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Re: Sheila – na – Gig

Divination -Rune



The Runes are an instrument for learning the will of the Divine/Spirit in our lives, a means of listening to that part of ourselves that knows everything we need to know for our lives now. A method of guidance and self-counseling, the Runes assist us to navigate unfamiliar waters.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~ Marcel Proust

As you hold the bag of runes in your hands. Breath, relax and open your mind.

Say, "Guide me into myself, Guide me through to the Otherworld. Lift the Veil and let me in Sheila-na-Gig. Help me give birth to myself again."

Take a Rune out from within the bag. Listen, learn and let your eyes be open.

Thank you Blessed Sister.

Blessed be.

Sources:
1. Wicca ~ A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
2. Contraception and Abortion from the Ancient World to the Renaissance by John M. Riddle
3. Sabbats ~ A Witch's Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy
4. 365 Goddess ~ A daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the Goddess by Patricia Telesco
5. Celtic Women's Spirituality ~ Accessing the Cauldron of Life by Edain McCoy
6. The Witch's Magical Handbook by Gavin Frost and Yvonne Frost
7. Shamanism ~ Working with Moon Medicine by Dolfyn
8. The Once and Future Goddess by Elinor W. Gadon
9. The Book of Runes by Ralph H. Blum
10. Ireland by Catharina Day
11. The Celtics: The People Who Came Out of the Darkness by Gerhard Herm
12. Celtic Goddesses: Warriors, Virgins and Mothers by Miranda Green
13. The Sacred Cauldron by Tadhg MacCrossan
Copyright September 2005

This page is the intellectual and creative property of Evelyne Adler - Wild Woman.

Sheila – na – Gig

Sheila – na – Gig
By Priestess Evelyne Adler

Sheila-Na-Gig (SHEE-luh-nah-GIG)

The word "gyg" is Norse for giantess, in other words, a supernatural or deified female, while "Sheila" is a woman's name, or used as a word for "girl".

A Celtic Goddess. A Goddess of fertility who once appeared on curches all over Ireland and England. Sheila-Na-Gig is a carving of a naked woman squatting with her knees apart, exposing invitingly her enormous vulva in a triangular pattern.
A divine feminine image that has been a source of controversy. There is little known about this mysterious figure beyond that her blatantly sexual images has been found carved on stone thresholds, usually at sacred sites or other places of worship. On her stick figure like face is a faint smile, one which is serene and almost knowingly complacent. Many of these Sheila carvings were used by nuns to adorn the doors of Irish convents. When renderings were discovered by horrified churchmen, many of them were taken away and destroyed. In the late nineteenth century, archaeologists found a pile of them buried neat the ruins of an old Irish convent. Original shields to protect and ward off evil, were labeled obscene in later more prudish times, the carvings were destroyed or defaced, only to be buried were they once sanctified.

http://fethard.com/histor/sheela.html
Image from www.bandia.net

Symbols

The true meaning of the Sheila, and the impact she had on modern women's lives, is probably even more complex. In her physical form she represents the insatiable, devouring power long attributed to the feminine sex organs, an image potent enough to have caused many men – and women – to fear and oppress this Goddess and her sisters, and to take out that fear on women throughout the ages. This fearful image is one of the reasons why many of the old Goddesses, Celtic and otherwise, have been diabolized and recreated into vampire demons, ugly hags, and evil faeries. Somehow they seemed less threatening in this form than when they were worshiped as deities and creators.

Alternate spellings: Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-no-gig, Sheelanagyg, Irish Síle na gCíoch "Sheila of the Breasts"

Vulva of the Day: Hestia Home Schools

Her Magic

The meaning behind the Sheila-na-Gig has been argued to be one of blessing and protection, though it is more likely that she offers an invitation into the feminine mysteries. The triangular pattern of her vulva evokes the sacred number three of the Triple Goddess of the Celtics; Maiden, Mother, Crone in one who represents the full cycle of birth, death, and regeneration. In this aspect, the Sheila-na-Gig symbolizes an open gateway to the Otherworld for those brave enough to accept invitation into her mysteries. It may be that worshippers reverently touched the carving of her open vulva when entering the temple of worship.

Yet, this devouring female who could not control her bodily urges was such an inspiration for terror that it can reasonably be cited as the primary reason why so many of today's woman literally starve themselves to gain the approval of men. Making themselves appear weak, small, and childlike, devoid of normal human appetites, makes them less threatening and less Goddess-like. With the diminishing of that status, the power of creation inherent in deities also vanished, leaving in its path a feminine figure with no procreative powers, one that serves no purpose beyond that of servant and sex object. Today's magical women must never forget that will becomes reality; with this desire to appear less powerful came the true loss of power, and its allowed women to come more easily under the domination of men.

The Sheila-na-Gig is not hungry to devour just for the fun of it, nor to satisfy some insatiable physical appetite. In keeping with the eternal cycles of birth, death and regeneration, the creator must devour in order to offer us rebirth. This rebirth is not just physical but can be a spiritual rebirth as well, an invitation into the greater mysteries of our gender. Therefore the Sheila is in truth offering us a gift, a positive manifestation of the never-ending cycle of existence.

www.pantheon.org

Healing Spell

In honoring the mysterious Sheila of thresholds and women's mysteries – Sisters, allow yourself to open and heal:

Under the protection of a Sacred Full Moon night, bath yourself with warm water. Mix some healing herbs into the bath water. Such as Chamomile, Vervain and Lavender.

Either outside with a lit candle or inside your home – find a private quiet space.

Chant three times or as many times as you like:

Oh, Mothers, We are Calling, Your Daughters need Healing,
Oh Mothers, We are Calling, Your Daughters need Healing,
Power, Power, Your Love is Our Power,
Power, Power, Our Love is Our Power.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Uathach - Protection and strength.

Varia - Learn from Varia the right use of temper in magical intent.

Veleda - Call upon Veleda when you need to enhance your leadership skills, inspire others, or lead troops.

Vennolandua - Call on her for reclaiming feminine power, or for exercising leadership roles.

Vivienne - Vivienne can be a boon to sex or couples magic despite her negative press. She can also teach us about the dangers of manipulative magic of any kind, but especially in love where we are all tempted.

Vivonn - Evoke her for assistance in Passing Over rituals.

http://celticbookofshadows.wikidot.com/celtic-dieties

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Saba - Magic for animals, aid in finding a familiar.

Scathach - Call on Scathach for weaving potent magick, to learn fighting skills, to offer protection, or invite her to aid you when you are the teacher.

Scena - Experiment with her energies as a Goddess of mergers and subtle changes.

Scota - Call on her to aid you in finding the right names for yourself and other things. Experiment with her energies as a mother Goddess.

Sequana - Call on Sequana for prosperity rites, or for making earth and water magic. Use her presence to purify your circles. Invoke her for prosperity rites.

Sheila-na-gig - Use her image for harnessing feminine power, or to help reveal past and future lives.

Sin - Call on her for stamina and strength to fight problems, to help handle legal matters, or overcome enemies. Also ask her for protection and prosperity. Evoke her as a patron Goddess if you give your time and energy to aiding the hungry or the homeless.

Sionnan - Ask her to aid you in faery contact or inn well rituals.

Sirona - Healing and purification.

Smirgat - Tap into her power to gain feminine power and learn the mysteries.

Stine Bheag O'Tarbat - General aid in magic, and for making weather magic.

Sul - Invite Sul to Imbolc rites and ask her too aid in healing rituals.

Taillte - Taillte's energy is compatible with seasonal and harvest rites, fertility magic, and enhancing strength for competitive games.

Tamara - Call on the energy of Tamara when you need to create or fortify your own boundaries.

Taranis - Involve Taranis in Passing Over rituals.

Tea and Tephi - Call on these two to protect sacred spaces or to aid you in seeking to find your sacred space. They also share a connection with the ancient Celtic powers sleeping in wait at Tara that can be connected with through deep meditation and path working.

Tlachtga - Call Tlachtga to your Samhain rituals and invoke her during Crone age rites of passage.

Triduana - See Brid for discussion.

Triple Goddess, The - When working magic in sync with the moon phases, draw into yourself the appropriate aspect to aid you. By doing this any magical goal can be aided.

Tryphyna - Tryphyna can teach us to wield the power of elements, to overcome enemies, and to work with all forms of elemental magic. Evoke her spirit into a ring for protection.

Turrean - Path work with Turrean to learn to make the best of a bad situation, to help you in the care of dogs, or for working with dog familiars. Call upon her maiden form for New Year's rites.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Nair - Ask Nair's aid in making spirit contact, assisting your Samhain rites, and in prosperity rites.

Nantosuelta - Fertility spells, harvest rites, and water magic.

Nehalennia - Call on Nehalennia for protection on the water.

Nemetona - Call upon Nemetona for blessing your circle and for bestowing protection on all your sacred spaces.

Nessa - Invoke her as a Goddess of sovereignty, feminine power, strength and courage. Ask her aid in overcoming enemies, increasing mental prowess, and in helping you to look out for the interests of your children.

Nicevenn - Samhain rituals.

Odras - Since the Morrigan are the supreme death and battle deities of the Celts, Odras' tale teaches us that death cannot be cheated or halted, no matter how we proteSt. When Odras' livelihood was taken, she died, even though she tried in vain to fight the death Goddesses. Use her to learn about accepting the inevitable cycles of time rather than fearing then. This does not mean one should not fight for life, but we must be wise enough to realize when the struggle must end.

Olwen - Olwen can aid you in making faery contact, or enhance Beltane rituals, and she can help women learn to tap into their own feminine power.

Onaugh - Assistance in faery contact.

Plur na mBan - Experiment with her youthful energy at the spring Sabbats or at Pagan flower festivals.

Princess of the Sun, The - Call on her for aid in overcoming enemies, for couples work, lessons in cooperation (often needed in coven settings), and for protection.

Rashincoatie - Path work with Rashincoatie to help you overcome your own childhood traumas. There's a lot to be said for visualizing yourself in a happy ending - whatever you choose it to be.

Ratis - Use the energy of Ratis when you need to build up and/or enhance your defenses. Call upon her to protect the boundaries of your sacred circle.

Rhiannon - Rhiannon can aid you in overcoming enemies, exercising patience, working magic, moon rituals, and enhancing dream work.

Rhiannon Rhin Branawd - Invoke or path work with her to learn more about the feminine mysteries.

Rosmerta - Cultivate Rosmerta to aid in healing and communication.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Macha - Cultivate Macha to aid you in childbirth,, to gain wisdom, to help you overcome your enemies, or to uncover past-lives.
Maeve, Queen - Involve Maeve in sex magic and spells for leadership skills. Call on her power to gain perseverance and strength, or to ward off enemies. Path work with her to understand your won, or your partner's feminine power.

Magog - Call on them for fertility or couples magick, and for casting spells with the earth element.

Mala Liath - See Cerridwen and the Cailleach for full discussion.

Marcassa, Princess - healing, sleep/dream magic, or seasonal rites.

Marcia Proba - Invoke Marcia Proba when you are called upon to make judgment and mete out justice. Allow her to teach you about fairness and equality.

Meg the Healer - Call on her for healing, herbal knowledge, or to aid you in faery contact.

Melusine - Compassion, also knowledge of when vengeance is not right or just, or none of your business.

Messbuachallo - Fertility, general aid to magic.

Modron - Call Modron for all mother Goddess magic and ritual needs. She is also at home at harvest rites, childbirth beds, and in sex magic.

Moningfhion - Evoke her presence for Samhain rites, and ask her to aid you in gaining her vast wisdom.

Morgan LeFay - Morgan's energy is compatible with music magic, sovereignty rites, passing over rituals, spirit contact, and water spells. She can also help teach us the destructive nature of gossip and bigotry. Call on her to put a stop to this if it is ruining your coven or Pagan organization.

Morgay - Seasonal rites.

Moriath - Cultivate her assistance for making your own music magic.

Morrigan, The - The Morrigan are a powerful force which most prefer to separate and work with one-on-one. Call on them for passing over rituals, or to help you overcome enemies. Servicemen and women can call upon their energy when in battle. They are also a potent force for waning moon and banishing magic. However, be cautioned that their collective energy can turn violent.

Muireartach - See the Morrigan for full discussion.

Munanna - Though not a potent archetype, Munanna can be helpful to us in understanding and overcoming our culturally bred fear of powerful women.

Murna of the White Neck - the birth in the woods links her image to fertility, woodland and fertile earth Goddesses. Call upon her for fertility, or eco- and earth magic.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Habetrot - Call on Habetrot for aid in healing spells, to be a part of seasonal rites, or to commemorate creation.

Habondia - Use the spirit of Habondia in seasonal harvest rituals, fertility rites, for prosperity spells, or to make earth magic.

Heloise - Call on Heloise for couples magic, Druidic magic, love spells, aid and wisdom for students, and for Hand-fasting rites.

Hanwen - Fertility rites, childbirth assistance, and prosperity magic.
Igraine - Igraine is the eternal mother Goddess who is both mother and lover to her child. Call upon her for seasonal rites involving the birth and death of the father God.

Inghean Dhuidhe - use her energy in Beltane rituals, for flower festivals, or to bless spring planting.

Irnan - Irnan is a powerful source of magical energy, and also shares most of the attributes of the Triple Goddess and the Morrigan.

Isolde - Invoke these two in Hand-fasting rituals, and ask their aid in couples work, sex magic, and love spells.

Kele-De - Call on Kele-de to raise feminine power or for sex magic.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Garbh Ogh - Eco-magic, seasonal rites involving the sacrificial God.

Genovefa - Earth magic.

Gillagriene - Fire magic

Godiva, Lady - Lady Godiva is a May Queen for seasonal rites See Epona for further discussion of her attributes.

Goewin - Approach Goewin as a Goddess of sovereignty and May Queen.

Goleuddydd - Cultivate her to strengthen family ties, or to help you know when it is time to leave your family to begin your own.

Grainne - Feminine power, love, and invisibility spells.

Grainne Ni Malley - Grainne shares the attributes of the many goddesses of sovereignty, and can aid you in serving your country, or discovering the divine feminine power inside yourself.

Grian - Call on Grian and Aine to be a part of seasonal rites. If you prefer a feminist slant on your spirituality, they can easily replace the Holly and Oak Kings' function.

Guildeluec - Evoke her to learn lessons of unselfish love, compassion, and as an aid to general magic.

Guinevere, Queen - Seasonal rites.

Gwendydd - Divination

Gwennolaik - Evoke her for romance spells, couples work, and spirit contact. Loyalty and family love and ties can also be strengthened in ritual with her that can teach that family is more than blood ties, but is love and caring.

Gwyar - Spirit contact, Passing Over rites, childbirth.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Fachea - Invoke Fachea to inspire creativity in yourself or others.

Fand - Call on Fand for healing, and for the assurance that you can have pleasure without guilt if you act responsibly. She can also aid you in making faery contact and water magic.

Fedelma - Invoke her to increase your own psychic abilities.

Feithline - Call on her for divination and aid in spirit contact. She can also tell you the time of your own death, if you really care to know.

Finchoem - Fertility magic.

Findabar - Females can align with hr to have the courage of their convictions and to help them be strong enough to have and live with their choices. Men can pair themselves with her to have a strong partner for overcoming adversity.

Fiongalla - Call upon Fiongalla for seasonal rites. Bring her required items (yew berries, holly boughs, and bouquets of marigolds) to evoke her presence (but not if pets or children will be in attendance, as those items contain toxic properties).

Fionnuala - Fionnuala can be invoked to give us the strength to aid our family and keep them together.

Flaithius - Divination.

Fludais - Fludais can aid you in magic for animals, the environment, and in learning to give. She is also a Goddess of the hunt and a feminine version of the Holly King/Santa Claus.

Re: List of Celtic Gods and Goddesses

Eadon - Invoke Eadon to open your own creative chhanels.

Ebha Ruadh Ni Murchu - Women who wish to merge with a genuine heroic figure and are as yet uncomfortable working with male forces might wish to align with Ebha instead.

Ebhlinne - Invite Ebhlinne to actively participate in your Midsummer rituals or to assist you with fire magic.

Edain - Ask Edain to help you with past or future life explorations, invoke her to enhance personal appearance.

Eire - Call on Eire for her qualities of leadership, to aid you in keeping memories as in keeping one's name alive, and for finding creative ways to overcome enemies.

Eithne - See Arianrhod for full discussion of Eithne's attributes.

Elen - Invoke her to gain her qualities of leadership and compassion.

Elphame, Queen of - As a potent crone Goddess her energies are associated with death, destruction, plague, battle and the Otherworld. By extension, her Beltane associations link her to concepts of rebirth. Respectfully harness her powerful energy as you would any crone's. Also call upon her as a May Queen and for aid in faery contact.

Emer - Ask Emer's help when you need a boost of self-esteem and self-pride. It really is all right to blow your own horn occasionally. She can also help you to release your own creative spirit and aid your mental prowess.

Enid - Cultivate her aid in couples work, sex magic, romantic love

spells and when issues of fidelity are involved.

Eostre - Call on Eostre for assistance in your Ostara rites, in the Great Rite, in fertility matters for you or for your pets and livestock. Her association with spring makes her energy compatible with blessing new ventures or for celebrating reincarnation and new life.

Epona - Call on Epona for dream work, fertility, war, use her to help banish nightmares in children. As a self-triplicate she can teach women the needed lesson of being whole and complete within themselves, and to be sovereign, men can "mate" with her to help attain similar strengths. She is also compatible with sex magic and divination.

Erce - Ask Erce to your harvest festivals, and allow her to lend her aid to earth magic.

Eri of the Golden Hair - Utilize Eri's energy as the feminine principle of creation. As the mate of the sun she can be linked to moon mother images.

Ernmas - "She-farmer" relates her to fertility rites, and the "murderer" to the dark mother. Use her energy for fertility and earth magic spells.

Ess Euchen - Align with her to understand the need for and pitfalls of vengeance. Flying off the handle and seeking to do someone else bodily harm may have been an idea prized by Celtic warriors, but it is hardly sound practice for modern pagans who - hopefully - have evolved into beings able to reason out differences. Path work with Ess Euchen to change the outcome of her story and to learn to overcome the temptation to engage in or listen to gossip.

Ethne - Her powers of invisibility are usually a metaphor for astral projection (through there is a tradition of utilizing other types of invisibility spells in Celtic magical practice). Call on her to aid you in this endeavor, or invoke her when you wish to go about unnoticed.