Awakening the Goddess
THE GODDESS IN JUDAISM - AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
All religions start with a cosmogony, a myth that tells the worshippers how the world was formed. The first verses of the Hebrew Bible conform to this pattern. They seem quite straightforward and have provided the basis of belief among Jews and Christians for several millennia, although the Christians recast the words of Genesis to conform to their own new ideas.
In the words of Genesis, Beraishit, 'in the beginning', God created the heavens and the earth. The latter was a formless void, there was darkness 'on the face of the deep', and God's spirit moved on the waters (Genesis 1:1-2). This seems quite straightforward and, given a religious cast of thought, easy to assimilate. But here we must pause.
There is another, quite scholastically respectable, way of translating the Hebrew words. The verses would read: 'In the beginning, a number of gods ("Elohim") began to give birth to the heavens and the earth. The earth still belonged to Tohu and Bohu (goddesses of formlessness and ultimate space), and darkness was on the face of the mother creator goddess Tiamat, and a huge wind flapped its wings over the face of the water.' This translation (which will be commented on in detail in the later section on 'Goddesses in the Hebrew background') is at least as indicative of what the original might have meant as are all the interpretations and translations that have been set out until now. As will be seen, references are made to goddesses and perceptions of creation by them that appeared to be present in Hebrew culture. How different would our attitude to religion and society be if the above interpretation or a version of it had been accepted by both Jews and Christians as a reasonable understanding of the text. more. . .
Solidarity & Sustainability ~ The Socio-Ecological Impacts of Religious Patriarchy
Humanity is currently on a global journey from patriarchy to solidarity, sustainability, and sustainable human development. The Solidarity & Sustainability newsletter is a series of reflections on how to mitigate patriarchal barriers to human development and, in particular, how to overcome the enormous obstacles caused by religious patriarchies. The newsletter integrates existing and emerging knowledge (empirical evidence, tradition, relevant experience, wisdom) to show that true religion radically transcends the patriarchal mindset. In fact, true religion always enhances human development, and should never be an obstacle to it. The "Millennium Development Goals" of the United Nations are used as a point of reference.
Please forward this notice to persons who are interested in the complex dynamics of secular and religious patriarchy, gender equity, solidarity, sustainability, sustainable human development, and related global issues. The January 2006 issue is in preparation and will be posted shortly.
Sincerely,
Luis T. Gutierrez, Ph.D., P.E.
Editor, Solidarity & Sustainability Research Newsletter
Travel north to Siena to the Duomo, where inside the cathedral is a gallery of terra-cotta busts depicting 170 popes, in no particular order. In the 17th century, Cardinal Baronuis, the Vatican librarian, wrote that one of the faces was a female -- Joan the Female Pope.
The murder of nine million women during the Inquisition intrigued me even before I knew the number of women burned. Woman has been resigned to her place as a second class homo sapiens, since the Ice Age that began, 27,000 years ago. Women's relegation to home work, while men pursued venison was a turnabout from the adventurous lives of women who hunted, gathered and brought home the herbal "bacon". Women's hunt was of the fruits of the land. But when ice covered the planet, growth ceased and women became the borders of caves with fire and furs as their luxuries.
During the course of people trying to survive, women forgot the powerful creatures they used to be. Three-dimensional life eradicated the memory of the experiment Spirits engaged in to bring upliftment of life and consciousness to Planet Earth. Lightworkers, Starseeds, Ascended Masters and Angels have worked for centuries to keep the idea of Divinity present in the minds and hearts of women, while men continue to build up cities and destroy the habitat of Earth's creatures.
Women were Goddesses long before the cities came, long before the banks came, before the wars came. Peace, care, nurturing and love were the rewards of being around women. That time is returning. Men tire from destruction. They yearn for the warmth of woman's breast, for her rationale for getting what you need when you need it. Their egos are retreating from the need to control her and she needs to be prepared to take the lead.
Halloween Witch
Author Unknown
Each year they parade her
about, the traditional Halloween Witch.
Misshapen green face, stringy scraps of hair, a toothless mouth beneath her
deformed nose. Gnarled knobby fingers twisted into a claw protracting from a
bent and twisted torso that lurches about on wobbly legs. Most think this
abject image to be the creation of a prejudiced mind or merely a Halloween
caricature. I disagree, I believe this to be how Witches were really seen.
Consider that most Witches were women, were abducted in the night, and
smuggled into dungeons or prisons under the secrecy of darkness to be
presented by light of day as a confessed Witch. Few if any saw a frightened
normal looking woman being dragged into a secret room filled with
instruments of torture, to be questioned until she confessed to anything
suggested to her and to give names or what ever would stop the questions.
Crowds saw the aberration denounced to the world as a self-proclaimed Witch.
As the Witch was paraded through town en route to be burned, hanged,
drowned, stoned or disposed of in various other forms of Christian love all
created to free and save her soul from her depraved body, the jeering crowds
viewed the results of hours of torture. The face bruised and broken by
countless blows bore a hue of sickly green. The once warm and loving smile
gone replaced by a grimace of broken teeth and torn gums that leers beneath
a battered disfigured nose. The disheveled hair conceals bleeding gaps of
torn scalp from whence cruel hands had torn away the lovely tresses. Broken
twisted hands clutched the wagon for support, fractured fingers with nails
torn away locked like groping claws to steady her broken body. All semblance
of humanity gone this was truly a demon, a bride of Satan, a Witch.
I revere this Halloween Crone and hold her sacred above all. I honor her
courage and listen to her warnings of the dark side of man. Each year I shed
tears of respect when the mundane exhibit their symbol of Christian love.
Honoring
and celebrating the sacred roots and traditions related to Halloween and
Samhain.
The Charge of the
Goddess
"Hear my words, and know me. I shall be called by many names, in many
tongues; past ancient days, beyond this moment, and through the end of time
-- at once Artemis, Diana, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Venus, the Morrigan, and Queen
of the Witches. I am the Great Goddess, Mother of All.
Whenever you have need of my aid; once a month and best when the moon is
full; and eight times more in the year, shall you assemble in some secret
place, to call me and to honor my spirit. Know that my truths and my love
shall make you free, for no man can enslave you, or prevent your worship of
me in your mind and in your heart. Listen well when you come into my
presence, and I shall teach you of deep mysteries, ancient and powerful; the
rhythms of the planets and the seasons, the circle of life and death and
life renewed. That which is unknown shall be known, and that which is hidden
shall be revealed; even the secluded soul shall be pierced with my light.
Yet I require no sacrifice or pain of your bodies, for I am the Mother of
all living things, and my only law is Love Unto All.
I am the beauty of the green earth, the white moon that sails among the
stars, the mystery of the flowing waters, and the desire of the heart of
man. From me all things are born, and to me all things in their season
return. Let my joyous worship be in your hearts; dance, sing, and feast in
my name, for all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. Let there be
beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and
reverence within you, for these are the gifts which I offer to all my
children.
And you who seek to know me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail
you not, unless you know the Mystery; for if that which you seek, you find
not within yourself, you will never find it without.
Hear my words, and know me truly; Lady of moonlight and magick; Maiden,
Mother and Crone. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I
will welcome you into my arms once more at the end of your earthly
existence."
Adapted from:
"Moon Magic" by D. J. Conway;
"To Ride a Silver Broomstick" by Silver Raven Wolf;
"Casting the Circle" by Diane Stein.
May the deep wisdom traditions of the ancient ones who loved and listened to
the earth and who cherished and honored Life-Spirit-Mystery flourish in our
lives and world.
