#erodiade

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Aradia is a figure in the italian practice of witchcraft called Stregheria. Aradia is the daughter of Diana, the goddess of the moon, her origins varying between one of a messiah figure for witches and one as a spirit condemned to wander the sky forever.

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Rubens, Festino di Erode, 1633, particolare Il festino ha luogo in una sala piena di ospiti riccamente vestiti. In primo piano una ragazza, alta e vestita di rosso, tiene in mano su un piatto d'argento la testa mozza di Giovanni Battista, e la figlia di Erodiade, con una frivola espressione, con la forchetta si appresta a trafiggere la lingua ingiuriosa.

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Vinicio Capossela | La notte di San Giovanni

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Herodias and Salomé pinning down the tongue of Saint John the Baptist's severed head to keep him from speaking in the afterlife.

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Aradia, Gospel of the Witches

Diana greatly loved her brother Lucifer, the god of the Sun and of Light and Splendor; who was so proud of his beauty, and who for his pride was driven from Paradise. Diana had by her brother a daughter, to whom they gave the name of Aradia. In those days there were on earth many rich and many poor. The rich made slaves of all the poor. In those days were many slaves who were cruelly treated; in every palace tortures, in every castle prisoners. Many slaves escaped. They fled to the country; thus they became thieves and evil folk. Instead of sleeping by night, they plotted escape and robbed their masters, and slew them. So they dwelt in the mountains and forests as robbers and assassins, all to avoid slavery. Witnessing this, Diana said one day to her daughter Aradia: "Tis true indeed that thou a spirit art, But thou wert born but to become again A mortal; thou must go to earth below To be a teacher unto women and men Who fain would study witchcraft in thy school." "And thou shalt be the first of witches known; And thou shalt be the first of all i' the world; And thou shalt teach the art of poisoning, Of poisoning those who are great lords of all; Ye, thou shalt make them die in their palaces; And thou shalt bind the oppressor's souls with power." "And when ye find one who is rich, Then ye shall teach the witch, your pupil, how To ruin all his crops with tempests dire, With lightning and with thunder terrible, And hail and wind..." "And when a priest shall do you injury By his benedictions, ye shall do to him Double the harm, and do it in the name Of me, Diana, Queen of witches all!" "And when the priests or the nobility Shall say to you that you should put your faith In the Father, Son, and Mary, then reply: 'Your God, the Father, and Mary are but Three devils...' "The true God the Father is not yours; For I have come to sweep away the bad, The men of evil, all will I destroy!" "Ye who are poor suffer with hunger keen, And toil in wretchedness, and suffering too, Full oft imprisonment; yet with it all Ye have a soul, and for your sufferings Ye shall be happy in the Other World, But ill the fate of all who do ye wrong!" —Aradia: Gospel of the Witches, by Charles Godfrey Leland, c.1899.

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Salomé, with the head of John the Baptist.

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Title page to Aradia, Gospel of the Witches, by Charles Godfrey Leland, c.1899.

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Conjuration of Aradia

Thrice I speak thy sacred name, Thrice I chant, and thrice I sing– Erodiade, Erodiade, Erodiade Daughter of the Moon and Sun, Queen who reigns at the Mother’s side, Lady of the Woods, Protectress of the outcast and marginalized. Messiah, and Second Eve to the Witches of Earth; Come, fierce Erodiade, called also Herodias and Aradia, Moved by my entreaties. To the weak, bring strength. To the oppressed, bring liberty. To the lovelorn and lonely, bring companionship, and the reminder of their bond with All That Is, a most intimate lover. To the despondent and broken, bring healing and peace. Erodiade, Beloved Daughter, Soul of Earth, Leader of the Faerie Raid, Bride of the Goat-footed Angel: Accept this sacrifice of words– Forge it into a garland Worthy to crown your head. Salve, Erodiade, figghia di Diana, Ascolta a mia scongiarazione, aora e sempre! Hail, Erodiade, daughter of Diana, Hear my conjuration, now and always! —A Prayer to Erodiade, written by Jonathan Sousa.