Blessings Darlings!
This is the first in what will be (I hope) a multi-post series on phrases from Wicca bandied about in the neopagan community.
While Wicca is primarily an orthopraxic mystery religion, it has a few phrases that are quoted y some as orthodoxy. One of them all y'all have almost certainly heard/read the phrase: "My Worship is in the heart which rejoices. For behold - all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals." It's towards the end of Doreen Valiente's "Charge of the Goddess".
Unlike some other sound bites often quoted most folks agree that this is not the whole of the story. The heart that rejoices is not the ONLY place that the Goddess' worship exists, right? Folks accept that Her worship is often in the heart that aches or despairs.
No one (I hope!) would be crass enough to tell someone in the midst of crippling depression, or hospitalized with some other disease, or with heart-rending bereavement, etc. to rejoice or they are failing to properly worship the Goddess or are otherwise 'not a true Wiccan or Pagan'
So too, while 'all acts of love and pleasure" are Her rituals, Her rituals and worship is not LIMITED to such acts. For example, honoring a loved one's end of life directive - as a friend of mine recent had to do for a loved one - and removing a breathing tube was clearly an act of love but NOT an act of pleasure. And yet it was certainly one of the Goddess' rituals.
Are you with me so far?
Any questions? More parts coming, and I hope I have the energy to write them soon ...
Frondly, Fern.
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I'm looking forward to the next installment
ReplyDeleteLove ya!
It's scheduled for Tuesday, my darling Crone!
DeleteOne reason that is a popular phrase, In my opinion, Is that many of us come from backgrounds of patriarchal organized religion that denied many forms of love and pleasure, as well as denying the Goddess. In my case, it was a relief to know that it isn't a sin. But,of course, I know the Goddess is also present during times of pain and suffering, too.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's absolutely true, Lynn.
DeleteHowever, folks don't take that same approach to the Wiccan Rede ... which I'm pointing out tomorrow. I wanted to have this up and digested before folk read my post about that.