Medusa was the priestess of Athena and she became the snake goddess of women’s mysteries. In her earliest depictions she was winged and holy, offering her protection over the doorways of safe houses for women. The words written in Greek in the background of the painting are translated from a poem I wrote called Invocation:

Medusa, fierce protector of women’s mysteries,

of the ancient, deep teachings of creative power,

blood magic and Earth healing,

Guardian of the woman-wound, of the sacred vessel,

of the open flower of birth, the silent threshold of death

whose blood can either kill or cure,

whose gaze can protect the defiled, the degraded.

Wise crone, master of transformation,

shedder of skins, winged whisperer, secret keeper -

Arm us. Raise our voices in the songs of power.

Bring our blood to a righteous boil.

Call us back from the hypnotic dream

to our iron truths, to our courage, to our warrior selves.

Turn all the lies to stone

and we will smash them at your feet,

as we rise under your shield,

goddesses of our own making.