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!!

Horse Exhibit

See the Field Museum horse exhibit.

Pegasus Star Charts and Thoughts

Michael Starsheen has added information to his blog that may help you prepare for The Winged Pegasus.


Read The Winged Pegasus, Sky Charts.

Horses & Feng Shui

Here is an article about the Chinese zodiac horse and the feng shui of horse images.  It mentions Pegasus in passing, also.

Chimaera

The Chimaera is a calendrical beast, representing the three seasons of planting, war, and harvest/rest, or the signs Leo (lion), Hydra or Serpens (serpent) & Capricorn(goat).  Some think the Chimaera is a political allegory beast, but the calendrical theory is more prevalent.

Medusa

Medusa is African - she is the power in the west of the Mediterranean as Poseidon is in the east.

The sea god's name on the African side of the Mediterranean is Yamm in Libya and Egypt.

Medusa is wisdom, holiness, love, passion, nobility, pride, beauty; power, independence, defiance, strength of will,
clash with authority, rage, punishment, disfigurement, anger, depression, vengeance, hypnosis (hip gnosis),
 secrecy, mystery.  She is a fertile Earth goddess of both surface world and Underworld, a protective mother to humans
and animals alike, hostile to thieves and invaders.  Medusa is part of a close and loyal sisterhood of family and priestesses;
she can also be connected to islands close to the coast (earth held in the embrace of the sea god).  Masks were likely used for Gorgonic rites.  Medusa remained an apotropaic symbol of protection and repulsing evil for centuries throughout the
Mediterranean world.  Her gaze and grinning boar tusked face decorated many temples and city walls.

Her father was Phorcys (another sea god, maybe a seal god) and her mother was Keto, as in Phoenician Der-keto.
 (Cetus is the sea monster or whale in the same quadrant of the sky that Pegasus and Andromeda are in.)  The Gorgon
sisters had 'monstrous' primeval siblings, too.  They include the Echidna, Ladon, Scylla, and the Graeae, another triplicity
of oracular sisters, among others.  Here is the Theoi website link: http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Phorkys.html

from the writings of Alcman, Fragment 1 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C7th B.C.) :
"Let no man . . . attempt to marry . . . a daughter of Phorkos."

Pegasus

Pihassos is a Hittite thunder/lightning god or spirit.

Pegasus was on the official coins of Corinth, too.  His adventures take place mostly in Anatolia.

Poseidon

Po-seidon (Ruler or Power of Sidon) is a pan-Mediterranean sea god, from East to West. 


Here is the link to the sea deity page:     http://www.theoi.com/greek-mythology/sea-gods.html

Poseidon is not merely emotion, he is a source of life giving fresh water, fertilizer of the Earth (Medusa, Demeter,
Athene, Aphrodite, etc.), the Earthshaker who brings earthquakes, etc., the god of storms (his horse son Pihassos/Pegasus
carries lightning for Zeus, too), tsunamis, hurricanes, and drought; the giver of good fishing, seaweeds, and trading 'luck', bounty,
abundance; wine, oils, pearls, coral, shells, sea amber, ambergris, purple & rose dyes from the sea snails of Phoenicia;
the god of sailors, shipping, harbors, horses, horsemen, and horse culture,  a god of action and adventure.

Poseidon is a god of political power, chiefs, admirals, and kings.   Armies with cavalry and navies were counted among
his followers.  He is the god of the sea and the earth, a god of action and passion, one who demands respect and
remembrance, as his punishment of Odysseus showed us.  Poseidon also allied himself with Hera against Zeus, in both
the rebellion of Olympos (by binding Zeus) and with the Greeks in the Trojan War.

Poseidon energy is forthright and open about needs, wants, desires, and necessity.  Poseidon can be courteous or brutal.
The mysterious part of planet Neptune in astrology draws upon the mythic powers or energies of shape-shifter water gods, like Thetis, Proteus and Nereus (acting, deception, conflict, struggle, and 'distorting' or 'shaping' the truth); while the emotion, passion, storminess, sailors, ships, fish and sea-related things, and horsiness are Poseidon.

Planet Neptune's assignment of 'dreams & visions' also includes the mythic/mystic aspects of Hypnos and Somnolos,
healing of Asklepios (via dream incubation), the music and hypnotic sway of Orpheus, dancing of the Muses, while the
intoxicating energy of planet Neptune is Dionysian.  Neptune is quite a collective of deity energies!

Belleron

Bellerophon is a name related to Bel, or Ba'al, a thunder god of the Levant and Mesopotamia.  

He was from Corinth, a goddess stronghold in the classical days.   It's interesting to note that one meaning
of his name means 'slayer of Bellarus", and the sphere of Bellerophon's adventures is not far from the place we now call
Belarus (bel = 'shining, good, fair, light, white' - White Russia).  His 'proper' name is Hipponous - "he knows horses" or
"horse knowledge".   He is also called Bellerophontes. 

 Let us contemplate this:  A young hero (hero is related to Hera) with a theophoric name from a thunder god (Bel or Ba'al),
mounts a winged horse of Heavenly Light who used to be a spirit of thunder and lightning, and the hero shoots his
arrows down at the Chimaera, imitating lightning, to slay it.

A Pegasus Meditation

This contemplation of the meanings and qualities of Pegasus is interesting, though it meansers a bit.

Scheat

In case you were wondering, Scheat is pronounced SHEE-at.

Here is information about the astrological influences of the star Scheat.

Pegopedia

Visit Rich's Pegopedia for a comprehensive list of keywords, archetypes, and concepts associated with Pegasus. 

This is an awesome resource!

The article about Pegasus Syndrome is here as well.  I want to express my gratitude to its author, but since the article appears all over the internet, I am not sure of its origin.

Pegasus Syndrome

Here is a wonderful insight to contemplate about the meaning of the constellation Pegasus:

"The Pegasus Syndrome, as exemplified in the legends of Perseus and Bellerophon, is concerned with the innate ability possessed by some people to negotiate difficulties by rising above them, on the one hand, and the danger of overreaching themselves, on the other.

Pegasus, by birth, is the child of Medusa and Neptune, symbols of 'wisdom' and 'emotion,' respectively, which shows the dichotomy of his nature.

As in the story, Bellerophon attempted to fly to Olympus (overreach his potential). He believed that Pegasus was subject to his will. However, it was Pegasus who made it to Olympus, while Bellerophon was tossed back to earth, lame and reproached by others.

It is unwise to take any situation for granted as the 'lesser' person (or, in this case, beast) may be the very one to teach us the much needed lesson in humility.

Pegasus is also indicative of a specific mission in life which the inquirer will always find the time and energy to pursue, although the path may be sewn with difficulties (the Chimaera) and limitations (Bellerophon's doubt or arrogance). So, the Pegasus Syndrome is the seeming ability to "fly over any situation," though the reverse may be a lesson in humility, being "taken down a peg," as it were."

[thank you to Constellations of Words.]

Markab

Markab is a major star in the constellation of Pegasus.

It can influence the waters and the mind  in a violent way, or a way that interfers with good judgment.