Thank you! Thinking about the "swarm" analogy is the first time I've ever been able to wrap my head around the concept of multiple goddesses as part of one feminine energy. ✨💜
Thanks for this Jessica, I discovered witchcraft in the early 90’s too. I remember seeing an article in a magazine about a girl who was Wiccan and it really resonated to me. I used to bunk off school to go and read occult books in the library 😂 I dropped Wicca after a while though because it also reminded me of organised religion. I’ve jumped in and out of traditional witchcraft ever since, trying to find something that feels like home. So I feel like a beginner still, even though I’m probably not! I’m enjoying learning about the goddesses though. Personally I’ve always worked with her as energy, never really putting a name on her other than Goddess. I really like your explanation though, especially being aligned with Goddesses who we are part of the swarm of 🐝
I think it’s always the way that we feel like we are beginners - and that’s a good thing. We know we are on a path and we can’t see the end ❤️ it keeps things interesting 😉
Jessica, I listened to this 3 times. Yes, please talk more about that connection with divine feminine energy. When I was about 2-3 years old, I had an "imaginary friend" as my mom called her. I have never really known what to call her. She hasn't been a figment of my imagination. She has been with me since that time. Her energy has felt both a part of my soul, and something separate and much larger than I can grasp. So your analogy of the bee swarm was so perfect!!! I was an only child. I had no middle name either. My father was violent, my mother had a mental illness that progressed throughout my life. He insisted I dress and act like a boy around him. After he left us, my mother continued his violence on me. She said I was evil, and I learned to never speak of the loving energy that seemed to comfort me when I needed it most. Your thoughts that we have 3 souls. The "swarm of energies". I so can identify with that. But until now, I could not put into any words that feeling. As I've aged, she has become guidance, intuition, placed serendipitously many things in my path to direct me. Sometimes a guardian angel and 3 times taken me to a dimension that is not of our earthly ability. I have been given protection several times. That I could not explain in any way but divine intervention. Yet.....until your video, I never associated her with Goddess Energies. But that lightbulb has been turned on, and I want more of all you are willing to share.
I’m so glad that you found this video spoke to you Charlee. And thank you for sharing about your experiences growing up, that is so hard. I am glad that you had that other-than-human support with you - and that you were aware and able to recognise that (even with family saying it was imaginary, or feeling like you had to hide what you saw and felt). I love that you have had this close connection with your guide throughout your life, that’s really beautiful
This is really so helpful Jessica, thank you for sharing your knowledge and how Goddess is guiding you to do this work. I love that and can't think of a better person to do it. So much of this resonated with me. I definitely don't believe in using stereotypical fe/male role attributes only, and I feel like that is why the research is so important. Its so not just about the facts when figuring out how to "work with" a diety. I've always just been really curious about all the layers to consider, and layers within the layers - like some of the stories, when I reflect on them, more stuff comes up that adds to my understanding of that deity. That understanding then informs my work with Her (currently focused on Goddesses). My first experience with Goddess was with Mary. I prayed to Her often at Her shrine at my schools church before walking home. She was my Protectress and I often felt held by Her. I think the next one I met was Artemis - I loved how adventurous She seemed! I hadn't even got to the point of understanding that I could "work with" Them. They were female role models. And then, when I was quite a bit older, I read The Spiral Dance and that really opened up a whole new way of thinking about all of this.
Such a beautiful video. ❤ I feel the Goddess calling as well. Wanting to be felt, seen & heard. Definitely make another video on this topic if you feel inspired. I think she is reaching out to many of us. 😊✨💕
Theses are my favorites of your videos-when you just talk about your experience, how you’ve come to view things, what you find useful in practice. Thank you for this (and you look especially fabulous today ). 💕
🌚🌛👑💖 I love videos on the Goddess or Goddesses. We need more of that. ☺ Its good to know that we are not alone. I too am into being align with nature's cycle, moon cycle, and reclaiming my Divine Feminine, etc. Its important. I once had a calendar that was 13 months, each month started on the new moon. It was a wonderful tool, I never felt more align. Unfortunately I couldn't found another one after that year. I agree 100% that the Goddess - The Divine Feminine - is much needed. It rare to find information on the Goddesses that are not about facts and logical masculine mindset, so it defeats the purpose. I am talking about some authors on the subject. Starhawk was a rare good author on that topic. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences on that. I am all for it! 💖
I’m glad you enjoyed the video Rose-Marie! I’m sorry you couldn’t find that calendar again. The We’moon is structured in moonths, so that might be worth looking at. I love the woman-centred art and poetry in there
I’m glad you enjoyed the video Rose-Marie! I’m sorry you couldn’t find that calendar again. The We’moon is structured in moonths, so that might be worth looking at. I love the woman-centred art and poetry in there
The comparison of goddess to a swarm of bees! Yes! That is a perfect analogy and it is how I see goddess as well. However you are far more eloquent than I could be. My Witch Mother is just one bee in a swarm of bees. I enjoyed listening to this video so much. I love how excited you sound when you talk about your relationship with goddess and what it means to you.
:) Thank you Trish! I get a bit evangelist about Her :D but, like you said, because it’s so important to me and has made a huge impact on my life. Thanks for watching and commenting
This is so fascinating! I was only interested in being a secular witch...until Brigid kept drawing me to her. To the point where I recently thought 'You've become important to me and are clearly trying to be part of my life!' And now that I've embraced that it feels so warm and welcoming. I'm very much looking forward to furthering my connection and working with her ☺️. (I'm enjoying bingeing your videos by the way!)
Haha, yes, once goddess gets hold of you it’s hard to maintain a secular position 😂💗 I’m so glad you’re enjoying that and leaning into it. Thank you for the lovely comment 🙏🏻
So much lovely information. I especially love the idea of keeping a mystical path and not necessarily a factual one. It is a spiral dance. I feel during my long dance with the Divine Feminine she has taken on various names and personalities. But, as I look at my various statues or representations of Her that I have, most do not have faces or even specific shapes. She is too much .... she is that swarm, ever changing, but always there. Thank you as always, dear Jessica.
💙💙💙 Loved this chat so much! Thank you Jessica. The individual experience of deity is so unique but I really love your swarm of bees analogy, where every experience is a unique part of the functioning whole essence of that deity in the world. xx
Hi Thea! Thanks so much for your kind words. You're right, it is such a unique and personal experience, it can be hard to talk about. I love what you said "every experience is a unique part of the functioning whole essence of that deity" YES!
I loved your explanation. I’ve only just returned to my true connection to goddess energy. I too had no resources as a child and teen so I gave up looking. Thank Goddess you didn’t ❤ I love your wisdom and guidance 😊
Based on my ancestral lineage I identify more with Orishas/Orixas. Your message still rang true. I think what it leads me to is to really simplify my practice and focus on the elements of nature. Also when you said Divine Feminine was a strong pulling inward or magnetism, I immediately thought of black holes. They are so strong, powerful, time slows down. Anyway, have an amazing day!
Hola! Beautiful video! So inspiring! Thank you so much! Please, please, please make more videos about Divine Feminine! We need it, the world need it! Abrazos from México!
I curtsy to the Divinity of a Guiding Star in the Clearing Mist my SisStar Jessica. The Maiden The Mother The Crone. I Celebrate Divine Feminine that We are; even as my Heart aches; for there are no sofas for a woman to rest, to restore …Work, Home, Lack of Childcare etc. etc. Jessica, dearest SisStar being a Woman is a Divine Wonder, we must continue this conversation. May We Glow as We Grow Much Love 💕 Jul’Mar
I love this vlog. I can relate to you so much regarding finding your path. I am an older lady and have started exploring Wicca and the Divine Feminine. I completely agree with you about getting stuck on the masculine/feminine paradigm. As someone who has a trans partner I am so aware of this. I feel myself being drawn to the godddess more and more. My grandmother was Welsh and I feel drawn to Celtic mysticism. I need to find out more about Cerridwen. The moon also is something ive felt drawn to more and more recently. Thank you so much for your channel. Its so informative and inspiring.
Hi Lizzie, thank you for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed this video ❤️ I’ve made a few videos about working with the moon which you might find helpful.
Such a superficial comment but omg you’re hair looks fantastic! The color, the cut! You look so vibrant. I promise I did listen to the content and I did find it inspiring!
I guess I’ve always been afraid to work with deity’s. How do you select who to work with? What if it doesn’t work? You see what people say you should do for offerings and they say the … if you don’t, then … UGH. All that stuff! I do resonate with the bees and the hive 😊 and I have had those sparks when reading about certain goddesses. THAT makes total sense. Whew, I feel relieved after listening to you. I was also the weird child that was raised in a Catholic household. Not a strict one but certain exceptions were set and I also questioned priests and nuns and church elders and I’m sure I was exhausting to them as well. I lost my faith very early on because I was made to perform a sacrament I didn’t understand and because it was expected I did it but I lied to get through it. Which is a sin. SMH Always playing in nature and in love with the moon was my religion. I guess I have rambled on … lol. I love your message and want to learn more. Thank you 💙🦋 Xxx Edit - and the 3 souls thing. I am so curious because that feels right to me. 🐝
There is a lot of baggage to unravel for us living in these times, especially coming from certain religious backgrounds. We are trained to believe there is a “right” way to do things and that if we do something different then that is “wrong” which means it’s a disaster and can cause great harm. But my experience of connecting with goddess energy is that She is a LOT more forgiving than that. She wants connection, She invites it. There is no one right way to go about it. Also, I’m so sorry for that happening to you as a child with the sacrament. That’s traumatising. I hope that you have been able to work through that and know that you have not sinned, you are beautiful and lovely and exactly what you are supposed to be
I've not really ever connected with a feminine deity/goddess/figure until now at the age of 36, for me I was always more drawn to the more masculine aspect. It's not something that I was ever shown when growing up, it's a path I've arrived at by myself. Lately the goddess aspect has been calling me, female deities, female power, the magic of women from history and myth of Wales specifically. My childhood was hard for a lot of the time, confusing, I was on the outside looking in. I've been interested in the occult/alternative/esoteric ever since I can remember. As a kid I would be fascinated by astrology, folklore, palm reading, ghosts and anything similar. I had some weird experiences as a kid with supernatural things, I used to sleepwalk all over my house & hear/see weird stuff a lot. Sunrise and sunset times always interested me even since childhood, writing has always been my thing & in my early twenties I was shown the divine magic of watching the seasons change and the shift in the energies. Now at 36 my path has become more clear, I'm definitely drawn to both goddess and god, I delight in seasonal magic even more so now that I can follow the welsh seasonal celebrations. My connection to my homeland land feels so strong. I wouldnt call myself a witch but I do definitely identify with the word witch.
I forgot to add that even now I feel a vulnerability/difficulty with stating "I am working with divine feminine/goddess" it feels very much something that I struggle to say, I'm not really sure why but I feel very sure and able to say God/King/masculine. I am definitely more called by the feminine lately and especially more so now that I can identify with female characters from welsh myth/literature. I am more prominently called by the water & the body of the water and have felt more able to say water is representative of the divine feminine with confidence, winter time for me is the domain of the winter king and it feels magical for me to imagine his icy cloak sweeping the land.
It sounds like you have always had a deep connection with divine energy, and I love that you are connecting more with Welsh myths and the female characters in these stories! I feel like it’s a byproduct of our culture that generally it is accepted to say we have a relationship with God, but taboo to have a relationship with Goddess. We are not supposed to recognise or accept the feminine face of the divine as it challenges the underlying structure of our patriarchal society.
Yes! Please tell more about this! Much of what you said resonated with me. I need more to help me wrap my head around this and to see where my current practice may already have some bits that I can grow in a more specific way to connect with the divine feminine. Thank you.
This was a lovely video to watch Jessica, thanks. Two thoughts popped into my head. Firstly, the divine masculine and divine feminine is very obviously binary. How do you think non-binary people would see themselves fitting into this view of divinity? And secondly, how do you reconcile the fact that all/most of the names we use for goddesses have evolved from patriarchal societies? Also, I laughed at your urge for an 'M' middle name since I have two, both beginning with M 😊.
This was wonderful! Thank you so so much ! Just to share - on BBC Select CZcams there is a “documentary” called Divine Women and it was very interesting if folks are looking to learn a bit about Goddesses in different cultures ( at least what scholars think they know) Just thought I’d mention as I’m always wanting to learn :) thanks so much for all you share!!
Hi Jessica, I hope this finds you well, thank you for this wonderful video , I was lucky to be born into the craft and been guided by my grandma and mum, hopefully my baby girls will follow and our boys show an interest already , so please continue making these so they can understand when they are older,( all under 5 at the moment) l find just being out in the fields seeing the wild flowers reappear and of course the trees coming into leaf brings me closer to my deity, sending warm blessings from the woods ❤😊
That is such a lovely family lineage which you have there! Beautiful! I feel the same about the observing and appreciating those changes in the world, that is Goddess worship
This is such a gorgeous video, thank you Jessica. I’ve definitely got a lot of internalised misogyny to work through because I still hold some resistance to fully investing myself in working with Goddess energy but the image of the swarm of bees or a murmuration of birds has really shifted something in me, thank you.
Hello Jessica I love your video It resonated with everything you said. This conversation meant a lot to me. I am a beginner and I would like to know How did you start your path? I saw signs and symbols which I then knew I was meant to be on this path. 😍💖🐝💐🌸I am still learning but I was wandering also Do you have any advice for me? 🦋🌠
Hi, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. It sounds like you are already observing the communication (signs and symbols) and that is a HUGE step along this path. Trusting in the truth of this kind of non-standard communication will take you where you are meant to go. Just lean into it
I was watching this and thinking about that Cancer interception again. I think that's why I wanted to join the group because I was hoping I could connect more to that divine feminine part of me. There are moments that I do and then moments I just feel zero connection.
What is it in the moments of connection that let you know that it is real/ happening? I think sometimes certain connective feelings are easier to notice and accept because they feel nice/ good whereas other connection moments can feel more challenging, like grief or struggle.
@@JessicaandtheMoon It's interesting that you say that because honestly I think I feel it MORE during times of grief. Like I rarely cry so when I do it's like I crack open a little and feel connected to the world.
Thank you for this great introduction! Both of your journey and of connecting to the divine feminine. I love the idea of a Goddess Venn Diagram... made out of bees. It's interesting to think about how one goddess' energy is represented across multiple cultures, but it isn't copy/paste. Much to think about! I also love where this video was going in terms of practical ways to connect. The benefits of book research, but permission to also move outside of that and into trusting our own experiences with the divine feminine. I would love a follow-up video (maybe a series?) about how it can look on a day-to-day basis. Or ideas of how to weave it into day to day basis. I remember hearing someone in your old circle talk about having a kitchen/hearth goddess and connecting to her as she cooks. So, ideas of how obvious some connections can be. But also, to your point in this video, how to build that relationship. The idea of just talking to a goddess seems foreign. Even when I was in the Catholic tradition, the idea of God wanting to hear from me and my petty problems just never sat right. As I type that, I'm realizing that's some important things to unpack, personally. Nevertheless, I can't imagine I'm the only one hesitating to open up and get personal with deities. Now off to review my notes from this video, journal, and pull cards for everything that came up. Thanks for the homework 😄✍
haha, you’re welcome for the homework Kate :D Organised religion has done a number on genuine connection with Other-than-humans. I think your point about feeling it unlikely that God would want to hear about or care about our petty human problems is such a good one. And I feel like it comes back to worth, and how we understand what being a human actually is/ means. I’m going to think about that some more and will plan to talk about it in another video. But my initial thought is that if we accept that we are part of the divine - we have that divine spark/ bee in us - then it makes sense that the rest of the divine is interested in our experiences and problems. I suppose this gets into the territory of why are we incarnating in material bodies at all! I have thoughts :D Thanks for the questions about practical ways. I planned to talk about that in this video but got caught up in some other things. I definitely want to come back to it, thank you for the encouragement
The timing of this is so perfect for me. Thank you, Jessica! Btw, I just started listening to the Home to Her podcast and can recommend it and her book highly. 😊
Thank you Nicole, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have that book on my tbr list but haven’t got to it yet, I do listen to the podcast but kind of sporadically so thanks for the reminder.
Good vid! I think it is what a person, what a woman feels connected to best. For ME, I never found the divine feminine nor found women that are based on that aspect really hmm welcoming to me. Women have always been very negative people to me and not trusting, and have been less emotional and caring. Many women from the society I grew up in use sexuality as a woman as a way to get advantages which I feel is not me at all. Now I have encounter horrible men, men that have done bad things to me that no one should experience, I had a bf that attempted to kill me, different relationship where I was raped and other bad things. So I know there are bad men! But that said even going threw those experiences and sharing, I have always had women NOT be kind to me. And my experience with goddess based paths, witches, pagans to be very distant to me due to I do not hate men. I grew up in the USA so I just speak of US experiences, although I have not lived, been in USA in ten years. But I respect that it is simply what you connect too! Connecting to goddess is something I am trying bring more into my life, magick practice, craft etc. Since living in Europe past ten years I have really been meeting some kind women and it is slow but I am learning to bring the goddess in my life more.
I am so sorry for those harrowing experiences you have suffered. That’s really awful. There are very few pagan paths which are antagonistic to men or require their followers to hate men (I actually can’t think of any but I am sure there are some somewhere). Connecting with goddess doesn’t mean disconnecting from, or hating on, people of any gender here on Earth. It is usually a very woman-positive path, but that does not mean it is anti-men. Those things are not mutually exclusive. I am glad you are meeting some kind people in more recent years and that things are shifting. That sounds like a healing path
@@JessicaandtheMoon Thank you for the kind words! Oh yes I totally agree there is no path I can think of that is about hating men! It is just like ALL religions out there, people will do things or change it etc in bad ways to do bad things. I think we all know that from history. I do respect that connecting more to the goddess, divine femme is a way for a woman to heal, or be more in touch with being a woman. I understand and respect that.
Found your video most interesting. I have been wanting to try out working with deity but am a bit scared as this is completely unknown territory for me. People also find me strange since a child and think I am way up in the clouds. I don't understand deity or working with them and would like to learn more. Apart from reading about them, how does one connect and form a practice and what would that practice entail or look like? Would love to hear more please.
thank you for this! I connect with Avalokitesvara - the goddess of compassion, as well as Mary Magdalene. I've never thought about connecting with the Goddess for my birth sign, Sagittarius, or my moon, Scorpio - are there goddesses connected to your specific birthdate or span of dates?
This is such a cool question. I went looking for some goddess calendars and found some fun results. I’ll post what I found on the members community tab as I think others will be interested to see too. For me, with the astrological connections, I approach it by traditional rulerships of those signs. So for your sun sign Sagittarius that would be Jupiter, and your Scorpio moon is ruled by Mars BUT these are both “male” planets which may not resonate. I tend to think about them more as bundled characteristics (like I was talking about in this video) so what we think of as Jupiter means a sovereign, expansive, jovial energy, this could align with a number of goddesses. Mars is more of a fiery, warrior energy, which aligns with more of a dark/ war goddess, especially as it’s Scorpio and not Aries. A goddess like The Morrigan would fit this description, for example. It’s obviously more layered and nuanced than that, as we have so much in our charts and in ourselves. Like you said, you already know the goddesses which connect with you ❤️
Hi Rowan, I am actually attempting to capture my connection with goddess in written form this year - though I'm not sure if it will turn into anything readable yet. The main thing is to trust yourself and to allow the possibility that connection is possible. I find for a lot of people that is really (really) hard in a world where believing in deity at all is seen as an immature kind of thinking, and if that deity is female then it's seen as even more absurd. But if you can get past that there are LOTS of signs which will help you know you are connected. I hope that helps
@@JessicaandtheMoon well I am someone who believes in the Fae and many people in this world would think that that is a crazy thing to believe in. I sometimes wonder though if me having PTSD and a survivor of extreme childhood trauma is interfering with my ability to develop my psychic gifts.
@@RowanBlake healing from trauma is hard and takes time ❤️🩹 I don’t think you need to be fully healed to connect with goddess (far from it actually) but having that baseline of safety really helps for the nervous system to settle and awareness can creep back in through the (necessary) defences ❤️
Thank you! Thinking about the "swarm" analogy is the first time I've ever been able to wrap my head around the concept of multiple goddesses as part of one feminine energy. ✨💜
Yay! I’m so glad you found it helpful
Thanks for this Jessica, I discovered witchcraft in the early 90’s too. I remember seeing an article in a magazine about a girl who was Wiccan and it really resonated to me. I used to bunk off school to go and read occult books in the library 😂 I dropped Wicca after a while though because it also reminded me of organised religion.
I’ve jumped in and out of traditional witchcraft ever since, trying to find something that feels like home. So I feel like a beginner still, even though I’m probably not! I’m enjoying learning about the goddesses though. Personally I’ve always worked with her as energy, never really putting a name on her other than Goddess. I really like your explanation though, especially being aligned with Goddesses who we are part of the swarm of 🐝
I think it’s always the way that we feel like we are beginners - and that’s a good thing. We know we are on a path and we can’t see the end ❤️ it keeps things interesting 😉
Jessica, I listened to this 3 times. Yes, please talk more about that connection with divine feminine energy.
When I was about 2-3 years old, I had an "imaginary friend" as my mom called her. I have never really known what to call her. She hasn't been a figment of my imagination. She has been with me since that time. Her energy has felt both a part of my soul, and something separate and much larger than I can grasp. So your analogy of the bee swarm was so perfect!!!
I was an only child. I had no middle name either. My father was violent, my mother had a mental illness that progressed throughout my life. He insisted I dress and act like a boy around him. After he left us, my mother continued his violence on me. She said I was evil, and I learned to never speak of the loving energy that seemed to comfort me when I needed it most.
Your thoughts that we have 3 souls. The "swarm of energies". I so can identify with that. But until now, I could not put into any words that feeling. As I've aged, she has become guidance, intuition, placed serendipitously many things in my path to direct me. Sometimes a guardian angel and 3 times taken me to a dimension that is not of our earthly ability. I have been given protection several times. That I could not explain in any way but divine intervention.
Yet.....until your video, I never associated her with Goddess Energies. But that lightbulb has been turned on, and I want more of all you are willing to share.
I’m so glad that you found this video spoke to you Charlee.
And thank you for sharing about your experiences growing up, that is so hard. I am glad that you had that other-than-human support with you - and that you were aware and able to recognise that (even with family saying it was imaginary, or feeling like you had to hide what you saw and felt). I love that you have had this close connection with your guide throughout your life, that’s really beautiful
"Sploosh of gnosis" may be my favorite new phrase.
Haha, you’re welcome ☺️❤️
This is really so helpful Jessica, thank you for sharing your knowledge and how Goddess is guiding you to do this work. I love that and can't think of a better person to do it. So much of this resonated with me. I definitely don't believe in using stereotypical fe/male role attributes only, and I feel like that is why the research is so important. Its so not just about the facts when figuring out how to "work with" a diety. I've always just been really curious about all the layers to consider, and layers within the layers - like some of the stories, when I reflect on them, more stuff comes up that adds to my understanding of that deity. That understanding then informs my work with Her (currently focused on Goddesses). My first experience with Goddess was with Mary. I prayed to Her often at Her shrine at my schools church before walking home. She was my Protectress and I often felt held by Her. I think the next one I met was Artemis - I loved how adventurous She seemed! I hadn't even got to the point of understanding that I could "work with" Them. They were female role models. And then, when I was quite a bit older, I read The Spiral Dance and that really opened up a whole new way of thinking about all of this.
Thanks for sharing that Carole ❤️ I love that Mary was a comfort and protection for you as a young child!
Beautiful
Such a beautiful video. ❤ I feel the Goddess calling as well. Wanting to be felt, seen & heard. Definitely make another video on this topic if you feel inspired. I think she is reaching out to many of us. 😊✨💕
Thank you, I will
Theses are my favorites of your videos-when you just talk about your experience, how you’ve come to view things, what you find useful in practice. Thank you for this (and you look especially fabulous today ). 💕
:) Thank you so much! I tend to think these kinds of videos are a bit random and rambly, so I really appreciate that feedback thank you
🌚🌛👑💖 I love videos on the Goddess or Goddesses. We need more of that. ☺ Its good to know that we are not alone. I too am into being align with nature's cycle, moon cycle, and reclaiming my Divine Feminine, etc. Its important. I once had a calendar that was 13 months, each month started on the new moon. It was a wonderful tool, I never felt more align. Unfortunately I couldn't found another one after that year.
I agree 100% that the Goddess - The Divine Feminine - is much needed. It rare to find information on the Goddesses that are not about facts and logical masculine mindset, so it defeats the purpose. I am talking about some authors on the subject. Starhawk was a rare good author on that topic.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences on that.
I am all for it! 💖
I’m glad you enjoyed the video Rose-Marie!
I’m sorry you couldn’t find that calendar again. The We’moon is structured in moonths, so that might be worth looking at. I love the woman-centred art and poetry in there
I’m glad you enjoyed the video Rose-Marie!
I’m sorry you couldn’t find that calendar again. The We’moon is structured in moonths, so that might be worth looking at. I love the woman-centred art and poetry in there
The comparison of goddess to a swarm of bees! Yes! That is a perfect analogy and it is how I see goddess as well. However you are far more eloquent than I could be. My Witch Mother is just one bee in a swarm of bees. I enjoyed listening to this video so much. I love how excited you sound when you talk about your relationship with goddess and what it means to you.
:) Thank you Trish! I get a bit evangelist about Her :D but, like you said, because it’s so important to me and has made a huge impact on my life. Thanks for watching and commenting
This is so fascinating! I was only interested in being a secular witch...until Brigid kept drawing me to her. To the point where I recently thought 'You've become important to me and are clearly trying to be part of my life!' And now that I've embraced that it feels so warm and welcoming. I'm very much looking forward to furthering my connection and working with her ☺️. (I'm enjoying bingeing your videos by the way!)
Haha, yes, once goddess gets hold of you it’s hard to maintain a secular position 😂💗 I’m so glad you’re enjoying that and leaning into it.
Thank you for the lovely comment 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing the swarm analogy. ❤ Blessed Be!
You are so welcome, blessings to you
So much lovely information. I especially love the idea of keeping a mystical path and not necessarily a factual one. It is a spiral dance. I feel during my long dance with the Divine Feminine she has taken on various names and personalities. But, as I look at my various statues or representations of Her that I have, most do not have faces or even specific shapes. She is too much .... she is that swarm, ever changing, but always there. Thank you as always, dear Jessica.
Thank you Clara
💙💙💙 Loved this chat so much! Thank you Jessica. The individual experience of deity is so unique but I really love your swarm of bees analogy, where every experience is a unique part of the functioning whole essence of that deity in the world. xx
Hi Thea! Thanks so much for your kind words. You're right, it is such a unique and personal experience, it can be hard to talk about. I love what you said "every experience is a unique part of the functioning whole essence of that deity" YES!
I loved your explanation. I’ve only just returned to my true connection to goddess energy. I too had no resources as a child and teen so I gave up looking. Thank Goddess you didn’t ❤ I love your wisdom and guidance 😊
Thank you so much! I love that you are remembering your own goddess connection
Based on my ancestral lineage I identify more with Orishas/Orixas. Your message still rang true. I think what it leads me to is to really simplify my practice and focus on the elements of nature.
Also when you said Divine Feminine was a strong pulling inward or magnetism, I immediately thought of black holes. They are so strong, powerful, time slows down.
Anyway, have an amazing day!
YES! I love that analogy with black holes. Dark matter in general is so divine feminine - and it makes up the vast majority of the universe
Hola! Beautiful video! So inspiring! Thank you so much! Please, please, please make more videos about Divine Feminine! We need it, the world need it! Abrazos from México!
Hola! Thank you for the encouragement
@@JessicaandtheMoon My dearest Jessica you are the one encouraging us! Many bendiciones from México!
I curtsy to the Divinity of a Guiding Star in the Clearing Mist my SisStar Jessica. The Maiden The Mother The Crone. I Celebrate Divine Feminine that We are; even as my Heart aches; for there are no sofas for a woman to rest, to restore …Work, Home, Lack of Childcare etc. etc. Jessica, dearest SisStar being a Woman is a Divine Wonder, we must continue this conversation.
May We Glow as We Grow Much Love 💕 Jul’Mar
@@JessicaandtheMoon ❤
I love this vlog. I can relate to you so much regarding finding your path. I am an older lady and have started exploring Wicca and the Divine Feminine. I completely agree with you about getting stuck on the masculine/feminine paradigm. As someone who has a trans partner I am so aware of this. I feel myself being drawn to the godddess more and more. My grandmother was Welsh and I feel drawn to Celtic mysticism. I need to find out more about Cerridwen. The moon also is something ive felt drawn to more and more recently. Thank you so much for your channel. Its so informative and inspiring.
Hi Lizzie, thank you for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed this video ❤️
I’ve made a few videos about working with the moon which you might find helpful.
I love how you explain this!
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you
You're welcome
Such a superficial comment but omg you’re hair looks fantastic! The color, the cut! You look so vibrant. I promise I did listen to the content and I did find it inspiring!
Haha, aww thank you so much
Thank you so much for this, had a light bulb moment, so much became clearer to me ❤️
❤️ that’s wonderful! Blessings to you 🙏🏻
Side note: I love your hair on this video, you look great!
Aww thank you!!
I guess I’ve always been afraid to work with deity’s. How do you select who to work with? What if it doesn’t work? You see what people say you should do for offerings and they say the … if you don’t, then … UGH. All that stuff!
I do resonate with the bees and the hive 😊 and I have had those sparks when reading about certain goddesses. THAT makes total sense. Whew, I feel relieved after listening to you.
I was also the weird child that was raised in a Catholic household. Not a strict one but certain exceptions were set and I also questioned priests and nuns and church elders and I’m sure I was exhausting to them as well. I lost my faith very early on because I was made to perform a sacrament I didn’t understand and because it was expected I did it but I lied to get through it. Which is a sin. SMH
Always playing in nature and in love with the moon was my religion. I guess I have rambled on … lol. I love your message and want to learn more. Thank you 💙🦋 Xxx
Edit - and the 3 souls thing. I am so curious because that feels right to me. 🐝
There is a lot of baggage to unravel for us living in these times, especially coming from certain religious backgrounds. We are trained to believe there is a “right” way to do things and that if we do something different then that is “wrong” which means it’s a disaster and can cause great harm. But my experience of connecting with goddess energy is that She is a LOT more forgiving than that. She wants connection, She invites it. There is no one right way to go about it.
Also, I’m so sorry for that happening to you as a child with the sacrament. That’s traumatising. I hope that you have been able to work through that and know that you have not sinned, you are beautiful and lovely and exactly what you are supposed to be
❤❤❤ love this video. 😊
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
I've not really ever connected with a feminine deity/goddess/figure until now at the age of 36, for me I was always more drawn to the more masculine aspect.
It's not something that I was ever shown when growing up, it's a path I've arrived at by myself.
Lately the goddess aspect has been calling me, female deities, female power, the magic of women from history and myth of Wales specifically.
My childhood was hard for a lot of the time, confusing, I was on the outside looking in.
I've been interested in the occult/alternative/esoteric ever since I can remember. As a kid I would be fascinated by astrology, folklore, palm reading, ghosts and anything similar.
I had some weird experiences as a kid with supernatural things, I used to sleepwalk all over my house & hear/see weird stuff a lot.
Sunrise and sunset times always interested me even since childhood, writing has always been my thing & in my early twenties I was shown the divine magic of watching the seasons change and the shift in the energies.
Now at 36 my path has become more clear, I'm definitely drawn to both goddess and god, I delight in seasonal magic even more so now that I can follow the welsh seasonal celebrations.
My connection to my homeland land feels so strong. I wouldnt call myself a witch but I do definitely identify with the word witch.
I forgot to add that even now I feel a vulnerability/difficulty with stating "I am working with divine feminine/goddess" it feels very much something that I struggle to say, I'm not really sure why but I feel very sure and able to say God/King/masculine.
I am definitely more called by the feminine lately and especially more so now that I can identify with female characters from welsh myth/literature. I am more prominently called by the water & the body of the water and have felt more able to say water is representative of the divine feminine with confidence, winter time for me is the domain of the winter king and it feels magical for me to imagine his icy cloak sweeping the land.
It sounds like you have always had a deep connection with divine energy, and I love that you are connecting more with Welsh myths and the female characters in these stories!
I feel like it’s a byproduct of our culture that generally it is accepted to say we have a relationship with God, but taboo to have a relationship with Goddess. We are not supposed to recognise or accept the feminine face of the divine as it challenges the underlying structure of our patriarchal society.
Yes! Please tell more about this! Much of what you said resonated with me. I need more to help me wrap my head around this and to see where my current practice may already have some bits that I can grow in a more specific way to connect with the divine feminine. Thank you.
Thank you! I will come back to this
This was a lovely video to watch Jessica, thanks. Two thoughts popped into my head. Firstly, the divine masculine and divine feminine is very obviously binary. How do you think non-binary people would see themselves fitting into this view of divinity? And secondly, how do you reconcile the fact that all/most of the names we use for goddesses have evolved from patriarchal societies? Also, I laughed at your urge for an 'M' middle name since I have two, both beginning with M 😊.
haha, yes, I remember your middle names from red tent - I'm very envious :D
This was wonderful! Thank you so so much ! Just to share - on BBC Select CZcams there is a “documentary” called Divine Women and it was very interesting if folks are looking to learn a bit about Goddesses in different cultures ( at least what scholars think they know) Just thought I’d mention as I’m always wanting to learn :) thanks so much for all you share!!
Thanks for sharing! I will check that out ❤️
Hi Jessica, I hope this finds you well, thank you for this wonderful video , I was lucky to be born into the craft and been guided by my grandma and mum, hopefully my baby girls will follow and our boys show an interest already , so please continue making these so they can understand when they are older,( all under 5 at the moment) l find just being out in the fields seeing the wild flowers reappear and of course the trees coming into leaf brings me closer to my deity, sending warm blessings from the woods ❤😊
That is such a lovely family lineage which you have there! Beautiful! I feel the same about the observing and appreciating those changes in the world, that is Goddess worship
This is such a gorgeous video, thank you Jessica. I’ve definitely got a lot of internalised misogyny to work through because I still hold some resistance to fully investing myself in working with Goddess energy but the image of the swarm of bees or a murmuration of birds has really shifted something in me, thank you.
I’m so glad that this was helpful. Internalised misogyny is real :(
Hello Jessica I love your video It resonated with everything you said. This conversation meant a lot to me. I am a beginner and I would like to know How did you start your path? I saw signs and symbols which I then knew I was meant to be on this path. 😍💖🐝💐🌸I am still learning but I was wandering also Do you have any advice for me? 🦋🌠
Hi, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
It sounds like you are already observing the communication (signs and symbols) and that is a HUGE step along this path. Trusting in the truth of this kind of non-standard communication will take you where you are meant to go. Just lean into it
@@JessicaandtheMoon Thank you so much Jessica for getting back to me and I really appreciate your guidance. 🤗🥰🦋🐝💐🌸
I was watching this and thinking about that Cancer interception again. I think that's why I wanted to join the group because I was hoping I could connect more to that divine feminine part of me. There are moments that I do and then moments I just feel zero connection.
What is it in the moments of connection that let you know that it is real/ happening? I think sometimes certain connective feelings are easier to notice and accept because they feel nice/ good whereas other connection moments can feel more challenging, like grief or struggle.
@@JessicaandtheMoon It's interesting that you say that because honestly I think I feel it MORE during times of grief. Like I rarely cry so when I do it's like I crack open a little and feel connected to the world.
This was so wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!
You’re welcome ☺️
Thank you for this great introduction! Both of your journey and of connecting to the divine feminine. I love the idea of a Goddess Venn Diagram... made out of bees. It's interesting to think about how one goddess' energy is represented across multiple cultures, but it isn't copy/paste. Much to think about!
I also love where this video was going in terms of practical ways to connect. The benefits of book research, but permission to also move outside of that and into trusting our own experiences with the divine feminine. I would love a follow-up video (maybe a series?) about how it can look on a day-to-day basis. Or ideas of how to weave it into day to day basis. I remember hearing someone in your old circle talk about having a kitchen/hearth goddess and connecting to her as she cooks. So, ideas of how obvious some connections can be. But also, to your point in this video, how to build that relationship. The idea of just talking to a goddess seems foreign. Even when I was in the Catholic tradition, the idea of God wanting to hear from me and my petty problems just never sat right. As I type that, I'm realizing that's some important things to unpack, personally. Nevertheless, I can't imagine I'm the only one hesitating to open up and get personal with deities.
Now off to review my notes from this video, journal, and pull cards for everything that came up. Thanks for the homework
😄✍
haha, you’re welcome for the homework Kate :D
Organised religion has done a number on genuine connection with Other-than-humans.
I think your point about feeling it unlikely that God would want to hear about or care about our petty human problems is such a good one. And I feel like it comes back to worth, and how we understand what being a human actually is/ means. I’m going to think about that some more and will plan to talk about it in another video. But my initial thought is that if we accept that we are part of the divine - we have that divine spark/ bee in us - then it makes sense that the rest of the divine is interested in our experiences and problems. I suppose this gets into the territory of why are we incarnating in material bodies at all! I have thoughts :D
Thanks for the questions about practical ways. I planned to talk about that in this video but got caught up in some other things. I definitely want to come back to it, thank you for the encouragement
The timing of this is so perfect for me. Thank you, Jessica! Btw, I just started listening to the Home to Her podcast and can recommend it and her book highly. 😊
Thank you Nicole, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I have that book on my tbr list but haven’t got to it yet, I do listen to the podcast but kind of sporadically so thanks for the reminder.
Good vid!
I think it is what a person, what a woman feels connected to best. For ME, I never found the divine feminine nor found women that are based on that aspect really hmm welcoming to me. Women have always been very negative people to me and not trusting, and have been less emotional and caring. Many women from the society I grew up in use sexuality as a woman as a way to get advantages which I feel is not me at all. Now I have encounter horrible men, men that have done bad things to me that no one should experience, I had a bf that attempted to kill me, different relationship where I was raped and other bad things. So I know there are bad men! But that said even going threw those experiences and sharing, I have always had women NOT be kind to me. And my experience with goddess based paths, witches, pagans to be very distant to me due to I do not hate men.
I grew up in the USA so I just speak of US experiences, although I have not lived, been in USA in ten years.
But I respect that it is simply what you connect too! Connecting to goddess is something I am trying bring more into my life, magick practice, craft etc. Since living in Europe past ten years I have really been meeting some kind women and it is slow but I am learning to bring the goddess in my life more.
I am so sorry for those harrowing experiences you have suffered. That’s really awful.
There are very few pagan paths which are antagonistic to men or require their followers to hate men (I actually can’t think of any but I am sure there are some somewhere). Connecting with goddess doesn’t mean disconnecting from, or hating on, people of any gender here on Earth. It is usually a very woman-positive path, but that does not mean it is anti-men. Those things are not mutually exclusive.
I am glad you are meeting some kind people in more recent years and that things are shifting. That sounds like a healing path
@@JessicaandtheMoon Thank you for the kind words!
Oh yes I totally agree there is no path I can think of that is about hating men! It is just like ALL religions out there, people will do things or change it etc in bad ways to do bad things. I think we all know that from history.
I do respect that connecting more to the goddess, divine femme is a way for a woman to heal, or be more in touch with being a woman. I understand and respect that.
Found your video most interesting. I have been wanting to try out working with deity but am a bit scared as this is completely unknown territory for me. People also find me strange since a child and think I am way up in the clouds. I don't understand deity or working with them and would like to learn more. Apart from reading about them, how does one connect and form a practice and what would that practice entail or look like? Would love to hear more please.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video
Thank you I would love that. Looking forward to your posts.
thank you for this! I connect with Avalokitesvara - the goddess of compassion, as well as Mary Magdalene. I've never thought about connecting with the Goddess for my birth sign, Sagittarius, or my moon, Scorpio - are there goddesses connected to your specific birthdate or span of dates?
This is such a cool question. I went looking for some goddess calendars and found some fun results. I’ll post what I found on the members community tab as I think others will be interested to see too.
For me, with the astrological connections, I approach it by traditional rulerships of those signs. So for your sun sign Sagittarius that would be Jupiter, and your Scorpio moon is ruled by Mars BUT these are both “male” planets which may not resonate. I tend to think about them more as bundled characteristics (like I was talking about in this video) so what we think of as Jupiter means a sovereign, expansive, jovial energy, this could align with a number of goddesses.
Mars is more of a fiery, warrior energy, which aligns with more of a dark/ war goddess, especially as it’s Scorpio and not Aries. A goddess like The Morrigan would fit this description, for example.
It’s obviously more layered and nuanced than that, as we have so much in our charts and in ourselves.
Like you said, you already know the goddesses which connect with you ❤️
maybe you could write an ebook? I really want to learn this but I am struggling with my understanding.
Hi Rowan, I am actually attempting to capture my connection with goddess in written form this year - though I'm not sure if it will turn into anything readable yet.
The main thing is to trust yourself and to allow the possibility that connection is possible. I find for a lot of people that is really (really) hard in a world where believing in deity at all is seen as an immature kind of thinking, and if that deity is female then it's seen as even more absurd. But if you can get past that there are LOTS of signs which will help you know you are connected.
I hope that helps
@@JessicaandtheMoon well I am someone who believes in the Fae and many people in this world would think that that is a crazy thing to believe in. I sometimes wonder though if me having PTSD and a survivor of extreme childhood trauma is interfering with my ability to develop my psychic gifts.
@@RowanBlake healing from trauma is hard and takes time ❤️🩹 I don’t think you need to be fully healed to connect with goddess (far from it actually) but having that baseline of safety really helps for the nervous system to settle and awareness can creep back in through the (necessary) defences ❤️
As a feminine goddess, you are meant to worship yourself, not a deity
Ha, well there’s that as well. I see the divine feminine as also being something outside of myself.