Thessaly's name is taken from her very own
coven. The thessaly were a ancient moon-worshipping cult of priestesses/
witches who were said to work magic by "
drawing down the moon." By using the moon's powers they could "stop rivers in their courses,
turn back the wheel of the stars, or bring
trees marching downhill." Another important aspect of this ritual was the use of
menstrual blood, or "
moon dew."
Neil Gaiman includes such a ritual in
The Sandman story "
A Game of You," and also manages to poke fun at the
Wiccan or
Neo-Pagan adoption of such practices:
Foxglove: "We did this. or something like this. We had water and salt, not blood. and white candles. We invoked the goddess in her aspect as the moon. We called down her power..."
Thessaly: "Did she answer you?"
Foxglove: "Well, it felt good at the time. Empowering."
Thessaly: "Hmph."
from http://tylwythteg.com/bos039234/bos07.html and, of course, A Game of You