The Greek Goddess Mnemosyne
ORPHIC HYMN TO MNEMOSYNE
The Fumigation from Frankincense.
The consort I invoke of Jove [Zeus] divine, source of the holy, sweetly-speaking Nine;
Free from th' oblivion of the fallen mind, by whom the soul with intellect is join'd:
Reason's increase, and thought to thee belong, all-powerful, pleasant, vigilant, and strong:
'Tis thine, to waken from lethargic rest all thoughts deposited within the breast;
And nought neglecting, vigorous to excite the mental eye from dark oblivion's night.
Come, blessed power, thy mystic's mem'ry wake to holy rites, and Lethe's fetters break.
Mnemosyne is the Greek Goddess of memory and the mother of the nine Muses. Her name itself means "memory" in Greek, and she played a crucial role in the preservation of knowledge, like myth, history, and epic sagas, as well as poetry and song. Mnemosyne brings the additional power of reason and understanding and the ability to retain knowledge to her powers over memory and remembrance.
Mnemosyne is a Titaness and the daughter of the primordial gods, Gaia (the Earth) and Uranus (the Sky). She is sister to Phoebe, Rhea, Tethys, Theia, Themis, and the Erinyes, and half-sister to Aphrodite and Pythia.
From a union between Mnemosyne and Zeus, the nine Muses were born. Each Muse embodied a different aspect of artistic or intellectual endeavor, ranging from epic poetry to dance, music, and astronomy. They were the source of inspiration for poets, musicians, philosophers, and scientists throughout the ancient world and are still called upon by modern creators to impart their influence.
She is a Goddess of Time, Akasha, and Oracles. As the inventress of language and words, Mnemosyne brings eloquence to our retellings. It is said that she was given the naming of all objects. Mnemosyne was honored with a statue at Athens and a well and throne near the Oracle at Trophonius.
Mnemosyne is associated closely with a well, a fountain, a spring, and one of the rivers of Hades, the Greek Underworld, has Her name. Her counterpart is the River Lethe. We have a river of Remembrance (Mnemosyne) and a river of Forgetting (Lethe). In Greek myth, most souls of the dead drink of the River Lethe to forget; forget their past lives, seeking the solace of forgetfulness.
Interestingly, in many of the temples of the Greek Mysteries, there are reminders and instructions for Initiates and Seekers to drink not of the River Lethe, but the River Mnemosyne so that they would bring the memories of their previous lives into their current life. In this case Mnemosyne becomes the Goddess Anamnesis, the Goddess of Remembering Again.
The message from Mnemosyne is “Remember Who You Are”. As we pursue lives of spiritual enlightenment and increased union with Goddess, this remembrance is critical.
RULES OVER
Memory and remembrance
Language and words (eloquence)
Time (in relation to the past)
Rote memorization to preserve stories
Akasha and Akashic Records
Power of reason and understanding
Recollection, reflection, contemplation
The naming of all objects
Oral history through song
Wisdom
Creativity and the Arts
Deja Vu and synchronicity
SUGGESTED ALTAR ADORNMENTS
Frankincense, honey, olive oil, gold cloth, the eye (symbol of mind’s eye), diadem, purified water in a bowl, rosemary, sweet wine
FLOWERS/PLANTS/OILS
Forget-Me-Nots, Holy Basil, Lemon Balm, Pansy, Pink Carnations, Poppies, Rosemary, Sage, Turmeric, White Lilies, White Orchids
CRYSTALS/METALS
Amethyst, Andalusite, Blue Jade, Calcite, Clear Quartz, Diaspore, Emerald, Gold, Lapis Lazuli, Pyrite, Record Keepers, Smokey Quartz, Selenite, Sodalite. Use Galena with Black Tourmaline for astral journey protection.
