MARI SELBY: We celebrate the Great Mother this time of the year as the holidays (holy days) of Halloween, All Saints Day, Hallows Eve, The Day of the Dead, or Samhain. Each marks the end of the harvest, the end of the 'lighter half' of the year and beginning of the 'darker half.'

Incan Invocation

Oh Pachmama
Queen of the Universe
Mother to the Stars
You birthed time in Your great Womb

Oh Pachmama
Enlighten me with Your secrets
That I may know myself better
Guide me as I seek truths within and without

Oh Pachmama
Teach me to overcome my fears
Nurture my growth as I seek the unknown
Encourage me to face challenges

Oh Pachmama
I wish to share your knowledge
I am ready to learn without fear
Mother, Your daughter is here

"Throughout world mythology, the Goddess of the good ground, the grain, the autumn harvest, has been appropriately portrayed as a knowledgeable mature woman of the world, mistress of all earthly domains. A matriarch or Great Mother who sustains all her species. She was known as Astarte, Ishtar by the ancient Semites, Semele by Phrygians, Isis in Egypt, Demeter in Greece, and Ceres in Rome.

She is Tari Pennu to the Bengalis, Old Woman Who Never Dies to the Mandan and Mother Quescapenek to the Salish. To the Aztec, she is Chicomecoatl, to the Quechua Indians in Bolivia, she is Pacha Mama and the Huichol call her Our Mother Dove Girl, Mother of Maizea."
From the November newsletter, Mama Donna Henes , Urban Shaman

The seasonal passage from summer to winter, symbolizes a shift from an externally focused life, to one that is more reflective and contemplative. With this shift in perspective we believe that the border between this world and the other dimensions become thin on Samhain.

According to Celtic lore, Samhain is a time that allows spirits and other supernatural entities to pass between the worlds to socialize with humans. Though many cultures make offerings to the spirits at all times of the year, Samhain in particular is a time when divination for the coming year is often done. We can commune with the deities more easily and hear their words of wisdom.

The doorway is open, is it for us to know our future? How do we use prayer, incantations or divination to move our own evolution forward? We can dance with the Goddess, who will help us to dance with our fears, and guide us through our journeys. As the incantation states, "Teach me to overcome my fears, Nurture my growth as I seek the unknown, Encourage me to face challenges". We can pose a question, "What am I really afraid of when I feel...?" More often than not we may fear success, our own power, or our dreams truly manifested. Each one of us is a god/goddess in our own way, when we accept that who we are in this moment is not an act, we can accomplish anything.

This week's exercise is to watch this beautiful video, One Within and look into the mirror of all the Goddess's portrayed here, and find your own image. Why stop at being an everyday heroine? Why not go for the divine that is within all of us? Which goddess are you?