LARES SHRINE  focus's on  different Goddess,God,myth or philosophies and Different devotions spanning time from around the world!
Its Spring-time! Time to cleanse the body, spirit AND home!
A great way to do this is by Honoring all of the Goddess' and Gods who celebrate physical/spiritual rebirth this time of year by digging your fingers in the soil.
Of course I mean A GARDEN! Whether you live in a beautiful open place with lots of land or you're an urban dweller, this is an easy meditation exercise.

gather some various flower or herb seeds.
mix them all togther in a bowl
Offer them to Isis- Demeter and Persephone
then choose a place or pot to grow these seeds in
Place a written desire you'd like to see grow at the bottom of the pot you'll grow these seeds in
cover this up with the soil, sow the rows for the seeds
now mix some milk and honey with a copper penny in there too
pour this libation into the soil
add the seeds, cover
now let The Goddess do her work!
as you tend to this flower/plant/herb you are nuturing it, your desire and doing the Goddess work with her.
Should the flower/plant/herb grow strong, that means your wish is on its way!
If not, then perhaps you need to let it go and tend to other ideas!
Amma Iset!


  

Isis Panthea as seen above, is Ancient Rome's visual answer to the Egyptians own Isis. Of course the Roman theologians had to find away to keep her magic traits and symbols, yet "Romanize" her anthropomorphic attributes. So She was dressed in traditional Juno type garb, leaving behind her delicate gauze like tunic and elaborate head dress and instead addressing her new Roman followers in typical conservative attire. Here Isis Panthea (greek for "spanning all") was worshipped and adored as the Goddess who would bring salvation with the flick of her wrist, rattling her Sistrum (an attribute that carried over from Egypt, a rattle like instrument that to her initiates was the sound of heaven on earth) and saving the soul after life. A sort of new conept to the Romans, who of course welcomed this idea with open arms and hearts.  In Pompeii was a thriving temple for Isis Panthea, Rome also had its own, though on the outskirts after Octavian Caesar had any cult BUT the imperial "trinity" outcasted from the capitol! Isis wears the sacred Knot as her girdle, same as Venus, and carries a "Situla" a breast shaped urn that had a sort of nipple at the end to drip holy water or milk. This would then fertilize the soil and allow life to grow once again in rituals. Her Head is adorned with what many today speculate is a lotus flower, showing her "oriental" orientation and a symbol of lessons to be learned or peace to her followers. Isis Panthea helped get a great start by being so closely compared with Ceres(Demeter in Greek) as the Goddess of the earth and renewal.

What ever name  or form The Goddess has inspired fascinating teachings, philosophies and art for eons. As She continues to do today, look around at any artist's studio and you shall find her magic still at work!

   

 MEDITATIONS (is devoted to different ways of meditation  and/or prayers)

Light a white candle in a bowl full of soil with white daisy heads surrounding it , burn frankincense incense and focus your intent on this prayer.............

                            Roman Prayer to Isis
                                   by Apuleius

 

O Holy Blessed Lady,
Constant comfort to humankind,
whose beneficence and kindness nourish us all,
and whose care for those in trouble
is as a loving mother who cares for all her children -
you are there when we call
stretching out your hand to put aside that which is harmful to us,
untangling the web of fate in which we may be caught,
even stopping the stars if they form a harmful pattern.
All other deities,
whether bountiful or merciless,
do reverence to thee.
It is Isis who rules the world,
stamping out the powers of evil,
arranging the stars to give us answers,
causing the seasons to come and go,
commanding the wind to move ships,
giving the clouds to water the growing seeds
so that we may have food.
If I had one thousand mouths
and one thousand tongues within each,
still I could not do justice to your majesty.
Yet I will forever remember your help in my time of need
and keep your blessed image deep within my heart.