Through hundreds (thousands) of years of persecution and degradation of women and the Divine Feminine, Mother Mary has survived as a beacon of love and peace, transcending religious traditions and cultures. No matter what the patriarchy has attempted in eradicating Goddess and the Divine Feminine, Mother Mary remains a light to humankind and the representation of the pure love of Mother. She infuses our hearts and brings hope to the darkest corners of our souls.
The Blessed Mother hears the cries of the world and is especially attuned to children, those in dire circumstances, and those in pain.
Mother Wisdom Speaks
“I am the maiden of joy.
I am song in the wind and rain upon the rocks.
I am fair love and holy hope and the flight of the dove.
I am earth, betrothed. I am mystical rose.
I am the mother of mystery.
I hold opposites together.
I birth children and sever the cord with my teeth.
Those I love I send away to their lives.
I am the cauldron of fire and the cup of milk.
I am the two edged knife.
“I am the old woman: I am the queen.
If you seek me you will find me everywhere.
I am the womb of wise blood.
I am the world’s crown. I am diamond. I am pearl.
I shine with the wisdom of God.
“I am the circle of being.
I am glory — splendor of infinite life.
I am the spiral, the fullness of being, fully becoming, forever, world without end.”
~ Christin Lore Webber, Circle of Mysteries: The Women’s Mysteries Book
Super Powers/Rules Over: Many of Mary’s “powers” syncretize to what aspect of Mary is being called upon. Here, I am just focusing on Virgin Mary, Mother Mary generally.
- Birthing GOD (that is a big one)
- Speaking to Archangels
- Intercession for problems
- Healing
- Miracles
- Visitations and Appearances
- Inspires joy
- Alleviates suffering
Magickal Aspects & Forms: Titles of Mary listed here
Culture: Christian Origins
Temple Sites/Abodes: too numerous to list but this is a cool map of 500 years of Mary sightings
Colors: royal and light blue, pastels, white
Symbols/Tools: rosary
The Venerable Bede (673-735), Benedictine monk, historian, and scholar, wrote of the white lily as the emblem of the Blessed Virgin; the white petals symbolized the purity of her body and the golden anthers the beauty of her soul. Later, St. Bernard praised the Virgin Mary as “the violet of humility, the lily of chastity, the rose of charity, the Balm of Gilead, and the golden gillyflower of heaven.” University of Dayton
Herbs & Plants: (Check out this amazing reference of Herbs of Religious Symbolism – I chose a few that I liked below)
- Anise – Our Lady’s Sprig
- Balm of Gilead
- Bee Balm – Sweet Mary
- Chamomile – Mary’s Plant
- Fennel – also called our Lady’s Fennel
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm – Sweet Mary
- Marjoram
- Orris Root – Madonna Iris
- Pennyroyal – Our Lady’s Flavoring
- Purple Mallow – Our Lady’s Cheeses (HA – this made me laugh)
- Sage – Mary’s Shawl
- Spearmint – Mary’s Mint
- Wormwood – Mary’s Tree
Flowers & Oils:
- Bluebells – Our Lady’s Thimbles
- Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
- English Daisy
- Iris – Our Lady’s Sorrow
- Lady’s Slipper Orchids(Cypripedium spp.) – pictured above
- Lady’s Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes spp.)
- Lily
- Lily of the Valley – Our Lady’s Tears
- Marigold – Our Lady’s Gold
- Meadow Cress
- Morning Glory
- Myrtle
- Peony – Mary’s Rose
- Rose – The Mystical Rose
- Rose of Sharon – Queen of All Flowers
- Rose Geranium
- Solomon’s Seal
- Star of Bethlehem flower (Ornithogalum arabicum)
- Violet
- White Lily
- Wild Geranium
- Wild Pansy – Our Lady’s Delight
Animal Allies – reference Signs & Symbols of Gods and Saints:
- BEE: for tireless activity. Regal power. Chastity.
- Cat – it is said that there was a cat in the manger that birthed a litter of kittens when Mary was in labor. As well, several Annunciation images show a kitty with Mary.
- Dove – connected to Holy Spirit and peace
- Stork – associated with the Annunciation
- Unicorn – attribute of Virgin Mary as it is said only Virgin’s can catch a Unicorn
- White Rabbit – Christian lore says it is the symbol of Mary’s “triumph over lust”, but (ahem) we all know who the Hare Goddess is 🙂
- Article on Our Lady of the Grasshoppers
Foods:
- Traditional foods of Nazareth (Mary would have kept a kosher kitchen!): bread, lentils, sheep or goat’s milk cheese, olives, figs, melons, fish (great article is Nazareth: What People Ate)
- Grilled Cheese (this is totally my sense of humor)
- Fruit, honey, fresh vegetables – as signs of nourishment, abundance, sweetness
Offerings for Her Altar: candles, flowers, more flowers, sweet-smelling oils, herbs that are sacred to her. This becomes a very personal exercise and may also be adapted according to the aspect of Mary. When I was little, I would give her tins of hard candy from France that a family friend gave me. I would set them in the window where I would see her. What does YOUR Mary like?
Feast Days: See the Marion Calendar (this one is amazingly comprehensive)
Crystals: apophyllite, kunzite, rose quartz, most pink crystals, pastel crystals, crystals of the heart
Suggested Goddess Practices:
- Prayer, especially praying the rosary
- Litany of Loreto (traditional) or create your own litany with the titles of Mary that speak to you
- Create flower crowns and gather a group of friends to honor Mary with the adornments of May! If you have a statue of Mother Mary, do a Crowning ceremony.
- Plant (or visit) a Mary Garden with her sacred herbs and flowers.
- Create your own Novena or do this one again.
- Find a Marian shrine near you and take flowers for Mary.
- Walk a labyrinth.
- Create a Mother Mary altar or one of her syncretizations and learn more about her.
- Devotion to Mary as the Lady of Hours (Hours of the VIrgin)- Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Write your own prayers to Mary.
- Invite Mother Mary for a cup of tea and chat.
MOTHER MARY NOVENA
A novena is a succession of devotional prayer totaling nine days. Traditionally, novenas are performed in Catholicism and some forms of Protestantism and usually are devoted to Mother Mary. These nine day vigils have been documented since the third century. Novenas may be performed for special intentions, requests of intercession, or to a particular deity or saint, such as Mother Mary.
Would you consider undertaking a novena? A nine day vigil? Is Mother Mary a focus that resonates for you? What types of prayer have worked for you? Would you like to share some of your favorite prayers?
JOIN MY SELF STUDY MOTHER MARY NOVENA
Mary may my wounds become openings for a new way of loving and living.
Heal me of my blindness when I refuse to see the light.
Heal me of my deafness when I refuse to hear the good news.
Heal me of my muteness when I refuse to speak up against injustice.
Heal me of my lameness when I refuse to walk the path.
Be with me in physical illness so that I find healing.
Be with me in spiritual illness so that I find healing.
May I bring healing into the world in every way I can.
May I heal the environment.
May I heal divisions among people.
May I heal war and injustice.
May all that I am and will be bring healing to the world.
I am open to accessing healing power by commitment to these four steps:
Gratitude for grace,
Firm conscious intention to release healing energy,
Letting go of attachment to any particular outcome,
Saying “Thy will be done”.
~ David Richo
“OFFICIAL” MARIAN FEAST DAYS
These are the “official” Marian Feast Days for the Roman Catholic Church and Marian devotees within the traditional framework.
January 1 — Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God *
January 8 — Our Lady of Prompt Succor
February 2 — Presentation of the Lord
February 11 — Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25 — Annunciation
May 13 — Our Lady of Fatima
May 31 — Visitation
June 27 — Our Mother of Perpetual Help
July 16 — Our Lady of Mount Carmel
August 15 — Assumption *
August 22 — Queenship of Mary
September 8 — Birth of Mary
September 12 — The Most Holy Name of Mary
September 15 — Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7 — Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21 — Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8 — Immaculate Conception *
December 12 — Our Lady of Guadalupe
* Holy day of Obligation
The Month of Mary is May.
The Month of the Rosary is October.
The Feast of the Immaculate Heart is the Saturday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
The First Saturday of each Month is also dedicated to Marian Devotions.
RESOURCES
Of interest is this amazing list of Mary’s titles – hundreds and hundreds!
Recommended Books:
Circle of Mysteries by Christine Lore Weber (highyl recommended!)
Untie the Strong Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Missing Mary by Charlene Spretnak
Mary within Us: A Jungian Contemplation of Her Titles and Powers by David Richo
Sophia by Caitlin Matthews (has some great chapters on Mary)
Goddess Meditations from Isis to Sophia by Gabriel
Mother Mary Oracle by Alana Fairchild with Art by Shiloh Sophia McCloud (highly recommended)
Mother Mary by Katherine Skaggs (pictured above)
Deep Blue Crystal Bead Rosary from Nazareth Store (this is one that I have)
GODDESS VENDORS WE LOVE!
- DaughtersOfIsis.com with Gwen Barry – Magical Essential Oil Blends & Incense
- GailJessenDesigns.com with Gail Jessen – Sacred Jewelry Design
- MurphysEssentials.com with Kim Murphy – Healing & Magical Essential Oil Blends & CBD
- Red Priestess with Brandi Auset – Goddess Sprays and Crystals
- SacredWell.com with Yeshe Matthews – Crystal and Treasure Shop
GODDESS SPIRITUALITY RESOURCES
MOTHERHOUSE GODDESS TEMPLE – Goddess Calendar & Free Community Events
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