Wahya Circle
Moon Day
Magick & Medicine
Beginning Practicum
Earth Pot Veneration
PURPOSE
Earth Pots have many uses as we will see below. The primary use that is seen for this Work is to deepen connection with the Divine Feminine in all forms. An Earth Pot is a natural pot made of clay, stone, or glass filled with healthy soil, rocks and greenery. To be most potent, the container is ideally filled with native Plant Allies to the area where we sleep for Personal Protection. This is also done to honor the land around us, Mother Earth and the Element Earth.
For many others it is done to show gratitude for allowing the person to safely live and thrive on the land. (This is also done by leaving offerings out for the local Animal Allies.)
To pull power from another location nearby, have some items from that location in the chosen ideal container.
CONTAINER CONTENTS
As stated above, the contents of the container are ideally gifted and found on the land around where we reside. Or, if pulling energy or anchoring to another location, such as from a childhood home or somewhere that holds Magick, Medicine, or a specific power, the items come from that location with permission. (We can Intuit this.)
Consider what native Plant Ally is coming forward to be placed inside the pot and what its correspondence may be. Sometimes these Alies appear to walk with us through our Wheel of Life or teach an important Knowledge.
Native herbs are wonderful for this, like Chickweed or Sassafras. Integrating other metaphysical properties with the Plant Ally increase the strength of this Earth Pot. For example, Magick and Medicine related to numerology from the number of rocks, the Stone Alliy’s metaphysical properties, etc. Everything can matter as much or as little as needed or Intented. Remember, we are imbuing the pot with the Focus of our Intent as we Craft it.
KNOW YOUR INTENT
EXAMPLE
PROTECTION
An example of a Protection Earth Pot:
Terra Cotta pot
Soil from personal property
6 small Quartz stones from property creek
(Happiness, Harmony, Stability)
Small Fern from property woods
(Protection, Energy Booster)
(All items were taken with permission of land and offerings were given. SOME NATIVE FERNS ARE A PROTECTED SPECIES, check local laws.)
World Studies 101
Mesopotamia
Sumer
When we began our Journey on the Dark Moon of Jumatutu in April, we began outside of Mesopotamia. We began in the areas of the San tribe. We visited the land of the Yoruba. We learned of the faiths of Yoruba, Ifa, and the importance of Olodumare and Shango. This too is where we first learned of patriarchal magickal presence. (Please revisit these Lessons if you do not recall them well.)
We are again traveling to the Fertile Crescent, deemed “mesopotamia” by its conquerors, the Greeks. Though today, we will learn of matriarchal magickal presence.
The first SAPIENS civilizations are some of the first found around the Crescent approximately 6 to 9 thousand years ago. Sapiens is the species all of us “modern Practitioners” descend from. Although this transition varied in time around the world, human kind left “stone age” for “new stone age”, or Neolithic, according to the Greeks —around 8 to 10 thousand years ago. When this transition occurred, major advances developed such as agriculture. Gaia was most gracious to allow this to flourish.
During this time, the first urban Sumarian villages were built around Uruk, or what later came to be known as the place of Inanna. As evidenced by archeological finds, by 3900 BCE at Uruk, there appears to be wheel-thrown pottery on a grand scale, the introduction of writing (cuneiform), and cylinder seals. (Such as the one used for Inanna’s inscriptions and coins.)
Deities of Earth 101
Sumerian Pantheon
While this does not contain all deities of the region, these are some of the major deities we find in the Akkadian / Sumerian pantheon. Can you determine if they sound like other native Divinities from other regions?
Nammu
Divine Feminine Energy Spirit. The Creation Goddess. She arose from the sea and gave birth to Heaven, Earth, and the First Gods. She represents the freshwater ocean, called the Apsu, which Sumerians believed existed below the Earth as a source of life and fertility.
Anu/An
Divine Masculine. The God of the Sky (Heavens). The perceived “Highest God” as He is deemed the King of Gods, and sometimes attributed with the creation of humans with the assistance of His sons Enlil and/or Enki.
Ki
Goddess of Earth. Divine Feminine in Matter.
(Sumerian: 𒀭𒆠) was the Chief Consort of the Sky God An. In some legends Ki and An were brother and sister, being the offspring of Anshar ("Sky Pivot") and Kishar ("Earth Pivot"), earlier personifications of the heavens and earth.
Enlil
God of Wind. Element Air Also considered the God of Storms of the Atmosphere and a member of the triad of Gods completed by Anu (Sumerian: An) and Ea (Enki). Enlil means “Lord Wind”, and encompasses the Element Air from the hurricane and the gentle winds of spring which are thought of as His breath issuing directly from His mouth and eventually as His word or command.
Enki/Ea
God of Water. Element Water. Wisdom, Magick, human culture, and creation.
Ninhursag
The Mother Goddess of Fertility and Earth, specifically in the northern herding regions; She was the Goddess of the stony, rocky ground, the hursag. In particular, She had power in the foothills and desert to produce wildlife. Also spelled Ninhursaga (Sumerian) and in Akkadian, Belit-ili, City Goddess of Adab and of Kish.
Utu
Also called by Shamash (Akkadian: šamaš), known as Utu (Sumerian: dutu 𒀭𒌓 "Sun") was the ancient Mesopotamian Sun God. Element Fire. Thought. He was believed to see everything that happened in the world every day, and was responsible for Justice and Protection of Travelers, especially between the worlds. As a Divine Judge, He is associated with the Underworld.
Nanna
Utu’s Father and The God of the Moon. In most times, only the full moon, whereas Su-en, later contracted to Sin, and designated the crescent moon.
Inanna
Goddess of Fertility, Love, Passion, Sensuality, and War. She is also associated with Procreation, Divine Law, and Political Power. Originally worshipped in Sumer, She was known by the Akkadian Empire, Babylonians, and Assyrians as Ishtar (and occasionally the logogram 𒌋𒁯).
As all practices evolved with time and persistent influence of Ego and the drive of Universal Balance, so do these Sumerian beliefs that brought us Inanna. In all, the Sumerians worshiped over 3,000 deities. The Sumerians believed their Divines were a lot like people. They thought, they ate, drank, slept, and betrothed themselves to others. As time progressed, the many avatars of the Divine united into less and less representations.
Welcome to the energy of Divine Feminine!
Beginning Practicum
Descent of the Goddess
As we begin our month of dedication to the Goddess and Feminine Energy, we will take a look at the story, The Descent of the Goddess. Some believe this is one of the most important stories in the Western Esoteric mythos. On many Paths, it is used to illustrate reincarnation and the cyclical nature of time. For other Paths, it represents Spirit and Matter and how they interact in order to form what we know as the Universe, or this plane of Experience.
Wiccans believe that when the Goddess (Spirit) separated Herself to create the God (Matter), the physical portions of Herself that She pulled away became everything in the Universe, known and unknown. It is believed that She entered into the physical plane Herself in this way – as every soul that is here, past, present, and future – to Experience the God (Matter).
For those that believe in this concept, it is further believed that when we are “off balance” with what is natural around us, or of the Universe, we become “off balance” with Self and/orSpirit. It is understood by those that walk that Path that it is She who Is “inside us all”.
REVEREND RICHOZ THOUGHTS
She holds the belief that Source, Deity, or whichever name you choose, Spirit split itself across Time. When it split itself across that Veil of Thought, it divided itself into not just two or more physical manifestations —but MANY manifestations on the spectrum of Matter and Spirit for this Experience.
In time, Reverend believes that all Things of Matter will eventually reintegrate with the Spirit, then the Soul, finally it will reintegrate with the Source of All Things. (This becomes very similar to another Path that also has a story similar to this.) #NoTwoPathsAreTheSame
As other Paths are newly established, both NeoPagan and Polytheistic Reconstructionists have begun exploring this mythos and integrating it for female empowerment in their magick as well.
DESCENT OF THE GODDESS
If you have never read the ancient epic story of Ishtar, it will be required to answer questions about the story. Pay closest attention to Her story, what She does and why.
DESCENT OF THE GODDESS ISHTAR .pdf
(“Secure site” is not available. An eBook will open.)
Correspondences 101
Inanna
Although Inanna was Goddess prior to Akkadian colonization, She was not revered and honored to the level She was until their presence. Once the Sumerian assimilated into the Akkadians, worship became more regular with Temple establishments and offerings in personal homes. She became the patron Goddess of many cities.
We read that initially She was being worshiped as an Agricultural or Vegetation Deity, as with most incarnations of the Divine Feminine - “Mother” - are. She bestowed life, provided grain, and gave blessings. Later, She became a Goddess with many aspects such as those of Love, Sex, Erotic Attraction, and Patronized Marital Sexuality. Marital sexual relations involve profound openness and receptivity, a complete and mutual self-giving, NOT A DUTY as we have been led to believe.
She also symbolized Weather, and Crops, but She had many other aspects of the Experience of Matter that She governed. She was highly honored, specifically in the primary Eanna Temple complex (meaning the "House of Heaven" or House of Inanna) in the city of Uruk.
With all of these aspects and avatars of Divinity, Inanna has several correspondences. Some of those are listed below:
CORRESPONDENCES OF INANNA
Herbs: Frankincense – While many Practitioners are starting to shy away from foreign correspondences for more domestic “tools” in their Medicine & Magick, we will share this bit with you:
Frankincense, also known as olibanum, is a resin obtained from the Boswellia sacra tree as well as other closely related trees share the same fate. The resin is gathered by slashing the bark of the tree (ouch!) and allowing the sap to bleed out and harden. ☹ These hardened bits of sap, called tears, are then collected by hand. There is some evidence that populations of Boswellia trees are declining due to over-collection of Frankincense tears.
Frankincense is ONLY native to North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and it has been cultivated and traded for at least 5000 years now. The Plant Ally must rest soon. Note that it is mentioned several times in the Jewish Talmud and the Christian Bible as it was used in some of their sacred rituals and continues to be used in some Orthodox traditions. Frankincense was also used ceremonially as incense and/or offering by ancient Pagans in Persia, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, as well as continued use in magicks today.
A FRANKINSENCE SUBSTITUTE
A Plant Ally found in North America that translates with a similar essence is pine. The trees may be treated in the same way as its North African kindred Plant Ally for the same outcome. At 3CMM, we encourage you to give offering to the energies if you are going to simply take this resin “because it smells good”. We recommend you use it for Work or Craft only as the Plant Ally Spirits will be more apt to see the Magick or Medicine through to Manifestation in the Universe.
Remember, “like attracts like”. If we desire to be treated well, we are wise to treat others well… including Plant Allies.
OTHER CORRESPONDECNES
The following are both “masculine” and “feminine” and of Air or Fire just as Frankincense is. Though, none are native to North America. If foraging for your magickal components, suitable alternatives can be found. In light of today’s trade climate, as Practitioners IT IS WISE TO begin aligning correspondences with native plants.
Plant Allies
Nutmeg, Wormwood, Sunflower, Hyssop.
Animal
Lions, Doves
Color
Red, Orange, Green, Pink
Planet
Mars and/or Venus (Inanna has been compared or related to both “morning” and “evening” stars.)
Day
Tuesday and/or Friday
Element
Air and/or Fire
Feminine Faces are Maiden and Mother, Masculine face is of Hermit.
Symbol
8 pointed-star; Knot-Reeds, Roses, Arrows (Bow and Arrow)
Moon Day
WO1
General - Journal - Book of Shadows
SUBMISSION: WO1 MON DESCENT OF THE GODDESS INTERPRETATION
(Due by Thursday)
In TWO PARAGRAPHS or more, give your interpretation of the writings as well as where you see it may have influenced other Paths.
What Magick or Medicine did you read about?
EMAIL
Three Circles Medicine & Magick™
Please utilize the above email link
IF NO BUTTON IS PRESENT
to receive full Submission credit.
Lessons are subject to change without notification to Practitioners.
Late Submissions receive no credit
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