Lord Thoth & Lady Abundantia

 

Egyptian mythology never interested me.  It still doesn't.  So I am hard pressed to explain why the Lord Thoth won't let me be.  At long last the inevitable has occurred.  It is not going too far to acknowledge that I am compelled to give due homage to this Ibis headed Egyptian deity.  He was known as Hermes or Hermes Trismegistos to the Greeks, Mercury or Mercurius to the Romans.  The more I learn of him the more he feels like a kindred spirit and a spiritual father to me.  Anyone desiring more information about Thoth should visit Gods of Ancient Egypt.

Anyone who knows me personally knows I spent decades as a respected Christian teacher, minister and lecturer.  After escaping my close-minded, backward fundamentalist mentality, the idea of worshiping anything or anyone was, and continues to be, out of the question.  What I do for Lord Thoth is pay him homage and respect.  I also honor him by following in his magickal footsteps ~ according to my own style.  I look to him for inspiration, guidance and help to walk the creative and magickal life.

Lady Abundantia is the Roman Goddess of prosperity, abundance and infinite supply.  Her image appeared on Roman coins.  She carries the Cornucopia of infinite source and distributes it freely to all.  I pay homage to her as well.  Truth is, I have dealings with her and observed her respond to my conversations.  There is a relationship between us.  More will be written here on these two gods who hold a special place in my magickal practice.

The SKULL as a Symbol

There is hardly a graphic icon that symbolizes death and mortality more than the human skull.  A dead body eventually reveals the bony structure hidden beneath rotting flesh.  This is horrifying to humans on a visceral level.  The skull's morbid associations are rather easy to understand.  What seems odd to me is that so few see the skull as a symbol of anything other than death and decay.
For me the image of the skull is a reminder that there is something hidden at our core.  In a way the skull is evidence of the secret, unseen person - the real you- and as such suggests our spiritual nature hidden behind a facade of flesh.  Because it is the hard structure upon which our muscles, tendons and skin are attached it symbolizes (for me) inner strength.  The bones remain long after all other body parts are gone so it is a fit representation of the inner self, the true self that survives death. 
There are alternative perspectives.  Here's an article that offers diverse cultural views: Death's Head Symbol.   While you're at it check out another link that suggests other ways to think about skulls: Skull symbolism.
In my own magickal workings the skull carries a very positive meaning.  It embodies the center of the mind and, therefore, the seat of spiritual power and consciousness.  Adorned with the symbols I inscribed on it, the skull engenders the qualities of the various spirits and deities that are significant to me.