Our Lady of Peace
Venus Columba (Roman)
Venus Columba (dove) is the aspect of the Goddess of Love which is
most concerned with peace. No mother wishes her children dead, or in
conflict of war. She who brings hearts together desires our happiness,
reconciles opposites and blesses those who love.
The emblem of Venus/Aphrodite is the dove. Merlin Stone has written;
“White bird of the heavens, dove wings gliding over the sea,
Aphrodite Ourania, Queen of Heaven,
came from ancient Phoenicia to the nearby isle of Cyprus.
Landing at Paphos, those who saw her shake the water from her wings
upon the rocks
thought that she had been born of the sea,
the whiteness of her feathers blending with the whiteness of the
foam.”
In religion and art the dove symbolizes peace and gentleness.
Universally doves - especially white doves - have been associated with
purity, innocence, faithfulness, love and peace. The dove is a social
animal that prefers company, thus it represents brotherhood. Bearing
an olive branch they are a symbol of peace, forgiveness and
deliverance. Doves are the fecundating Spirit, and thus are sacred to
all Great Mother Goddesses and Queens of Heaven. Mystically they
represent the creative spark that ignites spiritual life within the
soul. The dove is also an emblem of wisdom and has often been seen as
a messenger of the divine will
Whenever we see an image of a dove, or whenever we contemplate the
meaning of the dove, a deep part of our consciousness connects to its
profound well of sacred and archetypal associations. The sign of the
dove activates within us the vibration of peace, love, compassion,
creativity and renewal. The gentle song of the dove of Venus sings to
us of love and peace.
Prayer to the Holy Dove of Peace
Aphrodite Columba, Great Goddess, Holy Dove of Peace,
Hear your daughters as they call to you again, after the turning of
centuries;
For they are humanities life-giving mothers.
They know the toil of birthing and nurturing.
They know war to be a waste of their precious toil, and a desecration
of your earth.
Kind Mother, give your daughters power to oppose the forces of war,
To prevent aggressive destruction,
To establish your laws of peace and kinship.
Help women raise their children with the teachings of peace.
Help men resist the myths of glory in conflict.
Help us all to respect life more than conquest.
Let the return of the Divine Mother image usher in a new era,
As women of all nations reach out to one another with understanding,
under your symbol.
Aphrodite Columba, may our prayers rise to you as the white dove rises
on her wings.
Blessed Be.
Barbara Walker
Dona nobis pacem; grant us peace.
