Gorgons are described as winged serpentine creatures. Medusa wandered Africa for some time. From c. 200 B.C. Aphrodite caused Myrrha to fall in love with her own father. There was also a theory established by Helene Cixous in which she claims that the original story of Medusa was quite different. Your email address will not be published. One version of his battle with Atlas claims that Perseus turned his opponent into a mountain. She believes that Medusa was originally a beautiful woman with power and that men adapted her story to turn her into a monster because they did not appreciate powerful women. Her sisters are the immortal Gorgons: Euryale and Stheno. I personally feel that the energy of Athena allies with Medusa. During the French Revolution, those who wanted to defeat the royals used the head of Medusa as a symbol of their freedom. The blood from the left side was poisonous and used to destroy people, but the blood from the right was restorative. After her death, Perseus immediately left to fight Atlas. Updates? Her profile is engraved on coins of the reign of Seleceus I Nicator of Syria from 312-280 B.C. To make matters worse, in the works of ancient Greek artist Polygnotos, Perseus is shown cutting off Medusas head while she lay sleeping, further highlighting the absolute cowardice of this champion of the gods. The metal cap of a 1st- or 2nd-century chariot pole, for instance, offers a popular visual interpretation of the Gorgon with two snakes tied neatly under her chin. Echinacea. The severed head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, was given to Athena, who placed it in her shield; according to another account, Perseus buried it in the marketplace of Argos. Much like in India where Kali is the destructive force of Durga, when equated to Kybele or Artemis, Medusa is the same. Uma Thurman took on the film role and was in a pivotal scene. Medusa will be a passive ward, meaning you do not have to actively work to get the evil averting powers from the agalma. I typically dont find Medusa imagery useful for what I need that neglects the snakes, even some that are based on ancient depictions such as the Medusa Rondanini that resembles what Versace uses in his logo. The two had three daughters, including Euryale and Stheno. Do this in a way that feelsauthentic to you. Of course I have a lot more but I could write an entire book on it! Feeling as though his work was done, Perseus tracked down Athena and presented her with the head. Seeing claims that Athena saw Medusa in her temple and instead of catching her in the midst of consensual intercourse, she found Poseidon raping her. Take a small bouquet of fresh spring flowers and dip it into the holy water and sprinkle it onto the agalma (sacred idol) to cleanse it. You may see Medusa herself or some of her common symbols in your dreams, such as snakes.Artistic representations of Medusa find their way to you. Fumigate again with the incense then whisper into the vessel Empress Medusa, protect NN (3x) saying whatever you wrote and gently blow into it three times. Were women spared because Medusa didnt intend to hurt them? They point out that she was a beautiful woman who turned into a monster but that all anyone remembers is that she is a monster. When a studio remade the film in 2010, she played a major role. An urn type vessel with a lid (I use either antique sugar bowls or terracotta cantarito cups that I cap off with small terracotta planter dishes which can be easily painted, legend mentions it as a bronze urn). Even though not apparent signs I am very drawn to HER IMAGE AND POWERS. When it is time, hold fast her rage and take no mercy. This powerful Goddess is one of the most recognizable apotropaic symbols of the ancient and modern world. Medusa delivers strong flavor and aroma characteristics WebHermes, Greek god, son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri. Now that we have the myths and iconography explained, we can dive into how I serve Her. From a very early age in Britain, I was known to sit at the breakfast table reading encyclopedias about many of the major world mythologies. But She is not the fertile, benevolent aspect of the Great Mother, She is the destructive force of Nature, its ferocity. In one story, she was famished and thirsty and stopped at the home of Mimse, a farmer. Her snakes are usually just considered snakes to make Her hideous and their purpose is neglected, but the snakes themselves have power. Leonardo da Vinci did a painting of her using oil on canvas. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content. The French military created a special belt during World War I that had her face on it. Born of the sea gods Phorcys and Ceto, it is often forgotten that Medusa herself is a goddess of the sea. Be sure to keep a lookout for signs and symbols of the gorgon in the days thereafter, as she may approach you in subtle ways. In my experience, Medusa is very patient when she reaches out to someone she wants to work with. In my practice it also paralyzes the Evil Eye and any malicious intentions sent against me, rendering them useless. Though both were marine deities, their children were chthonic monsters. She is also evoked to bring a spectral guard to protect the witch while conjuring this especially malicious form of Medusa. Though he used it to save his mother, Perseus then went to Argos and buried her head there. She further claimed that the womans head simply served as a mask for those who later wielded it. I recommend infusing them with an intention before applying them to give them a personal energetic boost. When she found them together, Athena transformed her into a woman with serpents in her hair and a cold stare. To sneak the fire past the watching eyes of the gods, he hid it inside of a fennel stalk. Ask for this goddesss guidance when you need strong feminine power and the innately intuitive energy of water in your rituals. This is a good starting point when you want to connect with her. One of the most popular monsters of Greek Mythology is Medusa. This will purify and cleanse the image so Medusa comes to you appeased, reminded of Her love of Poseidon. AMAZING! Long before Medusa faced off with Perseus, there was Poseidon. In the marble statue from the temple of Artemis in Corfu Medusa embraces Her children Pegasus and Chrysaor, as well as Her lions. I find that themost important thing Medusa will teach you is how touse your power. Divine eyes or Gorgon eyes, sometimes drawn as concentric circles or spirals. When working poppets you can take the juice of crushed blackberries and cherries and put it inside the doll to sweeten sinister entities you are working with to the taste of the targets blood. SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE SALE ANNOUNCEMENTS + UPDATES. Though many of these pieces made her more beautiful, they also showed that she was terrifying. You are sought out by snakes. You can also source wonderful Medusa art and statues on Etsy and put those in a dedicated spot. She wanted to show the Gorgons head in a different way. In this version, Medusa has always been a Gorgon, one of three sisters, daughters of the Gods Phorkys and Keto (Who is sometimes considered the Sea aspect of Hekate), but the only one born mortal. This can be a really direct sign that Medusa wants to be in your life. For me personally I like to use snake fangs over tusks due to their practicality, but either will certainly work. The following list is not even nearly a complete summary of all the exciting and vital plants and flowers from Greek myth. Through this shield, Perseus was able to see Medusa through her reflection, which ultimately allowed him the opportunity to approach Medusa and slice through her neck. Dohalice, which is a small village in the Czech Republic also uses her head in its coat of arms. The once lovely hair was morphed into poisonous, dangerous snakes. Over the centuries She appears as a guardian depicted on city walls, armor, shields, jewelry, coins, pottery, and sculpture. The mortal woman who became the Gorgon, Medusa, was cursed by Athena after being raped or seduced on the floor of one of Athenas temples by Poseidon. Though the Titan was a worthy opponent, Perseus stood in the middle of the sky and turned Medusas head towards him. She was so enchanting that She caught the attention of Neptune Who raped Her in the temple of Minerva. It almost sounds like a win-win, to me. Born centuries after the first appearance of Medusa, Freud later used her in his psychoanalysis. Joseph Campbell was one historian who believed this theory. You dream of the Goddess Medusa. All shall gather outside of Circle and share the tales of Samhain. This version claims that Athena became spiteful and used her powers to turn the woman into a monster that no man would ever want. Stand up for womens rights. Adamantine Guardian, enthroned in every kingdom, most powerful sorceress Who can destroy all curses, Whom none can conquer, not even Death, by which You gained Your divinity. She turned Medusa into an ugly creature by making her eyes bloodshot and raging and her face haglike. Instead, shell push you to find your inner power and actually use it to change your life. Lend me Your power, Great Empress, that I may perform the task at hand and destroy my enemies whether they are material or spirit! In my mind, Medusa is very real. Unlike other creatures who were mortal, Medusa was mortal and capable of death. She isnt a Goddess to serve in a capacity of benevolence because She is and has always been a monster. Dedicate altar space to Medusa. A magazine from 1986 also used this idea and claimed that feminists could learn how to channel their rage through her story. His lover, a Satyr who was named Ampelos, was slain by a wild bull. Some people find they benefit from using them together. 4. Adonis had been killed by a ravaging boar, and while Aphrodite wept over his body, his blood on the grass transformed into the fl You are free to take from it as you please, use all, part, or none of it, or even use it to inspire your own practice. Though Athena helped Perseus defect the woman, she knew the powers that her former head held. All shall share meditation of the demons of self and all they chose to leave behind with the turning of the Wheel. To the ancients Medusa was an extremely powerful guarding force and it would appear She never truly lost Her connection to the Mother Goddess despite Her sinister reputation. Whether you're looking to boost your financial wherewithal, land a new job, or just pad your bank account a little, try some of these magical herbs in your money-related workings. Her blood also led to the creation of the venomous vipers that roam the Sahara. You can also simply put I protect this house or this building or so on. Others think that her story likely had roots in historical facts. Next prepare the incense and fan the smoke toward the agalma. She went against her vow and married him. Unlike other stories that claim she caught them in the throes of passion, this version says that she was upset that her priestess went against her rules. In her form of Nemesis, Aphrodite punished him by cursing him so that he would fall in love with his own reflection. When Aepytus found out that Iamus was Apollos son, he sent people to bring the child back. She was a beautiful maiden with golden hair. From Athena to Zeus: Basics of Greek Mythology, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medusa-Greek-mythology, Ancient Origins - The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon, Medusa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). She was usually represented as a winged female creature having a head of hair consisting of snakes; unlike the Gorgons, she was sometimes represented as very beautiful. Light a second black chime candle from the main candle and salute the four directions and say In the name of Medusa! and extinguish the flame in the water. Just in case any man took an interest in Medusa, Athena made it so that the man would turn to stone if he looked in her eyes. They were created by Aphrodite in her grief upon finding the body of her human lover, Adonis. But what is the truth to this myth? You can also dedicate any divination tools to Medusa that you plan on using while working with her. Crocus became a companion and lover of Hermes, the messenger god. However, the number mentioned here are some of our favorite and most interesting plant-based origin stories! Sometimes She is gruesome, sometimes She is beautiful, and sometimes She is only Her eyes or a single eye used much like modern Evil Eye talismans often worn as jewelry or depicted on drinking cups. The agalma is now consecrated for use so She should be treated as a sacred object, the physical form of Medusa Herself. Several authors working on a book interviewed hundreds of women to find out what they knew about the myth. After their wedding, he headed to Seriphos for his mothers wedding. His name is probably derived from herma (see herm), the Greek word for a heap of stones, such as was used in the country to indicate boundaries or as a landmark. Though she has a different name, she has the power to turn people to stone when they look into her eyes. WebRose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens, Geraniaceae) has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes wound healing. Around the outer edge arrange pieces of the eggshell. * If you'd like to incorporate meditation into your life but are feeling Medusa appeared in dozens of television shows and movies over the years. The portrait was done on a convex board made out of poplar with Medusas visage, bringing out its reference to Aegis. Priestesses took a vow of chastity and devoted their lives to her. Greek Mythology is known for its many fearsome beasts such Mantikhoras and Cyclopes. Its important to note that throughout all the myths of epic poems, there are no records of her ever turning any woman to stone with her deadly gaze. How Did Jason and the Argonauts Get The Golden Fleece? 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