Sunday, March 15, 2015

The Stolen Story of Persephone!

It is Time for Persephone to enter the Story as the Wheel Turns! In the Northern Hemisphere we are anxiously awaiting her return from the Underworld. It will be a time of rejoicing as She brings new life into a time of cold and rest. Flowers will bloom, trees will become green again and seeds will begin sprouting! Lots of rejoicing.

In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the time when Persephone begins her descent into the Underworld due to being kidnapped and raped by Hades! King of the Death Cave! Master and Big Man on Campus! In such need of a wife he was, he came out of the Cave and took what was not his: Persephone.

Of course, this sent Mama Demeter into a rage as she did not know where Persephone had gone and with her rage and grief and loss cold and darkness came to the planet. Winter became harsh as Demeter drew more and more into Herself and Persephone was not around to bring Light and Growth to the Planet.

Ahhhh....the story of that we all grew up with; were taught in Latin class; and understood as was the lot of women. We were always at the risk of being kidnapped, raped and married off to whatever man decided he wanted us! And it was ok, cause you see, everyone once in a while, this cruel and powerful man would let us go out to play.

STOP!!!!

This was not the original story. This was the story that was hijacked and changed when the patriarchal religions came into being and their main agenda was to take that which was not theirs: the Goddess, women, children and all forms of property. They changed the stories to fulfill their agenda.

In the most ancient layer of myth, Persephone's name means "She Who Destroys The Light." She was the powerful Goddess of the Underworld long before anyone knew of Hades. Like the Indian Kali, the Irish Morrigan, and the Sumerian Ereshkegal, she was the Goddess of Death.

Another ancient layer of the myth tells of Persephone hearing the despairing cries of the dead and choosing freely to go into the Underworld to comfort them. Hades does not appear at all, in this version. Here Persephone's descent to hell illustrates inclusiveness for every being, whether in the Underworld or in our present one, and shows that mercy is integral to her nature.

In some older versions of Persephone's story, she was a young woman, not a young girl, and instead of accidentally wandering away, she had gone deliberately adventuring, when she fell, or was lured, or was kidnapped into Hell. Here Persephone's adventurous spirit leads her into difficulty, instead of her being a passive victim of the wickedness of others. Her relationship with her mother gives her the courage to explore her world, and when events take a bad turn, their relationship gives her the strength to survive.

Do you see what happened? Persephone was NOT kidnapped. She took it upon herself, for a variety of reasons to go into the Underworld. She was powerful, compassionate, strong! She could not fit into the Male Take over! Women could be none of that. They were at the beck and call of the Male who was GOD!

So what can we do about this? We can stop telling the story that includes Hades. That is a male religion retelling to brainwash women into thinking they are always subservient to the Male God, they are always at his mercy, and they are always available to be raped and sold off for marriage. That is their place in the patriarchal religions and culture.


WE must tell the story that shows how Persephone Chose to go to the Underworld! Persephone went alone to care for those there. Persephone, with the strength gifted to her by other women, chose to spend half her time with those of the Dead and those of the Living. That is what a Goddess does, cause you can't have one without the other.

There was and is no HADES! He is a figment of the imagination of religions who had a cruel, evil and punishing God!

But not anymore!

Nope!

Now Demeter is another story for another time, but let it be said, that I am sure she was sad and lonely for her daughter and as such winter comes upon us as she is grieving the loss of her daughter. But for me....it was Persephone, flying out of the nest and making her own choices of where she was to be Goddess!

Just like you and me!

Blessed be!


Tuesday, March 3, 2015

I am Grandmother Moon!

I have had a connection with Grandmother Moon since I was a small child. I loved looking at her and wondering what it would be like to stand on her and look down at the earth. It felt powerful and amazing and was the reason I considered being an astronaut when I was a teen. But of course, that was not a field that women were invited into in the 60's!



As I got older, I related the Moon to my menstrual cycles. Not enlightened enough to really connect on a deep Goddess level, but I still had that connection.

As I fully embraced the Pagan Witch path, I began to understand Pulling Down Her Energy, charging Crystals and Dancing in Her Fullness, and Resting in Her Darkness.

This week, I finally understood how my life imitates the Cycles of the Moon. I have moved from Full to Dark to Full again in a months time.

As most of my witch sisters can attest, this MoonShine has been mostly covered in clouds the past few weeks. It has been a hard few months, but this past month brought everything into full stress and anxiety mode and I went into a funk.

The month began with the knowledge that I would indeed have my book published thanks to Ibby Greer and CreateSpace! This is the woman I have been asking Goddess to bring into my life as I knew nothing of self-publishing! I was on such a high! I was beaming with the Full Moon Light!

As the weeks went on, I had an aunt and a 41 year old cousin transition within a week of each other. Both funerals had many examples of the lack of compassion on the part of those conducting the funerals and I was upset. I let it embrace me and drag me down into the depths of sorrow not for me, but for those who were left behind.

I also found out I have to have more intensive gum surgery before I can continue with the implants. I see my hard earned money growing wings and flying out of my bank account by the thousands. I don't want more pain and I would love to have my money back. But health issues are just that and have to be taken care of.

I found myself moving more into the Dark Phase of the Moon.

Finally last week...I felt all the Light drain out of this One who goes by Sunshine! And my facebook posts reflected this Dark Time. I began getting messages from sisters making sure I was ok, and a few said they didn't like when I was like this as I was the one they could count on to have the bright outlook on life!

This has been a blessing and a burden for as long as I can remember. I am the Light bearer, I look for all the silver linings and I reflect them to others. But what comes with that, is feeling guilty when I wane to Dark Moon. I do NOT like being Debbie Downer! Debbie Sunshine is my name and my mission and my gift!

But this month, I realized, I made the journey from Full, to Waning, to Dark, to Waxing and now to Full again. And it is OK. It is more than OK. It is human! And I believe it is also Divine.

As pagans we look to the world for our Teachings. This was my Teaching this month. Grandmother reminded me that I must be more aware of how much a like we are. It does not mean I have to have a pity party each month. What it means to me, is that when I feel the Dark Moon arising, I need to rest in that, soak in the Dark and make friends with all that comes to me at that time,; be it anger, tears or just plain sadness. JUST BE!

In two days, Grandmother will be Full and I am feeling the Light coming back into my very being.

Do I still have to have dental surgery, yep!
Does it still mean I have to pay for it, unfortunately yes!
Does it mean that those who were at the funeral need to heal themselves and find a way to walk through grief and loss themselves, yes!
Does it mean I can do anything to help? yes! I can send cards and send the Light to them for I know the funeral is over and all that stuff doesn't matter any longer! I can leave all that with Dark Moon Time!

So thank you to everyone who sent their love and compassion to me and my family during this Moon Transition!

It has been quite a journey! But once again, I just gotta Love how Goddess Teaches! I just wish the Lessons weren't so painful!

Blessed be!