Songs of the Goddess is now at

www.songsofthegoddess.com



Blessed Be!

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Songs of the Goddess is MOVING!

Keep your eyes peeled for the new (and Hopefully imoproved Songs of the Goddess Blog. I've decided to go a little more professional and will have my own site, not a freebie site..

It's taking me a bit of time to get used to the new blogging system, so hang tight. You'll know as soon as I am ready to go online..

Thanks for all the support so far..

Blessed be.

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Finnish band Amorphis channels Lemminkäinen

Here's a beautiful song I've been listening to like crazy. Little did I know, the undertones are very old, and quite Pagan. This song, in fact the whole album is based on a Finnish Mythology that is very near and dear to the country's history and identity. This beautiful ballad in particular is based on one of the main characters, Lemminkäinen, who's story bares a striking resemblance to Isis' search for Osiris, when Lemminkäinen's mother searches heaven and earth to find her son.



Here is the song (in the band's music video) and the lyrics underneath.



These are the lyrics for the Video version:

A day's light told me of my son's fate
the sun showed the way, grim and severe
pulled under the raging waters, my child
sank in the drowning currents, my son, my son

God of fire bring your light
forger of sun help me now
Guardian of the shore will sleep in your warmth
lull the folk of cold water
banish the serpents of the dark
to the river let me go and fetch my son away

A rake made of iron from the Gods of skies
the spirit of bright days sent me the sun
cold troops of Tuoni can not stand in my way
untouched I shall walk by the river of the night

God of fire bring your light
forger of sun help me now
guardian of the shore will sleep in your warmth
lull the folk of cold water
banish the serpents of the dark
to the river let me go and fetch my son away

my child
my son


Here is the lyrics for the CD version:

A day's light told me of my son's fate
the sun showed the way, grim and severe
pulled under the raging waters, my child
sank in the drowning currents, my son, my son

My strength is not enough, my powers failed me
I need the heavens help, I ask for thunder's force
I plead for you oh lightning, forge an iron tool
a magic rake of dragging, a river for my son

God of fire bring your light
forger of sun help me now
guardian of the shore will sleep in your warmth
lull the folk of cold water
banish the serpents of the dark
to the river let me go and fetch my son away

A rake made of iron from the Gods of skies
the spirit of bright days sent me the sun
cold troops of Tuoni can not stand in my way
untouched I shall walk by the river of the night

God of fire bring your light
forger of sun help me now
guardian of the shore will sleep in your warmth
lull the folk of cold water
banish the serpents of the dark
to the river let me go and fetch my son away

my child
my son


If you listen to the CD version of the song, there's quite a bit more content. It seems it's been edited for the video, both are beautiful.

You can listen to samples and/or purchase Amorphis's "Silent Waters" on iTunes.

Of you can do the same on Amazon!

Here is a bit about the tale of Lemminkäinen:

Lemminkäinen or Lemminki is a prominent figure in Finnish mythology. He is one of the Heroes of the Kalevala, where his character is a composition of several separate heroes of oral poetry. He is usually depicted as young and good looking, with wavy blonde hair.

The original, mythological Lemminkäinen is a shamanistic figure. In the Kalevala, he has been blended together with epic war-heroes Kaukomieli/Kaukamoinen and Ahti Saarelainen.

In one myth he drowns in the river of Tuonela (the underworld) in trying to capture or kill the black swan that lives there as part of an attempt, as Ilmarinen once made, to win a daughter of Louhi as his wife. In a tale somewhat reminiscent of Isis' search for Osiris, Lemminkäinen's mother searches heaven and earth to find her son. Finally, she learns of his fate and asks Ilmarinen to fashion her a rake of copper with which to dredge her son's body from the river of Tuonela. Thus equipped, she descends into the underworld in search of her son. On the banks of the river of the underworld, she rakes up first Lemminkäinen's tunic and shoes, and then, his maimed and broken body. Unrelenting, she continues her work until every piece of Lemminkäinen's body is recovered. Sewing the parts together and offering prayers to the gods, the mother tries to restore Lemminkäinen to life, but succeeds only in remaking his body, life is still absent. Then, she entreats a bee to ascend to the halls of the over-god Ukko and fetch from there a drop of honey as ointment that would bring Lemminkäinen back to life. Only with such a potent remedy is the hero finally restored.

Lemminkäinen and the Scandinavian Balder have many things in common in their respective myths (for example both are killed by a blind man at the feast of gods or heroes) which has led some researchers to believe they share common origin.

(Taken from Wikipedia)

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Songs of the Goddess by Draeden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at songsofthegoddess.blogspot.com.

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The Night before Solstice…

‘Twas the night before Solstice and all through the place
Was a bunch of old crones creating sacred space
They smudged well their Temple, a circle was cast
The Ritual was about to get started at last

They opened the Quarters with a well cared for sword
The called on the Goddess, they called on her Lord
Intents were called out by the crones; one by one
They spoke in turn, deosil, til each one was done

“I thank Thee dear Lady and Lord by her side
For being my teacher, my parent, my guide”

“I thank all my sisters who circle with me
No finer group of women will I ever see”

“Blessings to our families on this sacred night
When our Mother is resting under a blanket of white”

“To all of the witches, beyond time and space
Who’s names and deeds we can never erase”

“To our Blessed Mother, who gave forth the things
That adorn all our robes, our altars, our rings”

“We offer our gifts to the Great Spirit here
While we sing out our praises with the one’s we hold dear”

“And as we light this candle, this lovely Yule night
We send out the power from this sacred Rite”

They all held their hands, they all sung aloud
They stood with heads held high, regal and proud
They circled and circled and chanted their tune
In a Grove in the forest, under a bright full moon

And then it had ended, when all power was spent
The Witches closed shop and back to their homes they went
But one witch yelled out as they vanished from sight
MERRY YULE TO YOU ALL . . . AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

...written by Lord Draeden Wren







Please visit and spread the word about these Blogs:


Songs of the Goddess - For and about all things Pagan music.
and
That Devil Music - For the best in Hard Rock and Metal.


That Devil Music's Last FM page!

E-Mail Me!



Songs of the Goddess by Draeden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at songsofthegoddess.blogspot.com.

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Silent Night - Solstice Night

So I somehow happened across this song this morning. Not sure why or how, but I am truly happy I did. I'm sure I might have even heard this one before, or at least seen the lyrics posted somewhere. I guess sometimes you really have to be in the right frame of mind for your senses to see the beauty of this time of year. So enjoy, my friends - for these words are truly beautiful.





Silent night, Solstice Night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!

Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!

Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling Wheel
Brings the Winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!

Lyrics are credited to Ellen Reed

Please visit and spread the word about these Blogs:


Songs of the Goddess - For and about all things Pagan music.
and
That Devil Music - For the best in Hard Rock and Metal.


That Devil Music's Last FM page!

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Songs of the Goddess by Draeden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at songsofthegoddess.blogspot.com.

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More Yule. Let's praise the trees..

Here's another one for you, steeped in tradition; I'm pretty sure we've all heard this one before. But what makes this holiday treat different is that instead of praising a mythical being or Santa Clause, it praises the beauty and strength of the trees that hold our decorations day after day and keep our presents nice and protected. :)

This song is extremely old, and there are perhaps hundreds and hundreds of different versions of this song, by as many artists. Here's a couple of my favourite versions for your listening enjoyment.

(taken from Wikipedia)
"The best known version was written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. The melody is an old folk tune. The first known "Tannenbaum" song lyrics date back to 1550."

This one, we all know and love. Taken from the Charlie Brown Christmas special, this version is arranged by Vince Guaraldi.



Here are the German lyrics.

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat schon zur Winterzeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Mut und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren!


Here's another version by one of the most beautiful voices in the world, Andrea Bocelli.


For your viewing pleasure, a picture of my own Tannenbaum. Merry Yule!

Please visit and spread the word about these Links:


Songs of the Goddess - For and about all things Pagan music.
and
That Devil Music - For the best in Hard Rock and Metal.


That Devil Music's Last FM page!

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Songs of the Goddess by Draeden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at songsofthegoddess.blogspot.com.

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More Yule Music for you... enjoy!

So, here we are, getting closer to Yule. And though this song is called "Christmas Eve", it's merely a formality because at the heart of this song is everything wondrous and beautiful about the holidays. Christmas Eve by Blackmore's Night might seem familiar: you might remember from my Yule Top Ten songs (#9) but it's so good I had to share it again.






Say goodbye to November
She must be on her way
The cold winds of December
Look like they're here to stay
Me, I'll just count the snowflakes
As they start to fall
Getting lost in the beauty
The magic of it all...

And our eyes filled with wonder,
As the reindeer take to flight...

*Its Christmas eve
Bells will ring
Through the town we gather to sing
Christmas eve
Has begun
Peace and love to everyone

Light the festive candles
They'll chase the shadows away
Gathering round the yule log
With handfuls of holly
Winter winds will whisper
Through the shivering pines
Never have the stars looked brighter than tonight...

Please visit and spread the word about these Blogs:


Songs of the Goddess - For and about all things Pagan music.
and
That Devil Music - For the best in Hard Rock and Metal.


That Devil Music's Last FM page!

E-Mail Me!



Songs of the Goddess by Draeden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at songsofthegoddess.blogspot.com.

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