Witchvox Article

Author: Alfred Willowhawk, MMsc, RMT, CTM, Shaman
Posted: December 23rd. 2012
Times Viewed: 2,009

Every person is a Warrior. I do not mean a soldier; I mean a warrior. There is a difference. In my course, The Warrior Within, students learn the difference. Every culture has a Warrior Goddess even though in some cultures, she has fallen out of favor. Let�s examine some of these Goddesses.

Greek culture has Artemis, strong, determined, and full of her own balance and sense of duty. She is the daughter of Zeus and Leto. She is the goddess of the Amazon, female warriors who, according to myth, fought and protected their land in the area between Sarmatia and Scythia. In Roman times, Boudicia of eastern Britain was a war chief who ruled her kingdom in peace and prosperity despite Roman incursions on the land.

In Yoruba culture, there is the great Warrior Goddess Oya who is the Undergoddess of the Niger River. She is the warrior spirit of the wind, lightning, fertility, fire and magic. It is believed that she creates hurricanes and tornadoes, and serves as guardian of the underworld. In Meso-America, there is Itzpapalotl is a fearsome skeletal warrior goddess who ruled over the paradise world of Tamoanchan. In the Old Testament, we discover Deborah the Judge who became the last judge of the Hebrew nation after defending the 12 tribes from Sisera and the Canaanite army. She ruled her people for over 40 years.

Each of these individuals stood as true warriors for their people whether they were/are deific manifestations based on actual individuals or not. As I have spent time with my own personal deities, I have found that the Warrior Goddess comes to me when I truly need Her.

A Warrior is �One Who Struggles�

In this case, each of us is a warrior. She/He is NOT one who seeks conflict. A soldier in our 21st century world is NOT a warrior. A warrior is �one who struggles�. This definition includes everything in creation. Water struggles against earth. Earth struggles against fire. Fire struggles against earth and water. The struggle is not bad or good, it simply is.

Struggle is the way to seek the balance between the parties. Look at the Grand Canyon: the water (river) struggles to get to the sea. The land is in the way, so it carves a path over time that allows both the land and the river to coexist. The beauty of the Grand Canyon is that the balance is breathtaking. A huge pathway carved out by the river as it struggled to reach the place it desired to be. It wasn�t always as pretty and balanced as it is now, yet it did get there.

You have experienced life. It doesn�t mean that you are of a certain age, only that you have experienced life. It is expected that you have made mistakes, dealt with the ramifications of those mistakes and will probably make many more. We also expect that you have come to some kind of accommodation with them and are looking first and foremost to heal yourself. These experiences are from where one draws their strength and where their empathetic skills are born. You may also have had a life altering experience like the �Little Death� or a significant out of body experience. Your path has been a little bit of a battlefield. Welcome to the �club� � know you are not alone.

Some of the indigenous people of this country understand this principle. For years, the buffalo roamed the great plains of the United States. The native peoples hunted the buffalo for food, clothing, tools, and other supplies. They didn�t kill thousands for their hides and let the meat rot. They honored their fallen 4-footed allies and utilized everything. They prayed to the spirit of the buffalo and took only what they needed, never taking more. Our western hyper-consumer society has disrupted the balance. Each person is charged to help restore that balance or risk the proverbial wrath of the Universe.

What are the Traits of the Warrior?

A warrior, first and foremost, accepts and discerns the truth about him/herself. Warriors take responsibilities for their own actions, recognize the truth of things about themselves and others. They practice self-discipline. They view every situation in balance utilizing analysis without emotion. Warriors develop a strong sense of defense of their own boundaries, take responsibility for their OWN actions and accept the consequences of their OWN choices.

Speaking with the Warrior Goddess

There are many ways to tap into your own personal Warrior Goddess. Whether you have met her or not, she is always with you. She is that part of yourself that comes out when your beliefs, actions, and plans are challenged; it is how each one of us manifests her that is different. Meditation is one way to tap into her. Another is to perform a simple ritual to the Warrior Goddess. Here is one that I have found useful across many different paths.

Supplies needed:
A gold or yellow candle
A pentagram or other representation of spirit for yourself
Agrimony, Angelica, Basil, and Rue in the following proportions as incense:

1 quarter part Agrimony
1 quarter part Angelica
1 half part Basil
1 part Rue

A representation of yourself as a Warrior
Paper with your intent to speak with the Warrior Goddess

The Working:
Prepare yourself as you normally would for any magical working.
Cast your circle.
Light the candle.
Light the Incense.
Clear your mind and holding the paper with your intent say 3 times:

Goddess strong and Goddess protector
Hear my call and heed my plea:
Join me Warrior Spirit mine.
Help me see my inner path,
Goddess Stong and Goddess Protector.

Wait to hear/see the Warrior Goddess.
Ask her, � How Shall I Call You?�
Listen to what she tells you. When you are finished, thank her for speaking with you and ask if you may call on her again.
Extinguish the candle.
Write everything down you remember.
Close circle and leave paper on altar for at least 28 days.

There are many other ways to speak with the Warrior Goddess. In some instances, it is difficult to reach her yourself. Speak with your teacher, High Priestess, or other Elder to see if they can help you tap this wonderful energy.

ABOUT...

Alfred Willowhawk, MMsc, RMT, CTM, Shaman

Location: West Plains, Missouri

Website: http://www.alfredwillowhawk.us

Author's Profile: To learn more about Alfred Willowhawk, MMsc, RMT, CTM, Shaman - Click HERE

Other Articles: Alfred Willowhawk, MMsc, RMT, CTM, Shaman has posted 12 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Alfred Willowhawk, MMsc, RMT, CTM, Shaman... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).