Goddess Gratitude Ritual

During my recent surgery and recuperation, I called on three Goddesses of Healing for help and protection. In order to thank Them properly for Their assistance, I performed a little gratitude ritual on the Summer Solstice.

On that beautiful summer evening, I placed a statue of each Goddess outside on our patio table. A glass containing an appropriate sacred drink was set before each Goddess. After smudging, I thanked each Goddess in turn, drank some of Her sacred drink and then poured the rest onto the earth as a libation for Her.

To honour and thank Sekhmet, the ferocious Egyptian Goddess of Destruction and Healing, I used a libation of beer. This seemed appropriate since, according to myth, a lake of beer disguised as blood is what once stopped one of Her destructive rampages by getting Her completely pie-eyed. Beer has been sacred to Her ever since.

To honour and thank Hygeia, Greek Goddess of Healing and Protectress against Infection, I used a libation of white wine. I had been fearful of catching an infection in hospital and, indeed, my first roomie developed C. difficile and had to be isolated as a result. But Hygeia came through for me and I remained infection free! [Image of Hygeia by Gustav Klimt]

To honour and thank Brigid, Celtic Goddess of Healing, I used a libation of whisky -- the sacred water of life. I wasn't able to find a tiny bottle of real Irish whisky in the liquor store, so I trusted that Canadian rye whisky would do! [Image of Brigid by Lunaea Weatherstone]

And yes, I was a little tipsy afterwards. I hardly ever drink, so it doesn't take much booze to get me all giggly (take note, those of you looking for a cheap date, ha ha!)