Words & Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Artemis, the mighty huntress, Artemis, the mighty huntress,
She hunts by the moon, She hunts by the moon,
She hunts by the light of the moon.
Artemis, the mighty huntress, Artemis, the mighty huntress,
Her eye is the eagle’s, Her rage is the lion’s,
Her embrace the fierce mother bear’s.
Hunts by the moon, Hunts by the moon,
Hunts by the light of the moon.
In the wild places she wanders, In the deep forest she roams,
Wild creatures know her as kindred, Mysteries calling her home.
She is our sister, (Helping bring forth new life), Our protector,
She helps us give birth and bring forth new life.
Hunts by the moon, (Artemis shine), Hunts by the moon, (Artemis shine),
Hunts by the light of the moon,
Swiftly she runs by the river, With silver quiver and bow,
Light of the moon she will follow, Mysteries calling her home.
She is our sister (helping girls grow to women), Our protector,
She gives us courage to be all we are.
Hunts by the moon, (Artemis shine), Hunts by the moon, (Artemis shine),
Hunts by the light of the moon, Light of the moon;
Artemis, give us courage,
Artemis, make us stronger,
Artemis, give us daring,
Make us stronger, Give us courage,
Show your glory, Artemis.
Words: Laura G. Lindgren & Cynthia R. Crossen; Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Demeter loved her daughter, Loved her more than life,
Bathed her in clear water, Nourished her with light,
Loving word and loving touch were all Persephone knew,
In innocent unfolding Demeter’s daughter grew.
Long and lithe and lovely as a summer flower,
Beauty in Persephone bloomed From hour into hour,
“She’s the wonder of my life, Sustains me like the sun,
She is my blessed daughter, She and I are one.”
(Demeter, Persephone, Persephone, Demeter)
Safe in her mother’s keeping Persephone roamed unbound,
In the meadow by the brook the most beautiful flower she found,
“I must have this flower, I must have this bloom,
“I must have this flower, I must have this bloom...”
“The earth cracks open, A chariot appears,
And a man grabs me, takes me down, (takes me down),
Takes me down, (takes me down),
Fire in his eyes burns, He says no word to me,
But his cold strong arms hold me close, (hold me close),
Hold me close, (hold me close),
Downward into darkness he carries me, downward into darkness he carries me,
Downward into, downward into, downward into darkness he carries me on,
My sweet world gone.
Oh Mother, I’m calling you, Oh Mother hear me calling,
Oh Mother, I’m calling you, Oh Mother hear me calling,
I am in the underworld, Captured by Hades’ hand,
Cold and stone and darkness and a black river bound this land,
I am in the underworld, Captured by Hades’ hand,
Cold and stone and darkness and a black river bound this land,
And the fire that burns is not a sun, but sears like a god’s command.”
How Demeter trembled when her daughter did not come,
Ran down to the meadow and wildly called her name (Persephone, Persephone),
Wind was all that answered, the sighing of the pines,
Demeter’s heart beat wildly as she called and called again.
“Daughter, I am calling you, Oh daughter, hear me calling,
“Daughter, I am calling you, Oh daughter, hear me calling,
Aah, aah, aah, aah. Aah, aah, aah, aah. ”
Then a shepherd told her,
“I saw the earth crack open, I saw her fall inside,
In fear and terror I heard her cry (heard her cry), heard her cry (heard her cry),”
Demeter screamed then, wild with her grief and pain,
Raging, she made a bitter pledge (bitter pledge), bitter pledge (bitter pledge).
“A curse on all beauty, A blight on all love,
Earth shall freeze and bones grow cold and the sky grow dark above.
Plants will lose their greenness, Animals die by frost,
Humans huddle in the night and pay for what I’ve lost, My daughter lost.”
A year the earth lay frozen, Demeter’s grief was known,
Though every god had pleaded, No living thing was grown;
Zeus the god of thunder, Humbled on his throne,
At last sent Hermes underground to bring Persephone home.
Earth returns to blooming, springtime comes again,
Human hearts find gladness in turning fertile land.
Demeter’s heart rejoices, Persephone’s spirit is free,
Mother and her daughter embracing endlessly, free, free.
Then Demeter asked her “Did you eat anything down there?”
“Only the seeds of the pomegranate fruit he gave me as he said good-bye.”
“Aah, aah, aah, aah. Aah, aah, aah, aah. ”
Hades’ voice rang out from under the earth,
“You have eaten of my fruit, You belong to me too.
Six months with your mother in the brightsome world above,
But six months shall you comfort my heart
And solace me with your love.”
In the world of shadows (world of shadows) Persephone reigns as queen
And when she climbs the path to light she brings rebirth in spring,
With the changes turning, Grief and love we know,
So circles have their seasons and from the depths we grow, grow, grow.
Words & Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Hestia, Hestia, Hestia,
Keeper of the ancient hearth,
Keeper of the sacred fire,
Sweeper of the holy ashes,
Ever turning toward the heart within us burning,
Keeper of the inner fire,
Welcome us home, Welcome us home, Welcome us home to the fire.
Home, you wait for us, sweeping the hearth,
Tending the fire in quiet,
Gaze turned inward, you nurture the heart,
Solitude, peace, contentment.
Welcome us home, welcome us home, Welcome us home to the fire.
Keeper of the sacred fire,
Sweeper of the holy ashes,
Ever turning toward the heart within us burning,
Keeper of the inner fire.
Welcome us home, Welcome us home, Welcome us home to the fire.
Flame (burning), coals (warming), heart turning, transforming fire.
Words: Sandra Brooks-Mathers; Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Hera, Queen of Starry Night,
Clothed in shades of purple light,
Watching, watching from on high
With constant iridescent eye,
Perceiving all within your sight,
Hera, Queen of Starry Night.
Hera, Durga, Queen of Heaven,
Wondrous things of you are woven.
From your breasts white droplets spray
Across the sky the Milky Way,
Your overflowing milk doth yield
On earth lilies of the field,
Consort of the King of Heaven,
Hera, Durga, Queen of Heaven.
Hera, Kali, Queen of Might,
Your mystery and power invite
Shadow forces to the light,
And, in expression, to take flight
In spirals of intoxication,
Through the fires of purification,
Burning, burning, burning bright,
Hera, Kali, Queen of Might.
Words: Sandra Brooks-Mathers & Cynthia R. Crossen; Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, golden glowing light inside me,
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, Warm the cockles of my heart.
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, bring your beauty to delight me,
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, Warm the cockles of my heart.
You spring forth, full-blown from the sea, Lively and pulsing bright,
Round you gather fragrant flowers, Roses red, the kiss of life,
Roses red are the kiss of life,
Roses the kiss, Roses the kiss, kiss of life,
Roses the kiss, kiss kiss kiss of
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, Tasty pleasures wake inside me,
Take a nibble, Aphrodite, Take a nibble of my heart.
Wake us with your kiss of life, the roses from your garden,
Wake us with a kiss, a kiss.
Beauty, love and pleasure you give us full measure,
You delight us with your treasure, Wake us with a kiss.
Offering the golden apple, sweet as honey warm as love,
Juicy scarlet pomegranate, ripened by the sun above.
Graceful as two swans on water gliding together awhile,
Dance in time with your fine lover, hold your lover within your smile.
Beauty, love and pleasure you give us full measure,
You delight us with your treasure, wake us with a kiss
Aphrodite, Aphrodite,
Aphrodite, Aphrodite,
Aphrodite, Aphrodite, delight!
Words: Cynthia R. Crossen & Laura G. Lindgren ; Music: Cynthia R. Crossen; © 1986 Cynthia R. Crossen
Athena, Athena,
Athena, Athena, Athena,
Athena, Athena, Athena,
Guardian of justice,
Bearer of wisdom,
Of a new vision you speak.
We shall work for change, we shall work for peace,
We shall find our wisdom in the dreams we weave.
We shall work for change, we shall work for peace,
We shall find our wisdom in the dreams we weave.
Athena, help us weave a new dream.
We will plant olive trees in the desert,
We will plant olive trees in the desert,
We will use the riches of the earth wisely,
We will plant olive trees.
We shall end all hunger, we shall end all war,
We shall bless our children with justice for all.
We shall end all hunger, we shall end all war,
We shall bless our children with justice for all.
Athena, Athena, Athena,
Athena, Athena, Athena,
Bearer of wisdom,
Teacher of vision,
Help us find a path to peace.