charge of goddess & "one river: many wells"

[Guest guest]

Hello Hyacinth and the rest of the group...

 

I am a new member of the group that has crafted a

highly eclectic spiritual path. I was born in

Louisiana, USA and now have lived in Texas, USA for

almost 24 years.

 

Both places are highly conservative and overwhelmingly

Christian. It has certainly been a challenge to find

my way and learn about other cultures & religions in a

cultural environment that does not welcome and

celebrate anything but the "norm", and are highly

suspicious of anthing that is not well known.

 

It became evident to me that I must create my own

pathway to commune with the Divine as I found that,

though raised in a Christian Baptist church,

(1)questions that challenged the dogma and doctrine

taught in church were not at all welcomed and (2)

though I have the highest respect and admiration for

the life of Jesus I believe that the religions that

have sprung from his teachings and the resulting Bible

are really cults in every sense of the word.

 

Realizing I must find my own way, I have studied

Buddhism, Hinduism and the Pagan Path. Based on what

I have read on and discussed with people who

to it, I can not relate to Islam as a resource I would

want to incorporate into my pathway.

 

Hyacinth, "The Charge of the Goddess" that you copied

and shared in your e-mail is a very well known and

powerful creation by Doreen Valiente. She must have

experienced a powerful "download" when she wrote

it...it is so beautiful.

 

I keep my "religion" to myself. It is a private and

very personal experience for me and I do not feel the

need to advertise or bring people over to my beliefs.

It, much like me, is a compilation of my life

experiences...I have Kuan Yin on my altar, I have

Buddha next to my fireplace, I have Green Tara on my

home office desk.

 

I have come to the conclusion..."there is one river

and many wells". There is no one way to the Divine.

For as many people and cultures as there are in this

world, each religion embraced by them is as valid as

their neighbors.

 

To enrich your walk with the Divine I encourage each

of you to learn about the world's religions and then

to take what feels true to you and lifts your spirit

into your heart ... to nourish you and to support you

on your journey.

 

Namaste,

 

Janel

 

--- hyacinth <gaychaos wrote:

> hi

> i received this from an pagan ,tell me

> what do u think especially

> of last line starting from " for behold......" it

> seems very similar to

> hindu description of mother.

>

> The Charge of the Goddess

> Whenever ye have need of any thing, once in the

> month, and better it be when the moon is full, then

shall ye

> assemble in

> some secret place and adore the spirit of She, who

> is Queen of

> all witches. There shall ye assemble, ye who are

> fain to learn

> all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets;

> to these will

> She teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall

> be free from

> slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye

> shall be naked

> in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make

> music and

> love, all in Her praise. For Hers is the ecstasy of

> the spirit,

> and Hers also is joy on earth; for Her law is love

> unto all

> beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever

> towards it; let

> naught stop you or turn you aside. For Hers is the

> secret door

> which opens upon the land of youth and Hers is the

> cup of wine of

> life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the

> Holy Grail of

> immortality. She is the gracious goddess, who gives

> the gift of

> joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, She gave the

> knowledge of

> the spirit eternal; and beyond death, She gives

> peace and

> freedom, and reunion with those who have gone

> before. Nor does

> She demand sacrifice, for behold, She is the mother

> of all

> living, and Her love is poured out upon the earth.

> She who is the beauty of the green earth, and the

> white moon

> among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and

> the desire of

> the heart of man, calls unto thy soul. Arise, and

> come unto Her.

> For She is the soul of nature, who gives life to the

> universe.

> from Her all things proceed, and unto Her all things

> must return;

> and before Her face, beloved of gods and men, let

> thine innermost

> divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the

> infinite. Let Her

> worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for

> behold, all acts

> of love and pleasure are Her rituals. And therefore

> let there be

> beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and

> humility,

> mirth and reverence within you. And thou who

> thinkest to seek

> Her, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee

> not unless

> thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou

> seekest thou

> findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find

> it without

> thee. For behold, She has been with thee from the

> beginning; and

> She is that which is attained at the end of desire.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

 

 

=====

Live out of your imagination...not your history.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Janel<The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) is the realization of Sri

Gurudev's universal teaching that "Truth is One, Paths are Many." Opened in

July 1986, LOTUS is dedicated to the light of all faiths and to world peace, and

embodies Sri Gurudev's efforts to foster religious harmony throughout the

world. Built in the shape of a lotus blossom - the ancient symbol for the

spiritual unfoldment of the soul - the Shrine is a sanctuary for silent

meditation,

contemplation, and prayer. It is a place where people of all backgrounds and

faiths can come together under one roof to honor individual traditions while

realizing the ultimate spiritual unity of all. <A

HREF="http://www.yogaville.org/LOTUS/LOTUS.php">The Light of Truth Universal

Shrine - LOTUS at Satchidananda

Ashram - Yogaville</A> <Patrick

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

hi janel

glad to hear form u.

u said u have eclectic spiritual path,i have similar one,i know u

said u don't advertise about ur path but i am curious how u combine

pagan(particualarly wicca if u r interested) into hindu or buddhist

beleief systems in practice?

i also incorporate some buddhist teachings in my path and

bodhisattva avalokiteshwara and mother tara are close to my heart,i

am especially influenced by tantrayana's concepts of bodhichitta and

bodhisatvas

Blessed be

hyacinth

[Guest guest]

hi amirah and m6

glad to hear from u two

thanks m6 for information about welsh goddess mythology till today i

had thought ancient celtic religions very patriarchal "druidic".i am

glad to learn that i was wrong.

what other goddesses are there in celtic religions?(I am not sure if

it is ok to discuss celtic goddesses here,if it is not,will u mail me

on gaychaos)

 

amirah said:- > I myself practiced what is commonly known as "Dianic

Witchcraft" for over 5

> years

 

ahh.... is it same as dianic wicca,with female only covens?

 

, but we preferred to call ourselves goddess worshippers to separate

> ourselves from "Wicca" because there is a difference in belief that

informs both

> social vision and ways of worship.

 

yes i also have difficulties with 'traditional' wicca with its rigid

structure

> The Charge of the Goddess, the Doreen Valiente version, is an

adaptation of

> "The Charge of Aradia" in the book "Aradia: Gospel of the Witches,"

by Charles

> Leland, written in 1890. I'm not quite familiar with what you

compare to the

> verse in the Charge, but it doesn't surprise me that there are such

close

> parallels.

 

yes actually the pagan group from which i lifted this post said it to

be from "aradia gospel of witches"

i hope goddess traditions from east and west can be brought closer

blessed be

hyacinth

[Guest guest]

--- Janel Jones <coachjanel> wrote:

> Based on what

> I have read on and discussed with people who

> to it, I can not relate to Islam as a resource I would

> want to incorporate into my pathway.

 

The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti Tantra / Goddess

love might make you feel a little different about it. Not

suggesting that you ought to incorporate it if it doesn't appeal to

you, but just to be aware that Islam is not lacking its Shakti

dimension. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I could bear to

remain in it. I find the Goddess fulfillment that my soul needs

within the divine feminine Islam.

 

Like you, my personal religious faith is hard for me to discuss with

other people, but sometimes there is a time and place when it helps

to talk about it.

 

Probably all religions have a Shaktic dimension within them

somewhere. I don't know if there is could exist an exclusively

masculinist religion. All of us yearn for the Mother. Once I went

to a conference on Sufism Eastern Orthodox Christianity and noticed

to my discomfort that all the speakers were men in black robes. Not

a single woman. I had never seen such an exclusively male-dominated

religion. (The feminine side of Eastern Orthodoxy is apparent to me

only in the proliferation of the icons of Mary.) There were plenty

of Sufi women who contributed, however.

 

The Byzantine empress Theodosia was an important figure in Greek

Orthodoxy, long ago, I think, but you never see women active in it

any more. The monks at the Greek monastery of Mount Athos do not

even allow female animals, let alone women. That is crazy to so

radically deny the feminine. Jesus himself hung out with all kinds

of women and prostitutes.

 

I have heard that Theravada Buddhism denies the possibility of

liberation for women, that you have to be reborn as a man. Is this

true? Mahayana Buddhism has a role for women, like Pema Chödrön,

and the Tantric side of Buddhism naturally has a deeply feminine

aspect. In Tantric Bengal you have lots of Muslims who sing hymns

to Mother Kali. Previously I had not paid much attention to Wicca

and Neopaganism, but now I am interested in opening a dialogue with

them, because we share this love for the Goddess.

 

Jaya Ma

[Guest guest]

Janel<as you travel east, be sure to stop by the Palace of Gold in WV. Just

tell them Patrick send you and they will find a place for you to stay. <A

HREF="http://www.palaceofgold.com/vt1.htm">Virtual Tour of the Palace of

Gold</A>

<West Virginia is renown for natural beauty, verdant hills and mountains,

but who would expect to see at the end of one of those winding Appalachian roads

a Palace of Gold? On seeing its domes and stained-glass windows, the visitor

may stop a moment to wonder whether he's suddenly transported to mystical

India. But unlike buildings such as the Taj Mahal, Prabhupada's Palace is not a

memorial to mundane love. Its greatness cannot be understood in terms of marble,

teak, silver, or gold. No expert architect nor experienced artisans were

involved. It was built by young devotees reading "do-it-yourself" books and

inspired by their desire to build a modest home for their spiritual master. By

God's

arrangement, their work was transformed into a labor of love. <Om Ganesh<Sir

Patrick Ganesh

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

To:

--- peNkaLai_kâtalikkiRên <penkatali wrote:

RE:

>

> The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti

> Tantra / Goddess love might make you feel a little

different about it... I find the Goddess fulfillment

that my soul needs within the divine feminine Islam.

 

Dear Jaya Ma,

 

I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for your

tender nudge to learn more about Islam and explore the

feminine divine that is there. I will do so.

 

Your observations about male dominated religious

events and gatherings is spot on. Ever since I was

about 10-12 years old, I have become more impatient

with the way women were relegated to the menial

responsibilities and tasks within the religious

structure.

 

In my experience in the Wiccan and Pagan worlds, I

have certainly understood the motivation and comfort

zone of creating Dianic groups, eliminating men

altogether and having only female deities.

 

However, I seek balance in all things. The yin and

the yang of everything. An all women situation is

comfortable to me...yet I feel is not quite complete.

Masculine energy and strength is a beautiful thing

when applied with the feminine as equals, two halves

of the cosmic whole.

 

You are right...we all yearn for the mother. It

wasn't until I began seeing the feminine face of God

that my spiritual life blossomed.

 

Blessed be...

 

Janel

 

=====

Live out of your imagination...not your history.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Ganeshspam,

 

Thank you for sending me to this website. It is

lovely, informative and I shall spend some time

navigating it.

 

Looking at the Shrine, I am filled with the urge to

grab my PJ's and a toothbrush, jump in my car and

drive in an easterly direction to LOTUS. What a

beautiful place. I wonder what wonderous mental and

spiritual places I could experience at this special

place.

 

I have bookmarked the site under "Retreat Info and

Resources". Perhaps someday soon...

 

Thank you again,

 

Janel

 

--- Ganeshspam wrote:

> Janel<The Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) is

> the realization of Sri Gurudev's universal teaching

that "Truth is One, Paths are Many." Opened in

> July 1986, LOTUS is dedicated to the light of all

> faiths and to world peace...

 

 

=====

Live out of your imagination...not your history.

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Greetings fellow Goddess worshipper -

 

When you speak of the feminine side of Islam, are you referring to

Fatima Al-Zahra, the wondrous, the splendid; the brightest star in

the heavens above; and the original Sufi also, I understand?

 

m6

 

, peNkaLai kâtalikkiRên

<penkatali> wrote:

> --- Janel Jones <coachjanel> wrote:

> > Based on what

> > I have read on and discussed with people who

> > to it, I can not relate to Islam as a resource I would

> > want to incorporate into my pathway.

>

> The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti Tantra / Goddess

> love might make you feel a little different about it. Not

> suggesting that you ought to incorporate it if it doesn't appeal to

> you, but just to be aware that Islam is not lacking its Shakti

> dimension. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I could bear

to

> remain in it. I find the Goddess fulfillment that my soul needs

> within the divine feminine Islam.

>

> Like you, my personal religious faith is hard for me to discuss

with

> other people, but sometimes there is a time and place when it helps

> to talk about it.

>

> Probably all religions have a Shaktic dimension within them

> somewhere. I don't know if there is could exist an exclusively

> masculinist religion. All of us yearn for the Mother. Once I went

> to a conference on Sufism Eastern Orthodox Christianity and noticed

> to my discomfort that all the speakers were men in black robes. Not

> a single woman. I had never seen such an exclusively male-

dominated

> religion. (The feminine side of Eastern Orthodoxy is apparent to me

> only in the proliferation of the icons of Mary.) There were plenty

> of Sufi women who contributed, however.

>

> The Byzantine empress Theodosia was an important figure in Greek

> Orthodoxy, long ago, I think, but you never see women active in it

> any more. The monks at the Greek monastery of Mount Athos do not

> even allow female animals, let alone women. That is crazy to so

> radically deny the feminine. Jesus himself hung out with all kinds

> of women and prostitutes.

>

> I have heard that Theravada Buddhism denies the possibility of

> liberation for women, that you have to be reborn as a man. Is this

> true? Mahayana Buddhism has a role for women, like Pema Chödrön,

> and the Tantric side of Buddhism naturally has a deeply feminine

> aspect. In Tantric Bengal you have lots of Muslims who sing hymns

> to Mother Kali. Previously I had not paid much attention to Wicca

> and Neopaganism, but now I am interested in opening a dialogue with

> them, because we share this love for the Goddess.

>

> Jaya Ma

[Guest guest]

Dear Shaktas,

 

We are equal but different men and women; and therein lies a mystery,

something deep and eternal; there is a place and a time for

exclusively female groups - they certainly also existed in ancient

Greece, and were held most sacred, powerful - even though, in this

instance,

devoted to a god of divine ecstacy:-

 

The Thyiades.

 

Did I say 'powerful'? - perhaps that should have been Shakti-full:

Delphi - a site local to Parnassus - was originally the Oracle of the

Pythia.

 

m6

 

 

 

 

 

, Janel Jones <coachjanel>

wrote:

> To:

> --- peNkaLai_kâtalikkiRên <penkatali> wrote:

> RE:

> >

> > The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti

> > Tantra / Goddess love might make you feel a little

> different about it... I find the Goddess fulfillment

> that my soul needs within the divine feminine Islam.

>

> Dear Jaya Ma,

>

> I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for your

> tender nudge to learn more about Islam and explore the

> feminine divine that is there. I will do so.

>

> Your observations about male dominated religious

> events and gatherings is spot on. Ever since I was

> about 10-12 years old, I have become more impatient

> with the way women were relegated to the menial

> responsibilities and tasks within the religious

> structure.

>

> In my experience in the Wiccan and Pagan worlds, I

> have certainly understood the motivation and comfort

> zone of creating Dianic groups, eliminating men

> altogether and having only female deities.

>

> However, I seek balance in all things. The yin and

> the yang of everything. An all women situation is

> comfortable to me...yet I feel is not quite complete.

> Masculine energy and strength is a beautiful thing

> when applied with the feminine as equals, two halves

> of the cosmic whole.

>

> You are right...we all yearn for the mother. It

> wasn't until I began seeing the feminine face of God

> that my spiritual life blossomed.

>

> Blessed be...

>

> Janel

>

> =====

> Live out of your imagination...not your history.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, megalith, Fatimah is one fine example of the shakti of Islam;

in fact, Bengali Muslims sang hymns in which Fatimah was blended

with Uma/Durga/Kali and praised for her "shakti" in Bengali. See

the book "The Islamic Syncretic Tradition in Bengal" by Asim Roy.

Gotta love Bengal, land of the Goddess, a place where Islam, Tantra,

and Shakti all meet and mingle.

 

Jaya Ma - This is a Sanskrit or Hindi phrase meaning 'Victory to the

Mother!' and I exclaim it when overwhelmed by Her presence.

 

Jaya Paramata - Victory to the Supreme Mother!

 

I like the idea of Dianic worship, although I'm disqualified from it

by being a man, but anyway I send blessings to my sisters in the

spirit in those circles. What I like about the Dianic way is not

the exclusion of men, but rather the total focus on the Goddess

alone, which is my inclination too.

 

Love and blessings,

PK

 

, "m6" <megalith6@h...> wrote:

> Greetings fellow Goddess worshipper -

>

> When you speak of the feminine side of Islam, are you referring to

> Fatima Al-Zahra, the wondrous, the splendid; the brightest star in

> the heavens above; and the original Sufi also, I understand?

>

> m6

>

> , peNkaLai kâtalikkiRên

> <penkatali> wrote:

> > --- Janel Jones <coachjanel> wrote:

> > > Based on what

> > > I have read on and discussed with people who

> > > to it, I can not relate to Islam as a resource I would

> > > want to incorporate into my pathway.

> >

> > The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti Tantra /

Goddess

> > love might make you feel a little different about it. Not

> > suggesting that you ought to incorporate it if it doesn't appeal

to

> > you, but just to be aware that Islam is not lacking its Shakti

> > dimension. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I could

bear

> to

> > remain in it. I find the Goddess fulfillment that my soul needs

> > within the divine feminine Islam.

> >

> > Like you, my personal religious faith is hard for me to discuss

> with

> > other people, but sometimes there is a time and place when it

helps

> > to talk about it.

> >

> > Probably all religions have a Shaktic dimension within them

> > somewhere. I don't know if there is could exist an exclusively

> > masculinist religion. All of us yearn for the Mother. Once I

went

> > to a conference on Sufism Eastern Orthodox Christianity and

noticed

> > to my discomfort that all the speakers were men in black robes.

Not

> > a single woman. I had never seen such an exclusively male-

> dominated

> > religion. (The feminine side of Eastern Orthodoxy is apparent to

me

> > only in the proliferation of the icons of Mary.) There were

plenty

> > of Sufi women who contributed, however.

> >

> > The Byzantine empress Theodosia was an important figure in Greek

> > Orthodoxy, long ago, I think, but you never see women active in

it

> > any more. The monks at the Greek monastery of Mount Athos do

not

> > even allow female animals, let alone women. That is crazy to so

> > radically deny the feminine. Jesus himself hung out with all

kinds

> > of women and prostitutes.

> >

> > I have heard that Theravada Buddhism denies the possibility of

> > liberation for women, that you have to be reborn as a man. Is

this

> > true? Mahayana Buddhism has a role for women, like Pema

Chödrön,

> > and the Tantric side of Buddhism naturally has a deeply feminine

> > aspect. In Tantric Bengal you have lots of Muslims who sing

hymns

> > to Mother Kali. Previously I had not paid much attention to

Wicca

> > and Neopaganism, but now I am interested in opening a dialogue

with

> > them, because we share this love for the Goddess.

> >

> > Jaya Ma

[Guest guest]

There are some Dianic Wiccan Covens that accept men. I found this

out while interacting with some members in other groups and through a

little research.

 

Randy

 

, peNkaLai kâtalikkiRên

<penkatali> wrote:

 

I like the idea of Dianic worship, although I'm disqualified from

it by being a man

[Guest guest]

I understand the exclusively female groups to be necessary but

temporary. After many years of patriarchy - in many cultures, I

believe that the exclusion of men allows women to develop their own

voice without being drowned out by traditional male values.

 

Randy

 

, "m6" <megalith6@h...> wrote:

 

there is a place and a time for exclusively female groups

[Guest guest]

Namaste PK,

 

Blessings on you - I had long wondered about the Goddess tradition in

Bengal: I will seek out the book you recommend with great interest.

 

Om Matta Ki!

 

m6

 

, peNkaLai kâtalikkiRên

<penkatali> wrote:

> Yes, megalith, Fatimah is one fine example of the shakti of Islam;

> in fact, Bengali Muslims sang hymns in which Fatimah was blended

> with Uma/Durga/Kali and praised for her "shakti" in Bengali. See

> the book "The Islamic Syncretic Tradition in Bengal" by Asim Roy.

> Gotta love Bengal, land of the Goddess, a place where Islam,

Tantra,

> and Shakti all meet and mingle.

>

> Jaya Ma - This is a Sanskrit or Hindi phrase meaning 'Victory to

the

> Mother!' and I exclaim it when overwhelmed by Her presence.

>

> Jaya Paramata - Victory to the Supreme Mother!

>

> I like the idea of Dianic worship, although I'm disqualified from

it

> by being a man, but anyway I send blessings to my sisters in the

> spirit in those circles. What I like about the Dianic way is not

> the exclusion of men, but rather the total focus on the Goddess

> alone, which is my inclination too.

>

> Love and blessings,

> PK

>

> , "m6" <megalith6@h...> wrote:

> > Greetings fellow Goddess worshipper -

> >

> > When you speak of the feminine side of Islam, are you referring

to

> > Fatima Al-Zahra, the wondrous, the splendid; the brightest star

in

> > the heavens above; and the original Sufi also, I understand?

> >

> > m6

> >

> > , peNkaLai kâtalikkiRên

> > <penkatali> wrote:

> > > --- Janel Jones <coachjanel> wrote:

> > > > Based on what

> > > > I have read on and discussed with people who

> > > > to it, I can not relate to Islam as a resource I would

> > > > want to incorporate into my pathway.

> > >

> > > The feminine side of Islam congruent with Shakti Tantra /

> Goddess

> > > love might make you feel a little different about it. Not

> > > suggesting that you ought to incorporate it if it doesn't

appeal

> to

> > > you, but just to be aware that Islam is not lacking its Shakti

> > > dimension. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I could

> bear

> > to

> > > remain in it. I find the Goddess fulfillment that my soul

needs

> > > within the divine feminine Islam.

> > >

> > > Like you, my personal religious faith is hard for me to discuss

> > with

> > > other people, but sometimes there is a time and place when it

> helps

> > > to talk about it.

> > >

> > > Probably all religions have a Shaktic dimension within them

> > > somewhere. I don't know if there is could exist an exclusively

> > > masculinist religion. All of us yearn for the Mother. Once I

> went

> > > to a conference on Sufism Eastern Orthodox Christianity and

> noticed

> > > to my discomfort that all the speakers were men in black robes.

> Not

> > > a single woman. I had never seen such an exclusively male-

> > dominated

> > > religion. (The feminine side of Eastern Orthodoxy is apparent

to

> me

> > > only in the proliferation of the icons of Mary.) There were

> plenty

> > > of Sufi women who contributed, however.

> > >

> > > The Byzantine empress Theodosia was an important figure in

Greek

> > > Orthodoxy, long ago, I think, but you never see women active in

> it

> > > any more. The monks at the Greek monastery of Mount Athos do

> not

> > > even allow female animals, let alone women. That is crazy to

so

> > > radically deny the feminine. Jesus himself hung out with all

> kinds

> > > of women and prostitutes.

> > >

> > > I have heard that Theravada Buddhism denies the possibility of

> > > liberation for women, that you have to be reborn as a man. Is

> this

> > > true? Mahayana Buddhism has a role for women, like Pema

> Chödrön,

> > > and the Tantric side of Buddhism naturally has a deeply

feminine

> > > aspect. In Tantric Bengal you have lots of Muslims who sing

> hymns

> > > to Mother Kali. Previously I had not paid much attention to

> Wicca

> > > and Neopaganism, but now I am interested in opening a dialogue

> with

> > > them, because we share this love for the Goddess.

> > >

> > > Jaya Ma

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Agree with what you say, but the meeting of many women together for a

spiritual purpose is a powerful thing - like the Thyiades - it is not

for mortal males: it is a thing of mystery.

 

Remember what happened to Actaeon when he stumbled into the Moon

Goodess's presence unannounced? What he saw was not for the eyes of

men.

 

There is a very similar legend from Scotland about one Tam O'Shanter

who chances upon a (mixed) coven of witches c1790; but it is the

women who vengefully pursue him, wrestling away the tail of his hard-

pressed mare,

as the hapless Tam gallops away on her.

 

Possibly these legends are distant echoes of Matriarchal Times, when

men were generally excluded from such gatherings?

 

This is something other than Shakti Sadhana, as I understand it,

where the male and female principles are everywhere implicit,

viz 'Shiva-Shakti'.

 

Jai Om!

 

m6

 

, "Randy" <colli01@a...> wrote:

> I understand the exclusively female groups to be necessary but

> temporary. After many years of patriarchy - in many cultures, I

> believe that the exclusion of men allows women to develop their own

> voice without being drowned out by traditional male values.

>

> Randy

>

> , "m6" <megalith6@h...> wrote:

>

> there is a place and a time for exclusively female groups