Skye - Goddess aloud!: transforming your world through rituals & mantras

About the Author

Michelle Skye (Massachusetts) is a Pagan Priestess. She teaches classes, leads workshops, and founded the Massachusetts Pagan Teens and Sisterhood of the Crescent Moon. Her articles have appeared in Circle Magazine, SageWoman, Llewellyns Herbal Almanac , and Llewellyns Magical Almanac.

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Goddess Aloud!: Transforming Your World Through Rituals & Mantras 2010 by Michelle Skye.

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First e-book edition 2010

E-book ISBN:978-07387-2307-5

Cover illustration 2009 by Wen Hsu

Cover design by Ellen Dahl

Editing by Nicole Edman

Interior illustrations by the Llewellyn Art Department

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to all the men in my life:

To my Dad, Rui, who first helped me find my voice and encouraged me to use it.

To my husband, Michael, who supported and challenged my voice in so many ways. You are my greatest teacher!

To my ritual-mates, Gene and JD, who listened to my voice with compassion and mirth.

And to my chihuahua, Muchacho, who reminded me that its important to bark at the big Husky down the street, even when youre only two and a half pounds!

Thank you all! I love you guys!

CONTENTS

Finding Your Voice

Goddess Mantras For Peace

Pax, Roman Goddess of the Peaceful State

Our Lady of Ftima, Peaceful Mother of Christianity

Branwen, Welsh Goddess of Compassionate Peace

Ritual for Peace: The Sacred Prayer of Peace

Goddess Mantras For The Environment

Asase Yaa, Akan Mother Earth Goddess

Pachamama, Peruvian Earth Mama

Eriu, Irish Goddess of the Land

Ritual for the Environment: Love for a Tree, Love for All

Goddess Mantras For Love

Venus, Roman Goddess of All Things Love-ly

Caelia, British Faerie Queen of Eternal Love

Freyja, Norse Goddess of Passion and Sex

Ritual for Love: Allowing Love to Enter

Goddess Mantras For Self-Love

Venus of Willendorf, Paleolithic Goddess of Self-Celebration

Hina, Hawaiian Goddess of Self-Liberation

Cessair, Irish Goddess of Self-Esteem

Ritual for Self-Love: Awakening Your Rainbow Body

Goddess Mantras For Forgiveness

Tlazolteotl, Aztec Eater of Filth

Mary Magdalene, Christian Sacred Prostitute

Arianrhod, Welsh Sovereign Lady

Ritual for Forgiveness: Creating a Mandala of You

Goddess Mantras For Healing

Uzume, Shinto Goddess of Laughter and Shadow

Sulis, British Goddess of Cures and Curses

Airmid, Irish Goddess of Herbs and Plants

Ritual for Healing: The Rattle of Health

Goddess Mantras For Growth

Heqet, Egyptian Goddess of Childbirth and Resurrection

Pomona, Roman Goddess of Orchards and Fruitfulness

Blodeuwedd, Welsh Goddess of Personal Growth and Change

Ritual for Growth: Welcoming the Positive

Goddess Mantras For Hope

Demeter, Greek Sorrowful Mother Goddess

Persephone, Greek Queen of the Dead

Sunna, Norse Light-Bringer of Hope

Ritual for Hope: Crafting H.O.P.E.

Goddess Mantras For Spirituality

The Pleiades, Greek Goddesses of All Time and Space

Isis, Great Egyptian Goddess of Magic and Motherhood

Rhiannon, Welsh Great Queen and Triple Goddess

Ritual for Spirituality: What Do You Want to Do?

e

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

The Earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep,

and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

New American Standard Bible, Genesis 1:13

I begin with the most recognizable example of the power of the voice as expressed by the Divine. Yahweh, the God of the Christians, created the world simply by talking. He called for light, and light came. He called for the sky, and the sky appeared. He called for water, Earth, stars, plants, and animals, and guess what? They all manifested before him through the power of his voice.

The Feminine Divine, which has been historically subjugated by male-dominated religious philosophy, has equally powerful examples of the voice in stories and legends around the world. These, however, have been forgotten over time, condensed and covered over by the weighty words of the monotheistic God. With this book, I seek to bring the stories of the Voice of the Feminine into the light of day where their messages can be read, understood, and implemented in everyday life. Behold the power of vocal confession with the Aztec goddess Tlazolteotl! Hear the mighty magical words of the Egyptian goddess Isis! Feel the depth of emotion in the cries of sorrow from the goddess Demeter and the shouts of joy from her daughter Persephone. The Great Goddess is here to guide each of us in the recovery and the strengthening of our individual voice. Through her example and with her love, she will aid us in manifesting our dreams on this Earth, helping us heal so we may finally recognize our true inner self. The journey waits before you. All you need to do is take that first step. Make the choice to honor yourself, to open your voice, and to begin to change the world around you.

IN THE BEGINNING

This book was conceived out of my own personal needs. You see, in the past, I have had a hard time accessing the power of my voice. Even now, after a year of writing this book and working to strengthen my voice, I still find myself, at times, retreating into silence. Silence is so much easier, after all. You dont hurt peoples feelings. You dont need to defend your ideas. Theres no confrontation, no situation, no issues, no conflicts. Its just you, in the quiet, by yourselfwhich is, of course, the root of the problem. Silence isolates the individual from the world. It also isolates the individual from herself. If you dont express your thoughts, concerns, and philosophies, you disavow their intrinsic worth. Your great ideas, kept locked up tight in your mind, affect nothing. Change nothing. Connect with nothing. By refusing to use your voice, you deny your right to be an active participant in life. In your life.