Themes: Divination; Communication (with the divine); Destiny
Symbols: Sacred Dance; Circles; Mirror; Thread
About Istustaya: In Anatolia this goddess rules over all matters of fate in is an adept diviner, often using a mirror for descrying so she can share insights into our future. Besides this, she personally weaves the thread of life for each person born, patterning his or her destiny.
To Do Today: The Mevlana is celebrated by the Whirling Dervishes in Turkey as a ritual dance through which the devout attain oneness with the divine, often for the purpose of fortune-telling. The festival includes chanting while dancers twirl around, effectively becoming the center of a magical circle formed by their skirts. So, if you hold a ritual today, use yarn or thread to mark the sacred space, with a mirror and your preferred divinatory tool on the altar to honor Istustaya. Dance clockwise around the circle, or your home, before attempting any divinatory effort. This draws the goddess’s vision into your spirit.
If you want to try mirror descrying specifically to venerate Istustaya, sit somewhere comfortable with a candle behind the mirror. Dab a little sandalwood oil on the surface, rubbing it clockwise. Let your eyes unfocus and wait to see what images appear in the reflected light and oil. These may be symbolic or literal in nature. A dream interpretation guide may help in figuring out the meaning.
(c) 365 Goddess by Patricia Telesco - Copyright 1998
Spell of the Day
December 4th
DIVINE WISHES POTPOURRI CHARM
You will need a large wooden or ceramic bowl, pine boughs, cedar boughs, three pinecones, three cinnamon sticks, three small handfuls of whole cloves, vanilla oil, bayberry oil, and red, white and green velvet ribbon.
Begin by lining the bowl with the pine and cedar boughs. As you do, say:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Next, add the pinecones and repeat:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Now add the cinnamon sticks and repeat:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Gently toss in the whole cloves and say:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Then add thirty-three drops of vanilla oil. As you do, repeat:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Next, add thirty-three drops of the bayberry oil and say:
Wishes divine wishes bright Bring to me my heart's delight!
Now tie three red bows, three white bows and three green bows with the velvet ribbon. Place the bows decoratively on top of the potpourri in honor of the God, Goddess and Oneness. Put the potpourri charm in your living room during the holidays. Return the bowl contents, minus the bows to the earth after that time. Save the bows to use again.
Beauty speaks to us in soft whispers or bold declarations. She calls on us to gaze in awe at her splendor. We are enticed by beauty. We adore her, idolize her, and even court her. Beauty seduces all of our senses. Beauty’s seduction can be as obvious as the striking good looks of a man or woman or as subtle as the charms of a shaggy dog with loving brown eyes. We find beauty in the wonders of nature. Beauty offers us a symphony of colors with every sunrise and sunset and reveals to us her brash power through a storm at sea. Beauty teases us through the shy smile of a child and delights us via the brilliant flashes of fireworks. Beauty sometimes piques all of our senses at once, appealing to our taste buds, as well as our eyes and nose, when she appears in the form of a deliciously baked cake. Beauty calms us with floral scents and excites our aural lust through the passionate sounds made by an orchestra.
Beauty can be cruel, and our pursuit of her can be in vain. We may go to the opera in anticipation of finding beauty there, and she may bore and disappoint us. Instead, beauty lavishes her attention on another suitor who may be more appreciative of her charms. Or, we may try to capture beauty’s essence in a photograph, painting, or sculpture, and still she is nowhere to be found. Beauty will forever inspire works of art, and she will always pose for her portrait, selecting the artist who is most worthy of her catching her likeness.
Depending on our personal tastes, beauty can be found in every color, flavor, scent, and texture. She lives among the poor, as well as the rich, and appears in the faces of the young and the old. She is at home in the city, as well as the country, decorating skylines as well as landscapes. She is the ultimate shape shifter. Beauty is a weather beaten barn beloved by one person and an awesome testament of naval craftsmanship revered by another. Beauty knows no bounds, and we can find her everywhere. All we have to do is look for beauty, and she is there. Daily OM
In ancient Rome, secret women's rites were performed annually on this date in honor of Bona Dea, the Good Goddess. All males were barred from the ceremonies, which were conducted by vestal virgins.
In ancient Greece, this day was sacred to the goddess Cybele and also to Rhea, the Great Mother of the Earth.
In ancient Rome, secret women's rites were performed annually on this date in honor of Bona Dea, the Good Goddess. All males were barred from the ceremonies, which were conducted by vestal virgins.
In ancient Greece, this day was sacred to the goddess Cybele and also to Rhea, the Great Mother of the Earth.
