Friday, November 30, 2012

More About Goddesses: The Greek Goddess Artemis (New Essay)



More About Goddesses: Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Hunt
By Tim Kavi

Artemis is the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her bow and arrows that she would carry were made by Cyclopes and Hephaestus. She is depicted as goddess of the hunt, wild animals and many cities also worshiped her as the goddess of fertility. Artemis is often depicted with the moon above her head and was frequently depicted as being close with Selene, the goddess of the moon. More often she would be depicted as roaming the mountain forests with her nymphs by her side in search of panthers, stags, hinds and lions. In later myths she would assist these animals by protecting their overall well-being while fighting to ensure their safety.

Artemis is also seen as the goddess of chastity. Legend has it that when she was three years old, Artemis asked Zeus to provide her with eternal virginity. All of her close companions were virgins, and she would punish any man who attempted to harm the purity of herself or her companions. In one legend, Actaeon came upon Artemis and her nymphs bathing naked in a pool, and when she saw him watching Artemis transformed him into a stag and sent her hounds after him. She was also known to use her bow to kill those who were known to rape women, including Orion.

Because Artemis was born before her brother Apollo, her mother gifted her the island of Ortygia as thanks for helping her mother to cross the strait of Delos to give birth to Apollo. This legend made Artemis an idol to women going through childbirth. Some cities depicted her as a goddess and protector to those in the midst of  the hunt, a mass of contradictions as she brought sudden death alongside the birth of a new life. Because her twin brother was seen as a healing god, many would pray to Artemis for assistance in the healing of gout, rabies or leprosy in hopes that she would appeal to Apollo on their behalf.

These and other legends of Artemis would be honored with lively festivals. Festivals were held throughout Orthia, Brauron, Brauronia and most notably Sparta. As women became of age and reached puberty they would be initiated into the cult of Artemis, although they would be required to leave this cult once they became married. Artemis was not against the realm of marriage, but she chose to be surrounded by those who were pure, so those who chose to engage in marital acts would be required to return her paraphernalia as they took on this new role.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Too Many Words (New Poem)



















Too Many Words
by Tim Kavi

there are too many words
in space
and not enough meaning
even if I dreamed them
every night
I cannot find them

for I cannot find you
my love
my delight
it has become dark night

coldness is wrapped
around my soul
like a blanket
and it won't let me go

my fears threaten
to consume me
but this is only my mind
when all around me
is the dying of light

the coming of night
is when shadows become immersed
in the dark
lonely songs I cannot bear

I awake
to face the coldest morning
snow has fallen
everywhere

fluttering eyes
open, I am
to wonder, rub eyes
to stare
see you there

I see all is beauty
in the woman
standing there

and the words
that had slowed like Winter
flowed in the promise
that if I kept speaking

kept writing
Spring will come there
in the hearts
of two

the glories of rebirth
as all the words
of love flow

while outside the snow
falls anew.


Friday, November 16, 2012

Seasons of Love (New Poem)















Seasons of Love
by Tim Kavi

snowflakes are the words
dropping from your lips
hanging in the cold air
your love warms
that space of Winter's kiss
burns hot like fire
verses spoken in love
never go out

your beauty
is like the dancing goddess
of spring
that brings life
your beauties revealed
like the manifest
unfurled creation of all that is
new

how can I escape the passion
and heat of your summer's love?
but I seek no shade
for your love is the sun
that rises each and every day

and like the harvest
in Autumn, the Fall
is a tended love
you know
I am but a tool
in your gardening hands
and a wipe to your brow

and in the seasons
of your love
there is a passing
and cool refreshing
as time brings us
together side by side

to the sunsets
of our love.

Monday, November 12, 2012

More About Goddesses: Lakshmi puja (New Essay)






More About Goddesses: Lakshmi puja
By Tim Kavi



Lakshimi puja is a ritual celebrated during Diwali, or the festival of lights. The ritual is dedicated to showing propitiation and devotion to Lakshimi, the goddess of fortune, wealth, prosperity and the embodiment of beauty. Lakshimi is known to bring good luck to her believers and devotees, rescuing them from money troubles and other miseries. She is frequently worshiped and honored as a goddess of wealth in commercial establishments or homes. Lakshimi is also honored as the consort of Vishnu, which has endowed her with six divine qualities.

Because Laskhimi is seen as one who takes light in, she is an important figure in the Diwali festival. It is said that those looking to honor the goddess would light lanterns outside their home in hopes that they would draw the Laskhimi in to bless them. The third day of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi puja because the sun will enter its second course, allowing Libra to assist with the balancing the books and closing records, bringing Laskhimi additional power to bless her followers. The first days of this festival are also celebrated with drums and bells to represent the “pouring in” of the heart, expressing the thanks for the many blessings and prosperity Lakshmi has brought.

A number of elements are considered essential to the rite of celebrating Lakshmi puja. In the temples, a cloth is placed across a raised platform and an alter is made with grains, pitchers made from terracotta, gold, silver or copper, a dish of rice grains, a lotus flower drawn in turmeric and an idol of Lakshimi surrounded by coins. The idol is bathed in water and panchamrit, followed by a second bath in water infused with gold or pearls. She is then wiped clean and the water is sprinkled on the turmeric lotus to invoke the goddess. Businesses may include books related to their profession around the altar as well as these traditional elements.
Households will place a lantern or make offerings of kumkum, flowers or haldi to the goddess. Offerings of cotton beads, flowers such as marigolds, apple wood, sandal paste, perfume and sandal paste are also frequently offered. After these initial offerings are given, incense is lit to purify the altar. Then a second offering of fruits, coconut, sweets, tambul, puffed rice, coriander, cumin and batasha are given. These elements are not to be mixed with the honey or jewelry on the altar out of respect to Lord Kuber.

Prayers to Lakshmi are frequently recited during the Lakshmi puja celebration. Groups will perform aarti for the goddess, though these celebrations are often quieter than traditional celebrations as Lakshmi is not fond of loud noises. Instead, small bells are used to accompany the prayers and aarti. Unlike aarti that are performed for other gods, groups should not clasp hands when performing this ritual, nor should firecrackers be set off during or after the puja. Homes should strive to keep a sublime, peaceful and comforting atmosphere out of respect to the goddess and her celebration during Diwali.
TimKavi

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Ascending Goddess Released at Smashwords


Dear Reader:

My last collection about Goddesses; 'Ascending Goddess' has just been released at Smashwords.

This means that you can purchase my collection for most ereaders or as a stand alone file in EPUB, PDF, RTF, LRF, PALM DOC (PDB), and PLAIN TEXT formats.

Of course you can get the Kindle version there also (MOBI) or by clicking on the image to the left margin of this entry which will take you to the Amazon page. (image below takes you to Smashwords),

ascending goddess by Tim Kavi
Click Here for Smashwords Edition
Being published on Smashwords is a step towards wider availability.  It means that Ascending Goddess, (and my other works) will soon be available on the Sony, Kobo, and coming soon to the Apple iTunes store for iPads and iPhones.

After that, it will eventually be released in Print and paper bound copies!  Thanks for supporting my work! ~~TK  Click Here to go to the Smashwords Page

Update: This title is now available at a number of locations on the web for various platforms including iTunes, Barnes & Noble and others.  If you look at the left margin of the page for that Ascending Goddess book cover, all the links are under it.  Thanks for supporting my work!~~TK