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Whether my mother knew it or not, she inspired me to become a witch, just like her. Inspiration originally meant “to breathe life into, to animate” and with a breath of magic I was brought into the world. My mother’s mother definitely wasn’t a witch. She was a sad, loving, Norwegian woman who was unhappily married to my domineering, Germanic Grandfather. I think my mother was determined to be different than her mother. She married my father almost straight out of
I don’t even remember learning about what being a witch technically meant, because I was already learning how to be one in my mothers womb. I DO remember though when I was about nine years old, my mother teaching me about the goddess Lilith, Adams first wife before Eve came into the picture. Lilith refused to be Adam’s inferior and wanted to teach Adam a few different ways to explore the pleasure of the flesh. Because of her “willfulness” she was banished out of Eden by the Hebrew god, Yaweh, and was branded as a creature of the night to taunt men in their dreams as a succubus. Please! Like that’s something to be ashamed of. I think my mother wanted me to learn about Lilith because I was attending Sunday school at a Jewish temple where Lilith was not exactly being heralded as Adam’s better half. Lilith became my first inspiration and initiated me as a child of the darkness.
Unhappy married to my father, my mother would take refuge in a ”coven” of women writers where they wrote about witchcraft and magic. One of my mom’s closest friends, Jean Brody, wrote a book called “A Coven of Women” and based one of the main characters on my mother. Poems and stories flew out of my mother’s fingers with a frenzy and I envied her talent until I realized that she passed down the ”imagination” gene to me. Halloween/Samhain was always a big deal in our house. Before my parents divorced we celebrated it like every “normal” family did, with the decorating and
It was in October over fifteen years ago right before my birthday when she told me she had a malignant form of Cancer. It feels like yesterday as I write this. My birthdays were always celebrated lavishly by my mother who gave me such wonderful and unique presents wrapped in paper made for an exotic princess. That year, I could feel her sadness, because we both knew it was the last birthday of mine we would celebrate together. She presented me with a small, black velvet box. Inside, was an authentic ancient Greek coin with the goddess Athena on one side and the Pegasus on the other. She wryly told me, that I needed some of Athena’s wisdom and sense because I was too much like Aphrodite with my love of sensuality and beauty. Before she slipped her body and left for the Summerland, she told me that she would always appear as an owl to watch over and protect me. Interestingly enough, owls are both the creatures of Lilith and Athena. And sure enough, owls have surrounded me where ever I live reminding me of the love my mother had for me.
Today is my birthday (Oct. 13) and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor my mother than by writing this tribute inspired by her love.
I want to thank Willow for hosting this wonderful blog which honors and celebrates all of our muses.
I have gathered together a few treats which I hope will inspire and delight.
The winner will receive; a little Halloween tin packed with sweets, two witchy
Entry Rules
1) Leave a comment telling me what gift your mother has inspired you with and please leave a way to contact you.
Extra Entries:
1) Blog about this post and please leave a link to your post.
2) Tweet about it.
Please leave separate comments if you blog about this or use twitter.
The winner will be announced here a week from now on, October 20th.
Your last chance to enter will end on October 20, 11:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.
© 2010, Wendy S.. All rights reserved.
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Hi
It was my grandmother who inspired me. They often say you choose your parents for a reason – I think it was for my grandmother. She taught me much – ever so gently knowing it wouldn’t be accepted. I wish I could ask her soo much now.
Wishing you a very happy birthday!!!
Love Leanne
Leanne NZ recently posted..Tuesday 12th october
Oh Wendy… It was beautiful! You almost had me in tears. One of my inspirations was my grandma who died of Cancer this past May. The other inspiration is of course my mother. She bought my first magick book for me, and she’s always supported me and learned with me. I know I’m the one hosting the party, but can I enter your giveaway as well? I absolutely love it!
Willow Silverhorse recently posted..Inspiring Witches Halloween Blog Party
What a beautiful story. And happy birthday!
My mother gifted me with good cooking and some magic – sensing dead people, hearing things and the usual stuff. It runs very strong in her family, one of her family even made a living with “spiritual sessions”. It helps with being a witch, but I don’t think of them going together necessarily (two of my sisters aren’t witches, and the “gift” drives them mad sometimes).
Diandra recently posted..One of THOSE days
wow, your post was enthralling. I have the same closeness with my mother. She is very intuitive and a magical gardener. Plants seem to thrive around her. I am picking this up from her she means so much to me and its great cause she lives 3 doors away.
hugs Sara
Happy, happy birthday, Wendy! Your Mom sounds like a woman ahead of her time. Clearly she adored you with all her heart and I know that today especially she is watching over you.
My Mom inspired me by teaching me perseverance, which is so necessary in order to reach goals.
Debra She Who Seeks recently posted..Happy Thanksgiving
My mother has inspired me to act nothing like her!
What a wonderful, heartwarming, inspiring, teary-eyed post. My mom has inspired me in so many ways, but I think the greatest gift she ever gave me was to tell me to be myself and to honour myself. My mom gave me a beautiful string of bells, they sound like faeries or another world when you ring them. The always remind me of her and I together and of the power of joy and of being unique. She taught me that being different is good and healthy and it didnt matter what she loved me.
Happy Birthday.
Faerie Sage recently posted..Inspiring Witches- Halloween Blog
I don’t know what to say first Happy Birthday or what a heart moving post!
Your mum sounds like an exceptional woman and it’s quite clear from getting to know you that you’ve inherited wonderful gifts from her. She must be very proud.
I think I got the gift of patience from my own mother. Definitely nothing magickal or witchy – I have no idea where I get my witchyness (is that a word? lol) from.
Happy Birthday Wendy!!
Lyn recently posted..Happy Halloween – Day 13
I wanted to check in on you and see if you were okay…I’ve missed your comments on the memes. This was a lovely tribute to your mother. I’m always jealous of mother/daughter relationships that are close. My mom and I have never been close and probably never will be. Thankfully, I had my grandmother (who often refered to me as her daughter) to teach me everything she knew about nature and life…things she didn’t teach her own daughters.
Happy Birthday!
Ace recently posted..Wednesday Wickedness – Is My Underwear Showing
Wendy! Happy Birthday friend!! That was such a gorgeous moving post! that is awesome what your mom taught you and gave you!! My mom has given me the ability to be empathic towards others!
My witchyness came from my gam, and she never even knew it!
hope you have a fantastical (yes it’s a word) magickal day and a great day remembering!
First of all…. Happy , Happy Birthday! Secondly… I love your blogsite! Your post is lovely and heartwarming… such a wonderful mother you had. My Mom, though very different than your own, gave me the gift of practicality. She taught me to do what I can when I can…and to move on if there isn’t anything I can do …. without regret. Thanks for sharing your lovely blog!
Oh, I almost forgot…here is my blog post about your blogpost…lol.
http://sipsfromthefirehydrant.blogspot.com/2010/10/as-blogged-earlier-i-am-participating.html
DUH….lol.
What a lucky day for me to come by. I am blown away that you have me listed as one of your favorite blogs. What an honor! I am so happy that I came by on your birthday! Happy Birthday. Your mother sounds like such a beautiful person. My mother has a gift for facing things head on and standing her ground. I try to be a little more like that each day.
What a heart touching and poignant post. Your mother most certainly passed down her gift of words along with her witchy nature to you. Happy Birthday to you, I just know your mom is watching over you.
My mom was not a witch, but bestowed upon me the gifts of never giving up. She spent many years unhappily married to my father but divorced, married the man she loved growing up, went to and graduated college and beat the cancer demons a few times all in the span of a few years. She’s taught me that even when things seem bleak, you need to keep fighting.
Danni Suplicki recently posted..On the Eleventh day of Halloween
Wishing you a very happy Birthday surrounded by loved ones. I loved reading your blog. It seems there is much for me to read upon here. I love what you’ve done.
I will have to give it some thought as far as what my mother inspired me with.. and get back to you.
When is the deadline?
That is a most wonderful post. You are so lucky to have had your mother in your life. I too dubbed my mother the most inspirational “witch”, but my story is a bit different. You can see it here
http://deepestwell.blogspot.com/2010/10/inspiring-witches.html
Aine recently posted..Inspiring Witches
What a wonderful post… A very blessed birthday to you. I hope it was a wonderful day filled with wonder and delight.
What wisdom my mother gave to me. umm interesting one. I would have to say that the gift I feel my mother gave to me would be the gift of persistence. The ideal that if there is something you want you will stick to it until you have accomplished your goal.
A lovely heartwarming post. I’m glad your mother became free to become the women she wanted and left you such a lovely legacy and memories, thank you for sharing that story.
My mum is also the most important person in my life, sadly I lost her 5 years ago but she left me with a treasure trove of memories and the knowledge that I should always be true to myself and follow my own instincts, the courage to be myself.
Leanne, having a special grandmother is one of the most wonderful magickal gifts I think one can have. I think sometimes it’s easier to be closer to one’s grandmother than it is our own mother, because they don’t have to restrict us as our mother’s do.
Willow, I’m sorry to hear of your loss with your grandmother. That must have been very painful and it sounds like your mother was a witch and passed her magick down onto her daughter. And of course, darling you can enter the giveaway : )
Diandra, I hope you blog about your family and the “spiritual” gifts that you inherited. I read this book about a family of spiritual mediums where the mother had three daughters and they all had the gift but one of them, didn’t want to use it because of fear but she ended up being the most gifted. What a family it sounds like you have!
Sara, my mother had a green thumb too, but I definitely didn’t inherit that! Being a Green witch is a real blessing.
Debra, one of I think the greatest gifts that we women seem to have the corner on, is perseverance. My mother was wonderful in many ways, but not the steadiest or more logical so I still struggle in some areas with that one. From your blog posts I see this wonderful strength you have.
Eve, I totally understand what you mean. As much as I admired my mother magically, emotionally we had a horrible relationship which has taught me how I don’t want to parent. Sometimes, “inspiration” comes in strange packages, doesn’t it?
Faerie Sage, it’s so funny before I read your comment I swear I heard this beautiful peel of bells ringing that sounded like silver and water. Now, I know why you have such a loving and giving heart. Your mother sounds like a faery queen!
Yes, Lyn witchyness is a wonderful word, lol..And Goddess help us all patience is something we need in this world. My mother had NO patience and when she was really frustrated would say, “God, give me strength!” which scared the heck out of me and my brothers. She tended to be more of the “dark goddess.” Your patience and gentleness are two of my favorite qualities about you.
Ace!!! It’s so good to see you here. I miss doing the meme’s and need to swim back in the waters, I miss you too! It’s is very painful to not have a close relationship with one’s mother. I’ve blogged before about how stormy my relationship was with my mother and I too felt much closer to my grandmother than my own mother. Spiritually, I connected with my mom…that was about it. I love hearing about you and the “princess”, I have a feeling you’re a wonderful mother!
Jolean, you somehow make me laugh every time I either read a blog post of yours or a comment. Inheriting sensitivity like you have is a double-edged sword, isn’t it? At least I think so. I’m very empathic and it’s great for intuition, but I can get overwhelmed easily too, by a person if there’s heavy emotion going on. I’d love to read more about how you ground yourself and keep yourself balanced with your empathy.
Sus, Welcome! So glad you like my blog and thank you for the compliment. Practicality is something I learned from my father and I truly believe that is what has kept me somewhat sane, lol…So, you really are a “practical magic witch!” Thanks for blogging about this too and I love meeting other kindred spirit bloggers this way.
Lisa, your blog is wonderful and I visit it quite often so of course I list it because I know other people would enjoy it too. Perseverance, patience and the type of strength you mention are amazing gifts. I am sometimes called “Queen of Denial” because I need a little more of standing solid and facing things on.
Danni, you learned about true love and spirit from your mother which may not have made her a witch how one is usually defined, but she had powerful magic to pursue her heart. My mother divorced and looked for love after that but I think her heart was just too closed down to find it. Your mother sounds beautiful and to survive cancer, wow! That’s a goddess to me!
Cyndi, if people saw the art you created they’d be blown away. You are one of the most creative people I know. I am so happy that you visit here. And please feel free to leave a comment about any inspiration you have ; ) until the 20th. Thanks for mentioning that I forgot to put it down. I’m waiting for you to start your own blog, you have quite the story to tell!
Aine, your post was SO beautiful. As a child of the “darkness” and I mean that literally you honored your mother in such a loving way. I’ve re-read it a few times because it was written with such love and care. True magic!
Mother Moon, you are an inspiration to me, really! Your wisdom and your tenacity are lessons that I’ve really been honored to learn from you. I know you and your family went through a lot, esp. with the loss of your sister. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us all.
Jane, it’s weird isn’t it how grief works? They say when a woman loses her mother, it’s like she loses an anchor and therefore part of herself. What a remarkable gift to be able to maintain your integrity and stay solid in who you are. It’s so easy to people please, which costs us our soul sometimes. I hope to get to know you more.
THANK YOU EVERYONE for all your birthday wishes. I value most of all the gifts you’ve given me of sharing parts of yourself and I mean that truly. I’m rather an introverted person and to feel such a link with kindred spirits is one of the most meaningful gifts I’ve received. Blessings to you all.
Happy Birthday, a wonderfully magical time of year for new life and special talents to be born.
My mother either inspired me or cursed me with a talent of patience for dealing with idiots and self centered people. As you say, that was far more common back in the pre 1960′s days.
DogsMom recently posted..Barn Chick October Meeting
First off Wendy, how did I not know you had this awesome blog of your own?! I finally just discovered it, so I will now be a regular visitor.
I remember when you posted about your Mother on e-witch, and I was very moved then, as I am now. My Mother is so dear to me, and has bestowed so many gifts. I’d like to think that I’ve inherited some of her many qualities – compassion, understanding, inner strength…although, I feel that her greatest gift to me has been being such an amazing friend and Mother. Perhaps one day, I can be such a Mother when I have a child.
Tweeted about it at: http://twitter.com/willowsilvhorse
Willow Silverhorse recently posted..The Winner of Orglamix Organic Mineral Makeup
as a child of The Great Depression, raised on a farm in the midwest to strict 7th-day adventist’s ( who were also heavy drinkers) my mom had to do everything. in 8th grade she was told she would NOT be continuing education, as “women” did not need to be educated. 2 years later at the age of 16, she left home and went 3 towns away and became a live-in nanny and housekeeper of a little boy. then at the age of 28, not knowing a soul, she got on a train bound for NY City. where she found work for a photographer and then at western union, and she read a lot, and taught herself and became a book keeper.
My mother is NOT without flaws (inpatience is one of them) but she was a determined bright woman, and I admire her own personal triumph over opression. My mother’s best gift to me was the gift of determination! This was a wonderful testament to your mom. Bless you and her.
Susan
Susan G recently posted..Wind-down from the Enchanted and Magical Halloween party
Your mother sounds like a really inspiring woman. To be a woman back then was a daily struggle. And of course no woman is without their flaws, but I love the way you so openly have deep respect for your mother. Thanks Susan.
ack…that should say at the age of 18 she went to NY City. Sorry
Susan
Susan G recently posted..Wind-down from the Enchanted and Magical Halloween party