A figure from Russian folklore, Baba Yaga embodies the Wild Woman. If encountered, this scary crazy old lady will either eat you, put you to work or give you advice. If she gives you advice, the outcome will be better than you could imagine. If she puts you to work, the work will be hard but you will do better than you ever dreamed possible. If she eats you, well, better luck in the next life! In story and song, she is a Russian witch, best known for her dealings with Vasalisa. Around the mortar are images from one of these tales. She rides her mortar, using her pestle as a rudder and sweeps away her tracks with a broom as she travels the night sky
Greet your guests with this blessing plaque, which invokes a state of feeling blessed just in the simple act of being. Maybe we don’t have to “do” anything to be blessed by the divine. Perhaps this saying can remind us of our innate connection and embodiment of the divine. The border is a knotwork design with hidden imagery. See if you can find two stags, a chalice, pentagrams and moon phases.
Brigid, one of the most popular Celtic Goddesses is a vast deity and can assist her devotees with nearly any endeavor. She is depicted here as the three sisters or three of the many aspects of this Goddess: Midwife - healer/nurturer/herbalist, Blacksmith - keeper of fire/craftswoman/transformer and Poetess - bringer of wisdom/guidance/prophecy
The butterfly is well known to represent transformation. The pentacle is a symbol of earth, protection and abundance as well as the spirit in harmony with the four elements. Together, they embody the transformational power of spirituality. First, the egg that is all potential becomes the caterpillar, constantly searching and absorbing its environment. This leads to the cocoon where it seems to die...only to be reborn as the magnificent butterfly which then lays more eggs, continuing the cycle of growth and transformation.
The Celtic Cross, or wheeled cross, is derived from the ancient Chi-Ro monogram, which is the name of Christ in the Greek alphabet. It was used to represent the nimbus or halo behind the heads of Christ and the saints. To the Celts it closely resembled ancient solar symbols. The basic symbolism is of the world-axis, or the link between Heaven and Earth. The edges are decorated by Celtic key patterning
Cernunnos, also known by the Celts as the Horned One or Herne, was the antlered god of the forest and bestower of prosperity. He also appeared as the stag of seven tines, god of the hunt, the primal fertility god and consort to the Great Mother. He was widely worshipped and depictions of Cernunnos are found all over Europe, including on the stone below the altar of Notre Dame.
Carved with the image of Cernunnos, the antlered God of the Forest, Abundance and Shamanism, the pentacle in its upright position represents the spirit in balance and harmony with the four elements. It is also a symbol of Earth and Prosperity as seen in the tarot.
Cerridwen, a Celtic Goddess, was known for creating a magical brew that was stirred for a year and a day to produce the Three Drops of Inspiration. These were stolen by a young boy who grew up to be known as Taliesin, a great bard and wizard. The myth of the Goddess� pursuit of this thief involves a dramatic series of shape changing. Cerridwen was the muse who brought inspiration to poets, musicians, writers and those of the creative arts. Historically, Celtic bards were known as �Credo,� children of Cerridwen.
Cerridwen, a Celtic Goddess, was known for creating a magical brew that was stirred for a year and a day to produce the Three Drops of Inspiration. These were stolen by a young boy who grew up to be known as Taliesin, a great bard and wizard. The myth of the Goddess' pursuit of this thief involves a dramatic series of shape changing. Cerridwen was the muse who brought inspiration to poets, musicians, writers and those of the creative arts. Historically, Celtic bards were known as "Credo", children of Cerridwen.
The Chalice and the Blade represents the conjunction of divine male and female energies, also know as the Great Rite. This image may also be familiar as Excalibre and the Holy Grail. The pentacle placed on the chalice symbolizes the active nature of the feminine energy, and the crescent on the blade or Athame represents the masculine energy as passive on the internal planes. A common salutation in Witchcraft, the phrase "Blessed Be" seals this sacred image. The ribbon spirals down the piece to symbolize the energy generated during this rite, creating a vortex of rebirth. May this energy bless your home with the harmoniously balanced energy of active and passive, masculine and feminine, yin and yang.
