Venus has been with us for thousands of years—not just in myth, but in art, in longing, in the way we see and seek beauty. She shows up in sculpture, poetry, music, fashion, film. She’s the figure we return to over and over, even when we don’t realize we’re invoking her. She’s not just a goddess, she’s the eternal muse. The ideal. The one we long for, create for, perform for. But the question is: do we ever really see her?
Throughout history, Venus has been more projection than person. Artists, poets, philosophers, and lovers have used her as a canvas to reflect what they value most—beauty, sensuality, power, desire. And in that projection, she gains a strange kind of power. The muse has always held mystery: not for what she reveals, but for what she allows others to see in her.
Today, we still do this—just not with marble statues or oil paintings. Now we project our longing onto celebrities, influencers, models, and even the people we silently admire. We edit our photos, curate our lives, and chase the magnetic pull of being desired. But this isn’t new. It’s Venus, dressed up for the algorithm.
And yet beneath the surface, Venus is not just an icon or ideal. She’s a goddess with roots deeper than Rome—older than Aphrodite. In Sumer, she was Inanna: a goddess of both love and war, who descended into the underworld to face her shadow and rose transformed. In Babylon, she became Ishtar, fierce and untamed. To the Phoenician and Canaanite peoples, she was Astarte, the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of the Gods. And to the Egyptians, she was Isis, the goddess of magick and motherhood. These older versions of Venus were not passive muses—they were initiators, wild forces of nature who ruled both beauty and destruction. They embodied the full range of feminine power: pleasure, grief, seduction, rage, creation, loss.
Somewhere along the way, we softened her edges. We made her more palatable. She became Aphrodite rising from the sea, or Venus reclining on a chaise. Still powerful, but safer. Still beautiful, but easier to adore. She is the muse, yes—but she is also the mirror.
But if we stop chasing the idea of Venus, of projecting our fantasies and desires and actually look—beyond the surface, beyond the symbols—Venus asks harder questions: What do you find beautiful, and why? What does your longing say about you? What are you seeking when you pursue love, or attention, or admiration? Do you truly want to be seen—or just reflected? To meet Venus is to confront the complexity of desire. And to realize that real beauty, like real love, has depth. It’s not just what’s shown—it’s what’s revealed when we stop performing and start paying attention.
Venus doesn’t just live in myth—she governs the rhythm of attraction in astrology, too. She rules two signs: earthy, sensual Taurus, and airy, harmonious Libra. In Taurus, Venus lives in the body—she wants to taste, touch, and feel secure. She loves what is real, grounded, and rooted in the senses. In Libra, she moves into the aesthetic and relational, where beauty becomes balance, and elegance becomes diplomacy. She curates, harmonizes, and creates connection.
But Venus also has a shadow side—one that is especially felt when she moves through Scorpio. Here, she becomes deeper, more intense, more investigative. Venus in Scorpio doesn’t want surface beauty; she wants soul-bonded truth. This is the Venus who strips away illusion, who loves like a plunge into dark water. Passionate, possessive, and psychic in her knowing, she reminds us that love is never risk-free. In Scorpio, Venus confronts what lies beneath the pleasure—jealousy, obsession, betrayal, transformation. She teaches us that desire can destroy, but also resurrect.
In a birth chart, Venus reveals how we relate—what we’re drawn to, how we express affection, and how we experience pleasure. But she also tells the story of what we think we’re worth. Self-worth and attraction are always entangled. What you believe you deserve often shapes what (and who) you attract. The tension between being loved and being valued is one of Venus’s oldest lessons. Across all her forms, Venus is a teacher of discernment. She invites us to ask not only what we desire, but why. And whether the love we seek is rooted in truth—or performance.
Art history is full of Venus. She is perhaps the most painted goddess in Western tradition. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus gave her a mythic innocence, born from the sea and carried on a scallop shell like an offering to the world. Titian’s reclining Venus met the viewer’s gaze with agency and sensuality—no longer symbolic, but fully embodied. Later depictions ranged from erotic to decorative, from idealized to commercialized. Through centuries of artistic reinterpretation, Venus became less of a deity and more of a mirror: reflecting society’s evolving—and often conflicting—ideas about femininity, beauty, and power.
But even when she’s reduced to an aesthetic, her presence remains magnetic. Why? Because Venus is not static. She changes shape depending on who is looking at her—and what they need to see. She is never just one woman, one story, or one ideal. She is the pull behind poetry, the reason music aches, the silent force in every love story and heartbreak. She’s what draws artists to the page, the stage, the lens. She is the hunger and the halo.
In the film Shakespeare in Love, when the playwright is asked who she is—his muse, his mystery, his inspiration—he replies simply: “She’s always Aphrodite.” That line speaks to something ancient. For centuries, so much hope, ache, and longing has been laid at the goddess’s feet. We’ve asked her to carry our fantasies. To grant us beauty, love, recognition. But rarely do we ask who she is underneath all that projection. Rarely do we stop to see her—not just as a vessel for desire, but as a force of her own.
Even in modern times, we haven’t stopped making offerings to Venus. We just do it differently. Filters. Fragrance. Silk. Lipstick. Screenshots of texts we read too many times. We still chase the high of being wanted—and the fear of not being enough. And we still place people on pedestals, projecting onto them our deepest longings. But Venus doesn’t exist to be worshipped from afar. She exists to be known. To be felt. To remind us that real beauty has texture. Real connection requires presence. And real love doesn’t demand we become someone else—it asks us to come home to ourselves.
For the modern spiritual practitioner who longs for connection to the self and to the goddess, as in ancient times—the magick of the personified Venus can feel distant or lost to time. Often, we wonder where the breathtaking goddess who walks on the sea dwells today. Is she still with us?
To mystics and pagans of varying spiritual paths, she is still venerated, invoked, and evoked. She is just as real today as she was to people of historical times—if you know where to look and how to establish a connection to her.
Just as ancient temples were built in her honor, modern practitioners act as mini temples or living vessels of her sacred energy or build altars to her in sacred spaces they’ve created within and around their home. Altars and shrines can both symbolically and literally connect with a deity’s energy—and you, too, can connect with the personified form of Venus if you choose to.
Symbolism is like a universal language that allows the incomprehensible to take form in a way humans can grasp. The symbols of Venus include, the planet Venus, doves, roses, seashells, mirrors, pearls, the ocean, water, the Morning Star, and myrtle wreaths. Through the lens of Inanna, Ishtar, and Astarte, she is also associated with the cosmos, the number seven, intuition, darkness, balance, death and rebirth, fertility, lions, thrones, snakes, dragons, owls, lilies (specifically lily of the valley), lotus blossoms, lapis lazuli, frankincense, and myrrh. Her Greek counterpart, Aphrodite, was remembered through symbols of mirrors, swans, pomegranates, apples, and marine life.
All of these symbols can be used to create a sacred space where Venus, in her many forms, can be called upon—but more so than physical items to represent the goddess, she is often remembered as a goddess of wisdom and one who appreciates those who give everything up to pursue that which is hidden.
Just as the sacred pearls of Aphrodite can only be discovered through a deep-sea dive to find a worthy oyster to unlock, the heart of Venus is softened toward those who devote their time and energy toward wisdom, mysteries, and magick.
In the Canaanite wisdom traditions, she is remembered through the fable of a person seeking fine pearls, and once they found one they deemed priceless, they gave up everything they had in exchange for that single precious pearl.
Similarly, in the Hermetic wisdom traditions rooted in Egypt, the principle of Cause and Effect, as well as the Principle of Correspondence highlight the power of exchanges and mirrors within our universe. All of which connect back to Venus.
The Principle of Cause and Effect states that every cause has its effect, every effect has its cause, just as we learn in physics, but in the spiritual application. In the same vein, the Principle of Correspondence highlights the sentiment of “as above, so below,” which is about how things are reflected. Every choice we make has an outcome. Every action we take in the physical is mirrored in the spiritual. When we pursue Venus. She pursues us back. When we devote our lives to wisdom. Wisdom becomes the nature of our life.
Venus longs to answer the call of those who crave wisdom in its pure, unadulterated form. Something rarely found in the era of quick digital access to information. Not all knowledge is equal, though, and more often than not, the information that is provided is mere crumbs despite the seeker hungering for loaves of bread. Where is the food capable of nourishing the spirit? Where is the wisdom that transforms the mind?
Those who know Venus—and Inanna, Ishtar, Astarte, Aphrodite, Isis, and all of the many names and personas she wears—both in the hushed circles of oral traditions of ancient times and the modern practitioners longing to return to the old ways—claim that she is the provider of this food, this wisdom. Simultaneously, they maintain the tradition that she also is this food, this wisdom.
To venerate, invoke, and evoke Venus is to venerate, invoke, and evoke wisdom.
And, of course, being transformed by sacred wisdom is the beginning of everything. It is the pathway to the infinite—the divine, the great consciousness of all that is. Are you ready to begin the journey of knowing the multi-faceted, paradoxical Venus? You’ll find her where astrology, artistry, and mysticism collide.
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WOW! The big day is finally here… The Mystic’s Journey Program is now LIVE!
I am absolutely honored that you've considered potentially joining The Mystic's Journey Program. And if you still feel you’re meant to join, I hope that you receive all the confirmation(s) needed to nudge you forward toward joining.
In 2011, I first began taking my spiritual path seriously. I started teaching on estoeric wisdom nearly every night of the week in 2018, and after a near-death experience that winter and then countless paradigm shifts in my understanding of just how vast and complex our magickal universe is, I paused everything I was teaching in the Fall of 2022 to better structure and share everything I had come to understand in a way that honored the goddesses and gods of old.
This program, The Mystic’s Journey, is the culmination of everything I've learned over these last 14 years and is a living, breathing, multi-faceted program that will continue to evolve as we all collectively come to understand the mysteries of the universe in a greater capacity.
The Mystic’s Journey is structured like a spider’s web. Imagine yourself at the center of the web, starting on your journey and making your way around it in a spiral formation that expands outward and upward infinitely. This is your journey, and it is the path of weaving your own fate as you learn, heal, and grow as a mystic.
The definition of a mystic: a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.
Sound like you? Then you’re in the right place.
There are three “realms” that this web spans, connecting together the key layers of the human experience. As a mystic, you’ll make your way through each realm beginning with the physical realm, then the psychological realm, and ending with the spiritual realm.
There are seven “threads” of the web that align with the colors of the rainbow and act as the web’s framework, giving everything in existence order and structure. As a mystic, you’ll encounter each thread along the way beginning with the thread that defines the fundamentals of life to the final thread that showcases the outcome of your evolution as a mystic. These threads ultimately empower you to weave your fate, so proceed intentionally.
Each place on the web where one of these three realms and seven threads intersects create 21 areas of “liminal space” where the sparks of magick in the universe are born. These sacred areas are crossroads that carry heightened energy and endless possibilities. They align with the 21 archetypes that The Fool encounters on their journey through the Major Arcana in the Tarot. The first archetype is one that will introduce you to magick on the microcosmic scale and the twenty-first and final archetype is one that will show you the world on the macrocosmic scale.
Each of these areas of liminal space also corresponds to a couple broad categories of magickal practices, resulting in 42 “trails” for practitioners to venture down. Some may find interest in one specific area of magick; others may eclectically embrace multiple in their personal path. These areas of magick that you’ll learn to dabble in span from Ancestral Magick at the start to Cosmic Magick at the end, and often play a role in how mystics choose to identify elements of their craft, though labels are never necessary.
As part of the infinite spiral expansion of the web (like that of the Fibonacci sequence), there are 117 paradoxical, yin-yang energies that practitioners partner with on their mystical journey. Using a nonary system, the sum of the Fibonacci sequence is 117, which links this number with exponential growth in the universe and the limitless possibilities that a mystic may tap into as they weave their own fate. These 117 energies can be thought of as epithets of wisdom, channels of energy, or even personified energetic beings, such as deities, angels, infernals, or spirits.
At the end of the program, you’ll have an arsenal of tools that will empower you on the rest of your lifelong journey as a mystic to tap into esoteric wisdom as ancient practitioners did to weave your own fate.
Enroll in the program HERE!
In modern society, it’s easy to see the influence that monotheistic religion has on so many areas of our lives, but what about the subtle nods to the old gods and goddesses hidden in household brands we use on a regular basis?
While I often love seeing iconography that remembers the old gods, I’m often also left with a great deal of skepticism relating to just how much of the brand uses their imagery to exploit the power of these divine beings versus venerating them.
Here are some modern nods to the gods—I’ll let you be the judge of whether you think the brand honors the image of the deity they’re paying tribute to or not.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Ever noticed the little winged shoe in the Goodyear logo? Goodyear's iconic logo, the Wingfoot, is inspired by the winged foot of the Roman god Mercury (or Hermes in Greek mythology), chosen by company founder Frank Seiberling to represent speed and swiftness. Something that makes sense in the context of vehicular travel and quick car service at their shops.
Venus by Gillette
Razors to help people feel their best and embrace their sleek, smooth, feminine side? That’s what the brand Venus by Gillette provides. Beyond a mere icon, the name actually is that of the ancient Roman goddess Venus.
Dove
Pulling in one of the iconic symbols of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the Dove brand embraces all things self-love from soaps to lotions and everything in between.
NIKE, Inc.
Shoes, apparel, and more all under the name of the Greek goddess Nike, who personified victory in battles and contests. Quite fitting for products often used in competitive sports.
Pandora Jewelry
Charm bracelets and jewelry that can be customized with endless possibilities to express your true self? That’s what Pandora the brand offers in a direct named tribute to the Greek woman Pandora (not technically a goddess by most accounts), who was known for opening a box of endless possibilities, including horrors and tragedies, but all in the name of giving people hope and potential.
Pandora: Music & Podcasts
Endless music station and playlist options to embrace your vibe on any given day? That’s what Pandora the music app offers, and just like Pandora, the jewelry store, it is directly named after the Greek Pandora as well.
Subaru Corporation
If you’ve never taken the time to look at the starry logo on the back of each vehicle, it’s worth checking out as it’s meant to symbolize the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, who were companions to the Greek goddess Artemis. The word Subaru is the Japanese name for the Seven Sisters constellation in the night sky, which typically only has six of the seven stars visible to the naked human eye and this is reflected in the Subaru logo as well.
Gianni Versace S.r.l.
Gianni Versace, the founder of the brand, chose the face of the Greek gorgon and goddess Medusa as the logo because he believed it represented a bold and powerful image that would embody his designs and the brand's identity.
Of course, there are dozens of other brands who subtly pay tribute to the old gods and goddesses, and many more who I’m sure use their iconography without even realizing its significance beyond mere mythology and history.
What do you think? Do these brands mean well and accomplish paying their respects to the old gods and goddesses? Or does their corporate greed stand in the way of that?
Some visions are fleeting, and others stick with me every time I close my eyes or the topic resurfaces in my mind. A while back, I had a vision that has stuck with me to this day, though I haven’t written about it officially—until now.
I saw Hekate in all of her glory, ferocity, and beauty. She swirled, showing each of her triplicate forms. As she spun, I caught glimpses of her role as dagger wielder, key holder, and torch bearer. She stretched like a web throughout the cosmos, carrying Astarte’s wisdom and magick to the ends of the universe.
When I first started my metaphysical shop, the name originally was Dagger, Keys, Torch (DKT), highlighting these very symbols she possessed. Though I ultimately migrated DKT and all of our other brands under the umbrella of Astarte’s Temple, these symbols still hold the utmost importance to me, and Astarte and Hekate are intrinsically connected within my spiritual practice.
The Dagger embodied the power of death. It was the energy that brought destruction, course corrections, and endings. In nature, we see decay, and we recognize it as a natural part of the life cycle, but for some reason, in the context of spirituality, people distance themselves from death energy out of fear. It’s a necessary force, though, and one that we embrace every time we cleanse, banish, release, or let go of what’s no longer serving us.
The Keys captured the power of rebirth. It was the energy that brought change, newness, and limitless possibilities. In nature, we see rebirth and life springing forth once again breaking the hold of death,h seasonally speaking. Within spirituality, this is just as sacred as it’s the inevitable outcome following seasons of death, destruction, course corrections, and endings as everything begins once again.
The Torch carried the power of life. It was the energy that brought enlightenment, fullness, expansion, and hope. It is the essence of energy, light, passion, and wisdom. And when I saw Hekate’s flaming torch in my vision, I was mesmerized because what I saw wasn’t merely a symbol or a concept but another personified divine being, none other than Lucifer.
Of course, when you research connections between Lucifer and Hekate there is hardly anything notable or credible that comes up. Many may even argue that Hekate and Lucifer have different pantheon origins and therefore no correlation, but as many spiritual practitioners of esoteric wisdom will note, ancient pagan traditions are always far more complicated and interwoven than neo-practitioners often are willing to admit.
Roman Imagery of Diana Lucifera
In Roman tradition, Diana Lucifera, meaning "Diana, Bringer of Light," is an image of the goddess closely associated with the moon, childbirth, and the hunt.
She was often depicted holding a torch, a symbol she shares with Hekate, symbolizing her role as a bringer of light and guidance. This imagery connects her to the illumination of the night and the guiding light that leads followers through darkness. Her association with light also extends to her connection with the moon, reinforcing her influence over night-time and natural cycles.
Diana was often equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, who is known as the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and childbirth. As a lunar deity, she embodies purity and independence. Artemis, in some traditions, is also viewed as one of the triplicate forms of Hekate, connecting Hekate to Artemis and then to Diana by extension.
Roman Imagery of Lucifer and Phosphorus
In Graeco-Roman tradition, the terms "Lucifer" and "Phosphorus" are intricately tied to the planet Venus, specifically when it appears as the morning star. "Lucifer," derived from Latin, means "light-bringer," while "Phosphorus," from Greek, translates to "light-bearer." Both names reflect their brilliant appearance in the sky just before dawn and their ability to bring about change, enlightenment, wisdom, and evolution.
Lucifer is the offspring of the Roman Goddess Aurora, known in Greek as Phospheros. In Roman mythology, he is considered a minor deity and is recognized as the God of the Morning Star. The name Lucifer translates to 'Light Bearer' in Latin and is linked to the planet Venus, which was originally referred to as Lucifer in Roman astrology. This was before Venus, the daughter of Jupiter, transitioned from being the Goddess of vegetation to the Goddess of love and beauty, leading to the planet being renamed in her honor.
There is no biblical evidence that directly associates Lucifer with Satan. The term Lucifer was introduced into scriptural texts as a substitute for the Hebrew word Heylel, which was actually Venus's name, and Shahar, meaning "Star of the Morning" or occasionally "Son of the Morning." This terminology was connected to Babylonian kings and their claims to divine authority over their realms. Historical artifacts like the Cyrus Cylinder support these claims by ancient rulers.
Both Diana and Hekate's domains encompass aspects of guidance and illumination, akin to the roles played by Lucifer or Phosphoros as light-bringers. This shared symbolism highlights their interconnectedness within the broader tapestry of mythological themes revolving around light, darkness, and celestial movements.
Greek Imagery of Hekate Phosphorus
Hekate Phosphoros, translating to "Hekate the Light-Bringer," is an epithet that highlights the goddess Hekate's role as a guide and illuminator. In Greek mythology, Hekate is often associated with magick, witchcraft, and the night. However, the epithet of Phosphoros emphasizes her connection to light and illumination. This aspect of Hekate embodies her ability to dispel darkness and guide souls through difficult transitions.
Symbolism Associated With Lucifer:
Study Ancient Texts — Though it doesn't have to be based in Roman mythology and literature, studying ancient texts for the purpose of spiritual growth and enlightenment are wonderful ways to honor Lucifer today.
Symbolic Offerings — Create symbolic offerings such as candles, incense, or cigars that align with the energy of fire, air, light, and enlightenment, which are all associated with Lucifer.
Artististry — Engage in creating art, whether painting, sculpture, or poetry, that embodies the themes of knowledge and illumination linked to Lucifer.
Philosophical Discussions — Organize or participate in discussions that explore themes of enlightenment, rebellion, and the pursuit of knowledge. Remember, philosophy is literally the love of Lady Wisdom (Sophia).
Personal Reflection — Dedicate time for personal meditation or reflection on the qualities that Lucifer embodies, such as the quest for truth and wisdom.
Educational Pursuits — Pursue learning and education as a way of honoring the spirit of enlightenment and intellectual curiosity attributed to Lucifer.
Ēostre, also known as Ostara, is a Germanic goddess associated with spring and dawn. Her name is thought to be the root of the modern Easter celebration. Ēostre symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and fertility, embodying the transition from the cold, dark winter to the warm, light-filled days of spring.
Celebrations in Ēostre's honor were thought to include feasts and rituals to welcome the changing season and encourage fertility in crops and livestock. Although details about her worship are sparse due to limited historical records, Eostre's legacy endures in cultural traditions and linguistic connections related to springtime festivities.
Symbolism Associated With Ēostre:
For us at Astarte's Temple, we've spent a great deal of time and energy researching the connection between the Canaanite goddess Astarte and the Germanic Ēostre.
The goddesses Ēostre and Astarte share intriguing similarities based on name etymology, which suggests potential historical or linguistic connections. Ēostre, a Germanic goddess associated with spring and renewal, is believed to have a name derived from the Proto-Germanic word *austrōn*, meaning "dawn" or "to shine." Similarly, Astarte, a deity from the ancient Near Eastern pantheon, is linked to fertility and love, with her name potentially originating from the Semitic root *ʿṯtr*, which also conveys ideas of brightness or shining.
Both names suggest themes of light and renewal, aligning with their respective roles in mythology related to fertility and rebirth. Although their cultural contexts differ, this shared etymological foundation highlights the ways in which ancient societies often conceptualized their deities through similar symbolic language.
On the 27th March 2013, The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (Official) posted a meme to their Facebook Group stating that the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre, and the Christian festival of Easter, had their origins in the Goddess Ishtar-Astarte. This meme was met swiftly with fury and derision. Firstly by Christian Groups who were horrified that a Pagan Goddess of 'death and resurrection' was even suggested to be linked with their Saviour's own 'death and resurrection' festival. Especially one whose name sounds exactly like 'Easter'.
But what happened next would set the stage for a decade to come. In a strange turn of events, the Germanic Neo-Pagan community took up the cause with a score to settle. For the next nine years they would dispute and debunk any and all links between Ishtar and Eostre. They would claim that "Ishtar-Astarte is a foreign Goddess of Middle Eastern descent" and that "she wasn't venerated anywhere outside of that region."
However, therein lies the problem. A rigid academic investigation into the subject shows that Ishtar-Astarte's worship was prevalent not only in the "Middle East" but down the Levantine Corridor, into Egypt and across Northern Africa, through ancient Greece and Rome, across Europe, up to Iberia, and even into the British Isles where she had at least SEVEN altars dedicated to her.
From there, her worship spread to the Germanic sources. We have at least THREE Germanic Academic texts which categorically state that Eostre and Ostara was originally the Goddess Ishtar-Astarte. All of which predate Jacob Grimm's 'speculation' on Eostre by quite some time. She was the Goddess who endured. From her first Temple in Mesopotamia c.3600 - 3200 BCE to her first Temples in Egypt c.1427 - 1400 BCE. From her first Temple in Cyprus c.1200 BCE to her first Temples in North Africa, Spain, and Portugal during the Phoenician Expansion Period c.900 BCE.
From her first Temple in Rome around c.217 BCE to her first Altars in Britannia c.117 to 138 CE, and to the point where her worship finally died out around c.1900 CE in modern Turkey, only a few hundred years ago. The fact that the endurance of Ishtar-Astarte worship spans almost six millennia, and half the world over, should not be taken lightly. This was a Goddess elevated above all others during much of her history, and who went on to influence a great many other deities. No other Goddess in recorded history was venerated for so long and by so many.
Steff V. Scott, From Ishtar to Eostre: Reframing the Near Eastern Origins of an Anglo Saxon Goddess
Honoring the goddess Ēostre during the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara, can be a meaningful way to connect with the season of renewal and rebirth, though she can be embraced all year long as well.
Create a Spring Altar — Set up a dedicated space with symbols of spring such as eggs, flowers, and rabbits, all associated with Ēostre. Add candles, crystals like rose quartz or amethyst, and representations of the sun to honor the balance of light and dark.
Go On Nature Walks — Spend time outdoors observing the awakening of nature. Collect items like fresh flowers, budding branches, or stones that resonate with the energy of spring. Use these items in your altar or as offerings to Ēostre.
Egg Decorating — Eggs are traditional symbols of fertility and new beginnings. Decorate eggs in bright colors and patterns as a tribute to Ēostre, incorporating themes that represent growth and potential.
Planting Rituals — Engage in gardening by planting seeds or flowers. This act symbolizes sowing intentions for personal growth and aligning with nature's cycle of rebirth.
Seasonal Feasting — Prepare a meal featuring seasonal foods such as greens, sprouts, eggs, dairy products, and seeds. Share this feast with friends or family as a celebration of abundance and gratitude.
Meditation and Reflection — Take time to meditate on themes of renewal and balance. Journaling about personal goals or changes you wish to manifest during this time can also be powerful.
Rituals and Prayers — Perform simple rituals or recite prayers dedicated to Ēostre, asking for her blessings in bringing new beginnings into your life.
Brigid (Brigit, Bride, or Brighid) is a Celtic goddess with many associations with the hearth, home, warmth, fire, wells, healing, poetry, protection, smithing, inspiration, and creativity. To us, summing her up as the Celtic Goddess of the Sacred Flame is a beautiful way to show how all of these seemingly different associations are all connected.
The Sacred Flame is the energy, force, or spark within something, whether it be the love that makes a home a home, the fireplace that keeps a house warm, or the source of inspiration for creatives—it’s all connected and it’s incredibly magickal to say the least.
Her energy brings about change, healing, comfort, hope, strength, wisdom, and compassion. It evokes brilliance in the mind of artists and poets, it enhances the nurturing elements of motherhood and the power to rebirth, and awakens the fierce protectiveness of Mother Nature.
Brigid is remembered as the daughter of the Dagda, one of the primary deities of the Celtic pantheon, ruling over death and rebirth, and The Morrigan, the Celtic goddess of death and rebirth. The divine coupling between the Dagda and The Morrigan makes the birth of Brigid all the more interesting because she is born as a balancing force emanating from two already incredibly balanced divinities.
The Irish Pagan School beautifully describes the well-balanced relationship between the Dagda and The Morrigan, which is quite different from many other divine couples we see throughout the globe where there is often an imbalance with the divine masculine attempting to dominate the woman.
The Irish Pagan School beautifully describes the well-balanced relationship between the Dagda and The Morrigan, which is quite different to many other divine couples we see throughout the globe where there is often an imbalance with the divine masculine attempting to dominate the woman.
“The Dagda and the Morrigan are a couple. This segment makes that abundantly clear, but what might not be understood from this is the nature of that coupling.
In other pantheons there are what some refer to as a ‘divine couple’. This is usually some pair of primary deities, usually built around a primogenitor, a first or father of the rest of the pantheon. Common examples of this are Odin in the Norse pantheon, or Zeus in the Greek.
In much of the lore of these other pantheons these ‘prime deities’ engage in other relationships and their partners are presented as contentious or even outright adversarial in the case of Hera.
This is not so in the case of the Irish Gods, but to add some weight to our inference we need only look to the old Irish Legal structure known as the Brehon Laws. Here we find that under these old laws of Ireland there were no less than eight forms of marriage, or union.
Many of these unions dealt with complexities between societal classes. There were even legally recognised unions that would last a year and a day, ending without prejudice, as well as a function for divorce should either party not live up to the agreements of the union.
The type of union that best fits the relationship between the Morrigan and the Dagda may best be considered as the Union of Equals. This type of coupling was usually found between two people of similar status and wealth which was considered equal.
The rights of each individual to autonomy were preserved in this union as neither part was more powerful or privileged than the other. Both were free to pursue their own agendas and even other relations as defined by their union and should there ever be grounds for divorce, each would leave with the wealth and status they brought into the union as well as 50% of everything generated during the coupling. At no point in the lore as we currently understand it does either the Dagda or the Morrigan display dominance over the other in their interactions. This added to the information above leads me to believe that they share a marriage of equals.”
Traditions surrounding Brigid maintained that the Dagda and The Morrigan would meet up once a year and Brigid was then birthed on February 1, which is where the celebration of Imbolc on the pagan wheel of the year is derived from in honor of her.
From her father, the Dagda, she inherited her connection to the earth, agriculture, animals, land, and the elements.
From her mother, The Morrigan, she inherited a triple-goddess aspect, and her Sacred Flame association is the connecting force between how her triplicate personas are depicted. All three facets were named Brigid: Goddess of Storytellers, Goddess of Healing, and Goddess of Smithcraft.
As with many pagan traditions and divinities, the rise of monotheism distorted and attempted to erase the beauty of the old ways. The Goddess Brigid’s memory was shuffled into the saint named Brigid in Christianity and Catholicism. She was watered down, transformed into a wet nurse, and forced into the framework of modern religion. Interestingly enough, her power was restored back to her by practitioners of Haitian Vodoun and the New Orleans Voodoo religion through the remembrance of their loa (word for Haitian deity) Maman Brigitte, who maintained all of the Celtic elements of the Goddess Brigid plus additional aspects of her Celtic mother, The Morrigan, which brought in associations of death and cemeteries. They honor Maman Brigitte at dueling points in the year as a Celtic pagan would separately recognize the Goddess Brigid and The Morrigan at Imbolc/Saint Brigid’s Day on February 2 and at All Soul’s Day on November 1 respectively.
Brigid is a goddess who is honored by work and action making it easy to dedicate aspects of life into her name.
Goddess of Storytelling — Everything in the vein of creativity can be dedicated to Brigid. This includes painting, poetry, writing, filmmaking, sculpting, and everything in between.
Goddess of Healing — With healing, works can be devoted to her that help yourself, animals, or other people heal physically, emotionally, or spiritually, such as the work of doctors, nurses, veterinarians, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors, oracles, healers, and reiki practitioners.
Goddess of Smithcraft — Smithcrafting includes everything related to the forge and crafting raw materials into something brand new. From metalworking to jewelry, anything that utilizes fire and forge to bring to life, or utilizing tools and other objects created in a similar manner can be devoted to her.
Additionally, physical offerings can be made to Brigid that acknowledge her symbolism, including fire, candles, bonfires, water, ink, coins, copper, gold, moss agate, fire agate, or anything else that draws your mind back to her. If you liked this article, leave a comment below letting us know and we’ll keep creating similar content for other divinities.
Heresy | her· e· sy | ˈher-ə-sē
belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
Heresy sounds like a scary word—especially if you're like me, having grown up in a conservative, religious, monotheistic household. Words like blasphemy, sin, heresy, and witchcraft were major no-nos. And here we are at our first heresy of this article...asking the question why? WHY are blasphemy, sin, heresy, and witchcraft such taboo topics? Where did their evil rep come from?
The Satanic Panic, a cultural phenomenon that gripped the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s, serves as a profound reminder of how fear and misunderstanding can spiral into widespread hysteria. Originating from a blend of societal anxieties, media influence, government-driven mind control operatives, and religious fervor, this panic was fueled by allegations of widespread satanic ritual abuse, many of which were later discredited or proven false. The roots of this phenomenon can be traced back to the deep-seated fear of evil ingrained in monotheistic traditions.
Monotheism, with its belief in a singular omnipotent deity, often emphasizes a dualistic view of the world: good versus evil. This dichotomy is deeply embedded in the narratives of major monotheistic religions, where evil is frequently personified by figures like Satan. This conceptualization of evil has historically been used to explain suffering and misfortune, creating a framework that can sometimes lead to scapegoating and moral panic.
During the Satanic Panic, this binary perception of good and evil was manipulated and amplified by sensationalist media reports and pseudo-scientific claims. The fear that satanic cults were operating under the radar, corrupting the innocence of children and undermining societal values, resonated deeply with those who viewed the world through this lens. As stories of ritual abuse captured headlines, they tapped into a primal fear of malevolent forces lurking within society.
However, it is essential to recognize that this fear-driven response was not rooted in reality but rather in misunderstandings and exaggerations. The concept of "evil" as an external force can often obscure more nuanced perspectives on human behavior and societal issues. By attributing negative actions solely to an abstract embodiment of evil, we risk oversimplifying complex problems that require thoughtful analysis and compassionate solutions.
Throughout history, monotheistic religions have been powerful forces shaping societies and cultures. From their inception, these religions have wielded significant influence over followers. One of the most potent tools they have used to maintain this influence is the deliberate use of fear tactics, particularly through branding individuals as "heretics."
The concept of heresy is rooted in the idea that deviation from established doctrine is not only wrong but dangerous. This label has been used to instill fear among believers, discouraging dissent and encouraging conformity. In many cases, being branded a heretic has led to severe punishments or ostracism. This fear of social or even physical repercussions keeps many adherents in line, perpetuating the control that religious authorities hold over individuals.
However, it's essential to recognize that questioning and critical thinking are not inherently negative. They are vital components of personal growth and societal progress. Labeling dissenters as heretics stifles innovation and understanding, keeping communities stuck in dogma rather than evolving.
So, with that being said, I present to you my latest book, The Book of Heresy. One that opposes monotheistic religion—which is not evil to oppose. At all.
The book highlights the realms of the spiritual, emotional, and physical, and features prose from the perspective of the rulers of each plane of existence.
This poetry book brings to life heretical thoughts that defy monotheistic doctrine in alignment with ancient esoteric wisdom.
For millennia, the warnings of heretics and their heresies have echoed in the halls of church buildings and dogmatic writings. Beware the heretic! Birthed out of philosophy, heretics ask, “Where is the wisdom?” and, “Where is the love?”
The silence is an answer.
The rage-filled accusation of evildoing is an answer.
The curiosity with no follow-through is an answer.
But so is listening to truly hear the questions at hand and respond with, “Wait. Where is the wisdom? Where is the love? And if it’s not here, then why am I?”
People can cling to whatever they choose—but without wisdom, what’s the point of divine connection? And without love, what’s the point of life? Such thought is deemed heretical to those who have built their empires on heartless campaigns to suppress Lady Wisdom and all her glory.
Join me on a journey of heresy—and other things that aren’t actually evil.
The Saturnalia festival was an ancient Roman celebration held in honor of Saturn. Saturn's roots can be traced back to Ba'el, an older deity from the Canaanite pantheon. The syncretism observed in ancient religions often led to deities from one culture being absorbed into another under different names but with similar attributes. Thus, Saturn inherited aspects of Ba'el's character.
Ba’el, though often recognized for his association with fertility, weather, rain, and agriculture, is also a death deity. He is the masculine companion of the Canaanite Goddess Astarte. Though conflated with evil through the lens of monotheistic religions, who aimed to “demonize” anything that did not fit their agenda for control over the people, neither Ba’el nor Astarte are wicked. They are the original primordial deities that pre-date religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In fact, many stories and attributes of Yahweh and Jesus in Christianity and the Christian bible, were stolen from older traditions, themes, rituals, and wisdom connected to Ba’el.
The winter months that we are entering now are a part of the “death” portion of the year, making celebrations of Yule, the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, and Christmas all closely linked with one another through themes of death and life.
Since Ba’el is a death deity and we are celebrating Ba’el and his Roman counterpart Saturn, it’s necessary to discuss the Ba’el Cycle. Many people think of death solely in conjunction with people, animals, or plants withering or ceasing to exist—but it’s more than that. Death is a part of a cycle and is woven all throughout the fabric of existence. This is reflected in what is called the “Ba’el Cycle” (or Baal Cycle). This was the journey that Ba’el took to defeat Death (with a capital D because it was a personified entity in the Canaanite pantheon), bring order to the chaos of the universe, and ultimately be rebirthed to continue the cycle. All of this was done in conjunction with his feminine companion who took on the names of Astarte, Anat, and Athirat.
Fertility — Fertility and birth are only possible because someone or something ceased to exist in that state prior to being birthed. This could apply to people, plants, animals, ideas, and anything else that can be creatively given life.
Weather — Weather brings rain and sun needed for living beings to thrive but it equally brings destruction, chaos, and death. Agricultural cycles are also heavily reflected on in many pagan celebrations because crops, harvest, and the like are directly linked with the changing of the seasons.
Time — In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of time and harvest. His Greek counterpart is Cronus, associated with the passage of time and cycles of life. For Ba’el, he is capable of seeing and understanding all of time and sharing these insights with his devotees. Time is yet another death and chaos-related theme because all living things on the material plane are bound by a “ticking clock” but also, time is a construct and other planes of existence operate outside of it entirely.
Discipline, Order, and Structure — Astrologically, Saturn is linked to discipline, structure, responsibility, and boundaries—an influence that shapes personal growth through challenges. Ba’el is also known for having high standards and expectations for his devotees, often urging people to not jump into his path of esoteric wisdom and occultism if they aren’t prepared for a full reset (death and rebirth, anybody?) in their lives.
One of my favorite ancient Canaanite wisdom principles directly relates to the cycle of small things becoming great and vice versa. One of the ways this concept was celebrated during the festival was with social inversion of roles. For example, people in government or leadership were required to dress normal to blend in with society, children were appeased by their parents and given gifts, slaves would act as the head of the household, and so on.
Another aspect that I particularly love is that the celebration grew to be a seven-day festival, traditionally observed from December 17th to 23rd, and this is another subtle nod to the great Ba’el and Astarte of old as seven is a number sacred to them. This is reflected in the seven sacred Canaanite mysteries set in motion to bring order to the chaos of existence. This is also a fundamental aspect of what will be taught in The Mystic’s Journey program that I’m launching in January 2025.
Here are some of the highlights for how the festival was celebrated in ancient times:
Long before there was a Christmas for people to insist on keeping the “christ” in it, there was the Saturn in Saturnalia. Here are some of the modern Christmas practices that were rooted in Saturnalia traditions of old.
Saturnalia Lights — During Saturnalia, people would adorn their homes with greenery and light candles to ward off the darkness of winter and to symbolize hope for the return of light and warmth. The use of light was integral to these celebrations, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The tradition of illuminating homes during this time of year eventually blended with Christmas celebrations as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Saturnalia Carols — Music and song played a crucial role in Saturnalia celebrations. Revelers would sing festive tunes as part of the joyous celebrations. These songs were not specifically about Christmas or Christian themes but rather focused on themes related to nature, the changing seasons, and the general spirit of festivity that characterized Saturnalia. As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, early Christians sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian ones. Over time, elements of Saturnalia were absorbed into Christmas celebrations. The practice of singing during festive times persisted, evolving into what we now recognize as Christmas carols.
Saturnalia Gifts — During Saturnalia, people exchanged small, symbolic gifts like candles, fruit, or small figurines called sigillaria. These presents were meant to bring good luck or symbolize light during the darkest time of the year. The act of gift-giving was intended to strengthen social bonds and spread goodwill.
Saturnalia Attire — During the festival, people donned brightly colored garments and exchanged gifts to signify prosperity and joy. These garments were often adorned with symbols and patterns intended to bring good fortune for the coming year. The vibrant attire worn during this festival laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into today's “ugly Christmas sweaters.”
Saturnalia Candles — One of the central elements of Saturnalia was the use of candles. These candles symbolized the quest for knowledge and truth during the dark days of winter.
Saturnalia Wreaths — During Saturnalia, Romans would decorate their homes with greenery as part of their celebrations. Wreaths made from holly, ivy, and other evergreen plants symbolized life and resilience through winter's harshness. These decorations not only brightened homes during the dark winter months but also served as offerings to Saturn. The round shape was also a symbol of the Ba’el cycle and a reminder of the death and rebirth circle of life.
Saturnalia Trees — During this time, Romans would decorate their homes with evergreen boughs as symbols of life and renewal during the bleak winter months. These evergreen decorations served as a reminder of the coming spring and were believed to ward off evil spirits.
Saturnalia Colors — Gold and silver played a significant role in this festival, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and the sun's return as the days began to lengthen post-winter solstice. These metals were used in decorations and gifts, embodying the hope for abundance and light. Green was central to Saturnalia as well, represented by evergreen plants like holly and ivy. These plants symbolized eternal life and resilience through the harsh winter months, serving as a reminder of nature's enduring spirit. Red, meanwhile, was linked to the vitality and warmth of life. It was often used in conjunction with green to represent the life force amid the colder season.
Saturnalia Ornaments — During Saturnalia, trees and plants were adorned with round objects that acted as sun-like symbols. These round shapes were meant to represent the sun and its anticipated return, bringing light and warmth back to the world.
Traditional Feast — Host a feast with friends and family, featuring traditional dishes like roasted meats, vegetables, and sweet treats. Decorate your table with greenery and candles to symbolize the return of the sun. Include foods symbolic of the sun, warmth, abundance, and vitality, such as pomegranates, figs, honey cakes, roasted nuts, and mulled wines.
Gift-Giving — Embrace the spirit of generosity by exchanging small gifts with loved ones. Consider homemade or thoughtful presents that reflect the values of sharing and goodwill associated with Saturnalia. Even the gift of a red or green taper candle, as simple as that may sound, would be perfect!
Role Reversal — In the spirit of ancient Saturnalia, try role-reversal games where participants switch roles for a day. This could mean children taking on adult responsibilities (such as setting the table or something age appropriate) or bosses serving their employees in a fun and light-hearted manner. This could also be fun to experiment with between partners (wink wink).
Candle Lighting Ceremony — Honor the return of the sun by holding a candle lighting ceremony. Invite participants to share wishes or intentions for the coming year as they light their candles. This could also be expanded into a ritual where old habits or thing from the past year that you want to leave behind could be written on bay leaves or paper and burned to make room for new energy.
Decorate with Evergreen — Adorn your home with evergreen branches, cedar, holly, and ivy to symbolize eternal life and renewal, echoing ancient practices. If you have pets, be sure to research which plants and herbs are safe for your home.
Crafting Sun Symbols — Create sun symbols to decorate your home or as part of a ceremonial altar celebrating the sun’s return. Dehydrated orange slices are a super easy option, but you can also design suncatchers using wire and beads in sunny hues like amber and gold. Shape the wire into circular sun patterns and thread beads along it to create a dazzling effect when hung in windows.
Storytelling — Gather around and share myths and stories related to Saturnalia or other sun-related legends from various cultures to honor ancient traditions.
Community Service — Reflecting Saturnalia’s themes of charity and goodwill, participate in community service activities or donate to local charities as a way to give back during this festive time.
Outdoor Celebration — If weather permits, spend time outdoors appreciating the daylight. Organize a nature walk or picnic to connect with nature and celebrate longer days ahead.
Music and Dance — Play festive music and enjoy dancing together, embracing joy and merriment as was customary during ancient Saturnalian festivities.
Supplies:
Start by grounding, cleansing, and protecting yourself. Begin at dawn to symbolize the rising sun. Set up the altar by laying the yellow or gold cloth on a flat surface. Place the sun symbol at the center.
Arrange and light the candles around the altar, focusing on creating a welcoming and warm environment.
Stand facing east, where the sun rises. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and visualize the warmth of the sun enveloping you.
Recite an invocation such as:
"Sun God, giver of life and light,
We honor your radiant energy,
We welcome your warmth and wisdom."
Place fruits or grains on the altar as offerings, symbolizing gratitude for sustenance. Add fresh flowers to enhance beauty and vibrancy.
Hold the bowl of water up to the sun, allowing its rays to touch it. Say a blessing for life-giving water, then gently pour a few drops onto the earth as a gesture of returning life back to nature.
Sit comfortably near your altar and spend a few minutes in silent meditation, focusing on personal intentions or simply basking in gratitude for the sun's energy.
Extinguish each candle with reverence, thanking the Sun God for its presence in your life. To conclude, you may choose to sing, dance, or engage in any joyful activity that honors the vitality of the sun. Then, re-protect, re-cleanse, and re-ground your energy as needed.
Check out our Keep the Saturn in Saturnalia t-shirts, ornaments, and more in our Holidays Collection.
As many of you did, I went to bed with a heavy heart, feeling deeply for those in our community who are queer, POC, women, or allies. The surge of blatant hatred towards the safety, well-being, and bodily autonomy of human beings who are anything other than white, conservative, cisgender, heterosexual, christians has skyrocketed. And I’m sure if you’re reading this blog, I don’t have to educate you on what this is in reference to nor do I wish to focus this blog on the compassionless platform that the new administration has built its campaign on.
So, what’s the purpose of this blog then? To share with you the horrors I faced in the astral this past week.
As many of you did, I went to bed with a heavy heart—only to be suddenly jolted into a realm I hadn’t journeyed to before. Confused, I scanned my surroundings. Aware of my lack of a human body, I knew I was elsewhere, far away from the material plane of existence.
Faces of spiritual beings foreign to me stood in a semi-circle not far from where I had appeared. Slowly, I peered into the face of each individual waiting for something or someone to stand out to me as familiar. Nothing did, though.
“Where am I?” I thought to myself. Abruptly interrupted as my spiritual senses flooded my awareness, I heard wails. Pleas for, “HELP!” and a repeated ask to, “PLEASE HURRY,” overwhelmed me. I looked around frantically until I saw a beautiful and ferocious woman lying on a bed screaming in agony.
I took a step closer and gasped when I recognized her. Unmistakably it was our beloved Queen Lilith. A gaping hole went through her abdomen. Blood spilled from her womb. She wept, and I bellowed in rage.
WHAT DID THIS TO YOU?
No answer.
WHO IS CAPABLE OF DOING THIS TO YOU?
No response.
WELL HOW THE FUCK ARE WE GONNA FIX THIS?
“HELP HER!” The strangers, who I surmised were her attendants, shrieked.
Whirling, I racked my mind for how I was going to help her. Knowing healing arts and the magick of death and rebirth in the material realm was great for tending to the needs of humans, but how was I going to heal a divine infernal being?
Lilith sat upright on the bed. I could see straight through the hole in her abdomen. Like a scene from a horror film, Lilith, despite her gaping wound flew toward me. In a single, swift motion, she slit my throat and speared me with one of her talons. I felt myself die while simultaneously shapeshifting into a fierce dragon with white scales that shimmered rainbow colors in the light. I looked down at the wings and knew what I had transformed into. I’d seen this version of myself before.
“…the Sacred Feminine is not new to the New Age. It is ageless and from the beginning. The Sacred Feminine is in our blood. It is our heritage…” —Elizabeth Eiler
Knowledge that I knew but couldn’t access outside of this state flooded my mind. I extended a clawed hand in Lilith’s direction and once again she flew toward me, fangs showing. I nodded in approval, acknowledging I knew what was at stake. And without hesitation, she lunged at me, sinking her teeth into my neck. She drank and I felt drunk, but only for a moment.
Stepping back to lean on the bed, the blood that spilled from her womb returned to her body. The hole in her stomach shrunk until no trace of it was left. Her attendants breathed a sigh of relief. And I knelt at her feet.
"The feminine spirit is the matriarch of creation; she contains the mysteries of life." — Tanya Markul
Next order of business was figuring out why this had happened and what I was going to do about it. I sat on the story for over a week’s time meditating on the events and what all of it meant. I finally reached out to a trusted practitioner and friend, Tynique, sharing the experience. No sooner than I started recalling the events, Lilith appeared to her as well to provide confirmation and additional context to what had the power to pierce an infernal divine in such a manner.
"She is both, hellfire and holy water. And the flavor you taste depends on how you treat her." — Sneha Pal
She spoke of the dominating masculine energy that has increased in recent weeks. Often cryptically referred to as the “Usurper,” who sits on a throne that was rightfully granted to Lilith and her healthy and balanced divine masculine counterpart. The Usurper’s power, as all egregores’ power does, increases as the collective belief of its subjects does.
And as phrases like, “Your body, my choice,” horrendously swirl around the internet, we catch a glimpse of the hatred not just for women as individuals, but for The Woman who represents individuality, freedom, independence, women, the womb, rebirth, creativity, children, and all of its corresponding energies. This vast and directed hatred has wounded Lady Lilith—and without an immediate and appropriate balancing of the scales, will continue to do so.
Though we all may walk different paths as practitioners and find purpose and embrace our practices unique from one another—one thing we can likely agree on is the desperate need for balance.
The urgent need for women to be protected and the Mother of Women and Children to be restored to her throne, alongside her divine masculine counterpart, weighs on us. And if it weighs on you too, consider this a call to light a candle or make an offering for ALL of the goddesses and divine feminine beings that we connect with in our own unique way. Even if you do not connect with goddess energy in a personified form, you can still honor the divine feminine that is within all of us as witches, healers, empaths, oracles, and the like.
"A war on the divine feminine is a war on women. And a war on women is a war on the divine feminine." —Kate Jade
Supplies:
Start by grounding, cleansing yourself and your space, and then protecting yourself and your space.
Light a red candle on a fire-safe dish. If desired, before lighting it you can anoint the candle with ritual oil and herbs or surround it with crystals as your intuition leads.
Focus your energy and intentions on balancing the energy of the divine feminine and divine masculine both within yourself and cosmically.
If you feel drawn to do so, speak the words:
“By land, by sky, by sea,
I call for balance cosmically,
Equal forces of energy,
Divine justice: so mote it be”
Once you feel as though you’re released from the ritual, extinguish the flame with new moon water. Do not blow out the flame or snuff it out (a specific request from Lilith).
End with re-protecting and re-cleansing yourself and your space. Ground to direct any excess energy back to the earth.
Creating a sacred space is an essential part of many pagan, spiritual, and religious practices. An altar serves as a focal point for connecting with the divine, performing rituals, and honoring your spiritual path. Whether you are new to this part of your path or not, this guide is intended to help walk you through the fundamentals of building an altar.
For me personally, my altar spaces are treated with the same respect and reverence as an inner room of an ancient temple might have. If you have a particular spiritual path you follow, you may opt to look into the ancient temple traditions of your belief system.
Altars can be indoors or outdoors—choosing between the two is completely up to you. The main thing that’s important is that the location you select feels right to you and won’t be disturbed by others. Ideally, it should be a space where you feel comfortable and can focus on your spiritual practice without interruptions.
You can have a stationary altar that you set up on a shelf or counter space, or you can create a travel altar that is smaller in size and contained in a designated box that’s easily transportable (super helpful for people who often stay in hotels or other people’s homes), or you can create a permanent or temporary altar outdoors, such as in your garden, courtyard, patio, etc.
For me, I have altar spaces that are in my room, bathroom, and living areas that align energetically with those areas of my home and the elements of spirit that I want to connect with. For example, the altar(s) that I have for the water entities that I work with are around the bathtub (near water). Whereas the divine beings that I do astral work with, I keep in my bedroom (near where I sleep). For you, if you’re working with household spirits, you may choose your hearth for your altar, or if you’re an herbalist, you might opt for a kitchen altar.
Before setting up your altar, you’ll want to cleanse the space of any negative or stagnant energy that’s lingering. You can use your preferred method, such as smoke cleansing, sound cleansing, spraying Florida water or cleansing spray, or whatever your go-to cleansing method is. Oftentimes, this also aligns with elements of your craft that you’re already drawn to. For example, if you’re someone who typically utilizes herbs in your practice, you might be more likely to opt for burning incense or yerba santa or something similar to cleanse with the smoke.
Next, you’ll want to designate what the altar is going to be for and select items that align with the energy of the space you’re consecrating. Your altar can be a general working one that is flexible to your needs (a very common option for eclectic practitioners), it can be designated for a specific deity or divine being you’ve chosen to work with and honor, it can be dedicated to yourself, such as your higher self, inner child, or inner teen, or whatever your intentions are spiritually.
While there is no “wrong” or “right” way to set up your altar (and no two altars are alike, nor should they be), here are some things you might consider to help give you some ideas and point you in the right direction.
When it comes to creating your altar, it is important to remember that this space is sacred and should be treated as such. It is your designated area where you can connect with your spirituality or practice your rituals. Remember that there are no strict rules when it comes to designing an altar—it is a reflection of who you are and what holds significance in your spiritual journey. So let your creativity flow and trust your intuition when arranging each element on your sacred space. Ultimately, this process should bring a sense of joy, comfort, and connection whenever you engage with it.
