Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Thanks for this interesting post. I am currently reading a book called Cunt: A Declaration of Independence, by Inga Muscio. I have just completed the chapter on "Whoredom," in which the author says that whores used to be considered sacred teachers, and until our world integrates respect for sexuality that incorporates reverence for sex work and workers, we will continue to be a world of death- revering war mongers. It's a book worth reading. Ms. Mucsio tells in the book about her receiving darshan from Ammachi, and she also highly recommends Riane Eisler's work (who has a book named on Shakti Sadhana's reading list). Mary Ann , "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta> wrote: > KURAIL(M.P.),APRIL 9: Breaking tradition, hundreds of sex workers > danced at a temple fair in the village of Kurail in Madhya Pradesh > offering thanksgiving to Janaki or Sita, the consort of Lord Ram. > > According to informed sources, it is the only temple in the country > where sex workers, otherwise ostracized by society, are allowed to > enter the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. > > In Hindu mythology, Sita is seen as a symbol of purity and perfect > womanhood. Traditionally, locals here believe that Sita bestowed > respectability to the sex workers and made it mandatory for devotees > to invite them to the temple to pray and dance once their wishes > were fulfilled. > > Thousands of people come to the temple during the first week of > April, mostly to seek the blessings of the deity to have children or > for marital bliss. > > "We have been coming here for the last five years...whenever > people's wishes are fulfilled they bring us here to dance. The > Goddess Janaki is pleased with us, this is why we come here," Guddi, > a sex worker said. > > The women, dressed in colourful and flowing dresses, besides heavy > jewelery and loud makeup, mingle freely with the people who show > them respect and offer them numerous gifts. > > "This is a one of kind fair in the world and in a span of just eight > hours over a million people congregrate here. The sex workers dance > and revel to please the goddess," Udyabhansingh Yadav, the event's > organizer, said. > > Ninety-four percent of the country's three million sex workers are > Indian, while the rest are mainly from Bangladesh and Nepal. At > least 600,000 minors are also employed in the profession and their > number is said to increasing by almost 10 per cent every year. > > Source: Hindunet News > URL: http://www.hindunet.com/onps/showarticle.php?ph=&ag=&a=13611 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 The other night on HBO, there was a show on streetwalkers. I was telling my boyfriend (who was questioning why I was watching this show) about how there used to be no shame attached to sex, as there were sacred women who "worked" at the temples, serving the Goddess, by giving of themselves to men, in her honor. Of course, the motives are not the same now...these women are frequently victims of drugs, abuse and are at the mercy of pimps. However, the power of women's sexuality (with and over men) still comes into play here.... Men seek a union, sacred or profane with the womb, from whence they came...... BB Gwen of Crowhaven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 Dear Gwen -- You write: > ...the power of women's sexuality (with and over men) > still comes into play here.... > Men seek a union, sacred or profane with the womb, > from whence they came...... In many ancient cultures, there were also sacred MEN who worked in temples, giving themselves sexually to other male worshippers, in the name of the Goddess. It was often believed that such "kedushim" (the Hebrew name for male "temple prostitutes") could remove bad luck and sinful contagion from their "clients." Some such male sex workers took names like "My Anus Devours Sins," or "My Tongue Laps Up Your Misfortune." In modern day India, <hejras>, or eunuchs (who may or may not have had their male genitalia surgically removed) have two primary professions: as shamans (specializing in removing bad luck), and as prostitutes. Hejras are also in the forefront of India's AIDS awareness movement, teaching their female sex worker sisters about using condoms, etc. Human sexuality has always been much more complex than "seeking a (re)union with the womb." -- Len/ Kalipadma On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 22:46:57 EDT Gwenofcrowhaven writes: > The other night on HBO, there was a show > on streetwalkers. I was telling my boyfriend > (who was questioning why I was watching this show) > about how there used to be no shame attached to sex, > as there were sacred women who "worked" at the temples, > serving the Goddess, by giving of themselves to men, in her honor. > Of course, the motives are not the same now...these women > are frequently victims of drugs, abuse and are at the mercy of > pimps. > However, the power of women's sexuality (with and over men) > still comes into play here.... > Men seek a union, sacred or profane with the womb, > from whence they came...... > BB > Gwen of Crowhaven > ______________ 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 April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 In a message dated 17-Apr-04 00:19:37 Pacific Daylight Time, Gwenofcrowhaven writes: The other night on HBO, there was a show on streetwalkers. I was telling my boyfriend (who was questioning why I was watching this show) about how there used to be no shame attached to sex, as there were sacred women who "worked" at the temples, serving the Goddess, by giving of themselves to men, in her honor. Of course, the motives are not the same now...these women are frequently victims of drugs, abuse and are at the mercy of pimps. However, the power of women's sexuality (with and over men) still comes into play here.... Men seek a union, sacred or profane with the womb, from whence they came...... BB Gwen of Crowhaven Also it is the only way they can connect with the Goddess ...and when ever we have congress with a man we must always remember that we are a Priestess at that time and conduct ourselves acordingly Heal him Understand him Strengthen him Respect him Nurture him Love him even today the best sex workers do all of the above and I appriciate the work that they do and pray for thier protection Blessed Be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 This brings this ol' classic to mind (this is meant to be humorous) Sometimes it's hard to be a woman Giving all your love to just one man You'll have bad times And he'll have good times Doing things that you don't understand But if you love him you'll forgive him Even though he's hard to understand And if you love him Oh be proud of him 'Cause after all he's just a man Stand by your man Give him two arms to cling to And something warm to come to When nights are cold and lonely Stand by your man And tell the world you love him Keep giving all the love you can Stand by your man Stand by your man And show the world you love him Keep giving all the love you can Stand by your man (as sung by Tammy Wynette; sorry, don't know if she wrote it or who did if not) , MaryJWoodworth@a... wrote: > In a message dated 17-Apr-04 00:19:37 Pacific Daylight Time, > Gwenofcrowhaven@a... writes: > The other night on HBO, there was a show > on streetwalkers. I was telling my boyfriend > (who was questioning why I was watching this show) > about how there used to be no shame attached to sex, > as there were sacred women who "worked" at the temples, > serving the Goddess, by giving of themselves to men, in her honor. > Of course, the motives are not the same now...these women > are frequently victims of drugs, abuse and are at the mercy of > pimps. > However, the power of women's sexuality (with and over men) > still comes into play here.... > Men seek a union, sacred or profane with the womb, > from whence they came...... > BB > Gwen of Crowhaven > > > > Also it is the only way they can connect with the Goddess ...and when ever we > have congress with a man we must always remember that we are a Priestess at > that time > and conduct ourselves acordingly > > Heal him > Understand him > Strengthen him > Respect him > Nurture him > Love him > > even today the best sex workers do all of the above > and I appriciate the work that they do > and pray for thier protection > > Blessed Be > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 11:36:02 EDT MaryJWoodworth wrote: > Also it [sexual contact] is the only way they [men] can connect with the Goddess ...and > when ever we > have congress with a man we must always remember that we are a > Priestess at > that time > and conduct ourselves acordingly > Men can only connect to the Goddess through having sex with women? What a bizarre notion! How do you explain Shree Ramakrishna of Dakshineshvar, perhaps the greatest devotee of Kali in modern history? Ramakrishnaji was <brahmacharya> (celibate) his entire life. Men can relate to women in countless other ways than sexually. Women are men's mothers and daughters, teachers and students, queens and servants, friends and competitors. There are forms of the Goddess based on every kind of relationship. I often see the Devi as my daughter, as my Guru, as the one who gives me birth, and who will re-absorb my body when I die. None of these are explicitly sexual. -- Len/ Kalipadma ______________ 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 April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 I was very glad to see that at least somebody in India is giving prostitutes the respect that they deserve. The Divine shines within the heart of every woman, regardless of how social conditions force her to earn money to feed her children. A woman forced by others into such an occupation has just as much right as any to worship the Divine. Indeed, she has a greater need to do so because of the difficulty of her position. She desperately needs the strength and self-respect that worship of the Divine can provide. I find it sad when people worship some stone depiction of a yoni yet degrade and dishonor real living women in their midst. This is hypocritical and in my opinion highly offensive. Sister Usha ===== Sister Usha Devi Founder, Divinely Female and worshipper of the Sacred Flame that shines inside every woman Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ ph/print_splash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Len: I appreciate your posts on this topic. I posted the Tammy Wynette song as a 'tongue in cheek" commentary on the direction of this thread, but maybe it was too subtle to be understood as such. There have been so many taboos/limits placed on sexuality outside "heterosexual" relations and the typical power dynamics attached to those relations (one such dynamic depicted in Tammy Wynette's song). There are all kinds of justifications used for these limits, especially religious justifications. The misconceptions seem quite common rather than bizarre to me. I guess what's bizarre is how persistent they are. I think as long as we have a violence- and war-centered culture, such longstanding misalignments in thought - especially pertaining to gender and sexuality - will continue. I agree with Riane Eisler in the Chalice & Blade: the enforced division between fe/male, including the roles assigned to the genders by culture/society (i.e. typical power dynamics attached to heterosexual relations - which have become the blueprint for all sexual relations), is what undergirds the violence in society. Mary Ann , kalipadma@j... wrote: > > > On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 11:36:02 EDT MaryJWoodworth@a... wrote: > > Also it [sexual contact] is the only way they [men] can connect with > the Goddess ...and > > when ever we > > have congress with a man we must always remember that we are a > > Priestess at > > that time > > and conduct ourselves acordingly > > > > Men can only connect to the Goddess through having sex with women? What > a bizarre notion! How do you explain Shree Ramakrishna of Dakshineshvar, > perhaps the greatest devotee of Kali in modern history? Ramakrishnaji > was <brahmacharya> (celibate) his entire life. > > Men can relate to women in countless other ways than sexually. Women are > men's mothers and daughters, teachers and students, queens and servants, > friends and competitors. There are forms of the Goddess based on every > kind of relationship. I often see the Devi as my daughter, as my Guru, > as the one who gives me birth, and who will re-absorb my body when I die. > None of these are explicitly sexual. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > > > ______________ > 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 April 19, 2004 Report Share Posted April 19, 2004 On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:02:46 -0000 "Mary Ann" <maryann writes: > Hi Len: I appreciate your posts on this topic. Thank you. >There have been so many taboos/limits placed on sexuality > outside "heterosexual" relations and the typical power dynamics > attached to those relations (one such dynamic depicted in > Tammy Wynette's song). There are all kinds of justifications > used for these limits, especially religious justifications. The > misconceptions seem quite common rather than bizarre to me. I > guess what's bizarre is how persistent they are. I think Gwen (who appears to be Wiccan) seemed to be arguing that men were incapable of relating to the Goddess except sexually. Some of us XY chromosome types occasionally think with the BIGGER head, too! > I think as long as we have a violence- and war-centered culture, > such longstanding misalignments in thought - especially > pertaining to gender and sexuality - will continue. I agree with > Riane Eisler in the Chalice & Blade: the enforced division > between fe/male, including the roles assigned to the genders by > culture/society (i.e. typical power dynamics attached to > heterosexual relations - which have become the blueprint for all > sexual relations), is what undergirds the violence in society. Which is why, when we do ritual drama in my coven, the roles are usually assigned by drawing lots. As a result, we sometimes have females playing the Horned God and males portraying Maiden, Mother, or Crone. In Hinduism, Durga is a warrior (usually a male role). Shiva is a dancer. Ganesha is an appreciator of fashion, style, and nuance. Rigid sex roles are stifling. -- Len/ Kalipadma ______________ 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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