Carmenta was the goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children, and a patron of midwives. The Camenae were originally goddesses of springs, wells and fountains, or water nymphs of Venus . They were wise deities similar to the muses and sometimes gave prophecies of the future. Carmenta bears much in common with Themis, the Greek Goddess of divine law and wisdom.
Carmenta, the Triple Muse gave oracles to Hercules and taught Evander and is said to have lived until 110. “Mercury, or Hermes, or Car, or Palamedes, or Thoth, or whatever his original name was was given poetic sight by the the Shrouded Ones (his mother Carmenta, or Maia, or Danae, or Phorcis, or Medusa, or whatever her original name was.)”
Carmenta was famous for chanting her prophecies in verse. Her Greek name was Nicostrate, but when she arrived in Italy, the locals called the singing woman Carmenta, for the Latin ‘carmina’, or ’song’. That the Gorgons, of which Carmenta was, by another name, lived in a grove at Tartessus can mean only that they had an alphabetic secret to guard.
Take the time to engage in the festival of Carmentalia and leave your offerings here in the Temple.
Participants are to enter her grove barefoot, as no leather is permitted in a templum dedicated to Carmentis. No immolationes (blood sacrifices) are to be performed for Carmentis. Milk, rather than wine, is poured as a libation for Carmentis. She may also be offered water with which to wash, olive oil, salt, honey, course meal, and flowers. Soothing herbs, especially those associated with Roman practices of childbirth and breast-feeding, would also be appropriate offerings – rue, malva, and salvia. Offerings of special dishes of cheese and herbs, called popana, may also be made.
Some people who visit the grove of Carmenta learn the songs of Carmentalia, the art of healing herbs and experience a contentment they have not known before.
Reference: The White Goddess by Robert Graves
My offering to Carmentalia is this prayer I say over every baby I hold: “Let no one – no one – abuse this baby.”
I have little to give except for my open hands and a heart and mind, one as full as the other is empty.