Tag Archives: healing

History, Travel

Feast of the Serpari (Snake Festival) in Italy (Part Two – Early Roman Times)

Women celebrating Bona Dea from: abitabout.com/Bona+Dea
Women celebrating Bona Dea from: abitabout.com/Bona+Dea

By Judy Pinegar

Meanwhile, the Romans who always had to re-name the Greek gods and goddesses to fit their “new” civilization seem to have adapted Angitia into Bona Dea, an ancient and holy Roman goddess of women and healing. Women also referred to her as Fauna, but men were not allowed to use that name, or attend her secret ceremonies and festivals. Bona Dea, “the Good Goddess” protects women through their changes, and is believed to watch over virgins and matrons especially. She was skilled in healing and herb lore, and snakes and wine were sacred to her. As a healing goddess, the sick were tended in her temple garden with medicinal herbs. Bona Dea was portrayed sitting on a throne, holding a cornucopia. The snake is her attribute, a symbol of healing, and consecrated snakes were kept in her temple at Rome, tended by her priestesses.

Under the laws of the Roman republic, patrician women were not supposed to drink wine, and could be punished, if caught. But by calling it “milk” the ancient and sacred practices could be reconciled with the rules of Roman Society. Bona Dea’s secret festival for women was held at night during the First of May, in the house of the chief elected official ( although he was not allowed to attend), the Vestal Virgins officiated, and a great jar of wine was in the room, although it was called “milk” and the jar was called a “mellarium” or honey jar. After making libations to the Goddess Bona Dea, the women drank and danced to music. It is said that later in the history of the empire this festival “degenerated” into wild and extravagant affairs, such as the Greeks had with Dionysus, the God of Wine.

Judy Pinegar is a writer. Part of this three part series appeared in the Corriere della Valle Magazine
Thinking of buying or selling?
For all your real estate needs
Email or call:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

Bits & Pieces

Tibetan Monks in Roseville Februrary 4th to 13th

The center of the mandala. When finished it will be about 4 feet across. Photo by John J. O'Dell
The center of the mandala. When finished it will be about 4 feet across. Photo by John J. O'Dell

By John J. O’Dell

Sunday I visited the Tibetan Monks who are in Roseville. They are there making a mandala, which if you haven’t seen one, is truly a work of art.  Made entirely out of colored sand, the mandala is made one grain of sand at a time!

Mandalas created from sand are unique to Tibetan Buddhism and are believed to effect purification and healing.  Typically, a great teacher chooses the specific mandala to be created. The monks assigned to make the mandala construct the mandala completely from memory, including the color of sand for each line!

This completed mandala was made by the monks when they visisted Grass Valley
This completed mandala was made by the monks when they visisted Grass Valley

Over a period of days, the design is filled in with millions of grains of sand. At its completion, the mandala is consecrated. The monks then enact the impermanent nature of existence by sweeping up the colored grains and dispersing them in flowing water.

According to Buddhist scripture, sand mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them. While constructing a mandala, Buddhist monks chant and meditate to invoke the divine energies of the deities residing within the mandala. The monks then ask for the deities’ healing blessings.

A mandala’s healing power extends to the whole world even before it is swept up and dispersed into flowing water—a further expression of sharing the mandala’s blessings with all.

Tibetan Monks will be in Roseville from February 4th – 13th, 2011 at The Children’s Art Center 190 Park Drive, Roseville, CA. Viewing hours are 10 am to 6 pm.