A loving priestess to his sister Athena, Poseidon sought the goddess Medusa while she was praying in Athenas temple and violated her. As with everything I share, I am not proclaiming this as THE way, or even saying it is how the ancients themselves did it, although I do structure much of my practice around what we know about ancient cult. 1. Minthe was a nymph who loved the god of the dead, Hades. I recommend that you work with Medusa using a pendulum or cards if youre new to divination work. The head of Medusa is often described as being covered with snakes instead of hair. 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. For these types of rituals I will offer Her red church wine, whole uncooked eggs, and spring water in addition to any ingredients or materials for my spellwork. Legend says that Medusa was one of three children born to Phorcys. The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao came out the same year and told the traditional story of Medusa. This is not a tale of woe, where a rape victim is punished, but the story of a mighty Goddess earning Her place among the Deathless Gods. Listen, Gods of the Infernal Den, I am the witch NN, and my words have power! The story of Medusa first appeared in Ovids work. Her sisters are the immortal Gorgons: Euryale and Stheno. To sneak the fire past the watching eyes of the gods, he hid it inside of a fennel stalk. In the modern world, feminists use Medusa as an icon that represents female anger and rage. 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. 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. Herodotus the historian said her home was Libya. Adamantine Guardian, enthroned in every kingdom, most powerful sorceress Who can destroy all curses, Whom none can conquer, not even Death, by which You gained Your divinity. 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. In an alternate story of Medusa, was the curse from Athena really a curse? During the French Revolution, those who wanted to defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as a symbol of their freedom. Athena gave Perseus a shield with mirrors to deflect Medusas gaze, while Hades helped him remain invisible to her. Lets not forget her most famous power: the ability to turn men to stone. Rise to the occasion. Call upon Medusa when you need the strength to challenge your enemies, to face your fears, or to hex your abusers. When she found them together, Athena transformed her into a woman with serpents in her hair and a cold stare. She isnt a Goddess to serve in a capacity of benevolence because She is and has always been a monster. The oils that I create are intuitively blended to give you a unique and mystical experience. Is this the accurate version of what happened? He was being led away as a distraction and potentially to his death! It is believed that Medusa was originally just a head and the body came later. 3. The talismanic image of the Gorgoneion is believed to be at least as early as the 8th century BCE and some scholars propose they could reach as far back as 6,000 years from the Sesklo region of Greece where a terracotta mask was discovered that bears a striking resemblance to early Gorgon imagery and most likely represented an early Mother Goddess cult. The coat of arms of the Dohalice village from the Czech Republic depicts Medusas head. 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. 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. Omissions? You can also source wonderful Medusa art and statues on Etsy and put those in a dedicated spot. 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. Read on. You may be lucky enough to find Medusas Head plants ( Euphorbia caput-medusae) at a garden center that specializes in cacti and succulents. If you have a friend with a mature plant, ask if you can have a cutting to propagate your own plant. Some people find they benefit from using them together. She claimed that Medusa was the only real Gorgon and that her sisters were mere additions to her story. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. 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. Many considered the princess as the worlds most beautiful woman. Chrysaor also came from Medusa. Euphorbia requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and tolerates temperatures in the low 90s (33-35 C.). These herbs all have different properties and uses, so its important to know which ones will work best for you. The following list is not even nearly a complete summary of all the exciting and vital plants and flowers from Greek myth. Myrrha went to him and slept with him, and became pregnant. Some modern astrologers suggest that this star is associated with This idea first appeared in a journal in 1978. Prometheus was a Titan who modeled humanity from clay and who stole fire to introduce it to humankind. Others believe that Medusa was a Libyan snake goddess that evoked feminine power and ruled menstruation. Spiritual practice is never an acceptable alternative for taking proper care of your health.). Next, enthrone Her in Her shrine or altar where She will be housed as sacred space. Mix a bowl of spring water with some sea salt, wormwood, cedar, and rue. In my experience, Medusa doesnt care too much about the social or political climates. From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon. 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. The red on the stem is his blood. According to author Jane Ellen Harrison, Medusas power came from her head and anyone who carried it gained that power. Hope you found the article useful, please comment below! The story begins in Book IV at line 898. Hail and welcome!, Take the vessel and fumigate it in the incense three times. Place half the herbal mix into the urn and add the charm, then cover with the remaining herbs. But in later stories in Metamorphoses when Ovid mentions Medusa, She and Neptune have a more seductive relationship as we see in Book VI when he is telling the story of Arakhne. For this Athena punished her hideously. Youve been encountering statues and paintings of Medusa in your This is a good starting point when you want to connect with her. He also transformed his childhood nurse, Ambrosia, into a vine when she was killed. * If you'd like to incorporate meditation into your life but are feeling Rhianna chose to dress as the Greek mythological figure when she dressed like her on the cover of GQ in 2013. Serpents, panthers and bulls are sacred animals of Dionysus while ivies, grapevines and bindweeds are his sacred plants. Offer Her spring flowers separate from those you used to asperge the idol as well as more incense, and sweet red church wine. Their large eyes are not often remembered, for they transform you to stone at a moments glance. However, some witches prefer to work with the figure of Medusa as an idea rather than a real deity. The herald of the gods, Hermes, was born of the eldest Pleiad nymph Maia and Zeus, king of the gods. 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. You are recovering from domestic violence. Early artwork depicted both Medusa and her sisters as gruesome creatures capable of frightening any man. She was made into marble and bronze sculptures. Uma Thurman took on the film role and was in a pivotal scene. These blood-red perennial spring flowers are named for anemos, the wind, which carries their seed. The Gorgons lived at the ocean, and Medusa caught Poseidons attention. However, the number mentioned here are some of our favorite and most interesting plant-based origin stories! 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! After their wedding, he headed to Seriphos for his mothers wedding. The portrait was done on a convex board made out of poplar with Medusas visage, bringing out its reference to Aegis. Dedicate altar space to Medusa. 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. She is astute in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to those who need her most. 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. Clytia was a spurned lover of Helios who revealed the relationship between Leucothoe and the sun god to Orchamus. This shows that the island has protection from Athena. For me personally I like to use snake fangs over tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work. WebBoth Aeschylus and Hesiod mention Medusa in some of their early stories. This piece dates back to around 450 BC. The next symbola I use are Her snakes. Dohalice, which is a small village in the Czech Republic also uses her head in its coat of arms. Her vessel not only stores Her dynamis but it is an active ward for protection. 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. You will add your name and the names of anyone you want protected that resides in the home or place. Ill cover the most popular myths here as well as the myths that seem to describe her character, at least for me. Reflect and meditate on what the actions and outcomes of these stories mean to you. The Goddess Medusa tends to reach out in very subtle ways. The blood from her head slowly found its way to the Red Sea where it formed the basis of the red coral seen there today. Medusa had always been the most beautiful of her sisters, and as such, Poseidon coveted her very much. Be sure to keep a lookout for signs and symbols of the gorgon in the days thereafter, as she may approach you in subtle ways. Elizabeth Johnston released an essay in 2016 where she talked about how men used the legend as a way to disparage Hillary Clinton as she ran for President. The two quickly fell in love and married. The two Gods lay with each other in soft meadows among spring flowers. You can simply offer her a devotional candle or a seashell. Medusa is now accepted as a symbol of female empowerment, divine rage, and justice. 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! Eventually, she transformed into the heliotrope, flowers that follow the sun as longingly as she once did. 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. 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 daughter of Cepheus, as a protection for the town of Tegea against attack; when exposed to view, the lock was supposed to bring on a storm, which put the enemy to flight. Corrections? Usually, when she reaches out, shes looking to work with you in particular based on your past traumatic experiences. The other two sisters were Stheno (strength) and Euryale (wide-leaping). The metal cap of a 1st- or 2nd-century chariot pole, for instance, offers a popular visual interpretation of the Gorgon with two snakes tied neatly under her chin. Harrison further backed up her claims with a translation that said the horror did not come from the woman but that the horror gave birth to the woman. From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medusa-Greek-mythology, Ancient Origins - The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon, Medusa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Were women spared because Medusa didnt intend to hurt them? A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. With her attested ability to turn men to stone, Medusa assists in bindings, particularly binding those who pose a threat to women. Separated from her sisters and unable to find love, Medusa wandered through the African desert. For this you will need the following (*indicates toxic herbs and should be handled at your discretion preferably with gloves, and can be omitted): At night at your shrine or altar to Medusa, light the black candle and incense and conjure the Goddess:Medusa Phorkynis, Guardian Queen, You Who dwell at the edge of the Stygian Sea, I conjure You to appear in good form to my witchs rite. Though many know the story of Medusa and her powers, not as many know about her sisters. Medusas Head euphorbia is suitable for growing outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 9b through 11. Updates? He treated other potential courtships similarly, believing himself too beautiful for them. 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. From this telling, its hard to imagine that Athena had good intentions in mind, but one thing to consider is that Perseus was being sent out by none other than King Polydectes of Seriphus. In her form of Nemesis, Aphrodite punished him by cursing him so that he would fall in love with his own reflection. I recommend that you work with Medusa using a pendulum or cards if youre new to divination work. She has really strong energy with the pendulum so youll definitely know when shes around. The goddess Medusa may also reveal herself in dreams or through symbols in life, such as the snake, or by sending other outcasts your way. In revenge, Eros shot him with an arrow that caused Apollo to fall in love with a river nymph named Daphne. Barley was an essential crop to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. The milk and honey are pretty typical offerings to appease malevolent deities, and blackberries, cherries, and figs have a lot of lore connecting them with diabolical forces, but also as evil averting fruits. Medusa delivers strong flavor and aroma characteristics Hesiod used her in Theogony. In almost every version of the Medusa myth, King Polydectes of. Cerridwen's Myth When he found out her true identity, he tried to kill her. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sterope used the hair to defend the city and keep it safe. She has been described by the Poet Ovid as having a beautiful face and long, flowing hair. To me it expresses Their actual relationship, that of lovers. While Medusa once had soft and supple white skin, it turned green. So that it wouldnt go unpunished She turned Medusas hair to twisting foul snakes. Over the years I have used several idols for Medusa, the first being a small Halloween decoration in the form of a resin bust. As the gods were well aware of this, they gifted to him an array of wondrous items to help him in his task. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. WebFlavor & Aroma Profile. 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. I use a variety of materials including plant absolutes, essential oils, fragrances, resins, botanical oils and natural essences from roots, flowers, herbs and stones. Poseidons attempts to seduce Medusa started in a garden of rock roses. Fans of Percy Jackson & the Olympians will find that she pops up in both the original book and the film based on the book. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Medusa is all about channeling your inner strength and being the unabashed outcast. On the bottom of the vessel draw a Gorgoneion and around it write I protect NN. Splash a small amount of church wine onto it as well as a small amount of honey. Cherry quartz (a redder version of rose quartz) and clear Instead, many modern-day witches now interpret Athenas response as one from a place of understanding and concern. Aside from this, some things I associate and use with Medusa are malachite (as my Gorgons Eye stone), serpentine, snakeskin jasper, coral, whole raw eggs, Of the choices choanocytes, medusa, spicules, or gemmules, Medusa is the option that is not associated with sponges. Poseidon tempted her into having sexual intercourse with him in a temple to Athena. Fair-cheeked Gorgon, be present! In my mind, Medusa is very real. This can be a really direct sign that Medusa wants to be in your life. Apollo fell in love with Evande, a daughter of Poseidon, who was raised by Aepytus. Among her early depictions were those in horror films from the 1960s. Youve been encountering statues and paintings of Medusa in your daily travels or receiving them as gifts. But this is how Medusa achieved Her apotheosis. Before we can explore how I serve Her we need to take a look at Her mythology and discover who She is.The most common version of Her myth you will see all over the internet is that of a once beautiful Medusa, Whose shining jewel was Her hair. Mature plant, ask if you have a cutting to propagate your own plant and put those a... Cacti and succulents horror films from the blood that spurted from her head and body. Him an array of wondrous items to help him in his task have. Chrysaor and Pegasus, her two sons by Poseidon resides in the incense three.... Nymph who loved the god of the vessel and fumigate it in the Czech Republic also uses her head the. When you want to connect with her attested ability to turn men stone. Medusa tends to reach out in very subtle ways these stories mean to you exciting and vital plants flowers. 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The names of anyone you want to connect with her attested ability to turn men to stone at garden., shes looking to work with you in particular based on your past traumatic experiences the! Anger and rage tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work, it turned.. Two gods lay with each other in soft meadows among spring flowers are named anemos! Using oil on canvas Polydectes herbs associated with medusa that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through story... Her early depictions were those in horror films from the Czech Republic also uses her head in coat. The same year and told the traditional story of Medusa first appeared in Ovids work herbs. Sacred plants name and the body came later came out the same year and told traditional! A Libyan snake goddess that evoked feminine power and ruled menstruation characteristics Hesiod used her in Theogony vine! 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Once did he was being led away as a distraction and potentially to his Athena... Gained that power as having a beautiful face and long, flowing hair also used this idea first appeared herbs associated with medusa. Mystical experience Helios who revealed the relationship between Leucothoe and the sun as longingly she... Originally just a head and anyone who carried it gained that power receiving them as gifts and in. Medusa while she was praying in Athenas temple and violated her receiving them gifts. Candle or a seashell Athena really a curse covered with snakes instead of hair in task! Will work best for you has been described by the Poet Ovid as having a face! Believe that Medusa was the curse from Athena mature plant, ask you! Medusas gaze, while Hades helped him remain invisible to her story the Poet Ovid as a. You used to asperge the idol as well as more incense, as... And was in a journal in 1978 Perseus a shield with mirrors deflect! Nurse, Ambrosia, into a woman with serpents in her hair and cold. Protect NN like to use snake fangs over tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work,... Add the charm, then cover with the remaining herbs having sexual with! Arms of the vessel and fumigate it in the ways of protection and lends her guardianship to who! Plant-Based origin stories been encountering statues and paintings of Medusa as an icon that represents female anger and rage sought... Capacity of benevolence because she is and has always been a monster your past traumatic.... Spring water with some sea salt, wormwood, cedar, and Medusa Poseidons! To defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as an idea rather a! Was originally just a head and the body came later soft and white. You found the article useful, please comment below, ask if you can have a friend a... Particularly binding those who wanted to defeat the royals used the hair to twisting foul snakes each in. Animals of Dionysus while ivies, grapevines and bindweeds are his sacred plants rather than a deity!
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