A Divine Womb of Light: The Alchemy of the Goddess

A Divine Womb of Light is an exploration of the Sacred Feminine and the application of Her transformative energies. These writings will have the intent and focus of inspiring and quickening within the individual a thirst for deeper connection and opening to the magick and gnosis of the Goddess in all of Her forms. She is the Mother, the Uraeus, the Muse, the Warrior, and the Healer, to name a few. SHE is the cycle of life and death and all that is held between; and my goal is to share the wisdom of her Womb of Light that all may claim their Divine birthright.

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Winter Fires: Part Two

Happy Solstice Season!

The Solstice is almost upon us and my story is complete. Enjoy....

Read Part One here

....Flickering light shone through the trees and the smell of fragrant wood burning wafted through the air.....

Lily walked slowly, the snow crunching under foot. She hoped not to frighten away the woodland creatures and did not want to make her presence known to whoever may be responsible for the lights ahead. As she walked along the path that she knew would lead her to where she could see the light, she noticed that the flickering of light seemed to be pulsing in resonance to her breath. Excited by this thought, she began to breathe more rapidly, and with each inhalation and exhalation the light flickered matching its rhythm.

No longer giving any mind to making noise Lily began running towards the light as the trees and ground surrounding took on a deeper glow, now more fully lit and accentuated.  Just a few feet ahead now, and the mystery would be solved.  Lily pushed through the final group of trees blocking her full view and as she stepped through, she gasped in awe of what she was looking at. 

The area was cleared and snow laden; a circle of the forest’s trees bordering the pristine whiteness. At its center, orange flames leapt high into the winter night, gracefully moving and undulating. This in and of itself would have been enough of a surprise, but the outline of a tall and almost crystalline filled woman stood just behind the flames, her arms moving to and fro as if conducting how each strand of liquid light would weave itself into the visage.

Lily dared not take too deep a breath, not wanting to disturb the beauty of the scene. Slowly, as though her thoughts had been spoken, the woman looked towards Lily and moved as if to come closer. Lily stood perfectly still in her tracks, mesmerized and marveling at the grace of the woman as she moved.  This movement was more like a skimming of the surface of the snow, not a sound being made and echoes of the tracing of her body following rhythmically as though leaving an imprint behind every step taken forward.

The woman was framed in the light of the fires behind her, yet appeared to be glowing of her own accord, as though lit from within and Lily could now see more distinctly the woman’s face. Long silver hair adorned by a crown of sparkling snow crystals, framed a delicate face that was a shade of translucent whiteness, much like that of the shimmering snow itself. Her eyes twinkled in much the same way of the starlight that Lily loved to look up at on warm summer nights with a star-filled sky; and their flickers of light-filled color matching her gown.  She lifted her gaze towards the night sky called out; her voice a whisper of silvery sound as a smile spread sweetly across lips that were red as a holly berry.

Lily breathed in deeply, and as she exhaled a frosty breath, a white wolf moved from behind the woman and came to stand at his companion’s side. Lily had seen enough white wolves before to know that this was no ordinary wolf, just as its companion was no ordinary woman. His thick coat of fur was flecked with lights of blues and pale icy greens and he too shimmered as though bedecked in thousands of ice crystals reflecting the light of the fire behind. Light surrounded both, as they took a few more paces towards Lily and in the full radiance of sparkling light that reminded Lilly of the pictures she had seen of the Northern Lights, the woman extended her hand beckoning Lily towards her.

Lily stepped forward and immediately felt the warmth and gentleness emanating from this beautiful being. The woman leaned towards Lily and told her that she was the Lady of Winter and that she had seen Lily many times coming out into the freshly fallen snow and treading ever so lightly so as not to disturb its beauty. She told her that her wolf had taken many of the forms of small creatures that Lily so loved and had gifted her more than once with interactions that would not normally have occurred. Lily smiled when she heard this, remembering one such occasion when she had gotten so close to a small furry chipmunk that was feasting on holly berries. She thought it strange at that time that it did not seem to notice her, but dismissed it as the result of her hard work at honing her skills of silence.  

The Lady of Winter turned and pointed to the fires behind her. They had risen even higher now and their glow was otherworldly. She explained to Lily that once a year, at the time of the Winter Solstice, she selects a very special place to light her fires and call to one who has treasured and guarded the beauty of her woods and the life within. The fires were the first beacon of light that could only be seen by the one chosen and these were the fires of the rising sun’s light that would burst forth renewed at the dawning of the Solstice morning.

As the Lady of Winter spoke these words, Lily could now see that what had appeared as a fire was a vision of the orb of the sun arising from the wintry ground, its tendril of flames stretching outward and its gift of light born anew as each day would stand longer in its warming rays. It was breathtaking in its beauty and overwhelming in its power, and tears filled Lily’s eyes in recognition of this gifting. She saw the images of her beloved woods and the cycle of regrowth this sun would bring. A slideshow of changing seasons filled her vision as the sun rose higher in the sky, the days lengthened and from the space of this season’s darkness, the woods became lush and verdant in life. The cycles of change continued and the heat of the summer and fullness of blossom and bud; aromas of fragrant summer flora wafting through the air and fireflies darted here and there sharing their own special light.

The smell of crackling leaves and the setting of the sun’s light crowded in and darkness claimed its necessary hold as the cold wove its own patterns throughout and the first gentle snowfall began. And, with the image of this sun’s demise and the longer day of night, the brilliance of the fires had retreated and she and the Lady of Winter stood in the velvety blackness of a star-filled night. Lily looked into eyes that were crystalline and sparkling and in those eyes she saw all of time’s passing, and she believed also, the faintest glimmer of an image of the Lady of Summer. Lily stood spellbound in this reverie for what seemed like quite sometime feeling the energy of all that she was experiencing moving through her.  She had always honored the Winter Solstice in her own small ways, but now she began to truly feel its deeper meaning and the magick of life that it provided. 

The Lady of Winter smiled, and Lily knew that their time together was soon to end. Large wet flakes of snow began to fall once again and the sound of the Lady’s voice could be heard in the space between each perfectly formed flake.....

 ....” I will leave you now, but I have something to give you as memory of this night. What I ask in return is that you continue to safeguard this space. That you honor the darkness and light of Winter and that you call out to the Lady of Summer when her time is nigh. And at each Winter Solstice, you will carry this globe into the woods and call out to the Sun’s rising in my name. The flames within will awaken the dawn’s rebirth and the land will be quickened and readied to sustain for the life it holds. And, lest you forget this night and my gift, the globe will shatter into the icy strands from which it is woven, and you will not remember any of the blessings of this experience. Will you take my gift and honor its responsibility?”

Lily nodded “yes” and tears of gratitude streamed down her face. The Lady breathed silvery wisps into the chilly night air and a globe formed from the icy tendrils of her breath.  It was clear glass and inside was an image of Lily’s cottage, the entrance to the woods and snow-covered ground.  She moved the globe tracing wispy trails in the air and a base of finely chiseled ice wove a circular base around the bottom of the globe. The Lady of Winter gently placed the globe in Lily’s hand and as she breathed into it one final time, a small flickering of firelight could be seen through the trees inside. As the globe touched Lily’s hands, she looked up to express her thanks and the Lady was gone. A few feet away, a small chipmunk stopped in its tracks, looked at Lily and then disappeared under a nearby Holly bush.

Lily could barely contain her excitement, and although treading very carefully, marveled that she reached her cottage and was back on the front porch in record time. For a moment it seemed as though she had just come out and had it not been for the weight of the globe in her hands, she would have questioned whether any of her experience had actually happened.  She looked around and the night was still dark and the sky still and quiet; dotted with diamond light flashes of starlight.   

She walked inside and placed the globe on the mantle of her fireplace. The flickering of the winter fires in the globe seemed to pulse in resonance with the flickering of flame in the hearth. She moved closer to get a better look and as the snow slowed and gave more visibility Lily gasped in surprise. Inside the globe, standing outside of the image of her cottage, was the beautiful Lady of Winter; her white wolf standing beside her and snow was falling like tiny specks of starlight. Hoping, that perhaps the Lady was outside, Lily pushed open the door and stepped out onto her porch. What she saw filled her with wonder and the words of the Lady filed the air.

.....Snow was falling and through the tips of the trees, the Solstice Sun was rising, heralding its return and the light it would bring.  And, she, Lily of the Woods, would honor its rising each year welcoming the winter fires, as sun’s orb gives life to the world.....

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Robin Fennelly is an Elder within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.
Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice. A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.
Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following a practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Elder) degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of two ASW covens since Samhain of 2001 and the Winter Solstice of 2015.
As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she uses Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.
Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally. She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented. She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival. Her most recent projects include a channel on youtube: A Journey to the Inner Chamber. She also shares audio pathworkings and ritual on her bandcamp site: Teachings on the Path with Robin.
Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings. She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Comments

  • Tasha Halpert
    Tasha Halpert Saturday, 29 December 2018

    This is so special and lovely. Thank you for the beauty of your tale and of the message within it. Bless you and Blessed Be,Tasha

  • Robin Fennelly
    Robin Fennelly Sunday, 30 December 2018

    Thank you, Tasha...So glad that you enjoyed it and I really appreciate the feedback.. Many Blessings...Robin

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