Volume 19 Issue 3
Beltane 2022

Seasons of the Moon is a quarterly online magazine published by students and members of The Order of The White Moon, an eclectic international order of women dedicated to The Goddess. The Order provides personal empowerment and priestess training, and operates local groups. All contributions are original material submitted by our students and members. (We do not accept outside contributions.) Please direct comments and questions to the Ezine Editor.

Beltane 2022

Holy Days
Celebrating Beltane, Maeve MoonBird
Litha ‐ Midsummer ‐ the Summer Queen, Lynda Kostini

Southerly Sisters
Samhain and Yule, Ajna DreamsAwake

Ritual Work
Beltane Ritual, M)0(rrigan

Goddess Work
Meeting Goddess, Ajna DreamsAwake

Witchy Writings
Handfasting, Peace Whitehorse

Sacred Sites
Petra, Ajna DreamsAwake

Thou Art Goddess
Flora Roman Goddess of Flowers, Luma Mora
Sun Licks, Emily Beatrice

OWM Awareness
OWM Happenings, Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Summer Solstice, Crystal Spiritweaver
Litha, Peace Whitehorse

Recipes Fit for a Goddess
Candied Flower Petals, Dancing River

Holy Days

Celebrating Beltane

The pagan sabbat Beltane is on May 1^st. This is a cross quarter day between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The earth has returned to life with trees and flowers blooming, along with warmer days. Beltane starts the summer season on the Wheel of the Year. This is considered a fire festival. This sabbat celebrates life returning with the bright sun, love, passion, sensuality, and fertility.

Beltane is often celebrated by lighting bonfires and dancing around the maypole. This is a powerful sabbat for fertility, love, and prosperity magic. Other ways to honor Beltane is working with local blooming flowers, divination, and fairy connection. You can also enjoy creating a festive, seasonal meal to celebrate.

On Beltane, you can work with any goddesses associated with summer, flowers, fertility, love, sensuality, the sun, fire, and prosperity. Some goddesses include Flora, Hera, Artemis, Diana, Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Rhiannon, and Arianhrod.

Creatively you can paint, draw, craft, or write about Beltane themes including flowers, fairies, summertime, the sun, and fertility.

Some questions you can reflect on in your journal this sabbat are:
* What ways can I connect to nature and this early summer season?
* How can I honor the sun and the longer, brighter summer days?
* Is there any way I wish to have more fertility, prosperity, passion, and/or sensuality in my life?
* How can I connect with the magic of flowers?
* Do I wish to connect to the fairy realm and how?
* What creative projects do I intend to work on right now?
* Is there any Goddess I am called to work with on Beltane and early summer?

Have a blessed, bright Beltane.

https://thecreativepriestesspath.com/celebrating-beltane/

Maeve MoonBird is an HP of Order of the White Moon. She is a visual artist who enjoys exploring where creativity and her pagan spirituality meet. Maeve is passionate about sharing the Goddess and spirituality with OWM Sisters.

Litha ‐ Midsummer ‐ the Summer Queen

You walk further along a dirt road. As you move south, it gets warmer and warmer, and then downright hot. You're glad you had filled your water bottle at your last stop. You approach a crossroads, and peer at the signs, a bit concerned, but one of the signs is painted red, and says clearly "South" with a big letters and an arrow. You take that road, walk for a while humming to yourself about "Down in the water of the Summer Lady's pool swam three silver fishes and a golden fishy too…" when you begin to hear drumming, and then voices raised in song, and see not too far away a large clearing in a meadow.

The large clearing is crowded with people, all in bright colors, and now you can hear tambourines, and what sounds like hurdy‐gurdies, and some sweet horns. On long poles surrounding the circle there are snapping multi‐colored flags. There are various motley toned tents pitched all around, and you can see that people are bustling about and doing various activities in those tents. There is an entire area with what appears to be plenty of cooking going on in big pots and outdoor grills. Out further in the field you see people dressed in what looks very much like armor, on actual horses, carrying colorful banners. You immediately wonder if you have wandered onto a Renaissance Faire… except there is no parking lot anywhere nearby, and certainly no cars.

You are standing and staring, wondering if you should go further when a chipper voice speaks right behind you, startling you. "Ahhhh! The Guest we have been awaiting. NOW we can start the Long Dance ceremony!" You turn to protest that you are not that guest, and have to look down quite a bit at the small woman standing behind you. She cannot be over three feet tall, although she is clearly not a child, dressed as she is in a gown covered with what must be a few hundred sequins flashing in the late afternoon sun. Her hair would be long if it were down, but it is intricately coiled and curled, with ribbons and flashing jewels glittering among the curls. She flourishes a scroll out of some hidden pocket in her voluminous skirt, and hands it to you, then curtseys deeply. "Your invitation" she says crisply.

You unfurl the scroll, and indeed, it is addressed to YOU. The scroll reads: "By special invite of her Majesty Titania, you are invited to the Long Dance Ceremony to be held on Litha. We celebrate the summer solstice together, in all creation. The Queen grants assurance of safety. When you enter the Circle, you will be under her protection. When you leave the Circle, you will return to your own place and time. Please check any weapons and iron objects with the ringmaster."

You raise an eyebrow and ask "Where is the ringmaster?" Another voice answers "Right here! And ready to check anything while you are in the Circle. You can put in your whole backpack. There will be plenty of refreshment during the Dance. But you must surrender any weapons and anything made of iron." You turn and are by now not too surprised to see what appears to be a small panda bear, if pandas had red and yellow fur, and bright green eyes. The Ringmaster smiles, with quite sharp teeth, and holds out a canvas bag. You search your pockets and pull out your pen knife, and three square‐head rusty nails you had found along the road, and drop them into the bag. Then your whole backpack, which somehow fits in what initially looked like a much smaller bag. The Ringmaster affixes an aluminum tag, and hands you a matching tag on a string, which you hang around your neck. The small elegant woman curtseys to the Ringmaster, who despite not having a waist, bows elegantly back to her. The Ringmaster turns and bows to you. You try to curtsy, but know that you are doing it wrong. The beaming smile on the Ringmasters face lets you know he is pleased with your effort. The smiling diminutive woman introduces herself to you as Aine. She curtseys to you. You curtsy back. She smiles, but turns around and stands in front of you so you can see what she does with her feet. She curtseys again. You mimic her moves. "Good enough" she sighs and motions you to follow her.

As soon as you step into the Circle you realize you had been seeing only a fraction of the beings there. The Circle is full of fae, fairy, gnomes, selkies, fatae and other beings you have only ever read about. At the southern point a throne is set up, and on it sits the Queen, Titania. Her gown is gold lame. Her skin looks like burnished copper. She is VERY tall. Her hair is done up in piles of curls in all colors ‐ yellow, pink, gold, red, pale green ‐‐ and the curls are ornamented with enormous flowers, making her even more imposing. Aine senses your discomfort of being just a plain human in traveling clothes, and offers you her small hand and says "I know just how you feel! Here come sit by me." She leads you to an open spot not more than 10 feet from Queen Titania. Your name is written on a small card on a stake at that spot. You sit gratefully on the soft grass. Aine sits by you.

The drumming and music and song fade away and Titania stands. "Great Goddess" you think "She must be seven feet tall." Then you blush to yourself. Great Goddess ‐ indeed. Titania turns Her head, as if She might have heard your thought, but Her smile is one as if you two were sharing a confidence. The Queen pauses and looks straight ahead with a slight smile on her face. You can tell everyone is going to show a courtesy to the Queen. You stand and curtsy exactly right, exactly in time with everyone else. Then everyone in the Circle sits, looking at the Summer Queen expectantly.

The Goddess speaks and welcomes everyone to the celebration. She assures all that tonight any food or drink will only be enchanted to bring joy, and will have no binding during mortal time. She assures all the guests that they can dance all night, and yet return to the exact time and place they left. And then She speaks about the intention of the Ceremony of the Long Dance. Titania says "This Dance is a Sacred Dance, reminding us all that our own personal well‐being is connected to the well‐being of Nature. This Litha we dedicate our dance to all our relations, past, present and future. I encourage you to Dance Long, and Dance Deep. The more we dance, the more we directly experience the reality of the interconnection of which we are a part. This Dance is also a Giving ceremony. At some point it will come to you what you wish to GIVE in return for all the insights you have been receiving on your life journey." You look up at the Queen, and realize she is looking directly at you.

The music starts, and people begin to form a circle. Aine leaps up, and you follow. You link hands with a person next to you ‐ who looks very much like a large gecko in a tuxedo ‐ and hold Aine's hand on your other side. The Circles begin to move, you all begin to Dance. The music, the singing, the Dancing ‐ it is all Exquisite. It is all Ecstasy. It is all Worship. It is all Magic. And as the Summer Queen prophesied ‐ at a point, you know what your Gift of thanks to the Goddess will be.

Lynda Kostini is a Level II Initiate in Dark Moon's Heart School.

Southerly Sisters

OWM is a global organization, with Sisters in countries around the world, including the Southern Hemisphere. The Wheel of the Year is reversed for our Southerly Sisters. To ensure we remain inclusive, we would like to share some information about the Holy Days that pertain specifically to them.

Samhain and Yule

Samhain marks the end of the third and final harvest of the year. The last of the fruit and vegetables have ripened and are now stored away, the seeds set aside for Spring planting. The bright colours of Autumn leaves signal their death knell, and soon they are borne away on the cold and bitter winds. Left behind are the naked branches, skeletal limbs reaching up to the skies. It is a time of death and decay, and it is no surprise that our thoughts may gravitate toward sorrow and loss, for this is the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is customary to light bonfires on Samhain eve to burn away the miseries of the past year. Hearth fires are extinguished and relit with the Samhain flame, ensuring a fresh start to the New Year.

It is not surprising that many cultures pay their respects to the ancestors and departed family members at this time of year. At Samhain, the Veil between worlds is thin, an ideal time for communing with those who have gone before us. We cannot but think of death and dying at this time of year, as the world around us prepares for the long dark months ahead. We can call upon the ancestors for guidance, have the conversations with loved ones we could not have while they lived, or simply sit in silence, honouring them with gratitude. Dumb Suppers, are meals held in silence, a place at the table is reserved for the departed. It is a time of solemn reflection. This may also offer an opportunity to converse with loved ones who have crossed the veil about unresolved issues, and then, let them go in peace and love.

Samhain, though primarily a festival of darkness and death, also marks a new beginning. This is the Witch's New Year, and though we may look on the past with regret and sorrow, we know that the Wheel continues to turn, and fresh opportunities for growth and transformation are immanent. Samhain is a time to look honestly at ourselves, to acknowledge our darkness, and to access our truth. One way to do this is through divination, as we can easily move between realms, and are more receptive to the messages of spirit. Seek out The Crone to guide you on this journey. She is here to offer Her wisdom, to direct you on the path, and to shine a light upon your true self.

Yule comes from the Norse "iul" and the Anglo-Saxon "hweol", both meaning wheel. It celebrates the completion of another cycle in the Wheel of the Year. The dark half of the year is at an end, and we gather together to honour the light's return. As the sun makes its way back to Earth, and the days become noticeably longer, we experience a sense of rebirth and renewal. Hope is awakened once again, and we celebrate, by gathering with family and friends, and by sharing our joy in this season of giving.

One of the traditional symbols of the season is the Yule Wreath. The circular wreath, having no beginning and no ending, is symbolic of the eternal cycle of life‐death‐rebirth. Yule wreaths are usually made from evergreen boughs, whose branches remain green throughout the Winter months. They are symbols of immortality and the victory over darkness and challenge.

We are living in dark times. It is not just that this is the darkest part of the year, but the world around us appears to be a reflection of bleak hopelessness and despair. There is so much to be outraged about, and yet, if we choose to remain in a state of perpetual anger and fear, reacting rather than responding, blaming rather than offering compassion, we will lose a precious part of ourselves. Yes, we must stand against tyranny, we must speak out against injustices, but we must ever be mindful of the fact that love will always win over hate. We cannot remain silent, but we can speak and act from a place of love and compassion.

We are living in dark times, but Yule offers a promise, a promise of light's return, a promise of hope. It is a reminder to us that the dark times are ending, new life is emerging. We can make of this new life what we choose.

Ritual Work

Beltane Ritual

Set up Altar:

May wine ‐ Blend strawberries, sweet woodruff, white wine or champagne
Let soak for several hours/overnight
Birch branches ‐ if possible, let someone bring them to your house
Springwater
Ribbons ‐ in various colours
Altar Cloth
Candle ‐ Green
Incense ‐ whatever works for you to connect with Spring and May
Drum or recording of shamanic drumming

Body of Ritual

Either indoors or outdoors draw your circle wide and make sure you have everything with you.

Dip the Birch branches into the spring water and cleanse the area.

If you are experienced in shamanic journeying you can drum ‐ if you cannot, play a recording of shamanic drums. They usually have a tone that takes you back from your journey at the end.

Walk around the circle, dance and chant if you like ‐ be playful and open 😊
Move faster and swirl around if you like, and, when you feel tired, lay down and close your eyes.

Feel the warmth of a sunny day and the sounds and scents of a meadow.

You are protected, you are loved and fillled with bliss… Now let your imagination take over,
be open to whom or what you meet on your journey…

After the journey meditate over what you experienced and write down on the ribbons what you wish to manifest.
Hold them in your hand and give it power (like food for the seeds to grow…)

Inscribe your wishes on the green candle. You may write the wishes or create sigils representing the wish. To create a sigil, write the wish down and take out all double letters until you have only single letters remaining.
Now write them together in a way that you cannot tell the letters anymore and put a frame around it.

Hold the ribbon and the candle in your hands and raise energy.
Feel how the energy moves to your hands, into the sigils and then activates them.

Give thanks and open the circle.

Now it's time to celebrate and have some of the gorgeous May punch…

Bind the ribbons to a tree on your balcony garden or a park, forest ‐ whatever works for you where you live ‐ if there is no tree you can bind them on a wooden staff 😊

Burn the candle every day/night until the next full moon . You can cut small lines into the candle so that it makes 7 parts ‐ the last one will burn to the end on the 7th of May.

M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Goddess Work

Meeting Goddess

Goddess may show up in our lives in a variety of ways. It can be random, She comes to you in a dream, during meditation, or while doing ritual. Or it's more subtle, you begin seeing recurring symbols that may be associated with a particular Goddess ‐ both in dreams and in waking life. Or there may be an inherent 'knowing' when Her name is mentioned. When we tend to resonate strongly with a particular deity, it may be an indication that She is reaching out to us.

Researching your chosen Goddess is the first step ‐ knowing as much as you can about a Goddess before trying to reach out will help to establish a stronger relationship. The OWM Goddess Gallery is a great place to start.

Most relationships in our lives take time to build. In order to develop a strong relationship with someone, we need to spend time with them, get to know them, and get to know what matters to them. The same is true of our relationships with Deities.

Things you can do to nurture a relationship with the Divine:
Invite Her to rituals and celebrations.
Ask Her to help you learn more about Her.
Create an art project that honours Her, leave an offering on your altar, write a prayer

But most importantly, simply talk to Her, share your day with Her. Start with saying Hello in the morning. Be open to Her presence as you go about your day, pay attention, and you might see it in small ways. For example, every time you see one of Her symbols (a real one, an image, even an emoji) it can remind you of your chosen Goddess, and so deepen your connection to Her. End your day with a prayer, a divination reading, or meditation.

Will you have earthshattering moments every day? Not likely, but you may have some great moments (and perhaps some not so happy ones), but you'll mostly have a lot of day to day living. Even if it feels like you're just making it up, if some insights come to you that help, then it is worth it.

One way to commune with Goddess is through a guided meditation. Feel free to adapt the meditation below so that it is more personally meaningful for you. The meditation takes place in your imagination, you are in complete control and can end it simply by opening your eyes. But it's more than just in your imagination, at some point, you are no longer aware of your physical body or your surroundings. You find yourself fully immersed in the vision you've created. It may seem as though it has also taken on a life of its own, this is the realm of the Visionary Mind.

I also want to add that if you have trouble visualizing, simply sit quietly, invite Goddess into your circle, and have a conversation. It may start out as 'just in your head', but, eventually, it does unfold on its own. Let go of any expectations and just allow the words to flow freely. Another thing to remember, your first meeting may be brief, so don't be disappointed. The more you try to connect with Her, the deeper and longer the conversations become.

The Preparation
The Purification
The Journey
The Communion
The Reintegration

Step 1. The Preparation

You do this prior to the meditation. It may include having a bath or shower, turning off your phone, lighting some candles or incense, playing soft music… whatever you need to do to get in the mood before the ritual actually begins. This sets the intent that you are preparing to meet Goddess.
Find a comfortable spot (sitting or laying down) when you won't be disturbed.
Cast a circle, this can be done physically or in your imagination. A circle is a form of protection you create for yourself, you decide who you will invite into the circle with you. A circle also separates the outer world from the inner one.
Take several deep breaths, feel yourself become more relaxed as you let go of the events of the day. Close your eyes.

Step 2. The Purification

Imagine yourself in a field surrounded by flowers of all colours. You feel the warmth of the sun, above is a blue sky with some clouds in the distance. You begin to walk forward. A light rain begins. You feel refreshed as the raindrops wash over you. In the warm sun, your clothes dry quickly. Just ahead, a rainbow appears.

Step 3. The Journey

A quiet voice whispers in your ear, beckoning you forward. When you reach the rainbow, you find that you can walk on it. You continue walking, climbing up the rainbow. Looking down, you can see the field of flowers receding from view.
You continue walking forward and upward, until, eventually, you find yourself completely immersed in shimmering colours. You are no longer climbing. You have reached the top of the rainbow.

Step 4. The Communion

Just ahead you see a woman. Note what She looks like, Her clothes etc…
You acknowledge Her with a bow. You ask to approach, offering Her a gift (don't think about it, just note the first thing that pops into your head).
She invites you to sit with Her. Ask Her your questions and listen to what She has to offer. It may be words, an image or a feeling, be open to receive. Take as long as you need to, and, when it feels right, thank Her.
Before you leave, She offers you a gift (again, the first thing that pops into your head, it may be an object, a word or phrase…).

Step 5. The Reintegration

Walk back down the rainbow until you reach the earth. Begin to feel your physical body, become aware of your surroundings. When you are ready, open your eyes.
Release the circle you created.

Have a drink of water or eat something in order to fully ground yourself back into your body.
You may want to make a few notes about your experience, things that stand out for you. But don't try to analyze them right now.

Take a few hours, or even a few days before coming back to your notes and going over your journey. You may have more questions or need some clarifications. Know that you can return to visit Her anytime.

Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.

Witchy Writings

Handfasting

A handfasting is the union of people in a relationship. Limited to two? Well, no, it does not have to be but it usually is. Some tradition has it that the term of the handfasting is a year and a day, but if that is the case, it is usually stated as part of the handfasting ceremony. Most see a handfasting as a Pagan wedding ceremony.

A handfasting can be a legal union if it is two people, it is performed by a clergy with the authority to perform weddings, and the length of the union is not limited. Often, a handfasting is performed as just that and not a legal union, but the participants consider themselves bound to each other just the same.

As part of the handfasting, one hand of each of the participants is bound to one hand of the other. The binding is done with a beautiful ceremonial cord. The binding is done loosely, so that they have to work a little to stay bound to each other, symbolizing the work it takes to hold a relationship together.

A unity candle might be used, which is lit from two separate candles by the participants. They can choose to blow out the individual candles symbolizing that the two are now one, or to leave the individual candles burning, symbolizing that while joined together they are still two unique people.

Just about anything that you can think of that is part of a traditional wedding can also be included as part of a handfasting ceremony. And anything else that can be imagined and desired by the participants can be included, since there are no rules as to what a handfasting ceremony can consist of. Most write their own vows, and in many cases, actually write the entire ceremony.

Many choose to "jump the broom". A broom, or besom, is a powerful magical symbol and tool. It is nearly universal in that almost every home has one. The broom is usually beautifully decorated with ribbons, flowers, and other pretty things. It is laid on the ground for the jumping, and the hand‐bound participants hop over it. This symbolizes the closing of the previous chapter of their lives, and the start of a new one on the other side of the broom.

Participants usually dress in beautiful ritual garb. Sometimes women will wear traditional wedding dresses, and men, suits or tuxedos. But more often, Pagan ritual dress is the order of the day. This can get very creative. Women can wear a flower crown in lieu of a veil, and men sometimes wear horned headdresses. There are no hard and fast rules, and outfits are often very unique and sometimes even lavish.

After the ceremony, there is usually a feast, and there is often someone there to take still photos, or to video the entire ceremony, or both. In many cases, the ceremony is held outdoors in a nature setting.

The one element though that marks the event as a handfasting is the binding together with the cord. Most people keep the cord as a keepsake of the day, and many keep the decorated broom, also, if they jumped the broom as part of the ceremony.

Click on the link to follow Peace at Witchy Writings

Peace Whitehorse is the founder of Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.

Sacred Sites

Petra

"A rose‐red city half as old as time" From the poem "Petra" by Dean Burgen

You approach Petra from the East, the hot desert winds buffet you as you walk the dusty road, past tombs and quarries until you come upon a fissure in the towering rock. You have reached the entrance to the Siq, a narrow gorge, flanked on either side by soaring cliffs. The Siq was created by millennia of floodwaters carving through the soft sandstone.

The Nabateans built a dam here at the entrance to protect the city of Petra from the flash floods that arise unexpectantly, the dam also carries spring water from miles away to the center of the city. As you walk through the narrow gorge, you discover niches along the walls that once housed idols of the Gods and Goddesses that protected the city. It is said that if you walk through the Siq at twilight, listen for the sound of the evening owl, a symbol of the ancient city. The Siq winds its way through the rocks for almost a mile before opening to Petra's wonders of rock and light. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al‐Khazneh.

The Khazneh, is Petra's most famous building. Khazneh literally means 'Treasury', so‐called because of legends that it was used as a hiding place for treasures (including those of the Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses while he was pursuing Moses through the desert). The façade of the Khazneh is carved from the sandstone cliff wall and stands almost 140 feet high. The architecture is a blend of Persian, Arabic, Greek and Assyrian design. Behind the monumental facade we find a single, large square room carved within the cliff. This room, with its smooth, bare walls, is as plain as the outside is ornate. It is thought that this may have been the Holy of Holies of the Temple of Isis. The Khazneh itself was a complex consisting of the temple, residential quarters and workshops. The workshops included facilities for painters, metalworkers, an oil workshop, a marble workshop and even a souvenir shop! Past the Treasury, at the foot of the mountain called en‐Nejr, lies a massive theatre, cut into the hillside. This theatre could seat 3,000 people. It is surrounded on three sides by rose‐coloured mountains, creating wonderful acoustics. From here you may hike the 800 rock cut steps up the mountain to the High Place on the summit of Attuf Ridge. This was part of the Nabatean procession way, to the home of their Gods. Here you will find two 22‐foot‐high obelisks representing the God Dushara and Goddess Al‐Uzza.

Down in the city of Petra itself, lies the city center. The remains of a Nymphaeum, a public water fountain, stand beneath the shade of a tree. The fountain is situated at the junction of two water channels and is dedicated to the water nymphs. It was most likely built by the Romans when they occupied the city. A short way beyond the Nymphaeum, the Colonnaded Street begins. The street runs through the center of Petra and is comprised of many unexcavated sites on either side. It is named for the massive columns and arches that line the street.

No matter where you walk in or around Petra, you will come across hundreds of elaborate rock‐cut tombs with intricate carvings. Although many of the original houses were destroyed by earthquakes, the tombs were carved to last throughout the afterlife and at least 500 have survived, along with many temples dedicated to the deities of the city.

The primary Goddess of Petra is Al‐Uzza, (the Most Mighty), a Goddess of water and fertility. A virgin warrior, She was the youngest aspect of a Triple Goddess, with Her Sisters Manat and Al Lat. She is a Star‐Goddess, associated with the planet Venus, and is also the Goddess who guards ships on ocean voyages (although Arabia is a land of deserts and nomads, the Nabateans did make ocean voyages to trade). In this aspect She is symbolized by dolphins, seen as guardians and protectors as they swam alongside ships. Dolphin images are found in many of Her Temples in Petra. Temples to Al‐Uzza and Her consort Dushara are found throughout the city and the surrounding mountains.

Al‐Uzza was symbolized by a lion (felines are sacred to Her) and belonged to the masses, whereas Dushara was the god of the nobility. As more traders converged on Petra, they influenced the transformation of the Nabatean Deities. Temples dedicated to Isis, Aphrodite, Tyche and Ishtar arose in Petra and Al‐Uzza took on many of the attributes of these foreign Goddesses.

Sometimes referred to as 'The Canyons of the Divine', Petra was home to hundreds of shrines dedicated to the various Gods and Goddesses of the cultures who passed through this place. Petra contains hundreds of niches, reliefs and sanctuaries which honoured the Divine Feminine. Sacred stones called betyls were placed in these niches to symbolize the Goddess. The Treasury is thought to be a Temple dedicated to Isis‐Al‐Uzza, and the Temple of the Winged Lions (named for the relief sculptures at the entrance) also appears to be dedicated to Al‐Uzza, beloved among Her people. In the surrounding mountains, open air sanctuaries honoured the God and Goddess in the form of pillars which the Bedouins called Zibb Attuf ('The Place of the Merciful Phallus').

Archaeological excavations have determined the area was populated as early as 10,000 BCE. The area was occupied by the Edomites around 1200 BCE (Edom, meaning red, is the biblical name for this region). The Nabateans, a matrilineal nomadic tribe, appeared in the 6^th century BCE, and gained control of the area. They were the creators of the magnificent buildings that remain to this day. By the first century BCE, Petra was supporting almost 30,000 people and had become an important link in the trade routes connecting China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome on the Mediterranean. Petra was at the center of the spice, silk and incense trade from Damascus in the north to the Red Sea in the south.

The success of the Nabateans lay in their ability to control and conserve water, a vital necessity in this arid land. The Nabateans were able to create an artificial oasis in the desert city by controlling flash floods and collecting rainwater through dams, cisterns and water trenches carved from the rock. The city was able to prosper from the sale of water to the caravans that passed through. This wealth allowed Petra to commission the hundreds of monumental buildings and temples dispersed in and around the city. Pottery also contributed to the wealth of the city. Terra cotta pipes were used to carry precious water through the city. As well, figurines of the various deities were sold at souvenir stands as offerings in the temples.

Petra remained a successful and wealthy city until the first century AD, when the Romans occupied her. Petra's fortunes declined swiftly due to changes in trade routes. A series of devastating earthquakes in the 4^th century destroyed many of the buildings and the vital water system. Petra endured as a resting place for nomadic tribe as Islam became the dominant religion of the area.

According to some Arab traditions, Petra is the spot where Moses struck a rock with his staff and water came forth, the Wadi Musa or " 'Wadi of Moses' is the Arab name for the narrow valley where Petra is located. This is also the area where Moses' brother, Aaron, was alleged to have been buried (Mount Aaron). A mountaintop shrine of Moses' sister, Miriam, was still shown to pilgrims during the fourth century. There may be truth to these biblical stories, but the more likely explanation is that the tales were created by monks living in Petra in the 12^th century. The Crusaders had built a fort here and were attempting to defeat the Saracens and establish Christianity as the dominant religion. The Crusaders, defeated, left soon after, leaving Petra to the locals. Only the nomadic Bedouin tribes were aware of its existence for centuries.

Petra remained a closely guarded secret, the few Europeans who attempted to bring to light the rumours of a lost city were usually killed by the protective locals. That is until an adventurous Swiss explorer named Johann Burckhardt re‐discovered the lost city in 1812. Burckhardt was able to pass himself off as an Arab and gained the trust of the Bedouins who brought him to Petra. The rose‐hued city could no longer be kept hidden. The poet, Percey Biss Shelley, refers to Petra in his poem "Ozymandias", and in the 19th century, British cleric Dean Burgen wrote the immortal words at the beginning of this article.

Today, Petra is the most popular tourist destination in Jordan. It boasts two museums, the Petra Archaeological Museum and the Petra Nabataean Museum, both of which represent finds from excavations in the Petra region and an insight into Petra's colourful past. Petra is an archaeological marvel of more than 100²miles containing 800 known buildings, 75% of which remain un‐excavated. On December 6^th, 1985, Petra was designated a Unesco World Heritage site and on July 7^th, 2007, Petra was named one of New Seven Wonders of the World. This beautiful rose‐red city will not fall into obscurity any time soon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/jordan/petra_ruins.htm
Sacred Places of Goddess- Karen Tate

Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.

Thou Art Goddess

Flora Roman Goddess of Flowers

Inspired by the Goddess Flora, whose name means blossom or plants. She is the spring Goddess and symbolizes flowering in nature and in the human spirit too.

Luma Mora is an Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Sun Licks

9.75 x 8 Acrylic on Canvas

I had originally set out to paint a sun for the Imbolc‐Ostara edition of Seasons. I wasn't happy with how my sun was turning out. So, I scrapped that idea and started from scratch. Instead of jumping in and painting a sun I explored the feeling of warmth first. What does warmth feel like? Is warmth always a good feeling?

Warmth can come with a sting sometimes. It lashes out, and doesn't always hurt for long. It can still hurt though. Too much and we're smothered. Too little and we freeze. Warmth is an important aspect of survival. We need the physical healing heat from the sun, and emotional warmth from our favorite people.

When we're feeling overwhelmed it is okay to retreat out of the light. It's okay to say no. Just because you have warm and caring people in your life who would do anything for you it doesn't mean you should let them. Having personal space to regroup and think about your next step is 100% okay. Nonetheless, it needs to be balanced out.

If you don't invest time and effort into your support system you'll be left out in the cold when you need it the most. Finding that balance can be one of the most challenging things you do. Feelings might get hurt. There might be a lot of misunderstanding. In the end it can be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Emily Beatrice is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon. She is Usui Reiki I &II certified, and feels called to support others on their healing journey.

OWM Awareness

White Moon Happenings

We are always delighted to welcome our new students in Sacred Three, Moonlit Path, Peace Grove School, Pyramid of Light, and Dark Moon's Heart from all over the world! We are always happy when sisters find their way to OWM!

More About OWM

If you're not an OWM student and you'd like to learn more about the Order of the White Moon, the schools offering Traditional White Moon Studies, or browse the Goddess Gallery, we welcome you to learn about us!

For those who are not currently Sisters of the Order but would like to feel supported, we encourage you to visit OWM's website and submit a Prayer Request. This Public Outreach program is one of the ways that OWM gives back to the community. We offer prayers, distance healing, and loving support to members of public.

You can connect with OWM on social media! Follow us on Twitter at @OrderWhiteMoon for regular updates on Seasons of the Moon, the Weekly Tarot Zodiac and other OWM public outreach programs. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/orderwhitemoon.

Visit and like us! The Twitter feed and Facebook page are available to the public. Feel free to share these links. We appreciate your feedback so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

May the Peaceful, Compassionate and Healing Presence of the Goddess be with you now and always.

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit

Summer Solstice

This Solstice day we make a wish
The Sun within to shine without
To manifest and voice aloud
Desires, goals we seek and fish.
Our open hearts and hands, a dish
Accepting blessings' filling flow.
Regardless of the winds that blow,
Still, deep within remains the Light,
Through Solstice day and darkest night:
Our Life, Creator, Pow'r of Love!

Click here to download or listen to the poem and music: https://crystalspiritweavermusic.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/summer_solstice.mp3

Crystal Spiritweaver is a student of Sacred Three Goddess School. She especially loves connecting with Goddess, Nature, and the Elements through sound healing, music, and poetry. You can listen to her work at: http://www.crystalspiritweaver.com

Litha

Midsummer bonfire, on the hill,
Set the watch and carry the torch,
Protect the village on this night.
Jump the fire with nary a scorch!

Make yourself an amulet
From the ashes of the fire,
Knead into clay for a talisman,
Let the remnants earn their hire.

Wait upon the sun this night,
You will see the little Fey
If you sit in a circle of stone
To keep the mischievous ones at bay!

Walk the fire thrice about,
Tell a pebble your desire,
And on the final trip around,
Toss the stone into the fire.

Celebrate both work and leisure,
Time for children and for play,
Oak King wanes and Holly waxes,
Nights grow long and short the day.

On Midsummer night, the forest elves
And all the little people appear,
Put the ivy on your door,
Bless the pets, and have no fear.

Ring the cauldron with some flowers,
Wisteria oil, Frankincense burn,
Emerald and Jade are stones to have,
Herbs are larkspur, lavender, fern.

Midsummer is here, we celebrate
The midpoint between Spring and Fall,
Hail the Holly King who conquers,
Bless the Goddess, one and all!

Recipes Fit for a Goddess

Candied Flower Petals

candied flower petals

Use candied flowers to decorate your spring snacks. Image by Hazel Proudlove/E+/Getty Images

Nothing says the Beltane season has arrived quite like flower blossoms ‐ and what many people don't realize is that not only are they lovely to look at, they can taste good too. With a few fresh flowers, you can create a tasty treat. Use nasturtium, roses, pansies, lilac blossoms, violets, or any other edible flower for this recipe. Be warned, though ‐ this is a bit time consuming, so plan accordingly.

Ingredients

Flower petals or blossoms, rinsed and dried
Water
1 egg white, beaten
Sugar

Directions

Combine a few drops of water with the egg white in a small bowl and whisk them together. Hold the flower petal gently between two fingers and dip into the water mixture. Shake off excess water, and then sprinkle sugar on the petal. If your petals seem too soggy, use a paintbrush to brush the water mixture onto the petals instead.

As you complete each petal, place it on a sheet of wax paper to dry.

Drying time is anywhere from 12 hours to two days, depending on the humidity level in your home. If your flower petals aren't drying fast enough for you, place them on a cookie sheet in the oven at 150° for a few hours.

Store your flower petals in an airtight container until it's time to use them. Use to decorate cakes and cookies, add to salads, or just to eat as a snack.

Dancing River has been committed to her spiritual path for over 15 years. She's in her 3rd year of studying with The Order. She's currently studying with the Dark Moon's Heart School.

The articles featured in Seasons of the Moon are written and/or submitted by members of the Order of the White Moon and are their own intellectual property. Please feel free to share this publication but do give credit where credit is due and link back to the source.

Thank you for reading, we hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you.

Many blessings to you and yours,
Seasons of The Moon Staff

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Volume 19 Issue 3 Beltane 2022