Archive for Paganism

Deity of the Day: Nymphs

October 5, 2008 / / One comment

I’m still in Baltimore. I’m here on a visit with my son. And he hugs me and we hold each other and it’s extraordinary.

I was thinking that it’s not about how much I love him. I’m not full of a feeling of love as we might normally describe that. It’s not the heart-wells-up thing. I get that a lot; when I think of him, when I talk to him, when I look at pictures. But holding each other is physical and present and not a feeling of love. A feeling of absorption, rather.

I began to thing how that is like a Greek nymph. They’re always turning into things. To save their virginity or avoid rape, or to be fully absorbed in their love. Echo, loving Narcissus for eternity, or Narcissus loving himself.

But to embrace someone you love so much, to be absorbed in their nature, is nymph-like in the sense of identifying with a physical thing or expression. Nymphs are and become trees, streams, rivers, and other natural objects. Their being is not separate from the being of the object they are.

Absorption. A quality of love I can experience. The hug that is endless, not because you are full of feeling, not because your heart loves, but because you are that hug, your being is inseparable from that embrace.

I feel like I know how Daphne turned into a laurel tree. Just being the thing. Just being.

Sunday Deity: Demeter

September 7, 2008 / / One comment

Today I am the Mother.

I am struggling so much with the change in my relationship to my son. Empty nest. It’s wonderful and it’s sad, exciting and lonely, and most of all, it’s an undiscovered country. Moment by moment, I don’t know who I am without my child.

I am Demeter. I could, if I choose, wander the world in agony, destroying everything in my wake. Or I could find renewal in a new kind of nurturance.

Demeter lost Persephone in just the way that every mother loses her child; to maturity. Persephone was abducted, one reading of the story goes, but another reading is that the Maiden becomes a Wife. Persephone leaves her mother to be with her husband, and Demeter’s heart breaks.

It’s a big, loud break. I know that break from the inside.

Demeter ravishes the world. None shall have joy while she suffers. (And to my credit, I haven’t once felt like ravishing the world.) Ultimately, in disguise (as a Crone), she becomes nursemaid to the infant Demephon. She seeks to make him immortal, but when his family sees her dipping him into the fire (burning away his mortality), they panic. In righteous anger, Demeter reveals her true self, and puts into place the rules by which she will be worshiped.

I can look at that story today and see that Demeter must learn to nurture again, in a new way. But she cannot simply replace her immortal daughter with a new immortal child, she must find a new path to fulfillment.

So, my deity for today is Demeter, the Mother who finds a new path in life when her child grows up and leaves her.

Sacred Sexuality Pedicure

August 13, 2008 / / 2 comments

I got a pedicure last night. It was a new salon, because the last time I got a pedicure, the woman was really hurting me, and while I understand that manicurists don’t need much in the way of English skills, “Ow” should be on their vocabulary list. I could not get her to stop hurting me, no matter what I said, and it was an object lesson for me in how I still let myself get abused. People don’t necessarily see that about me, they see someone strong and brash, but I have a hard time stepping forward in a moment like that. My friend said I should have gotten up and left, or, I dunno, pulled my feet away, but there you are.

So anyway, I tried a new place. And the woman gave the most sensual massage. It was mind-blowing. It was very gentle; light touch combined with firm, but not deep, strokes. I tend to prefer a much stronger, deeper massage, something that edges on too much. But this was amazing.

And I was so moved by how erotic the whole thing was. I’m not talking about sensations experienced in any part of my body but my feet and legs, but those feelings were sexy. They were so lovely, so enveloping, that I shuddered more than once. Sexy. And again, at no time did I feel anything in my sexy parts, but at the same time, I felt I could have had an orgasm from those feelings.

We constantly demean our sexuality by thinking it belongs only in the realm of the bedroom. Like, if it’s not naked, or involving specific body parts or specific activities or specific moisture levels, it’s not a sexual thing. But our bodies are inherently and naturally sexual, responsive to sensation, and eager for touch.

In Paganism, we talk about “Sacred Sexuality.” And a lot of time, people assume that means it necessarily involves intercourse. Which, sometimes it does. But if my sexuality is only sacred when I’m doing the deed, well, then I am not sacred, I am merely an object that performs a sexual act for the purpose of sacredness. For my self to be sexually sacred, or sacrally sexual, it has to be my inherent nature and my choice and my expression of my nature and choice. That’s sacred sexuality. If I express myself as sexual and sacred, I can do it in the context of a dance, or of intercourse, or of a leg massage; it doesn’t matter. Because it’s the sexuality that’s sacred, not playing by the rules of society’s definition of sexual.

And by the way? Totally going back to this woman for my next pedicure.

Deity of the Day: Hanuman

August 10, 2008 / / 2 comments

Hanuman is the Hindu “Monkey God.” He is a monkey and deity whose story is told in the Ramayana, where he is the loyal companion of Rama. Hanuman is the very embodiment of loyalty; in seeking to be a loyal partner and friend, worship Hanuman. He is strong, focused, and persistent.

Unlike Ganesha, who is known as the “Elephant God,” Hanuman is not merely a man with monkey characteristics. He is a king of monkeys, and fully simian (and intelligent). He carries a mace.

When a healing flower (sanjivini) was needed to save Rama, a flower that only grew on a particular mountain, Hanuman, unable to figure out which was the correct flower, brought the entire mountain.

I love this story because it illustrates that strength, goodness, and the willingness to go the distance are more important than intelligence. Hanuman couldn’t figure out the problem, but he busted ass anyway.

Although mostly associated with Rama and Vaishnite Hinduism, Hanuman is also an important part of Devi worship. He is seen at the side of Devi (often in the form of Durga or Seranvali), usually accompanied by Bhairo (a form of Shiva). His loyalty is then given utterly to the Goddess.

Because Hanuman worships Devi and Rama, he is often called upon by people wishing to be more focused in their own worship.

From About.com:

Worshipping the Monkey God
On Saturdays and Tuesdays many people keep fast in honour of Hanuman and give special offerings to him. In times of trouble, it is a common faith among Hindus to chant the name of Hanuman or sing his hymn (“Hanuman Chalisa“) and proclaim “Bajrangbali Ki Jai” — “victory to thy thunderbolt strength”. Once every year — on the full-moon day of Chaitra (April) at sunrise — “Hanuman Jayanti” is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman. Hanuman temples are among the most common public shrines found in India.

Deity of the Week: Willendorf

August 3, 2008 / / 3 comments

On the home page of my main site (you did know I have a main site, right?) you’ll see the figurine variously known as Venus of Willendorf, Willendorf Goddess, or Willendorf Woman.

Willendorf is one of many of a similar type, all of approximately the same age (about 27,000 years old). (My personal favorite is Lespugue.)

It has been said that female representations will invariably be interpreted as “fertility fetishes,” while male representations will be seen as important. Ultimately, calling these statuettes “Venus figures” has come to be seen as dismissive, patronizing, and patriarchal. By pigeon-holing them we bring a modern interpretation without, necessarily, understanding.

“Willendorf Goddess” is a term favored by Women’s Spirituality groups, but archeologists today prefer “Willendorf Woman,” acknowledging that they really don’t know how to classify her.

What these figures have in common is their small size (Willendorf is 4 and 3/8 inches long), exaggerated breasts and bellies, undetailed faces, and lack of feet. The feet thing is generally believed to be so that the figure could be placed in the ground. The lack of a face tends towards an interpretation that the statues are “Woman” or “Fecundity” rather than an individual.

I love worshiping Willendorf as a Primal Force, Original Goddess. I love being with her raw, earthy nature. Placed directly into the earth, she is small enough that tall grasses hide her, but in winter, when grassy places are bare, she appears, reminding us that the earth will provide.

Dance as though you are Willendorf; belly forward, letting gravity pull you towards the earth. This is not a time for fancy footwork! She tells us that Pagan worship is not just of the Earth, but in the earth.

Denessa Smith: Born again

July 29, 2008 / / 2 comments

I found out late yesterday that Denessa Smith had passed into the Summerland. I was heartbroken by this news.

Denessa was the founder of the Tempest Smith Foundation, a foundation in memory of her daughter that combats intolerance towards Pagan young people. I blogged about meeting Denessa here.

I only met Denessa the one time, about a year and a half ago. It would be presumptuous to call her friend. But I was deeply moved by her and will never forget her. She was a true hero. She faced down the death of her young daughter and brought good from it.

I’m crying as I write this. She was a light and a force that I cannot believe is gone from this world. And I cannot bear to imagine being as brave as she was.

May she be born again to those who loved her, and know them, and remember, and love them again. May she and Tempest be born again together and love each other again in the next life.

Blessed be.

Goddess of the Day: Persephone

July 27, 2008 / / One comment

Because most of us learn Greek mythology in school, we think we know these gods quite well, but studying the Greek gods in a Pagan context can reveal a great deal that we didn’t know.

In case you don’t know the story: Persephone, the maiden daughter of Demeter, is abducted by Hades while picking flowers. Demeter, queen of the grain, refuses to allow the crops to grow unless her daughter is returned to her. Zeus, brother to both Demeter and Hades, as well as father of Persephone, brokers the return of Persephone, but discovers that she has eaten pomegranate seeds while in Hell. Therefore, she belongs in Hell, but the grain must grow. So Zeus confines her to hell for one month in each year per seed eaten (variously 3 months or 6 months). This story, with much greater complexity, is the basis of the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Persephone is both Spring Maiden and Queen of Hell. The Pagan tradition Feraferia (written about extensively in Drawing Down the Moon), primarily worships Kore, the Maiden face of Persephone, but most Pagans are interested equally or primarily in her descent into Hell.

Make no mistake that Persephone is Queen of Hell. The story as we learned it in school paints her as maiden and victim, but the reality of Greek religious life was that she ruled the Underworld. Consider: In myths of visits to Hades (Orpheus, Psyche, and Herakles come to mind), Persephone is present there, without regard to the time of year.

Some stories refer to the “rape” of Persephone. There are those who insist that the word is used in the old-fashioned sense of “abduction,” not the more modern usage of “sexual violation.” Some people, though, believe that Persephone was sexually violated by Hades, and question whether this myth is a good thing to include in a modern Pagan cosmology. There are survivors of rape and/or sexual abuse who use Persephone as a patron deity; “she’s been where I’ve been, and she is transformed and risen.” Others reject her because they reject the very paradigm that includes sexual violence.

I believe Persephone was abducted and not raped. Hades cannot even force her to eat the food of the dead; only hope that she will do so voluntarily (which she does). If he cannot force-feed her, can he really force her sexually? I don’t think so. Surely if something in this story is a metaphor for sexual intercourse, eating is more apt than being carried off in a chariot. In eating pomegranate seeds, Persephone is choosing Hades as her husband and lover.

Persephone is Winter and Spring, Death and Rebirth, Daughter and Queen. She is life cycle and duality and passion. Hail Persephone!

Goddess of the Week: Sarasvati

July 13, 2008 / / Comments Off on Goddess of the Week: Sarasvati

Sarasvati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and art. She is often depicted holding the tools of all of her powers; holding a pen, holding a book, and playing the sitar. She also holds a mala (prayer beads).

Sarasvati

Her colors are white and yellow. Her creature is the swan. Often she rides a white swan, or is seated on a white lotus next to a white swan.

In India, schoolchildren worship her to help with their studies and teachers to help with imparting knowledge. Her birthday, Vasant Panchami, is a school holiday (it falls next on January 31, 2009).

She is part of the triplicity of great goddesses (Tridevi) that consists of Sarasvati-Lakshmi-Kali. These goddesses are paired with the triplicity of gods: Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. In general, Hindu myth will marry these six in neat pairs, but there is a story that Sarasvati and Lakshmi (goddess of abundance) are both wives of Vishnu. As co-wives, they bicker and compete, and this is why you can have either a life of abundance and plenty, or a life of art and creativity, but not both.

Gods of the week: Marduk and Tiamat

July 6, 2008 / / 2 comments

(We’ll see if I stick with this…I might switch it to a different weekly topic. For now, it seems enjoyable and interesting.)

You are probably familiar with the Genesis 1.7: God made the firmament and divided the waters. And perhaps, when you were a kid, you said, as I did, huh?

In Babylonian creation myth, the waters were also divided in order for the world to come into being. There were sweet (fresh) waters and bitter (salt) waters. Tiamat, the bitter waters, was the goddess who created the world, and was also a sea monster. Apsu, her husband, was the sweet waters. In the blended waters of Apsu and Tiamat, all the gods were born. Marduk was one of their children.

Marduk was a storm god, a sort of Babylonian Zeus. He rallied his brothers and sisters to make war on their parents. They were (understandably) reluctant, both because, hey, parents, and because their parents were immensely strong. Sea monsters, y’know.

But Marduk had weapons; the mace and spear as well as the lightning. And he said to his brothers and sisters that if they served him in this battle, the gods would be able to rule over nature, they would have power to change fate.

When the gods attack, Apsu urges Tiamat to fight back, but the goddess will not harm her own children, and ultimately allows herself to be killed. From her body, Marduk creates the world, and rules over the gods.

There’s a lot of metaphor and cultural history going on in this one story. Many interpret it as patriarchy defeating matriarchy, and order defeating chaos. You can certainly see how natural powers (sea monsters) are overwhelmed by civilization (the spear and mace). Joseph Campbell points out that matriarchy is always tied with fate, with the inevitability of natural cycles. As society develops, the desire to rule over nature is profound and, to a great degree, necessary, and Marduk represents the success of that desire. It’s easy to look back a few thousand years later and say, BAD IDEA, but living past the age of forty, eating nutritious food, taming animals for husbandry and the land for agriculture, these were all damn fine notions.

Tiamat is the inevitability of being overpowered by nature. Nature is, and it is bigger and stronger than you. But Marduk is the civilizing force that overcomes her; that says, we will not be destroyed by fate or by flood. And that, too, is worthy of worship.

Useless psychic powers

July 2, 2008 / / One comment

So, I had to get my tires balanced. There’s a joke in there, but whatever. I read a novel while waiting and then it feels like enough time and I get up to check on when my car will be ready just as the guy is printing my receipt. So I said, “That’s a useless psychic power!” and he laughed and relayed the following story:

Trucker comes to him for work periodically. Trucker tells him this story. He was driving and had a sudden, compelling intuition that he had to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket. So he stops at the first available place, gets on line for the register, and the guy in front of him is just about all rung up and paid and done when at the last second, he says “You know what? I’d like a scratch-off ticket.”

Guy in front of him won a million dollars.

Great story, right?

Thing is, people say, If magic works, why don’t you do magic to win the lottery? Har har, snort snort, because the people who say that are always people who think magic is bullshit. But the truth is, everyone is doing magic to win the lottery, so it’s a crowded field; it ends up putting you on line right behind the winner.

« Older Entries   Recent Entries »
zeeReputation Theme