Post by Mysti on Jul 4, 2007 9:41:25 GMT -5
Who Was the Goddess?
Posted by *filgore*
"The Goddess" refers to the female divine principle, or a supreme deity worshipped by many people around the world for thousands of years until She was silenced by patriarchal religions. In recent years the Goddess has experienced a resurgence in popularity, by feminists seeking a spiritual dimension to their political causes, by those interested in the ancient earth religions, including Pagans and Wiccans, and by everyday women and men who feel that something is missing in today's prominent organised religions.
The Goddess is difficult to define or sum up in a few paragraphs, but versatility is one of Her most outstanding traits. For some people, he is the feminine side of God. For others, She is the only god. She is not necessarily one person, but a multifaceted force of energy which expresses itself in a variety of forms and can go by many different names. She has been called Ishtar, Astarte, Inanna, Lillith, Isis, Maat, Brigid, Cerridwen, Gaia, Demeter, Aphrodite, Venus, Artemis, Athena, Kali, Lakshmi, Quan-Yin, Pele and even Mary, among many others. Many symbols, such as serpents, birds, the moon and the Earth, have been attributed to Her.
The Goddess is the creator of all things AND She is the destroyer. Everything comes from Her and everything returns to Her. She is alive within everything, living and unliving, on Earth and in the heavens. She is not distant and untouchable, like the Judeo-Christian God. She is HERE- with us, in us. She is maiden, mother and crone. She is virgin and whore. She is you, She is me, She is everyone and everything.
The Goddess is great because She can be whatever you want Her to be. But most followers of the Goddess do share a few common beliefs. Starhawk, a modern day witch and author of The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, writes that the three core principles of Goddess religion are immanence, interconnection and community. Immanence means that the Goddess is embodied in the Earth and in us. Nature, culture and life are sacred. We must take action to preserve the Earth and to live with integrity and responsibility. Interconnection means that all beings are interrelated and that we are linked with the cosmos. We should strive towards compassion and justice. With community, growth and transformation come through intimate interactions and common struggles. Basically, though, the law of the Goddess is love- unconditional love. She has no commandments to follow. She does not demand sacrifice.
Misconceptions:
Goddess religion has been criticised for a number of reasons, most of which stem from misinformation about it. One complaint is that it is practiced by man-hating, radical feminist lesbians. My guess is that most people who recognise the Goddess would support women's rights, but wouldn't necessarily consider themselves feminists, or at least radical feminists. But some might. Also, people interested in the Goddess come from all sexual orientations, whether it be hetero, bi or homosexual. There is no criteria for loving the Goddess. You just have to have an open mind, heart and spirit.
I would not call Goddess religion male-bashing, although I would call it patriarchy bashing, which is not the same thing. Both women and men can be guilty of giving in to patriarchy. Goddess religion is open to people of both sexes, though. More information on how the Goddess appeals to men can be found further down the page.
The last misconception of Goddess religion I will discuss actually comes from feminists. They say that the Goddess is a sexist model because the symbolism associated with her is similar to traditional feminine ideals like motherhood, nuturance and fertility, which have been used to keep women "in their place." They also cite that Goddess symbolism points out differences between men and women in terms of the female body, intuition, menstruation, etc. These criticisms probably come from the school of feminism that believes that women and men should be regarded as equals under all circumstances and any differences between the sexes aren't important. Although Goddess symbolism does include many references to fertility, menstruation and mothering, the whole point is to place these qualities in a positive light. The Goddess shows women that they should not be ashamed of their bodies and their sexuality because it is beautiful, sacred and powerful. In fact, when evidence of past Goddess worship was first discovered, the male scholars of the time simply dismissed it all as "fertility cults." Obviously, this view is quite limiting. Many female deities were known as lawmakers, inventors, healers, huntresses, and brave warrior women. They were highly respected and revered. Other goddesses, such as the Greek Artemis, were regarded as virgin goddesses, not meaning that they were virgins, but that they were never married or tied down to a man. Clearly, the Goddess does not have to conform to stereotypical gender roles. Again, she can be whatever you want Her to be.
Recognising the Goddess can have a profoundly positive affect on one's life, especially those who feel stifled, let down and ignored by patriarchal religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam). These religions offer few stories about women, and when women are in the stories, they are almost always in relation to a man. These stories lack positive female imagery, portraying women as weak, inferior and unclean. She is always portrayed as dependent on man. She does not belong to herself, but to her father or husband. In addition, unmarried women are defined by their sexuality. They are either "good little virgins", or "evil temptresses."
Such limiting roles offer few role models for young women trying to find their place in the world. Many girls suffer from low self-esteem and a negative self-image, because to them, what is there to be proud about? They're "just a girl." They're not special or sacred. All the gods, prophets and disciples are male. Patriarchal religions constantly refer to the Divine in male terms, such as "Lord", "Father", "He" and "Him." Many churches still refuse to ordain women as priests and ministers.
Carol Christ, author of "Why Women Need the Goddess," part of Woman Spirit Rising: A Feminist Reader is Religion, which she coedited, agrees. She states, "Religions centred on the worship of a male God create moods and motivations that keep women in a state of psychological dependence on men and male authority, while at the same time legitimating the political and social authority of fathers and sons in the institutions of society," She also says, "Even people who no longer believe in God or participate in the institutional structure of patriarchal religion still may not be free of the power of the symbolism of God the Father," Indeed, people who don't practice a set religion but grow up in mainstream society have absorbed ideas that male power is superior and beneficial and female power is inferior and dangerous. Women are not taught to love their bodies, to follow their intuition or to trust themselves.
The Goddess, however, can liberate the minds, bodies and spirits of women. Starhawk sums it up beautifully in The Spiral Dance," The Importance of the Goddess symbol for women cannot be overstressed. The image of the Goddess inspires women to see ourselves as divine, our bodies as sacred, the changing phases of our lives as holy, our aggression as healthy, our anger as purifying and our power to nurture and create but also to limit and destroy when necessary, as the very force that sustains all life. Through the Goddess, we can discover our strength, enlighten our minds, own our bodies and celebrate our emotions. We can move beyond narrow constricting roles and become whole,".
Where do men fit in?
Some people ask, "Isn't Goddess religion just reverse sexism?" The answer is definitely "No!" In fact, many practitioners of Wicca also recognise a male hunter God. The Goddess is female in essence, but She works in women and men. One of the characteristics of the Goddess is that She is the Creator. This role is naturally much better fulfilled by a female image of the Divine, since women do give birth. The Goddess provides unconditional love and nuturance, like only a mother can. Also, the menstrual cycle of women's bodies is directly connected to the cycles of the moon, and is similar to the cycle of the Earth's seasons, and all life on Earth. Obviously, female imagery is best suited to the characteristics of the Goddess.
Males may feel just as out-of-touch with patriarchal religions as women do, and can receive liberation through the Goddess. In the major religions today, males are expected to be the leader of the household, providing discipline, order and financial support, a role some guys aren't comfortable with. Guys also often feel out of touch with their emotions and feel unable to express their feelings well because they have been taught not to. By invoking the Goddess, men can reconnect with this hidden side of themselves. Starhawk says, "The symbol of the Goddess allows men to experience and integrate the feminie side of their nature, the deepest and most sensitive aspect of self. The Goddess does not exclude the male, She contains him, as a pregnant woman contains her male child," (The Spiral Dance.)
Power Animals
From To Ride A Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
Power animals are & are not a part of the Wiccan or Witchcraft Traditions. They are used by Native Americans, Shamans & other tribal organisations & traditions. Covens usually have a totem animal that is only known to those within the group.
In the Astral, you can merge with your totem & become the animal with your own intelligence intact. This is called Shapeshifting.
There are two ways you can meet your power animal in the astral plane & discover which animal medicine is right for you. First, you could write & perform a ritual to call the essence of the animal that would suit you best & assist you in your present magickal workings. If you are not comfortable with the ritual format you can go into the familiar meditative state, walk through the astral forest & meet the animal.
When the first technique is used, that of the ritual, you will most likely see the animal in its natural form. There may be a synchronistic conversation where the topic is of the animal, or you find a book about the animal, etc. When you catch that first glimpse of that particular medicine, you will know it in your heart.
If you meet the animal in the meditative state, converse with it. Anything is possible in the astral, right? So ask questions & get to know your new partner.
If you have seen the animal after a ritual, plan sometime to go into the meditative state to cement your relationship & get to know the animal & the essence it represents.
Now that you've got the animal, what do you do with it? Power animals are great advice givers, often representing our higher selves that we haven't been paying attention to lately. In a meditative state you can ask for their assistance on problems that have been nagging at you. At times, two power animals can work in conjunction with each other, as long as they want to. Silver has had some truly interesting & fruitful conversations with hers.
Power animals can assist you in the waking state as well. Perhaps you are trying to teach someone a particular theme & they are having difficulty understanding. Ask wolf for assistance; she is the great teacher.
Remember the old adages: clever as a fox, strong as an ox, etc.? Perhaps you need camouflage - then ask Brother Fox for assistance. If you seek wisdom, ask the Eagle. The Lynx knows the art of keeping secrets & the Swan guides one into Dreamtime. The Panther is a good protective animal, though she does have a sarcastic, laid back nature.
Power animals are not limited to mammals. The reptilian & insect kingdoms can be just as helpful. Children can also be taught to work with animals & have a great ideal of success with them.
Dragonfly tells us how to break through illusions & how to gain power through our dreams & goals. She teaches higher aspiration.
The act of honouring an animal is not an act of worship, but is the acknowledgment of their power & their being as brothers & sisters of the entire universe. The energy of the animals, birds & other creatures that assist us should be honoured. For too long, we have subjugated these creatures who are our equals in the system of the Universe. The Native Americans leave tobacco as a gift, scattered on the ground. You could also burn incense in honour of the animal. When honouring - leave a gift of some sort. A crystal or gem on your altar is also a lovely gift.
Posted by *filgore*
"The Goddess" refers to the female divine principle, or a supreme deity worshipped by many people around the world for thousands of years until She was silenced by patriarchal religions. In recent years the Goddess has experienced a resurgence in popularity, by feminists seeking a spiritual dimension to their political causes, by those interested in the ancient earth religions, including Pagans and Wiccans, and by everyday women and men who feel that something is missing in today's prominent organised religions.
The Goddess is difficult to define or sum up in a few paragraphs, but versatility is one of Her most outstanding traits. For some people, he is the feminine side of God. For others, She is the only god. She is not necessarily one person, but a multifaceted force of energy which expresses itself in a variety of forms and can go by many different names. She has been called Ishtar, Astarte, Inanna, Lillith, Isis, Maat, Brigid, Cerridwen, Gaia, Demeter, Aphrodite, Venus, Artemis, Athena, Kali, Lakshmi, Quan-Yin, Pele and even Mary, among many others. Many symbols, such as serpents, birds, the moon and the Earth, have been attributed to Her.
The Goddess is the creator of all things AND She is the destroyer. Everything comes from Her and everything returns to Her. She is alive within everything, living and unliving, on Earth and in the heavens. She is not distant and untouchable, like the Judeo-Christian God. She is HERE- with us, in us. She is maiden, mother and crone. She is virgin and whore. She is you, She is me, She is everyone and everything.
The Goddess is great because She can be whatever you want Her to be. But most followers of the Goddess do share a few common beliefs. Starhawk, a modern day witch and author of The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, writes that the three core principles of Goddess religion are immanence, interconnection and community. Immanence means that the Goddess is embodied in the Earth and in us. Nature, culture and life are sacred. We must take action to preserve the Earth and to live with integrity and responsibility. Interconnection means that all beings are interrelated and that we are linked with the cosmos. We should strive towards compassion and justice. With community, growth and transformation come through intimate interactions and common struggles. Basically, though, the law of the Goddess is love- unconditional love. She has no commandments to follow. She does not demand sacrifice.
Misconceptions:
Goddess religion has been criticised for a number of reasons, most of which stem from misinformation about it. One complaint is that it is practiced by man-hating, radical feminist lesbians. My guess is that most people who recognise the Goddess would support women's rights, but wouldn't necessarily consider themselves feminists, or at least radical feminists. But some might. Also, people interested in the Goddess come from all sexual orientations, whether it be hetero, bi or homosexual. There is no criteria for loving the Goddess. You just have to have an open mind, heart and spirit.
I would not call Goddess religion male-bashing, although I would call it patriarchy bashing, which is not the same thing. Both women and men can be guilty of giving in to patriarchy. Goddess religion is open to people of both sexes, though. More information on how the Goddess appeals to men can be found further down the page.
The last misconception of Goddess religion I will discuss actually comes from feminists. They say that the Goddess is a sexist model because the symbolism associated with her is similar to traditional feminine ideals like motherhood, nuturance and fertility, which have been used to keep women "in their place." They also cite that Goddess symbolism points out differences between men and women in terms of the female body, intuition, menstruation, etc. These criticisms probably come from the school of feminism that believes that women and men should be regarded as equals under all circumstances and any differences between the sexes aren't important. Although Goddess symbolism does include many references to fertility, menstruation and mothering, the whole point is to place these qualities in a positive light. The Goddess shows women that they should not be ashamed of their bodies and their sexuality because it is beautiful, sacred and powerful. In fact, when evidence of past Goddess worship was first discovered, the male scholars of the time simply dismissed it all as "fertility cults." Obviously, this view is quite limiting. Many female deities were known as lawmakers, inventors, healers, huntresses, and brave warrior women. They were highly respected and revered. Other goddesses, such as the Greek Artemis, were regarded as virgin goddesses, not meaning that they were virgins, but that they were never married or tied down to a man. Clearly, the Goddess does not have to conform to stereotypical gender roles. Again, she can be whatever you want Her to be.
Recognising the Goddess can have a profoundly positive affect on one's life, especially those who feel stifled, let down and ignored by patriarchal religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam). These religions offer few stories about women, and when women are in the stories, they are almost always in relation to a man. These stories lack positive female imagery, portraying women as weak, inferior and unclean. She is always portrayed as dependent on man. She does not belong to herself, but to her father or husband. In addition, unmarried women are defined by their sexuality. They are either "good little virgins", or "evil temptresses."
Such limiting roles offer few role models for young women trying to find their place in the world. Many girls suffer from low self-esteem and a negative self-image, because to them, what is there to be proud about? They're "just a girl." They're not special or sacred. All the gods, prophets and disciples are male. Patriarchal religions constantly refer to the Divine in male terms, such as "Lord", "Father", "He" and "Him." Many churches still refuse to ordain women as priests and ministers.
Carol Christ, author of "Why Women Need the Goddess," part of Woman Spirit Rising: A Feminist Reader is Religion, which she coedited, agrees. She states, "Religions centred on the worship of a male God create moods and motivations that keep women in a state of psychological dependence on men and male authority, while at the same time legitimating the political and social authority of fathers and sons in the institutions of society," She also says, "Even people who no longer believe in God or participate in the institutional structure of patriarchal religion still may not be free of the power of the symbolism of God the Father," Indeed, people who don't practice a set religion but grow up in mainstream society have absorbed ideas that male power is superior and beneficial and female power is inferior and dangerous. Women are not taught to love their bodies, to follow their intuition or to trust themselves.
The Goddess, however, can liberate the minds, bodies and spirits of women. Starhawk sums it up beautifully in The Spiral Dance," The Importance of the Goddess symbol for women cannot be overstressed. The image of the Goddess inspires women to see ourselves as divine, our bodies as sacred, the changing phases of our lives as holy, our aggression as healthy, our anger as purifying and our power to nurture and create but also to limit and destroy when necessary, as the very force that sustains all life. Through the Goddess, we can discover our strength, enlighten our minds, own our bodies and celebrate our emotions. We can move beyond narrow constricting roles and become whole,".
Where do men fit in?
Some people ask, "Isn't Goddess religion just reverse sexism?" The answer is definitely "No!" In fact, many practitioners of Wicca also recognise a male hunter God. The Goddess is female in essence, but She works in women and men. One of the characteristics of the Goddess is that She is the Creator. This role is naturally much better fulfilled by a female image of the Divine, since women do give birth. The Goddess provides unconditional love and nuturance, like only a mother can. Also, the menstrual cycle of women's bodies is directly connected to the cycles of the moon, and is similar to the cycle of the Earth's seasons, and all life on Earth. Obviously, female imagery is best suited to the characteristics of the Goddess.
Males may feel just as out-of-touch with patriarchal religions as women do, and can receive liberation through the Goddess. In the major religions today, males are expected to be the leader of the household, providing discipline, order and financial support, a role some guys aren't comfortable with. Guys also often feel out of touch with their emotions and feel unable to express their feelings well because they have been taught not to. By invoking the Goddess, men can reconnect with this hidden side of themselves. Starhawk says, "The symbol of the Goddess allows men to experience and integrate the feminie side of their nature, the deepest and most sensitive aspect of self. The Goddess does not exclude the male, She contains him, as a pregnant woman contains her male child," (The Spiral Dance.)
Power Animals
From To Ride A Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
Power animals are & are not a part of the Wiccan or Witchcraft Traditions. They are used by Native Americans, Shamans & other tribal organisations & traditions. Covens usually have a totem animal that is only known to those within the group.
In the Astral, you can merge with your totem & become the animal with your own intelligence intact. This is called Shapeshifting.
There are two ways you can meet your power animal in the astral plane & discover which animal medicine is right for you. First, you could write & perform a ritual to call the essence of the animal that would suit you best & assist you in your present magickal workings. If you are not comfortable with the ritual format you can go into the familiar meditative state, walk through the astral forest & meet the animal.
When the first technique is used, that of the ritual, you will most likely see the animal in its natural form. There may be a synchronistic conversation where the topic is of the animal, or you find a book about the animal, etc. When you catch that first glimpse of that particular medicine, you will know it in your heart.
If you meet the animal in the meditative state, converse with it. Anything is possible in the astral, right? So ask questions & get to know your new partner.
If you have seen the animal after a ritual, plan sometime to go into the meditative state to cement your relationship & get to know the animal & the essence it represents.
Now that you've got the animal, what do you do with it? Power animals are great advice givers, often representing our higher selves that we haven't been paying attention to lately. In a meditative state you can ask for their assistance on problems that have been nagging at you. At times, two power animals can work in conjunction with each other, as long as they want to. Silver has had some truly interesting & fruitful conversations with hers.
Power animals can assist you in the waking state as well. Perhaps you are trying to teach someone a particular theme & they are having difficulty understanding. Ask wolf for assistance; she is the great teacher.
Remember the old adages: clever as a fox, strong as an ox, etc.? Perhaps you need camouflage - then ask Brother Fox for assistance. If you seek wisdom, ask the Eagle. The Lynx knows the art of keeping secrets & the Swan guides one into Dreamtime. The Panther is a good protective animal, though she does have a sarcastic, laid back nature.
Power animals are not limited to mammals. The reptilian & insect kingdoms can be just as helpful. Children can also be taught to work with animals & have a great ideal of success with them.
Dragonfly tells us how to break through illusions & how to gain power through our dreams & goals. She teaches higher aspiration.
The act of honouring an animal is not an act of worship, but is the acknowledgment of their power & their being as brothers & sisters of the entire universe. The energy of the animals, birds & other creatures that assist us should be honoured. For too long, we have subjugated these creatures who are our equals in the system of the Universe. The Native Americans leave tobacco as a gift, scattered on the ground. You could also burn incense in honour of the animal. When honouring - leave a gift of some sort. A crystal or gem on your altar is also a lovely gift.