Order of the White Moon Presents
Mother Goddess Epona
© Lady Zephyr
All original material in this site is under copyright protection
and is the intellectual property of the author.
This website created as a level one final project for Sisters in Celebration.
MOTHER GODDESS EPONA
GATHER ROUND MY CHILDREN
ON THIS DARKEST OF NIGHTS
AND LET ME TELL YOU OF EPONA
ON HER HORSE OF PURE WHITE.
NEITHER MYTH NOR LEGEND
DO I SPEAK,
BUT WORDS OF WISDOM,
TRUTH AND LIGHT.
EPONAS' WORKS ARE WELL KNOWN
ACROSS MANY CONTINENTS,
FROM A CELTIC BIRTH
TO ROMAN EVENTS.
WORSHIP CONTINUES TO THIS VERY DAY
BY SISTERS WITHIN
EVEN BY MEN.
LEST NOT SHE BE FORGOTTEN
HER MESSAGE IS PASSED
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
THROUGH CRONE,MOTHER AND MAIDEN.
RITUALS CONTINUE,
ALTARS ARE LADEN
WITH WREATHS OF ROSES.
CANDLES LIT, INCENSE AGLOW,
THANKS ARE GIVEN.
MOTHER GODDESS EPONA
OUR LOVE AND DEVOTION
WE SEND TO YOU.
© Pat Swanberg
Image Courtesy of Wilson's Almanac
Unfortunately most artifices were destroyed during the war against the Goddesses. Nether the less many images, paintings and sculptures remained. Scholars and archaeologists are uncovering more every day with a count at present of more than 343 inscriptions. Much of what has been found are located in museums around Europe as Epona was worshipped across many countries. Most came from the Romans as the Gauls did not put anything into inscriptions. Gauls learned to do inscriptions from the Romans in later years.
Epona was born somewhere between 50-52 bce during the Iron Age. Her father, not liking women, took a mare to mate and she bore a beautiful white filly. Epona being born half mare and half human was named by her mother thus giving Epona the ability to shape shift from horse to human. By naming her Epona it showed she descended from a Horse Goddess. During the Iron Age war was the purpose and passion of all. Iron was used not only for weapons and tools but houses were made from bronze. Gauls being nomads valued the horse highly for their uses in travels, during battles and having horses signified wealth and power.
Goddess Epona never married but her loving care and protection of horses gave her mother status. Her powers were so strong she was also known as the Gaulish Moon Goddess, the Goddess of Abundance since she represented fertility and freedom, the Goddess of Dreams, all of which were nightmares. Epona was also known to carry a set of keys which opened the door to the Underworld giving her the status of a psychopomp. She would accompany the dead to the Underworld, waiting with them until they were reincarnated. Birds would travel along side Epona and when three birds at one time were seen with her,Epona was given the Triple Goddess status. The birds were thought to represent fertility and sexual love.
Image courtesty of Pip Wilson
During the great Gaulish revolt against the Romans the
Gauls sent the men ahead instead of the horses rather than
risk slaughter of them. The men were killed and the Romans
were so awed with Goddess Epona and her swift horse
they adopted her for their own to protect the horses and the Calvary. Word spread quickly of Goddess Epona and soon
her worship was so great the Romans gave Epona her own
temple and her own feast day, "Festival of Epona" which
was held on December the 18th. Sacrifices of animals(pigs),
incense and libations were consumed at these feasts. Wine
was served to Goddess Epona in a small silver bowl inscribed to her. Every barn and stable had painted images
of Goddess Epona inside and outside, Shrines were erected in temples but in stables also to protect the horses
and mules. Holes were cut into walls in the stables where small carvings were placed along with wreaths of roses.
Interesting fact during the Romans' sacrificial worships their
heads were covered while the Greeks left their heads
uncovered. The worship of Goddess Epona spread across
Europe from Rome to France,Germany, Greece, England
and into Africa. Epona was still worshipped even after
Christianity took over.
Goddess Epona was usually shown as sitting sidesaddle on her horse nude from the waist up with her dog along side the horse. Another position was of her sitting down with a mare on one side and a foal on the other while she held corn or apples feeding them.Call upon Goddess Epona for protection, fertility, abundance, care of animals, health, love and blessings.
Signs and Symbols of Goddess Epona
Sacred Animals-Horses(especially mares and foals) Dogs,Birds
Keys-(to the Underworld )
Food-Apples, Corn, Fruit Baskets, Cornucopia
Flowers- Roses, Rosebuds, Rose garlands
Incense- Rose and Sandalwood
Gemstones- Cat's Eye, Ruby, Moonstone, Sardonyx
Her direction-Center
Associated Goddesses-Macha, Rhiannon, Edan and Maeve
Image courtey of freefoto.com
GODDESS EPONA BLESSING/HEALING RITUAL
Time: December 21st, Darkest Night On The Wheel
Needs:
Candles: One White (for the Spirit), Black,(For grounding
and dark moon energy), Blue(for psychic protection and
tranquility), Green(for healing past traumas), Red( for love
and courage
White Altar Cloth
Oils: Sage,Cedar for Purification
Rose,Lavender or any fruit scented oils for Blessings
Incense: Sage/Cedar to Purify Altar,
Rose,Lavender or any fruit scented for Blessings
Stones: Cat's Eye, Ruby, Moonstone, Sardonyx
Flowers: Roses(May make a wreath to place around picture
of Epona)
Art or Picture Depicting Epona
White Horse Figurine/Dog Figurine(or picture)
Athame
Paper and Pen
Bells
Cauldron
Keys
Cornucopia or Fruit Basket
Chalice
Food:Fruit Baskets(Apples,Corn,etc),Breads, Wine/Water
Milk(representing mares' milk)
Outline:
Cleansing Bath
Meditate
Prepare Altar:Decorate Altar
May carve names or figures on candles
Anoint Candles with oil
Place White Candle in Center(representing
Goddess Epona's direction)
Light Candles
Purify Altar
Invoke:
Powers of Earth,Air,Fire,Water and Spirit
We ask you to come within our circle to protect and guard us,
To Aid and Assist,
As we call upon Goddess Epona
To Enter our midst.
All Sisters who wish to join
Please come within.
The Circle is now closed.
Write: Your hurts and harms on paper and place
inside the cauldron.
Set fire to paper
Chant Three Times:
BY THE FIRE OF EPONA
ALL HURTS AND HARMS
TURN TO ASHES
AS PAPER BURNS.
FROM ASHES SMOKE RISES
DISSIPATED FOREVER
BY THE POWER OF EPONAS' LOVE.
Alone/Group Blessings: Taking Turns Ask Goddess Epona for your hearts desires, protection and healing(yourself and animals),fertility,dreams to soothe and enhancement, assisting in divination,love and courage. By Her Powers She wishes only to give and nurture.
Raise energy with ringing of the Bells.
Give Thanks to Goddess Epona for her Gifts, Blessings and Protection.
To The Power Of Five:
Earth,Air,Fire, Water and Spirit We Give Thanks For Guarding and Assisting in our Ritual to Goddess Epona.
Self-Blessing.
Ground.
The Circle is Now Open.
So Mote It Be
Celebrate: Eating Foods sacred to Goddess Epona ,
we now enjoy with love and happiness.
© Pat Swanberg
BROKEN
DISCOURAGED,DEJECTED AND ALONE,
HUSBAND HAD LEFT ME FOR ANOTHER.
I LAY THERE IN BED
THINKING OF GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES,
MONEY WOES, HEALTH PROBLEMS.
LAST THOUGHT OF THE NIGHT
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
I FELL ASLEEP OR SO I THOUGHT,
THE SOUND OF HOOFS AWOKE ME.
SURELY I WAS DREAMING,
FOR THERE STOOD A GREAT WHITE HORSE.
WITH A SOFT NEIGH,
SHE BOWED HER HEAD
AND WITH A GENTLE NUDGE
HER WARM BREATH CARESSED ME.
UPON THIS HORSE SAT A BEAUTIFUL LADY
WITH LONG DARK TRESSES,
BARREN OF SHIRT,
GLORIOUS BREASTS
UNADORNED AND LOVELY.
SHE REACHED OUT TAKING ME
GENTLY BY THE HAND
LIFTING ME BEHIND HER
AS IF I WEIGHED NO MORE THAN A FEATHER.
THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT
WE DID JOURNEY
ACROSS THE DARKEN SKYS
LED BY STARS SO BRIGHT
LIT BY THE MOON'S FULL LIGHT.
SHE IMPARTED THE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE WHEEL OF LIFE,
CYCLES AND CIRCLES,
POWER OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS,
MAIDEN,MOTHER AND CRONE.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ASK SHE SAID.
TO ALL HER DAUGHTERS
EVERYTHING SHALL BE GIVEN.
IN RETURN FOR ALL HER GIFTS,
A THANK YOU
WAS ALL SHE WANTED.
WITH TREMBLING BODY AND POUNDING HEART
I KNEW WHO SHE WAS.
WHILE DREAMING I MUST
HAVE CALLED OUT HER NAME.
WITH ALL HER WISDOM AND POWERS,
UNTO ME SHE CAME.
NO LONGER BROKEN,
DISCOURAGED, DEJECTED, ALONE,
WORRIES NO MORE.
SHE HAD TAKEN THEM AWAY.
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS ASK,
DAUGHTER OF EPONA I AM,
AND THROUGH HER
GODDESS WITHIN.
GODDESS EPONA, MY GODDESS
WITH LOVE AND DEVOTION,
HEART,SOUL AND MIND
I DEDICATE MYSELF TO YOU.
AWAKENING IN THE MORNING LIGHT,
SUN STREAMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS,
HEART SANK WITH SADNESS.
IT WAS JUST A DREAM AFTER ALL.
ARISING FROM THE BED,
I STOOD THERE IN A DAZE
WITH A SMILE UPON MY FACE
FOR EMBEDDED IN THE RUG
WERE FOUR PERFECT HOOF PRINTS.
© Pat Swanberg
image courtesy of http://www.thaliatook.com/pix/epona.jpg
References:
Books: 365 Goddess by Patricia Telesco
Casting of the Circle by Diane Stein
The Once and Future Goddess by Elinor W. Gadon
The Enchanted Candle by Lady Rhea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epona
http://www.jannebutler.com/2index.html
http://wilsonsalmanac.com/goddess_epona.html
http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/epona.html
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Epona+statue&gbv=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epona