WebBoth Aeschylus and Hesiod mention Medusa in some of their early stories. The Goddess Medusa is a known guardian and as such, lends her aid to those who need her protection. Fair-cheeked Gorgon, be present! If you are handling it with your hands, wear gloves. Barley was an essential crop to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. WebMedusa is a mystical blend of ancient forests, blood red apples, a magical brew of herbs and resins, spicy peppers and a drizzling of sweet caramel and vanilla infused with snake It almost sounds like a win-win, to me. Curl Your blackened lips and bear Your venomous fangs! You can then gently wipe down the statue with soft linen cloth. 1. Athena, angry that this could take place in her own temple, lashed out taking out her wrath on Medusa by turning her into a terrifying gorgon, and casting a curse for breaking her vow of celibacy. Medusa represents a strong, wise, powerful female who has tapped into the ancient wisdom and medicine that snakes carry. Crocus was later accidentally killed by him when they were playing discus. Some who work with Medusa say that they were approached by some of her pets, injured or otherwise in need. 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. Pegasus, the famous horse with wings, arose from her dead body. Ask for this goddesss guidance when you need strong feminine power and the innately intuitive energy of water in your rituals. Sacred Plants: Corn. How Did Jason and the Argonauts Get The Golden Fleece? It is important to understand that the power of Medusa isnt necessarily a power based in Cosmic good. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a terracotta jar created by Polygnotos that shows Perseus murdering her in her sleep. When Perseus arrived, he forced her to look into the shield and see her reflection, which turned her to stone. The Gorgons lived at the ocean, and Medusa caught Poseidons attention. She lost all of her looks and found snakes growing in her hair. Whether or not youve chosen to make an offering to the Goddess Medusa, be sure to directly ask her if she would like to work with you and wait for an answer. The two decided to marry, which infuriated the goddess. Widen Your frightening eyes, flashing with fire, and look upon (enemys NN) so he/she/they may be destroyed! Adonis had been killed by a ravaging boar, and while Aphrodite wept over his body, his blood on the grass transformed into the fl Were women spared because Medusa didnt intend to hurt them? Many still wrote of the maiden as a seductress despite her chastity bonds. Medusa is a Goddess you need a physical representation for so you would need either a statue, relief, painting, or other image. However, the number mentioned here are some of our favorite and most interesting plant-based origin stories! He pointed out that a simple translation shows that the woman wore a mask to scare intruders and those who thought to bring her harm. Many of the women only knew her as a monster and not what she looked like before. Oftentimes when we see this version of the myth recounted Minerva is replaced with Athena, and Neptune with Poseidon. Lets not forget her most famous power: the ability to turn men to stone. There are many stories and interpretations of the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology and later years. Because of this, some may argue that Athena didnt know what she was doing in giving away that shield. Legend says while she was there baby snakes dropped from her head and this is why there are plenty of snakes in Africa. In his eyes, Medusa was only scary because it linked castration to something that a man could see. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The story of Medusa first appeared in Ovids work. 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. Long before Medusa faced off with Perseus, there was Poseidon. In my experience, Medusa is very patient when she reaches out to someone she wants to work with. For me, this is a way of reclaiming the Gods as a valid religious cult, not just antique figures reduced to myths and stories. He claimed that both groups of sisters were monsters. However, be really for some kind of intense imagery: Medusa isnt for the faint of heart! Atlas attempted to fight but saw her head and turned to stone. Apple trees were significant in several different myths, especially those involving Hera. Do this, Goddess, and I will serve You as Your station demands! You can simply offer her a devotional candle or a seashell. One version of his battle with Atlas claims that Perseus turned his opponent into a mountain. When he found out her true identity, he tried to kill her. Minerva turned Her gaze and hid Her grey eyes behind Her aegis to protect Her chaste sight from the act. She was made into marble and bronze sculptures. Updates? In revenge, Eros shot him with an arrow that caused Apollo to fall in love with a river nymph named Daphne. Herodotus the historian said her home was Libya. Gingko. I am pleased with You and wish You well. Though Athena helped Perseus defect the woman, she knew the powers that her former head held. The Goddess Medusa loves to help her children find their own ways of breaking free! Medusa may have been worshiped as a goddess in ancient times, but she is not an oft-worshiped deity today, so information on working with her in this sense is hard to come by. She is not to be pitied, but adored. Around the 6th century we start to see Her iconography become a mix of the grotesque, large eyed, hideous monster that makes up most of Greek Gorgon imagery. Echinacea. Pindar wrote in 490 BC that she had fair cheeks. But for each one I awaken it by first cleansing and fumigating Her in an incense of the following ground together: This incense is formulated with strong protective and evil averting properties. There are several stories regarding Medusa. Minthe was a nymph who loved the god of the dead, Hades. This is the version I subscribe to because it is how Medusa has shown Herself to me, not as a tormented, mournful monster, grieving Her lost beauty, but a powerful, proud Goddess Queen Whose sight paralyzes and obliterates enemies. The Earth and its inhabitants are sacred and I treat them as such. Knowing that Polydectes forced her into marriage, Perseus forced him to look at the head and turned him into stone to free his mother. My typical conjuration of Medusa is this:Gorgon-eyed Hekate, Unconquerable Queen of Witches, I conjure You to be present and send to me Your ghosts of forgotten soldiers so they may stand before me, beside me, and behind me and let no harm come to me in my witchs operations. I have practised witchcraft before in great respect always. During the French Revolution, those who wanted to defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as a symbol of their freedom. I find that themost important thing Medusa will teach you is how touse your power. 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. This has been proven because she continues to be portrayed in pop culture. The Blood of Medusa (Right). Rose quartz is probably the most well-known and easily accessible crystal associated with Aphrodite. Many artists made Medusa into a work of art. For me personally I like to use snake fangs over tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work. Metamorphoses Book V, by Ovid - Tells the story of Medusa from Greek mythology. Her sisters are the immortal Gorgons: Euryale and Stheno. Just in case any man took an interest in Medusa, Athena made it so that the man would turn to stone if he looked in her eyes. I will say, since I have started serving Medusa as an active force in my cult and witchcraft the results have been beyond astounding. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When using an idol or agalma for Medusa I like to see at least a few of the snakes turned toward the viewer, hissing threateningly, although this isnt a deal breaker. I created this oil to honor Medusa and the feminine strength that she symbolizes. Heracles (Hercules) is said to have obtained a lock of Medusas hair (which possessed the same powers as the head) from Athena and given it to Sterope, the The Greek hero came to see her on the orders of King Polydectes who ruled over Seriphus. The men who saw Medusa were so terrified of her beauty that it left them mute and unable to speak. Offer Her spring flowers separate from those you used to asperge the idol as well as more incense, and sweet red church wine. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. 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. Later, he brought Hera strawberries after tricking her into breastfeeding him in place of her own baby to prevent her wrath. This may not ring a bell to you, but lets just say its the guy that wanted to marry Perseus mother. 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. Like Crocus, Hyacinth was killed in a discus game, possibly deliberately by a vengeful wind god. The 20 Best Norse Mythology Books You Should Read. 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. To me it expresses Their actual relationship, that of lovers. From c. 200 B.C. 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. Medusa is all about finding your own inner power and using it, so this reading has always made sense to me. Often they had extensive knowledge of herbs to compliment their spiritual practice, including contraceptives like the seeds of poplars and willows, silphium from Although you can theoretically call upon a deity with extensive amounts of worship, deities often reach out to us when they want to work with us. Medusa wandered Africa for some time. It should there come as no surprise that there are many myths and stories from Greek myth associated with these plants and flowers. 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. Her creation was so powerful She adorned Her breastplate with these snakes to frighten enemies. Her apotropaic and protective abilities are rooted in Her frightfulness, and Her power to kill with venom or petrification. Lets face it: Medusa is an intimidating presence, to say the least. Hail Immortal Medusa! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth Nerd is our place for all things related to world mythology. Place the coral, malachite, and bronze around it and add another layer of parsley leaf, rue, then the dirt. Last Updated on December 18, 2017 by Coven of the Goddess. Medusa was often depicted as a terrifying winged female with snakes instead of hair. The blood from the left side was poisonous and used to destroy people, but the blood from the right was restorative. Fennel features prominently in the myth of Prometheus. WebCerridwen's Symbolism The Cauldron and the dark moon are associated with this Goddess. In another popular myth about the story of Medusa, the so-called hero Perseus was sent to slay Medusa. In the modern world, feminists use Medusa as an icon that represents female anger and rage. Cherry quartz (a redder version of rose quartz) and clear It is penetrating, and has the power to turn to stone anyone who meets it. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0b5d36f223869445363a60f7ff447a5" );document.getElementById("dc55782aa6").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The oils that I create are intuitively blended to give you a unique and mystical experience. This leads us to our final point: Perseus wasnt supposed to survive his encounter with Medusa. SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE SALE ANNOUNCEMENTS + UPDATES. Once worshiped as a goddess in ancient Rome, Medusa is again gaining traction as more and more women flock to her for her guidance in the ways of protection and fierce divine femininity. Accept these sweet offerings as I sing praises in Your name! It is just MY way. Their large eyes are not often remembered, for they transform you to stone at a moments glance. 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. When I look for idols or agalmas for Medusa they need to have very wide, expressive eyes. Medusas Head euphorbia is suitable for growing outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9b through 11. Omissions? Open now the Iron Gates of Night so I may do my work! Most ancient iconography of Medusa features an open mouth with fangs or tusks. The coat of arms of the Dohalice village from the Czech Republic depicts Medusas head. Medusa herself had a chilling face topped with serpents that sprang from her hair. However, its important to note thatearlier myths of Medusa (such as that told by Homer) actually have no mention of Athena at all. One of the sisters on the show found a woman who summoned the creature to punish men. 20 Important Plants and Flowers in Greek Mythology, Important Plants and Flowers in Greek Myth, 11 Important Types of Nymph in Greek Mythology, 25 Facts About Isis from Egyptian Mythology. Through this shield, Perseus was able to see Medusa through her reflection, which ultimately allowed him the opportunity to approach Medusa and slice through her neck. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Stand up for womens rights. Is this the accurate version of what happened? Flax seed. TEA & ROSEMARY LLC, source wonderful Medusa art and statues on Etsy, 6 Effective Studying Spells For Exams, Class, & Enhanced Focus, Winter Solstice & Yule: Rituals, Traditions, And Ways To Celebrate, Two of Pentacles Meanings: Love, Career, Health, Reversed, & More, How To Celebrate Ostara: Spring Equinox Rituals, Traditions & Ideas, Depictions of serpents or snake figurines, The Aegis: an image of Medusas head adorning Athenas shield. Take a small bouquet of fresh spring flowers and dip it into the holy water and sprinkle it onto the agalma (sacred idol) to cleanse it. Hermes was distraught and reunited Crocus and Smilax by turning Crocus into a flower. You are recovering from domestic violence. She isnt a Goddess to serve in a capacity of benevolence because She is and has always been a monster. Zeus was furious when the deception was discovered and punished Prometheus to eternal torture. In the marble statue from the temple of Artemis in Corfu Medusa embraces Her children Pegasus and Chrysaor, as well as Her lions. If the idea that you need to do more to make the world a safer place has been a prevalent notion for some time, then its time to embrace the spirit of Medusa and act on it. Place half the herbal mix into the urn and add the charm, then cover with the remaining herbs. They were created by Aphrodite in her grief upon finding the body of her human lover, Adonis. To sneak the fire past the watching eyes of the gods, he hid it inside of a fennel stalk. These blood-red perennial spring flowers are named for anemos, the wind, which carries their seed. Though she has a different name, she has the power to turn people to stone when they look into her eyes. After her death, Perseus immediately left to fight Atlas. 4 dram vial size. Prometheus was a Titan who modeled humanity from clay and who stole fire to introduce it to humankind. AMAZING! Legend says that when invaders attacked the city, Sterope used the hair to bring forth a storm that sent them running away in fear. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. The French military created a special belt during World War I that had her face on it. This doesnt need to be in huge ways. Medusa is now accepted as a symbol of female empowerment, divine rage, and justice. Her vessel not only stores Her dynamis but it is an active ward for protection. She gave birth to a son, Iamus, and Apollo sent the goddess of childbirth (Eileithyia) and the Fates to serve as her midwives. According to legend Athena gave Asklepios Medusas blood. Take a deeper dive into the epic poems that tell the stories of Medusa. Hail and welcome!, Take the vessel and fumigate it in the incense three times. The Amphisbaena came from her blood, too. WebFrom Business: We offer the finest quality of Natural Organically Grown and Wild crafted Herbs. In my experience, Medusa doesnt care too much about the social or political climates. Euphorbia requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and I summon the Gorgon Queen, Serpent-locked Medusa, infamous and terrifying Goddess, I stir You to Your furious form! Legend claims the was a giant who carried a golden sword. Several regions also depict her on their flags and emblems. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. If its mouth is open, place the lodestone in the mouth, if not put it next to it. All shall share meditation of the demons of self and all they chose to leave behind with the turning of the Wheel. The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao came out the same year and told the traditional story of Medusa. It can be used as a go to incense when serving Medusa, especially if you are working with Her to remove curses or the evil eye, or to consecrate wards to protect a space or person.To perform the ritual Night light a black chime candle. She is incredibly powerful, and since I have started working with Her, She has removed a lot of things and people that have been holding me back. Take the snake head and place it on the sea sponge so it faces toward the front of the vessel. ****This is highly toxic, especially to children and animals. I use a variety of materials including plant absolutes, essential oils, fragrances, resins, botanical oils and natural essences from roots, flowers, herbs and stones. Youve been encountering statues and paintings of Medusa in your Shell show you that you dont need to be afraid of power and that the innate power you have inside of you is already strong and beautiful; you simply need to learn how to use it. Call upon Medusa when you need the strength to challenge your enemies, to face your fears, or to hex your abusers. The earliest version comes from some 7 centuries earlier appearing in the Theogony of Hesiod. In her anger and in retaliation, Persephone (or sometimes her mother, Demeter), transformed Minthe into a mint tree. One of her works said that similar stories focused on sister trios and that authors likely added Medusas sisters. Walk around your home and in each room raise the jar three times then say Medusa protects NN! repeating until you end at your front door.The last thing I do with Medusa is make a potion called The Blood of Medusa, which is actually two separate potions. Shes not super soft to work with and she probably wont let you loll around. Take the Evil Eye charm and fumigate it in the incense. I recommend infusing them with an intention before applying them to give them a personal energetic boost. This means that She is not the beheaded Medusa, but restored after the event as a Great Mother akin to Kybele. Later Roman representations began to depict Medusas signature snake-filled hair, but its often more innocuous than frightening. Freud disregards any myths that claim she turned men to stone. Cixous urges women to use this story as a way to take back their own power and escape the control that men have over them. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. By Your will and mine, the deed is done!. (That said, if you are experiencing troubling symptoms, consult your doctor. Born to the sea god Phorcys and Ceto (Phorcys wife and sister), Medusa (queen or ruler) was one of the three Gorgon sisters. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Required fields are marked *. I cannot use any Medusa image that does not have eyes, or has voids for eyes. After all, Medusa took a vow of celibacy she never wanted to be touched in the first place. One of the most well-known stories is that of Eriss apple, the apple of discord. Combined with the gifts of Hades, Hephaestus, and Hermes, however, the protagonist of this story was certainly given a keen advantage before he was sent off to slay the so-called monster. To the ancients Medusa was an extremely powerful guarding force and it would appear She never truly lost Her connection to the Mother Goddess despite Her sinister reputation. She believes that Medusa was originally a beautiful woman with power and that men adapted her story to turn her into a monster because they did not appreciate powerful women. Athena took things a step further. I personally like both, but know that the snake tail is a modern invention. It is a spring-blooming flower and would bloom when Persephone was outside of the Underworld. They believe that there were events the occurred and that the Greeks simply created a new version of the event. Reflect and meditate on what the actions and outcomes of these stories mean to you. All stories of Medusa sprang from this event. The two quickly fell in love and married. She isa guide to many women and a source of power, wisdom and creativity to those who seek her assistance. There were sometimes flowers decorating the floor in depictions of the event when they eventually lay together. Whether you're looking to boost your financial wherewithal, land a new job, or just pad your bank account a little, try some of these magical herbs in your money-related workings. Dionysus created the first grapevine and used it to introduce humanity to the art of winemaking. During the height of the #metoo movement, many women began using images of Medusa. Most of this is personal experience so keep in mind that youll need to tailor your own worship to fit your beliefs, lifestyle, and needs! Athena gave Perseus a shield with mirrors to deflect Medusas gaze, while Hades helped him remain invisible to her. She claimed that Medusa was the only real Gorgon and that her sisters were mere additions to her story. It can be difficult to determine if she is the entity reaching out to you, but there are a few specific tells. Some were previously gods and goddesses, some humans, and some sprung from even more surprising sources! 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. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. But what is the truth to this myth? When she found them together, Athena transformed her into a woman with serpents in her hair and a cold stare. In an alternate story of Medusa, was the curse from Athena really a curse? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Maybe Medusas true powers lie in the shadow feminine, taking vengeance upon those who have taken advantage of women and binding those who intend to do them harm. It is believed that Medusa was originally just a head and the body came later. Athena and Poseidon competed over the city, which would become Athens in a contest judged by humans. In this incantation Hekate is evoked as Mother of the Gorgons. The man who stole her mask then used the story to frighten others. Her snakes are usually just considered snakes to make Her hideous and their purpose is neglected, but the snakes themselves have power. All shall gather outside of Circle and share the tales of Samhain. Dedicate altar space to Medusa. Joseph Campbell was one historian who believed this theory. This shows that the island has protection from Athena. Medusa will be a passive ward, meaning you do not have to actively work to get the evil averting powers from the agalma. I recently spoke with a group of friends who are all on board with this idea, so who knows: maybe its true! Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. As you fumigate Her image say an invocation, facing West:I call to You, Guardians of the Gates of the West, Realm of the Setting Sun, open the way to the Land of Night! The goddess carried the womans head on her shield. From then on she roamed, shamed, shunned and loathed by everyone. A powerful figure commanding respect in times of adversity, the gorgon is not an entity to be trifled with. Athena removed a lock of the womans hair and gave it to Hercules. The red on the stem is his blood. Be it Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Chinese, Japanese, Aztec, Mayan, you name it. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. This will purify and cleanse the image so Medusa comes to you appeased, reminded of Her love of Poseidon.
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