The Nine Muses by Angeles Arrien

I came across a wonderful book for people who want to continue working with the theme of creativity of this year's FOI Goddess Festival main liturgy, The Winged Pegasus. It is called The Nine Muses by Angeles Arrien.

The book examines each Muse in depth.  Additional chapters explore the derivation of the word "Muse;" Mnemosyne, Mother of the Muses; and the purpose of myth as bridge between community and Mystery.

in the preface, Angeles asks 4 deep questions regarding our society and how our mental tools, collective consciousness, healthy expressions of the frminine principle, and creating a world that works for everyone, are related to our creative abilities.

Each chapter is devoted to a particular Muse. Chapters include images of that Muse, practical exercises such as writing an invocation intended to activate and make accessible her power and presence in our lives, and thoughtful reflections that include intensely pertinent literary expressions intended to awaken deep inner responses. Famous people who embody the power of specific Muses provide examples of that Muse's energy in action.

For example, the chapter about Mnemosyne explores the place of memory in our lives, along with ways to expand its power and purpose. The chapter on Calliope includes contact information for story-telling associations. The chapter on Clio touches on personal, family, and oral history. The chapter on Erato introduces collections of love poetry from other cultures. The excellent chapter on Melpomene not only explores sorrow and suffering, but offers thoughts on release and forgiveness as well.

I recommend this book as a useful way to get to know The Muses, to invite creativity into your life, and as a productive follow-up to the wonderful ritual by Lady Olivia Robertson, The Winged Pegasus.

MNEMOSYNE

Mnemosyne is the Mother of the Muses, as well as the River of Remembrance in the Underworld over which she presides.

Even though the Muses are not mentioned in The Winged Pegasus, they are still integral to to the process of being brought to know that which lies deep within ourselves.  The arts help us to do so with compassion.  Here is an excellent overview of Memory and The Muses by The Mnemosyne Foundation, in which Memory is understood in the broadest sense as something that includes  all our previous lifetimes, our evolutionary trail, and the chimaeras within our DNA.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Here is a pronunciation guide for names and words in The Winged Pegasus, courtesy of Demetria:

Pronouncing Guide to The Winged Pegasus, Ray One , FOI Liturgy - Psyche 8

Al Janah, “the Wing” – Al Zhah-nah – a star on the wing of constellation Pegasus.  It is really the star Algenib (Al- Geh-neeb).  Al Janah is on the wing of Corvus.
Andromeda – An-DROH-mee-dah, or An-DRAH-mah-dah
Arion – Air-EE-onn, Ah-RHEE-on
Atalanta – At-ah-LAHN-tuh, or At-uh-LAHN-tah
Atlantis – At-LAN-tiss
Atlas - Et-less, or At-luss, or At-lahss
Bellerophon – Bell-ERR-Oh-phon, or Bel-LAIR-oh-phon
Bhadra-pada – Bha-Dra   Pah-dah, or Bah DRAH - Pah Dah
Capricornus – Kap-ree-Korn-uss
Cetus – Kee-tuus, Kee-toes, or Kee-tuhs
Chimaera – Kee-MARE-uh, Khee-MAY-ruh - Chee-mare-uh and Shim-ur-uh are not ‘right’ but have
        somehow become acceptable for Americans.
Cleito – Klay-EE-toe
Coatlicue – Kwaht-Lee-kway 
Dana – Dah Nah – (can also be Danu - DA Noo)
Delphinus – Del-FEE-nuss, Del-FEE-noos, or Del-FIN-uss
Eire - AIR ruh, AIR-reh – (can also be Eriu – AY-roo, EH-roo)
Equuleus – E-KWU-OO-lee-us 
Eridanus – Eh-ree-Dan-uss, or Er –ree-Daa-nos
 Failias – Feel-ee-ash, Fah-ill-ee-ahsh - the Galactic Stone of Destiny.
Finias, Findias –Fin-eesh, Fin-ee-ahsh - the Spear of Destiny
Ganymede – Gann-ah-Mee-dee, Gan-ee-Mee-dee, or Gan-uh-Mee-dees
Gorias – Goh-reesh, Go-ree-ahsh - the Sword of Light.
Hebe – Hee-Bee
Hy Brasil –  Iy Bresail, Ui Breasil –  hWee Bresh-ell,  hWee-Breh-Shall.
Kalki – KAAL – kee, or KUHL-key
Lir - Lear
Magonia – Muh-goh-nee-ah, or Mah-goh-nee-ya
Manannan - MaNa - Nan , Mahnah – Nan (1st 2 syllables are said fast together)
Mari – MARR-ee, or MAW-ree
Medusa – Meh-DOOH-sah, May-DOOS –sah or Med-OOH-suh
Murias  . Meer-eesh, Muh-ree-ahsh  - the Cauldron of Plenty. 
Odin – OH-dinn
Pegassids – Peg-AH-seeds, or PEG-uh-sidds
Pegasus  - Peh-GAHSS-ohs, Pe-GAH-suuss - Peg-uh-siss is acceptable.
Perseus – Pair-See-uss, Pear-Say-oos, or Pur-see-us
Pisces – Pess-kees, Pee-skees, or Pis-keys
Pisces Australis – Pess-kees Aw-stray-liss, or Pis-kees Aw-strah-liss
Poseidon – Po-SIGH-dunn is popular.  Po-SEED-ohnn is acceptable.
Pouka – Pooh-kuh, or Pooh-kah
Purva – Pur-wah
Quetzal- coatl – Ketz-ahl-Kwott-l, Ketz-el-Koh-aht-lee
Quetzal-petlatl – Ke-tzahl-Pet-laht-l, Ke-tzel-Pet-laht-l 
Rhiannon – Rhee-ANN-unn, or Ry-ANN-ann
Scheat  - Shee-aht, Shee-att – star that is beta Pegasus.
Sleipnir – SLEEP-near (Norse), SLIP-nirr (Icelandic)
Tuatha de Danaan - TOO 'ha dA Dah n'n , TOO ‘ha dAy DAH n’n
Uttara – Oot-tara
Xolotl –Show-loat-l,  Shoh-ahl
Zedechias – Zed-eh-KY-uss

Compilation by Demetria Nanos, ©2011.  Any errors are unintentional and are mine.

Perseid Meteor Showers

The Greek hero Perseus had a mythic connection with Pegasus.


May you have clear skies for viewing the Perseid meteor shower, which is underway, and usually peaks on the night of August 12-13.  The best time to look is during the hours before dawn on Saturday morning, August 13th, when the glaring Moon is relatively low and meteor rates are highest.  Full coverage is at Space Weather.

Pegasus-Themed Activities in Chicago

If you are coming to Chicago for the Annual FOI Goddess Festival, you may enjoy the following:

We have a wonderful Greek restaurant in Greektown here called The Pegasus.  They have excellent food and drinks, with indoor dining or if you prefer, al fresco on the veranda roof deck.  Pegasus is a nice destination to visit when you come to Chicago.

There is also the Pegasus Players Theatre!
 
Medusa's - the dance/nightclub has moved out to Elgin, Ill. It is still supposed to be a wild time!

The closest we have to a Neptune or Poseidon location is the John G. Shedd Aquarium, located at our beautiful museum campus on the south end of downtown at the lakefront.  You can also visit the
"Whales of the Deep" exhibit at the nearby Field Museum of Natural History before or after.  The museums are about 1 block apart from each other.

Arlington Park Race Track

Many horses can be seen at Arlington Park Race Track.

Buck (The Film)

Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” 

BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Buck  Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse-whisperer”, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment.

See this movie!!