The forest calls me. I long for her lush coolness, her sheltering trees, her world filled with life. Advertisements
Judith Shaw
Logic and Intuition – Antithetical or Cooperative? by Judith Shaw
“Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible.”-Klee An artist is continually making decisions – decisions about subject matter, themes, materials, size. Does one do pre-planning with preliminary drawings are just dive right in? Once those decisions are… Read More ›
Reindeer Spirit Animal – A Guide Through the Darkness by Judith Shaw
Reindeer have been important to humans since our early days as hunters-gatherers. Found in cave paintings throughout Europe and Asia, reindeer are depicted as soaring through the air, perhaps acting as intermediaries between the human world and the spirit world.
Women Can Change the World by Judith Shaw
These are dark days for those of us who believe in democracy, social justice, environmental stewardship/protection, and connectivity. A rise in authoritarian rulers – from the U.S. to pockets of Europe to Turkey and beyond – are threatening the values… Read More ›
Fox Wisdom – Cunning, Camouflage and Persistence by Judith Shaw
Fox, as a member of the Canidae family, is related to wolves, jackals and dogs. But unlike these animals who hunt in packs, fox hunts alone. Fox is intelligent, clever and cunning. While it is persistent, fox is gentler and… Read More ›
We All Come From Stardust by Judith Shaw
“We are a way for the universe to know itself. Some part of our being knows this is where we came from. We long to return. And we can, because the cosmos is also within us. We’re made of star… Read More ›
Wisdom of Reindeer Goddess and Owl by Judith Shaw
At this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere we are called to embrace the darkness. Nighttime rules, the cold has set in and we curl up for the long winter nights with our hot beverage and an anticipation of… Read More ›
Season of Change – Transformation by Judith Shaw
Fall is here, the leaves are changing color, the days are shortening and our ongoing natural cycle of change and transformation now moves toward the dark, quiet days of winter. Both the idea and the process of transformation have fascinated… Read More ›
Corra, Celtic Serpent Goddess by Judith Shaw
Even though snakes never inhabited Ireland, as in the rest of the ancient world both the serpent and the dragon were ancient symbols of life, fertility, wisdom and immortality for the Celts. Ancient Celtic ornamental work is entwined with serpents and… Read More ›
A Return to Light by Judith Shaw
Spring is here in the northern hemisphere and with it the return of light in the yearly round of seasons. Today is Earth Day. Flowers bloom, new seedlings emerge and birdsong fills the air. As the cold and dark of winter… Read More ›
Triple Goddesses in the Celtic World by Judith Shaw
Many neopagans and modern Goddess worshipers mistakenly equate the triadic nature of some Celtic Goddesses with the Triple Goddess concept first popularized by Robert Graves in his book, The White Goddess. Graves stated that Goddesses were frequently found in triplets… Read More ›
The Reindeer Goddess by Judith Shaw
Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the day of the least daylight and the longest night. Long before Christmas our Northern European ancestors celebrated the Winter Solstice, the moment that heralds the return of the sun and with it… Read More ›
Murder at the Rummage Sale: Book Review by Judith Shaw
Murder at the Rummage Sale (Albany, NY: Imagination Fury Arts, 2016) by Elizabeth Cunningham is a mystery novel with a style and depth of thought that offers not only the fun of figuring out “Who Dun It” but also gorgeous… Read More ›
Killing Us Slowly by Judith Shaw
Killing us slowly with your rules. Killing us slowly with your technology. Killing us slowly with your bureaucracy. Killing us slowly…….
Olwen, Welsh Flower and Sun Goddess by Judith Shaw
Olwen (pronounced O-loon), Welsh Flower and Sun Goddess is most probably an ancient Goddess whose original stories and power have been lost to us. Her name means “Golden Wheel,” making Her the opposite of the powerful Sky Goddess, Arianrhod who… Read More ›
Mor, Celtic Goddess of Sun and Sea by Judith Shaw
Mor is an ancient Celtic Goddess of the Sea and the Sun, bringing to mind the shining days of summer and the abundance of the harvest. Yet in a typical Celtic paradox in which opposites exist as one whole she… Read More ›
Canola, Celtic Goddess of Inspiration and Creativity by Judith Shaw
Canola, Celtic Goddess of Inspiration and Creativity, is another ancient Celtic Goddess whose story comes down to us in very limited form. One day Canola had an argument with Her lover. Goddesses, being intermediaries between our physical world and the… Read More ›
Artio, Celtic Goddess of Wild Life, Transformation and Abundance by Judith Shaw
Artio, Celtic Goddess of Wild Life, Transformation, and Abundance, is one of the more obscure goddesses in the Celtic pantheon. She is often shown with baskets of plenty and surrounded by animals. Artio is frequently depicted as a bear. Her… Read More ›
Rosmerta, the Great Provider – a Celtic Goddess of Abundance by Judith Shaw
As we near August 2, known to the ancient Celts as Lughnasadh or Lammas, examples of abundance are everywhere. Gardens and farms are in full bloom with some crops ready for harvest and others very near. Lambs born in spring… Read More ›
Grainne – Sun Goddess/Winter Queen by Judith Shaw
In the ancient Celtic world the Goddess was the One who expressed Herself through the many. Grainne is such a one. She is both Winter Queen/Dark Goddess, nurturing seeds through winter, and Solar Sun Goddess, welcoming the rebirth of spring. … Read More ›
Mary Magdalene – A Woman of Power and Vision by Judith Shaw
Who was Mary Magdalene? The first thought of many today is that Mary Magdalene was a repentant prostitute. But was she? Until the third century, Mary was considered an “apostle.” Mary as an apostle posed a threat to the early… Read More ›
The Gift of Life by Judith Shaw
Life – a precious gift I so often take for granted. Events of recent weeks have turned that blatant disregard into profound gratitude. I began keeping bees about three years ago. My first two years were unsuccessful. But last year,… Read More ›
Mandalas and Sacred Geometry by Judith Shaw
Can geometry open our hearts and minds to spirit? Throughout time people around the world have thought so. Mandalas and Sacred Geometry symbols are found in many cultures both ancient and modern. Mandala is a Sanskrit word which means “sacred… Read More ›
Caer Ibormeith, Celtic Goddess of Dreams and Prophecy by Judith Shaw
Caer Ibormeith, Celtic Goddess of Dreams and Prophecy, is a pan-Celtic goddess who was worshipped in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In Scotland and Wales Her name was used to name places such as Caer Edin (Edinburgh). In Ireland Her name… Read More ›
Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of Sovereignty, War and Fertility by Judith Shaw
Morrigan, Celtic Goddess of War and Death, is a dark goddess we mortals tend to approach with fear and trepidation. A great Warrior Goddess, She represents the more terrifiying aspects of female energy; sensuality, magic, prophecy, revenge, and war. She… Read More ›
Art, Nature, and Spirit by Judith Shaw
The beauty and the power of the Earth are all around us. Even in the poorest and most blighted urban environments trees, hollyhocks, sunflowers and other sturdy plants grow up through the concrete. We are children of the Earth, of… Read More ›
Cerridwen, Dark Goddess of Transformation, Inspiration and Knowledge by Judith Shaw
Cerridwen, Dark Goddess of Transformation, Inspiration and Knowledge is best known as the mother of Taliesen, the greatest of all the Welsh poets. But Her story is much older and Her powers run deep. Cerridwen (“White Sow”, or “White Crafty… Read More ›
Medb, Celtic Sovereignty Goddess of War and Fertility
Medb, Celtic Sovereignty Goddess of Connacht, the wilderness in the Irish west, ruled war, fertility and the earth. A man became king of Connacht only by participating in a ritual of intoxication and entering into sacred marriage with Medb at… Read More ›
Branwen, Welsh Goddess of Love and Beauty
Branwen, Goddess of Love and Beauty, daughter of Penardim and Llyr, sister of Bran the Blessed, King over all the Island of the Mighty, was loved by her people for her gentleness, compassion and beauty. As Mother of the king… Read More ›
Reincarnation – A Belief Found Worldwide by Judith Shaw
Reincarnation is a spiritual belief that our souls are reborn many times to this physical Earth plane. These many lives give us the opportunity to experience a variety of circumstances and create karma, the law of cause and effect. Through… Read More ›
