Theatre in Powys with Milly jackdaw โ€“ exploring folktales and Shakespeareโ€ฆ
  • Workshop: Land Sea and Sky โ€“ the World of Ceridwen โ€“ at Wylde Spirit Camp near Stonehenge โ€“ 22nd โ€“ 24th September โ€™23 (Book for Wylde Spirit Camp here.)
  • Storytelling: Tales After Dark โ€“ at Wylde Spirit Camp near Stonehenge โ€“ 22nd โ€“ 24th September โ€™23 (Book for Wylde Spirit Camp here.)

Button - click to find out more about The Crimson Coven Collective.

Imbolc Inspiration

02 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by in Creative Process, Crimson Craft, Following Delight, Magic, Reflections, Storytelling, Witchcraft 101

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Happy Imbolc folks!

It’s been a month of magic here, in the darkest coldest part of the winter I’ve been lucky to be conjuring love and light and warmth. Last night was my online book launch for “Crimson Craft – Sexual Magic for the solo witch” and it was an honour to share some magic with those that came (even with the tech trouble!)

Then this evening was spent hosting the local moot’s cocreated ritual, celebrating the growing light of love and inspiration. Brigid made an appearance, we sang together, and there was light, of course.

Imbolc is the festival where we mark the emergence of new life, from lambs to snowdrops to baby songs to tiny humans to the rising hope that we’ve made it through the winter, into the world.

This month is also FAWM – February Album Writing Month – a challenge to write 14 songs in 28 days. I love that it starts on Brigid’s day, the festival of Santes Ffraid (in Welsh), saint/Goddess/midwife of creating, healing, and, importantly, inspiration.

I’ve been secretly writing songs and been mostly too shy to share for years, and now I’m ready to change that. This past year, I’ve been practicing making the songs… But haven’t felt ready to show them to many people. I finally realised that truth, which is so often the case: we rarely feel ready. There is always something else to tweak, to edit, to perfect. And so, in the supportive space of FAWM this month, I’m aiming for 7 sharable songs as the light blossoms brighter.

I asked for Brigid’s blessing on this Imbolc night to overcome the perfectionism that holds me back from sharing the joy that arises when I make music, however unpolished it is…

And as declarations have their own kind of magic, let me be clear on my intention: Over the next month I’ll be sharing a little about my musical journey, the lessons it’s teaching me on magic, and, of course, some of my music.

This month I’m hosting a free Full Moon/ Imbolc ritual online for members of the Crimson Coven Collective, on Sunday 5th February ’23, at 7pm GMT. Join the Crimson Coven here to get access!

And I’m offering a new workshop rooted in the magic of the Crimson Craft on “Courting Divine Love” on 15th February ’23. In this workshop you’ll be guided by the gods in connecting to Divine Love, uncovering both self-love and self-trust within yourself, and laying the foundation to manifest the magical life your heart desires.

Find out more here: Courting Divine Love.

A banner for Courting Divine Love, illustrated with roses and the points above. Click for the workshop page.

Book Review: Sekhmet

11 Tuesday Jan 2022

Posted by in Magic, review

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I’ve long known of Sekhmet, that lion-headed, powerful Goddess of healing and rage, but I have never really known much about her. Olivia Church’s book has definitely changed that.

A pile of books on top of a laptop, "Pagan Portals: Sekhmet" on top, with a small black cat statuette, and a red and gold background.
Yes, I know that’s Bast.

Heavy with the weight of history, Church’s slim book clearly arose from a deep academic understanding of the sources and research surrounding the vengeful Lady of Flame and Pestilence, but the depth of direct experience also shines through. This is not a dry, dusty, text. Although it is dense the language is graced with rich and poetic illumination, and a bright passion for both the Goddess and her culture.

I now know much more than I expected to find out about this ancient Egyptian power, and would certainly use this as a reference book, and for inspiration if I ever choose to work with this multifaceted deity.

Despite the concise nature of the Pagan Portals books, Church has succeeded in including a both breadth and depth of information, and has in no way diminished the Eye of Ra, Sekhmet herself.

The short version: beautifully written, research heavy, introduction to a multifaceted Goddess, crafted with obviously personal, passionate, devotion.

Pagan Portals – Sekhmet, by Olivia Church (Moon Books, 2022)

Quin's Books - Bookshop banner - gold writing on red background, trying to look fancy.
Find this and other magical books, including mine, at Quin’s Books. (affiliate link)

NEW BOOK RELEASED!!! – Gods and Goddesses of Wales

28 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in Creative Process, Following Delight, Magic, Stories, Storytelling

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It’s here!!! Midsummer 2019 has completed a piece of devotion for me…

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Pagan Portals: Gods and Goddesses of Wales is out!!!

I’m really excited to announce the manifestation of my newest book, a practical introduction of Welsh deities and their stories, through their stories. It’s designed as a primer to get started on your journey with beings such as Rhiannon, Blodeuwedd, Taliesin, Gwydion, and more. There’s even a pronounciation guide at the back (thanks Sarah!)

Here’s the official blurb:

An introduction to Welsh deities through traditional myths and practical exercises. Written by a practising witch, living in the heart of Wales and working with the deities woven into the land, this book contains the major stories and backgrounds for the Gods and Goddesses of the heartland of the Druids. Within its pages you will find information on the major deities and where their stories can be found, alongside suggestions on how to connect with them and weave relationships with them into a modern pagan practice.

You can order this through your favourite bookstore, they’ll find it under author “Halo Quin” (publisher: Moon Books) or through amazon.

Looks like I’m living the dream… a published author ๐Ÿ˜€ Thanks to everyone who supports me, who encourages, proofreads, inspires, shares, buys, reviews and generally cheers me on. Couldn’t do it without you (In fact, without you all, there’d be no point.) This last year has been a wild ride and in amongst it all the gods of this land have been woven…I’m glad to do my part in sharing their stories. What is remembered, lives.

Happy Thoughts,

Halo Quin x

Overlooking a sunny Ceredigion Bay in wild, West, Wales.

Book Cover YFM

My first “Moon Book” can be found here!

 

The Story of the Rabbit

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Art Craft and Beauty, Faery, Magic

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Painting - Spirit Rabbit Gate

A butterfly enjoys the artwork which captures the spirit of a being who travels between the worlds and brings magic and love into our lives.

When I finished writing my Faery Heart book I had a dream for the artwork on the cover – a gateway between two trees through which the magic of Faery would shine. I took up my brush and painted the first of my Faery Gates series, pouring magic into each brush-stroke as a prayer in pigment to bridge the worlds and allow enchantment to pour through for each person that gazed upon it.

My flat is now full of these gates, they flow from my brush and feel like coming home. But the second that I began… it remained formless for two years. I painted the faery-light but there was something missing. So I painted others and waited.

And then my bunny died.

She reappeared in the painting. Finally, it was complete.

Domino was a rabbit, but in the picture she also becomes a moongazing hare, carrying the magic of the ability to burrow into the dark places for healing and the sacred swiftness and stillness which is twinned in each of the long-eared Goddess-beasts across the neo-pagan world.

The hare has long been seen as a familiar, or a form, of the witch, wise-woman, magic-worker, the one who crosses the gap between the worlds beneath the full moon’s light to bring back knowledge and power into our realm. This picture is one of reflection, of becoming aware of other worlds and other possibilities deep within ourselves and within the heart of the world. It is an image of love and the peace before action. As a painting it holds all that I poured into it and all that you find within it. As a prayer, a spell, it carries the magic of the otherworlds and the blessings of the spirit-world into our lives. And it honours the hare, the rabbit, the Goddess and those that we have loved and lost who are never far away…

I am producing a limited run of 50 canvas prints, hand-made, mounted, numbered and signed by me. When they’re gone I won’t be printing any more like this!

To own a beautiful, limited edition print of a sacred piece of art, follow this link to my Etsy listing!

The Forest, The Dark Mother and Elephant snot (part 3)

17 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Following Delight, Magic, Reflections

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Valli the Temple Elephant

An elephant's trunk is rough like stone... and its blessing is sticky!

A three-part story of a pilgrimage to The Community of the Many Names of God – Skanda Vale, part 3. Find part 1 here and part 2 here.

It was dark, night had fallen and I thought that Valli the elephant would be asleep for the night.

J, N, P and I walked past the door to Valli’s home, and P told us the story of how she gives blessings for treats as one of the Monks darted past us with a bag of carrots… and opened the door to her home.

“Would you like a Blessing?” He asked us.

I was in awe. She was huge and beautiful and had such presence. How could we say no?

She brushed my hair with her trunk and held it out for the carrot.

“Now that wasn’t a very good blessing Valli,” said the man, “try again”.

She placed the end of her trunk on my head… and SNORTED!

Ew! Covered in Elephant snot!

Queue peals of giggles and wiping with tissues. Valli got her carrot and I had a definite blessing! No-one else got snotted, so I feel honoured, if dubiously.

As we entered the forest to return downhill the sense of the land Spirit/s returned and, again, I was filled with Bliss. I wished the lights were off so we could walk through the forest in the darkness and feel Them more strongly. N turned to ask me how I was doing and, before I could tell them my wish, the lights blinked out leaving the path lit by the Full Moon’s light! Divine!

The curry, made from the food donated to the Temple and blessed in the Puja’s by the Gods, was heavenly too. Very, very spicy. As P says; ‘Religion is delicious.’

Its a fascinating place, Skanda Vale. Multifaith but primarily Hindu in form. Is it right to go and attend the Puja’s if the god-forms are not the ones you connect with most strongly? Is it cultural tourism to go to somewhere like this and participate when we don’t worship Kali at home? Is it ok that I see Her as a form of the Dark mother, who I do worship, and that I enter the Pujas with respect while seeing Kali as part of a larger form? I’m both a hard Polytheist and a believer that all is one. The faces of the Dark mother are an interface for her AND each Dark Mother Goddess is a being in her own right. She may not claim me, but I respect Kali and participating in her Puja’s move me, touch me, effect me in ways I appreciate.

As long as we enter into these relationships with respect and honour, following the rules of the Temple and the Gods and we hold a space in our hearts for these beings, then is it wrong?

Skanda Vale is a special place, deliberately open as a multi-faith space. Believing that all gods are, ultimately, the faces of The Divine. Protecting life where they can, offering connection to those that come with right-mind. In such a place as this to enter with respect and love – Perfect Love and Perfect Trust – is right, even when the Hindu Gods may not be your primary pantheon.