Guest guest Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 Hi Eric: How beautiful, the goddess is in you! Your post made me want to post the following: She is not beyond your eyes and skin. The woman is you as much as the man is you. It is wonderful that you revere the divine feminine/female and honor women, but do not only project that outside yourself. She lives in every man. Love her there, too, in the same way you are learning to love her through her visits to you. Is loving the woman loving the man? Is loving the man loving the woman? Why and/or why not? Why do we love women and men differently? I came across this in the book The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels and wanted to post it awhile back, but now seems like a good opportunity: "...the companion of the [savior is] Mary Magdelene. [but Christ loved] her more than [all] the disciples, and used to kiss her [often] on her [mouth]. The rest of [the discipled were offended]... They said to him, "Why do you love her more than all of us?" The Savor answered and said to them, "Why do I not love you as (I love) her?" -- Gospel of Phillip For religious fundamentalists, the answer might be because such love would be an abomination! But I feel the question articulated by Jesus in the quoted passage is profound and enlightening. I welcome more discussion on this topic. The Gnostic Gospels book is based on Pagels' research into texts that were discovered in an earthenware jar at Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt by Muhammud Ali al-Samman, an Arab peasant, in 1945. These gospels are claimed to be books that were rejected from the official Christian teachings because they support an inner relationship with the divine rather than an external one, with its hierarchy of domination, as traditional Christianity came to be. It is said that these books are influenced by Eastern philosophies. Love, Mary Ann , "Eric Otto" <mkultra@f...> wrote: > a goddess shows up in my dreams and visions from time to time. > The first times I "handled" it but now I realize that I didn't address > her with reverence, veneration or awe that I should have. I'm also > understanding that as a man I need to address all women and feminine > creatures with greater respect. There is a bigger view coming > about that it is not clear yet involving all of the feminine, i.e., > the world beyond my skin and eyes. > > It's a bit new to me living and growing up in an environment where > women there did not have a lot of respect for themselves or with the > men in their lives. Seemed that I grew up with a lot of sad or angry > women. There is a lot discussion about equity between the sexes but > what I find is power issues and who has it in the relationship. If > I'm understanding it correctly, it is through the woman that a man > might find enlightenment. To be in relationship, then the man has to > be a respector of persons in a careful caring way. > > I am addressing women as ma'am here now just for practice and > realizing that such addressing of women is to change my perceptions, > too. But the goddess shows up in dreams and glimpses here and there, > and one needs to address her respectfully. One needs to address the > feminine just as respectfully as if a meditation. > > I'm probably rambling here. Thanks. > > Eric > > > > > , akka_108 <akka_108> wrote: > > I think you can address avery goddess as mother (Ma, Mata, Mataji, > Amma). > > Is that what you mean, or did I misunderstand you? > > > > Eric Otto <mkultra@f...> wrote: > > Hi all - > > > > Obvioius question: how does one best address a goddess? How does > > one best relate to one from the perspect of a male? > > > > Thank you. > > > > Eric Otto > > > > > > Sponsor > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Terms of Service. > > > > > > > > > > SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2003 Report Share Posted September 11, 2003 The word "Ma'am" is derived from French "Ma Dame" which of course means "My Lady." "Ms." or "Mrs." or "Missis" all ultimately derive from "Mistress." (Which of course is the feminine form of "Mister" or "Master." If you start studying Sanskrit plays and poetry, you find that all the titles that are applied to the Divine -- Ishvara, Ishvari, Bhagavan, Bhagavati, Mahadeva, Mahadevi, were also originally applied as forms of address to mortal men and women. -- Len/ Kalipadma On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 17:19:48 -0700 (PDT) akka_108 <akka_108 writes: > Dear Eric, > > If only there were more men like you trying to show more respect to > women! > We would live in a much better world! > > Devi is Shakti, Shakti is the mother of all. > All goddesses are fractions of Shakti, all mortal women are > fractions of fractions of Devi. > So you can address every female as mother. > The word "Ma' am" itself contains the word "Ma". > > Eric Otto <mkultra wrote: > > > I am addressing women as ma'am here now just for practice and > realizing that such addressing of women is to change my perceptions, > too. But the goddess shows up in dreams and glimpses here and > there, > and one needs to address her respectfully. One needs to address the > feminine just as respectfully as if a meditation. > ______________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2003 Report Share Posted September 12, 2003 I revere the Divine primarily as Feminine, but I see no reason to discriminate by gender. The common Hindu greeting to both women and men (and Deity) is "Namaste," meaning, "I bow to the Divine within you." Or as Neo-Pagan Oberon Zell put it, "Thou art Goddess. Thou art God." There are three sorts of devotee (so I've been told). Pashus, Viras, and Divyas. Pashus ("tethered beasts") address the Divine as Master or Mistress and wish to serve God/dess. Viras ("heroic ones") address the Divine as Lover, or Beloved, and wish to adore God/dess. Divyas ("divine one") address the Divine as Brother, or Sister, and wish to become God/dess. There are also those who address the Divine as Mother or Father; some prefer to address the Divine as My Child (think of baby Krishna, or baby Uma). A prayer goes: Thou art my Mother, and my Father Thou art/ Thou at my born Kinsman, and my chosen Friend Thou art/ Thou art my Wisdom, and my Support Thou art/ Thou art my Everything, Oh My God of Gods./ Note that English finds the Familiar form antiquated (Thou, Thee, Ye), but most languages apply it towards addressing the Divine. -- Len/ Kalipadma On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 01:07:25 -0000 =?iso-8859-1?q?peNkaLai_k=E2talikkiR=EAn?= <penkatali writes: > In my everyday life I have taken up the simple Tantric spiritual > practice of bowing to all women. All women. It is wonderful how > easily that simple gesture of reverence for the Feminine envelops > you in the presence of the Goddess. Feel the love. > ______________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2003 Report Share Posted September 12, 2003 My Wiccan High Priestess (Judy Harrow, author of "Wicca Covens") says, "The woman who most needs liberating is the woman in every man. The man who most needs liberating is the man in every woman." And it's why we did away with most gender-specific rituals in our coven. -- Len/ Kalipadma On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 02:23:35 -0000 "Mary Ann" <maryann writes: > Hi Eric: How beautiful, the goddess is in you! Your post made > me want to post the following: She is not beyond your eyes and > skin. The woman is you as much as the man is you. It is > wonderful that you revere the divine feminine/female and honor > women, but do not only project that outside yourself. She lives in > every man. Love her there, too, in the same way you are learning > to love her through her visits to you. Is loving the woman loving > the man? Is loving the man loving the woman? Why and/or why > not? Why do we love women and men differently? > ______________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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