Our Hard Times It’s a time of turning from a plutonian epoch in Sagittarius, to saner less religious times of Pluto in Capricorn. Common sense will return once again in Capricorn. The old edifice will fall down. All over the world. Enron started it, and now it hit everywhere. We have suffered through a trauma of theocracy trying to take over the USA. In George Bush they have succeeded. He managed to ruin the economy and the world, and on his watch everything unraveled. Now he is gone, but not the mess he left behind. Thank Goddess a sane lovable man is the President, smart Obama, and we got hopeful again. That’s the just the starting point. Our jobs, the way we live and use energies, the entire economy will be revamped. Ten years from now our landscape will be different also from what we see right now. The cable wires and phone poles, all will be under the earth, the stores will carry local foods, and many people will have their own grid, solar panels ,wind mills, and some new inventions too that we cannot even name right now. How does that affect women? Everybody is pulling back their resources, saving our pennies. But we still need insights, and support to survive the major job makeovers, retraining ourselves, fitting ourselves into the new world. The first decade of the 21st century is almost finished, we need to address this new century with vigor and skills. My first response to this crisis is to lower my Tarot reading fees, which remained the same hundred dollars for the past 36 years. As I was doing readings at PantheaCon, I realized that women were flocking
to me for readings, because they need me as a spiritual counselor, a spiritual seer, and pathfinder, mental and spiritual supporter, my Crone wisdom. I have decided to do the same on my website. Click this link for a reduced rate Tarot Reading.
We have launched the Clergy track which was also long in formulating. Finally pulled together by Bobbie, and now offered on the Dianic Wicca website. A huge change for me. I have normally trained women to be High Priestesses, which meant that they would create their own community and propagate the Dianic Tradition. This is not always successful, nor desired. Many women would like to be ministers, knowing how to do the different community services, such as weddings, and burials, and everything in between. They don’t all have to create a community, a community can come to them for help, and they will be ready to serve in an individual capacity. All this is important because it’s not enough to have the Dianic Tradition flower only in California and Wisconsin, but everywhere. Our online Clergy training will teach the women to create rituals for the stages of life, and help themselves and others. The Dianic University has flushed out more courses we offer. You know I have seen hard times in my life, was born into WWII, grew up in dire poverty, was bombed out by the carpet bombing, saw all my family’s homes destroyed, our lands taken, starvation was normal in my childhood. My own grandmother starved to death. Hard times like that will not be here. We are
lucky to have a country that’s just lost its will to trust, (for good reason) but that’s the time the women pull together and lead. This will be excellent times for new female leaders to emerge. We will overcome and thrive. Just not right away. Now we get smart, inform ourselves, and hold on tight to our ancestors’ hands. If you read my autobiography you’ll see, how bad times can be overcome, survived, escaped and triumphed over. I want you to learn and grown from my experiences, and I want you to get the spiritual counseling you need. I’m going to offer you two choices. You can order either on the Women’s Spiritual Forum’s online store:
I’m going to reduce my tarot readings 50%, from $100 to $50 until such time as I feel I’ve
meet my sisters’ needs. Option 2 is even better; I’m going to offer the first chapters of Fly by Night, my autobiography on disc, and a Tarot reading with me for $40 for the package, while copies last. I am very sincere about my offer to help. Those who’ve already purchased Fly by Night on disc and want to take advantage of this offer, please email me.
I fought for women’s right to counsel each other, when I chose to go to trial for Tarot reading. It took me nine years of my life to change the paradigm. I take my right to counsel you during these difficult times very seriously. Next is Fly by Night, a detailed look into the attic of my life, with never before seen photos and untold stories. I so enjoyed revisiting the photos of my life. My beautiful ancestors. To read the newest releases of the next chapters of my autobiography, please visit my autobiography website http://autobiography.ZBudapest.com And, please share this link! And, I want to hear what you think as you read each segment. I’m hungry for feedback from you. I have a special place for you to be able to participate with me and review Fly by Night with me. It’s here: FlybyNight.ZBudapest.com Please come and talk to me there. I’m facing another hip surgery soon, so life has to mold its self around my writing schedule. But we can begin our journey together, so please enjoy the first installment of Fly by Night. Blessings upon all of you,
Z Budapest
“We all come from the Goddess, and to Her we shall return Like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean…”
Well, if Z’s going to cut her Tarot reading fees in half to help sisters get through these tough times, then I’m going to follow suit.
I’m slashing the cost of my Switching to Goddess class in the DU 50%!!! I know a large number of you bought yourself a copy of my book, Switching to Goddess, and I want to say bravo for you for taking the first step to changing our World. Your next step is to come work with me personally through the book and go deeply into the journey of Goddess awareness as it applies to our lives currently.
After more than thirty years in circulation, The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries is still a ground-breaking book in the forefront of women’s spirituality.
Get your own copy of Z’s out of print books and DVDs at the Women’s Spirituality Forum online store.
You can get autographed copies of Z's books here!
The Dianic University Online is adding new classes! If you're not studying with us, you should be. Make yourself a FREE account at the Dianic University if you haven't already done so ... do it now! Now's the time to come study with Z and her dedicated group of teachers! Tell your friends ‌ Subscribe to the Goddess magazine here. This newsletter is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!
If you’re in the New York area, you should check out the Goddess on Earth , March 7th, multimedia presentation by photographer Lisa Levart. The presentation will include 60-70 sumptuous color photographs of women, including the writers Isabel Allende, Jean Shinoda Bolen and Madhur Jaffrey, the actresses Olympia Dukakis, Karen Allen, Shirley Knight and LisaGay Hamilton, the comedian Reno, the singer Suzzy Roche of The Roche Sisters, herbalist Susun Weed, and choreographers and dancers Anna Halprin, Eiko (of Eiko and Komo), and Annabelle Gamson. These known figures will represent perhaps a quarter of the images; the remaining portraits are of women from all walks of life, from an eight-year-old girl to a 99-year-old woman. There’s also a book in the works: goddessonearth.com
CHANGES TO THE DIANIC UNIVERSITY We’ve made changes to the Dianic University that effect how sisters go about getting a FREE account. Just like Z did on her Yahoo Groups Z-list, we’re now going to require an application to get your free DU account. It’s a lot more work for us, but this way we can screen out unwanted accounts. I also recently cleaned up the DU’s database removing those accounts that were NEVER logged into. If yours was one of them, now worries. Just complete the DU Application and email it to us, and we’ll get you set-up again. And if you have an account in the DU but haven’t logged in for some time, log in!!! Say Hello!!! Get back into visiting us in the DU on a regular basis. Beautiful things, like Goddess magazine, are coming from the membership of the Dianic University. Be a part of it!
Dianic Clergy Priestess Training We are still recovering from PantheaCon and getting back to the work of the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Several sisters sent in their applications for Clergy training, and we wanted to let you know we have them. We’re beginning to process your applications and you will be hearing back from us shortly. Did you want to apply too? The Application for Dianic Clergy Priestess is online. More information on the Dianic Clergy program can be found towards the end of this issue of Goddess magazine.
PantheaCon Wow! Z and I attended PantheaCon for three days this year, along with a few of our Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One sisters. And we’ve got the photos to prove it! We had a blast! Lots of rituals, workshops, mingling and sisterly chatting in between.
We’re preparing for the Wild Witchy Women’s Chant for Peace Ritual, featuring Ro and her wickedly awesome Medusa masks. That’s Belou under the mask, and Bobbie teasing her.
Both the Self-Blessing ritual and the Chanting for Peace ritual were very well attended and we had some wonderful comments come back to us from women who attended them. None of us wanted it to end.
Boudica, Silverwitch, Ro and Belou, all Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One members, enjoy a quick bit of breakfast before the day’s festivities get into full swing. Also in full “I can’t believe its morning” breakfast mode were Z, Selena Fox, Ruth Barrett, Starhawk and the women who help them.
Spells for Wealth
Here’s an Abundance Spell that Shekhinah Mountainwater shared with me. The idea is that you write down your intent and pray on it as you fold up the paper. Carry it in your pocket and every time you touch it, say the prayer that you wrote inside it. Don’t forget about it in your pocket, and if you do, then it’s time to burn it with a final prayer for Hubundia and Hekate.
Spells for Luck On a New Moon, set-up your altar with two white candles and a Goddess image (Fortuna would be ideal) between them. Place your censor in front of the Goddess, and next to that place one black candle. Cast your circle and light the altar candles in honor of the Goddess. The black candle represents you. Light it next saying, “Encouragement and attraction be mine, come to me good fortune. Into the flame, I give you all the bad luck, illness, hardships and disappointments of my life. My luck must change for the better.” Light your incense (use a good luck incense) and as the smoke rises to the aires, say, “Encouragement and attraction be mine, come to me good fortune. Into the smoke, I give you all the bad luck, illness, hardships and disappointments of my life. My luck be changed for the better.” Bless yourself. Bless the Goddess. Bless your intent and your life. Let the candles burn. Adapted from the Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries (p37-38)
Advertising in our new format Wow! We’ve been getting quite a few inquiries regarding advertising in Goddess magazine, and we’re answering your questions for you here. By now you’ve noticed we’ve moved into a new online magazine format, making it much easier for all the sisters to read the Goddess. You’ll be able to find the current issue at this URL: http://issuu.com/zbudapest/docs/goddess (Please share this link!) The Goddess is focused on bringing you the Dianic voice, as well as real sisterhood as expressed through the Arts. The Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One has been writing most of the articles and artwork for you over the last year, and we’re now outreaching to other scholars as well. Ruth Barrett and Susun Weed have already contributed, while Diana Paxson and Max Dashu are still to come. Learn more about how YOU can contribute to the Goddess here. Classified Ads $20 a month for 30 words. Topics: Publications, Events, Goddess Goods, Herbs & Healing, Music & Video, Women’s Services, Travel. More information on Classified Ads here…. Graphical Ads We are requiring a high quality of art for these ads, as well as appropriate topics that compliment Goddess magazine. We reserve the right to decline any ad, in which case you’d be fully refunded. More information on Graphical Ads here….
Do you have a website or blog? We’d like to exchange links with you! Email us for more information: zbudapest AT gmail.com Subject title: Please consider cross-linking with me.
LINK TO US: Women’s Spirituality www.Women-Spirituality.com The Goddess www.The-Goddess.net Goddess Belief www.GoddessBelief.com Dianic Wicca (Dianic Wicca University) www.Dianic-Wicca.com Hex Spells www.HexSpells.com Marija Gimbutas www.MarijaGimbutas.com Witch Trial www.WitchTrial.net
Please share the Goddess with your friends. Thank you sisters who have donated $1 a month to help support our Goddess efforts! You can sponsor Goddess magazine too! Click here to help….
Her-story Month: Get Involved The public celebration of women's history in the U.S. began in 1978 as "Women's History Week" in Sonoma County, California. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day, March 8, first celebrated in 1911 in Europe. In 1981 the acknowledgement of women's history went national as a week-long celebration. Six years later, Congress expanded the celebration to a month. March was declared Women's History Month. Prior to the 1970's, women's history was rarely a subject of serious study. But now, almost every college and university offers courses of study and sometimes full degrees in women's history and women's studies. Women's historian Carroll Smith-Rosenberg says "without question, our first inspiration was political. Aroused by feminist charges of economic and political discrimination ‌ we turned to our history to trace the origins of women's second-class status."
Honorees: 2009 National Women’s History Month (www.nwhp.org): This year's theme, Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet, encourages the recognition of the important work of women in the on-going "green movement." To acknowledge women in communities and states throughout the country. The 2009 Honorees include scientists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmmakers, conservationists, teachers, community organizers, religious or workplace leaders or others whose lives show exceptional vision and leadership to save our planet.
BUILDING A PROSPERITY ALTAR While the media harps on a daily basis about the economic gloom, the recession, the foreclosure crisis, the credit crunch, the bank bailout, the auto industry bailout - ad nauseum - I want us all to consider a few basic facts about money. What the media and the government are doing is creating their own selffulfilling prophecies. By constantly repeating in spirit crushing array all these negative points of view, they are solidifying an energetic atmosphere which will continue to replicate the negative. And then the public is adding their energies to what they are constantly hearing to make the negative context ever larger. My Sisters, don’t listen to them. Tune them out. Give yourselves a “news moratorium” until you can rearrange your own headspace regarding money. You may have lost investments - or so it looks right now. But the stock market always turns. It may take a while, more time than it took in recent memory, but the pendulum always swings back the other way. Always. You may have lost your job, but regardless of the growing unemployment figures, there are still jobs out there and people are still getting hired to do them. This may be your golden opportunity to get ejected from a job you hated anyway and now you get to shop around for what you do want while you draw unemployment. All of that aside, however, I want us to keep in our minds the basic truth that money is energy. Just as we are all energetic beings, nature around us is energy, even inanimate objects are brimming with the movement of atomic particles and therefore are energy. Witches know that energy can be sent, can be blocked, can be freed up, intensified, dissipated and manipulated. Regardless of what is going on around us, we can create energy to draw the money we need to us. We are being asked now by our society to buy into an illusion - the illusion that there is now LESS. The illusion that there is now LACK. But that is an ILLUSION. There is no less money that there ever was. The Goddess from whom we come and to whom we all return never ceases to create, never ceases to be abundant, never ceases to love us - and we are all within Her and She within us. There is as much abundance as ever in this universe, with more being born of Her every minute. Goddess is Alive! So, how to draw this money we need to us energetically? Affirmations said on a daily basis are always effective. Louise Hay says that to change our mind-set about something by using an affirmation, we
must repeat it 40 times a day to ourselves - out loud. So, in the morning in the shower, in the car on the way to work, to do errands, on the way home, as you make your dinner, and when you lay down your head on your pillow to go to sleep - say your affirmations. You are literally programming yourself - and combating all the negative input with which we have been polluted for months now. You are changing your thoughts, and those thoughts are used to create the life around you.
As witches, we can create an altar for Prosperity and from the moment we begin to think about how to do that, we are energetically creating a space to receive the money we need into our lives. We are empowering ourselves! Such an altar needs to be placed in the north part of your living space or your office space. North corresponds with Earth and within that element is the energy of money. After choosing the space, you need to begin to choose and gather objects for the altar:  
The altar cloth should be of green or gold, or the two colors together (both of those being money colors). A green candle or a gold candle to represent abundance, a white candle to represent the Goddess and an orange candle for speeding the results of the spell.
Carve the green (or gold) candle with your name, your birth date, and the rune for wealth, FEHU, for necessity, NAUDIZ, and for happiness, WUNJO
Bowl of either metal or pottery to fill with objects of offering Container for charcoal and incense Rattle An upturned shell Cauldron with coins (you know that change jar you’ve got somewhere - put it to work by emptying it into your cauldron) Real bills or play money bills (you could even make these) Citrine and aventurine for money and luck An image of the Abundant Goddess and/or the Empress card from the Tarot
(Some I think about are Hekate, Demeter/Ceres, Yemaya, Danu) The Sun and the Ace of Pentacles are also good for Abundance and Happiness! You can make an incense of several herbs which draw prosperity: Allspice, Basil, Bayberry, Chamomile, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil and add to those the oils of Honeysuckle, Patchouli, Citronella and Cinnamon. Combine these with your mortar and pestle and drop the oils in to hold the herbs together. Burn on your charcoal. Citronella attracts business, as does the Honeysuckle. Bay leaves increase intuition, which is great if you are job hunting. Also, before constructing the altar, wash it with a potion made from some, or all, of the above herbs. A simple air, earth, fire, water ritual can be done in your kitchen. Bring spring water to a boil on your stove and add the herbs. Stir while concentrating on your magical intention of prosperity. Let your imagination go full blown with the happiness and comfort created by your new prosperity as you stir the herbs. Then drain the plant material from the liquid and wash your altar with the magickal liquid before you lay the cloth. Sprinkle the water around your home and/or business inside and out. Wash your threshold with it. New Moons are great for this activity, but any time during the waxing moon is auspicious. Take a check from your checkbook, or make one from green paper, and write yourself a check for all the money you need and sign it from the Goddess or The Universe. Thank the Goddess for the money and place the check on your altar, sprinkle it with prosperity herbs, put a piece of citrine on it or a clear quartz crystal, and leave it there until the Moon is Full. Then you can burn it in your cauldron with gratitude! (take the coins out first, of course.) Every bit of money you get, your paycheck, your child support check, the dime you picked up off the pavement, whatever form it takes - take it to your altar and place it there voicing your gratitude before doing what you will with it. Bring little offerings as often as you can - stones you find which are round
like a coin, green things like beach or lake glass, gold things, flowers, almonds. And every day thank the Goddess for all the things you can think of for which you are grateful. Say it out loud. That good feeling you get when you are experiencing gratitude is projected energetically outward from you and it will draw to you more things to be grateful for! Each morning or evening, go to your altar and center yourself, light the candles, which can be dressed with any of the oils mentioned above. Light the incense you’ve created.
Chant: Money, Money overflowing, Keep my cashflow ever growing. Goddess knows my every need Abundance come to me with speed! Gather your prosperity affirmations into a whole Abundance Manifesto! Repeat your affirmations after the chant one after the other loudly and with enthusiasm! Shake your rattle vigorously to raise the energy as you say your words. Stand in the chalice position as that makes you a receptacle for blessings, and honors the Goddess. End with an especially powerful affirmation such as: Art by Katherine Skaggs
“I am fully supported, deeply loved and magnificently powerful. I am a limitless Daughter of the Goddess and Abundance is my Birthright! So Mote it Be! With love to all and harm to none, Blessed Be.” Then thank the Goddess and extinguish the candles (or let them burn for a while if they are where you can safely watch them). Replace the candles when they burn down completely, carve and dress them as before. We are the flow and we are the ebb. BUONA FORTUNA, Dear Sisters! The Goddess is Abundance and we are Her deserving Daughters. Abundance is our birthright!
Please share the Goddess with your friends. You can Sponsor Goddess magazine too! Click here to help….
Cover Art: Sacred Laxmi Laxmi - Goddess of All Fruitfulness is a Divinely Revered Mother Goddess of Abundance in India... but She feels the love of all who come to Her with Reverence and Bliss ... Her Worship is elaborate and involved ... Those that feel a call to Her can Devote Great Time to Honouring Her Divinity via Laxmi PUJA ... Thursdays are Sacred to Her ... as are the New and Full Moons ... may She Bless You With Loving Abundance ... Om Jai Laxmi MATA! Below, I share with you an invokation to Laxmi ... best done on the eve of the New Moon ... and better still if it falls on a Thursday! Pick up some Laxmi Dhoop at any little store selling Traditional wares for puja.... Flowers, honey, milk, rice, silver coins (dimes can do) and Arthi dishes can help your Ritual process reach its depth. At the end of worship, repeat the following three times to show MATALAXMI that Love and Reverence is your intent: "Haraye Namaha" (this acknowledges the cleansing of human error in our Worship).
Sacred Laxmi Invokation "Om Jai Laxmi MATA! (traditional Vedic) All Hails to Thee Bless-ed Mata-Laxmi ! Thy Attendants pour forth Gratitude for the Nectar of Your Abundance! We Honour You By the Tide of the New Moon unto it's Fullness! Thy Dhoop Smolders up to the Heavens in Thy NAME! Pour Forth Thy Sweet Nurturance, Golden-Footed One as we sing Thy praises, and pour silver coins before Thee to Honour You! Milk flows to Honour Thee! Flower Petals Rain Upon Thy Beauty! Rice and fruits I humbly offer Thee! The fires of Arthi burn for Thee! Bless Thy Loving Devotees, Lotus Lady.... I dedicate this Rite to Thee!"
"Haraye Namaha!" "Haraye Namaha!" "Haraye Namaha!" Bless-ed BE!
This magazine is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!
The Blessings of Oshun in Times of Trouble So...financial times are tough. You're stressed, worried, and trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents. Nothing seems like it's going to help, and the gap between debt and flow is widening. It all seems so hopeless... Yeah, now try to manifest prosperity in THAT mindset. When times are tough, as women witches we are called upon to work some of our most powerful magick: the kind of magick that defies the odds and goes against the dominant paradigm. We are called upon to perform the kind of magick that doesn't take "No" for an answer. The current recession is no exception. In an historical moment when money (or the shortage thereof) feels like the enemy, we are called upon to befriend it, to beckon it forth and make it spread out nicely and evenly, like a perfect pie crust. We must, in fact, know in our hearts that we are fully capable of stretching 15 cents into a dollar with our magick. If we cannot shift the most fearsome of tides with our collective will, what truly is the point of what we do? Wearing expensive jewelry, burning pretty candles in crystal holders, and wafting costly incense through the air in service to our Goddesses are all easy to do when times are easy. But when times are tough, maybe we show up at the altar broke, with no pretty offerings. Maybe we show up angry, wishing that "someone, somewhere" would step in on our behalf and make a difference in our lives. Maybe we show up late, or not at all, having all but cast off the beautiful Queens we felt so close to and grateful for when times were easy. In despair, we might turn away from those who could help us move the Universe. Or, alternately, we might ask too much and offer too little. No, really, sitting at home depressed in pajamas all day and sending only one resume and then expecting Mama Isis to do the rest is really NOT enough of an effort! How to stay happy, productive, motivated, confident, poised, and composed in the face of financial crisis...hmmm. Consider Oshun. Originally a beauty and fertility river goddess of Oshogbo, Nigeria, Oshun journeyed to the New World in the chains of slavery. She journeyed forth to places like Cuba, where she is still venerated today as "Our Lady of Charity." She journeyed forth to Haiti, where as Erzulie, she wields the knife that administers justice. She journeyed to Brazil, where as Oxum, she rules over conception and gold. Her travail in coming to the New World was equal to the suffering of Her people, and Her worship provided a measure of comfort in the face of unimaginable strife and hardship. Yet Her children, especially Her daughters, knew how to stretch the moments of joy that they could capture into a reason for staying alive. Somehow, hundreds of women, matriarchs of their genetic and circumstantial families, mustered the courage to continue, and to dream of brighter days, and to then WOMANIFEST those brighter days into being through the power of their will in the collective unconscious. So, yes, Oshun understands struggle and suffering, but she also understand triumph over adversity. One of her sacred pataki, or mythical stories, is about when She is a crone, and is poor. All of her riches are gone. Long gone is her fine jewelry. Long gone are the suitors and servants. Yet, ragged as She appears, She stands proud and
unbowed, a powerful sorceress who lives in the forest and sings with the river. She knows the words of power to make or break the fates of men. She knows how to provide for Her daughters. Despite Her poverty, she foresees better days ahead, and a return of light and love and compassion to the hearts of all. And She will show you this light, to help guide you through times of trouble, if you but ask her graciously.
Honey Queen River dream Beautiful and magical prosperous and generous visionary extraordinary bathed in golden light... Oshun, please guide and bless me every day and every night with love and abundance and clear psychic sight
Go out, out into nature. Find a lake, or a river, or a stream. If your only choice is the fountain in the park, go for it. Get outside to feel Her Majesty. She does not often sit behind a desk, but prefers to be out and seen in the public eye. Wear your finest outfit when you visit Her. Honor Her with your beauty. If you feel like making an offering, she likes 5 shrimp cooked with 5 eggs and 5 cups of collard greens in an omelet. Yeah, the sea gulls and pigeons like it, too. Or maybe bring her 5 honey sticks. Or 5 pieces of chocolate. You get the idea. Bring 5 pennies with you, as well. Make your offering to Oshun by casting forth the omelette or other foods by the water. (If you have picked out chocoloate, better not leave that for dogs or birds or rats. Instead, save the specially-blessed 5 pieces of chocolate and give them to your female friends, acknowledging that they each carry within them the divine beauty, wisdom, love, and prosperity of Oshun.) Once you have made your offering, begin throwing the pennies into the water, one at a time. Cast your first penny, saying something like: "Oshun, please, please, please, please, please bless my family and friends with prosperity. Oh! Sweet Oshun! Your power is the water that gushes forth when the Earth opens into a river. Your power is the beauty in all I see. Your power is the proud and noble feather of the peacock! Oshun, grant me this favor, for there is nothing you cannot do!" Then, cast your second penny, with another devoted, fervent, and practical wish for the prosperity of someone else: maybe a friend or a co-worker. Maybe a neighbor. Always with deep and passionate praise for Her Majesty's power. Save your own wish for last. On your last penny, after having made much beautiful and generous magick for all those around you, indeed even for the entire world, only THEN will you ask for something for yourself. Pay it forward by making beautiful wishes for others first. Then, end with your own wish in the most heartfelt, humble, admiring and respectful words you can possibly muster.
Then, begin chanting softly: "Oshun, kerekete mi owo. Omi dara, omi dara, omi dara." According to Baba Raul Canizares, this means, "Little Oshun, grant me money. Beautiful water, beautiful water, beautiful water." Chant until you feel Her power rising within you. It usually feels cool, like a shady spot under a tree with a gentle breeze blowing love through your soul. When you have felt Her arrive, ask if you may carry Her in your heart and if She will help you create prosperity's flow in your life. Listen to Her answer- She may say yes or She may refer you to a different goddess if that path is more favorable to you. Bow, or swish your hand through the water, or curtsey 5 times and then leave when you feel complete. Begin to carry some "special money" with you after that, maybe a larger-than usual amount. You don't have to spend it- in fact, DON'T spend it. Just make a pact to carry it around with you for a few days, to feel what it feels like to know your needs are met. If you do not have real money that can be carried because it is all tied up in bills or what-have-you, then carry Monopoly money, or make your own "art money." Carry enough of it without spending it until you FEEL secure, and FEEL like you are safe. Link that safe and secure feeling of "having enoughness" with your vision or feeling of Oshun. Then, begin to link that feeling to some of your financial goals.
"I need to find a new job, so I tap into my 'enoughness' and I link that to the sweet coolness of Oshun and now I link that to the resume I just sent and I link that to the favorable response I will get from my application and I link that to improved abundance for my family and I link that to our being able to do our part to support local businesses and now I link that back around to me being able to feel like I have enough so that I can help others feel that way, too." And so on. You can link to this feeling endlessly. It may not yield you snagging each and every job you apply for, or grant you try to get, or sale you need to make. But it WILL begin to shape your consciousness toward "enoughness" and you will then be able to womanifest large-scale fiancial goals with increasing speed and accuracy over time. It's like archery practice- you hit your targets better as your aim, coordination, and musculature improve. This working will be most powerful when, like Oshun, you stand strong, tall, capable, and confident in the face of adversity. This spell will be best-actualized by a woman who KNOWS she can bend the energies of the Universe to her will, because her will is thoroughly based on everyone's highest good. Once your spell has womanifested, now it is time to offer thanks. When you have money again, take the exact amount you carried in your wallet, either in art or in true, and spend it on something that befits Oshun. It might be a gift for yourself that sits on an altar to Her when not in use, or it might be a gift for another goddess in your life. It might be a beautiful, warm nightgown that you donate to a battered women's shelter. Whatever you do, spend the money on something of beauty that will bring joy to a woman. You also might want to go visit Oshun's sacred water once again and make an offering of a bottle of mead or champagne or the purest, fanciest spiring water you can find. Then it is done. Know your power, witches! Know that you will prosper and thrive because of who you are. Do your magick in service to the Goddess and the Highest Good, and you will know wealth once again. And, in light of the suffering of our ancestors of blood and spirit, remember how lucky you actually are, even now.
Study in the Witchy Tarot Class with Z
Please share the Goddess with your friends.
Aradia Speaks: Musings on self-care during difficult times The best day of your life is on the one which YOU decide your life is your own. No apologies. No excuses. No one to lean on, rely on or blame. The gift is yours-it is an amazing journey-and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins. Author unknown from Grannymoon’s Morning Feast July 2008
I have been on a path of personal healing and wellness as long as I can remember. This was born out of necessity, not by choice originally. I was born to an alcoholic mother who physically, emotionally and spiritually abused me every single day of my life until I left her house at the age of 22. Once on my own, I began to have anxiety attacks and physical ailments. I went from doctor to doctor looking for someone to fix me and my problems. I was diagnosed with this and that and given this pill and that pill, yet nothing really fixed me. I was blessed enough to have a woman in my life who knew how to help me. She set me up with a very good therapist who taught me guided visualization and personal responsibility for myself and my health. Through guided visualization and imagery I began to heal my body, mind, and spirit. During one of my meditations I met one of my spirit guides. She extended her right hand to me and placed 3 smooth cool stones in my left hand. I asked her what they were for. She told me to hold onto them for now, just hold them. I would know how to use them when the time was right. She would appear again to me 10 years later when I went to an energy worker/massage therapist for my returning physical, emotional and spiritual ailments. The healer, who I had not yet met, came in the room and told me not to get on the table just yet because she had a message for me from spirit/ Goddess and it may take the whole hour, are you ready to hear what the Goddess has to say to you? She went on to say that this had never happened to her before as healer but she felt compelled to give me this message. During the hour this healer channeled some very powerful words to me and she
mentioned my guide by name and she mentioned the 3 stones. This guide, Aradia said it was time for me to live behind my eyes and stay present fully focused in each moment. There are only 2 states of being when you are in the moment, love or fear. You can only serve one master, so you must choose love over fear for personal healing. Stop seeking outside counsel for so many things and begin to choose love and look within. She also said that my ailments and suffering were not without purpose. She said they would lend credulity to my story for me and my message to others. There are many among us, the walking wounded who suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, many maladies because we have been mistreated and dishonored, but there is healing, peace and sanity to be found. I believe that we each have a personal honor code. This honor code says who we are to the world and what we will settle for in the world. If my code says I’m a person who was abused, I may continue to devalue myself and put myself in situations that dishonor. Goddess says, please value you. Please maintain a personal honor code of strength and integrity. Don’t stay in abusive relationships no matter what they are. No amount of false security is worth degrading your personal code. Find strength and integrity in ways that are suitable for you. 12 step programs are excellent for daily contact with likeminded people who have been there. They are somewhat Christian based but as we say in the recovery programs, “take what you need and leave the rest.” I worship the Goddess and she is present in the rooms of 12 step recovery groups too even if they don’t mention Her by name. Another source of excellent daily comfort and wisdom is Flylady.net. Again, some Christian basis, but she is highly spiritual. I find her messages solid and she is funny too. Her group is designed to get women to love themselves as she teaches you how to FLY (Finally Love Yourself). She sends daily e-mails which help the average woman manage your life and find joy in being you. Both Flylady.net and 12 step programs are completely free. Be selective and choosy about anything that you put on or in your body. Buy the freshest foods you can afford. This isn’t about weight loss. It may seem very difficult to get away from because junk food is everywhere, but bad, overly processed food has been linked to many diseases and killers like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. On the other hand, if you are truly buying the best you can afford and it’s something that is not healthy for your body, place your hands over your plate and thank Goddess for the food and thank Her for Her bounty and blessings and ask it to be nourishing for you and your family. Please don’t smoke cigarettes. They are expensive, they are deadly and they are chemically enhanced in the last 20 years to have more chemicals that keep you addicted to them. This is designed to keep us enslaved to the big tobacco companies and their affiliates. We need to dismantle patriarchy and slavery, but only you can be responsible for what you do. Every time you light a cigarette you are telling the Goddess and the universe that you are enslaved and trapped and don’t value your breath. Without your breath you will die. Those who love you will be left without you. Think on that. I used to chain smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day. If I can quit, you can too. When you choose love over fear, and when you choose to honor yourself, you can choose this minute to not light up. This approach can work
for anything that you use to negatively influence yourself. Choose love over fear second by second, minute by minute, day by day. You will accumulate personal power and success. Please be careful with your words. This can be deadly. If you find yourself saying things like…”that just kills me” or “my heart is breaking” correct yourself and say, cancel Goddess, cancel Universe and phrase it correctly out loud. What you did really hurt my feelings. That makes me upset. The Goddess and the universe is holographic and you will unintentionally set the stage for ill health and further suffering. Be gentle and patient with yourself as you learn new ways of being with yourself. Once you begin to notice how many times a day you say things like that, please self correct. This is another powerful example, “poor me”. Just think what poverty you might manifest with that statement. Turn it around and say, my situation is difficult, but I will manage it. The world is safe and I am safe. The world is bountiful and there is enough for everyone. I choose in this moment to manifest all that I need. My outer world is a reflection of my healthy inner beliefs. I have been manifesting many red tailed hawk sightings and messages lately. As a witch, I find these omens to be very powerful. I refer to my animal omens as Mother Nature’s Tarot. In Ted Andrews book “Animal Speak, the Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small”, he says a great deal about red tailed hawk medicine. These are the words that speak to me. “The red-tailed hawk is very symbolic. It ties to the kundalini, the seat of the primal life force. Its appearance as a totem can coincide with learning how to soar to great heights while keeping ones feet on the ground. The red of the red tail reflects a great intensity of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual forces. The bird is the catalyst, stimulating new hopes and new ideas. It reflects a need to be open to the new and shows you ways that you may help others be open to the new as well”. I am sharing my ways with you. For those of us on the Goddess path, in recovery, or just trying to be a good human we must look for the blessings and synchronicities in all that we do and all that we are. Today I needed a lesson and I needed to share my vision with you. May you find something of value in it and if you do take what you need and leave the rest. Today, I am grateful for my life and my blessings and I wish that for you as well. I have a message for you from Aradia, the avatar of the witches, great defender of the oppressed, “Take these 3 stones into your hands. Hold onto them and let them fill up with you and your story. They represent your body, your mind and your spirit. Once they are filled and you are healed and ready to share your experiences and wisdom, pass them on. Then let the 3 stones represent healing, peace and sanity. These things are your birthright and your destiny as a Divine child of the Goddess. Never forget who you are and never forget where you come from and always be generous and share you with those around you”. Be free and be Goddess blessed.
Spells for Health With money being tight for so many of us, we start to return to the older folk remedies for lesser illnesses. When I catch a cold and get congestion, I turn to my Dziadek's soup. Eat it as hot as you can stand it temperature wise, the hotter it is, the more the onion mucilage will help draw out your congestion.
4 large yellow onions, sliced (strong ones work best not sweet ones) 1/2 stick of butter 6 cloves of garlic smashed 2 quarts beef or vegetable broth (Dziadek always made it with beef broth but vegetable broth works too for the vegetarians) Salt and pepper to taste In a stock pot sauté the onions in the butter over medium heat until soft but not quite translucent, add the garlic and sauté about another 4-5 minutes. Add the broth, turn the heat to medium low and let simmer for at least 1 hour, uncovered. Add salt and pepper to taste. When I am sick, I start this on the stove and transfer it to crock pot after an hour so I can have it hot and ready all day long. If I am really sick I will eat just this and oyster crackers or saltines and drink either Dziadek's miracle juice or a tea he concocted that is good for when you feel generally icky.
Eat and be well. Dziadek would be pleased to know that his wisdom is helping others fight chest ailments. I have had asthma since I was a kid, and this soup was a big part of my childhood since every winter it seemed I got bronchitis or pneumonia at least once. And of course, pray over your soup and thank the Goddess for the abundance of good health She gives you and your family on a daily basis. We are blessed!
UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS July 2-5: Z will be a guest speaker at the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess Nation Gathering at Madison, WI. For more information contact Jade (www.rcgi.org).
The Goddess Temple of Orange County Events at The Goddess Temple of Orange County are designed for women - Sunday services
The Sacred Circle ~ Recovering & Reclaiming Ancient Ways to Heal our Lives Events in The Sacred Circle are for members only, unless otherwise stated. CIRCLES WILL BE OPEN TO ALL WOMEN THIS WINTER! Call JoAnna 775-882-1599 for membership inquiries.
CAYA Coven Circles – Amazon Sabbats, Grove of Artemis CAYA is hosting their Harvest Home Magick and Music Festival September 18-20, which will have a co-ed camp and an Amazons-only camp ( there will be both co-ed and women-only rituals and programs). cayacoven.org
Dianic Wiccan Clergy Priestess Overview It is the goal of the Women’s Spirituality Forum to provide our members with herstorical and philosophical foundations of the Dianic Tradition; including ritual and spiritual practices from which to provide Clergy Priestess services to the public. Dianic Tradition is an ancient Goddess and woman-centered, Earth-based, feminist denomination of Wiccan religion. We are a teaching tradition. In the Dianic Tradition, clergy are required to complete course work that enriches their understanding of the sacred feminine Craft through cognitive and practical hands-on experiences to use in their roles as clergy priestesses to the Goddess and Her women.
What is Dianic Clergy? Clergy is a Greek word meaning “heritage” and from its origins, developed into a name for the persons who kept records and practices of the heritage. In the Dianic Tradition, we refer to the Clergy Priestesses as the active keepers and practitioners of our traditions, records and practices. These are Goddess priestess women who provide spiritual support to women (and their families) worldwide; and support women’s rights as feminists.
Ordained Dianic Clergy is not the same as an Ordained Daughter of Z Budapest. Ordained Daughter is an honorary title for exemplary community service gifted by Z Budapest directly. It has no legal ties to the Women’s Spirituality Forum.
What can I do with this? Ordained Dianic Clergy can perform public rituals, including marriage rites, under the legal auspicious of the Women’s Spirituality Forum non-profit status. The Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc. is a 501 ( c ) (3) tax-exempt religious, educational, and charitable organization. Income you earn as Dianic Clergy and keep is not tax deductible. Income you donate to the Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc. is tax deductible. The same is true for portions of the income donated to the Women’s Spirituality Forum, Inc., but only the amount of the donated portion would be tax deductible.
What is expected from students enrolled in this program? The Women’s Spirituality Movement, which reclaimed the Dianic Tradition, was based on two principles of action; movement happens through the written word and through the physical doing. We will require both from you. Expect to produce high quality materials that you will use in your Clergy Priestess practice. We expect you complete your training in a reasonable amount of time. You may not complete this training in any less than a year and a day, and not more than three years and three days. We have made concessions for life’s complications during your period of training by allowing you longer than a year and a day to finish, but also realize that this is a very serious and intensive program for only the most dedicated of Goddess Women. Live In-person trainings are required. Online classes in the Dianic Wicca University are required. More on requirements and fees. Ordination as a Dianic Clergy Priestess is required before you will receive any acknowledgement of successful completion. This ordination must be inperson at an event of our choosing. You will be required to complete an academic body of work using a variety of mediums (written, video, audio, etc.). You will attend in-person events where you will be required to perform leadership skills and be observed. If you meet all these requirements satisfactorily, you will receive ordination as a Clergy Priestess and an official certificate. Who should apply? Women-born-women who live their lives as females, and are seeking to enrich their lives and the lives of others by becoming knowledgeable about and intending to become practicing clergy of the Dianic (Feminist) tradition of Wicca, an Earthbased theology, as founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest.
Statement of Dianic Wiccan Faith As a Goddess and woman-centered, Earth-based, feminist clergy, you must support, defend and be prepared to propagate the basic principles of Dianic Wicca as follows: 1. Maintain a living practice the Manifesto of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One. 2. Practice the Dianic Wiccan Rede code of ethics that honors the Earth and Her creatures, "And it harm none, do what thou wilt." 3. Honor a feminine aspect of deity.
Ethics of the Dianic Wiccan Faith
Manifesto of the Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One (Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries p.1-2)
Dangers of Magic (Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries p.10)
Only the Women’s Spirituality Forum can ordain clergy under the auspices of their non-profit status. While other non-profits might have their own clergy, their credentials are not substitutions for the training and credential of the Women’s Spirituality Forum.
The Application for Dianic Clergy Priestess is online
Goddess Resource Links Z Budapest Website Dianic Wicca University Online Dianic Nation Women's Events Z's Blog Z's Events Schedule Z's MySpace Calendar Z's University Calendar Z's Books Summoning the Fates Holy Book of Women's Mysteries Celestial Wisdom Grandmother of Time Grandmother Moon Goddess in the Office Goddess in the Bedroom Holy Book Herstory Have you ever wondered the who, what, where and when's of the creation of the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries? We've put together a web page that highlights the answers to these questions.
Please share the Goddess with your friends. Have you done your self-blessing today? We do self-blessing every day. In fact, it's the first thing I do every morning when I rise as I'm preparing to get dressed. It's good mental health. Do your self-blessings and life will be sweeter. The SelfBlessing is on page 120 of the Holy Book of Women's Mysteries.
This magazine is sponsored by the Women’s Spirituality Forum. Please help support our efforts to help keep the Goddess Alive!