Morrigan:

If we can all take our seats now?

I am Death:

Oh A class How nice Who's teaching??

Morrigan:

Ok... Rules for class: Limit all MMs and MPs to IMs while class is going on

When Door ward says EXCLUDE do so immediately and have no further conversation with the excluded person

I am Death:

Who is the Door ward?

Morrigan:

Elenya ..

Morrigan:

Try to hold all questions until Annwyn is ready for them, and with that...Annwyn... you have the floor

ANNWYN:

She is called by many names by many men; but to all She is the Great Godess - space and earth and water, As space She is called Ea, parent of the gods that made the Gods; She is more old than time, She is the matrix of matter the root of substance of all existence, undifferentiated, pure... Likewise She is called Ge: for She is the most ancient Earth, the first formed from the formless. She is also the Great Deep whence life arose. She is all ancient and forgotten things wherein our roots are cast. Something from last week's class came to mind as I was going over my outline that was that as our religion evolves so do we it is my belief that as WE evolve Our RELIGION evolves.

It is one of the gifts of Wicca and for most pagans that our religion...not being doctrine gives us the ability to define our religion within "RELATIVE" needs and understanding. However a lot of what we draw upon in our current belief also as a foundation born of our most early ancestors as we first sought to under-stand and express our place in the world order. Early religion was about discovering and CELEBRATING SELF and the SELF was not far removed from the GREAT MOTHER. This expression of self is individual and collective and the symbols we use are therefore also individual and collective.

Symbols are visual language

Because there is a certain flow to the language of the Godess that it is at once this and at once something else... I would like to try and allow time for discussion after class and so will lay some groundwork...and then a list of symbols...what We run out of time for I will add as a note to the class log. Some of you are aware that I recently moved to Pennsylvania to form a modern day Brady Bunch... along with my new sons I became the proud parent of a 4 month old Lab

DethDesire:

{G}

ANNWYN:

Despite the snow....it has been a pleasure watching him romp outside...and as he plays he pays particular attention to the birds in the surrounding trees and also flying overhead

Spawn:

Congratulations

ANNWYN:

he gets a puzzled look on his face trying to figure it out. It appears he knows somewhere in the recesses of his being he has a relationship with "birds". They MEAN something to him... and to who he is as they have to his ancestors before him... He has not been taught this... he just knows...with training that knowledge will acquire focus... and this imprint will have greater meaning relevance and purpose. It is part of the collective for our little pup. The only problem is he also has a memory of retrieving... and insists very proudly on bringing our chickens up to the back door. He hasn't quite mastered...DROP THE CHICKEN...{g}

DethDesire:

LOL

RawSymposium:

lol

autumn:

lol

Morrigan:

lol

Shinma4v:

::smiles::

JaimeHM:

lol

Burningwolf:

lol

melilott:

ROFLMAO

ANNWYN:

The symbols we use are filtered through the layers of our "culture and our personality". We turn images into what is familiar...some are learned some are intrinsic. When we are driving and come to a big red sign on the right side of the road...most of us {G} automatically stop without reading the command STOP. It is a symbol that causes us to react in a certain way without really thinking about it... through learning...it has BECOME integrated into our subconscious.

Shinma4v:

classic conditioning

ANNWYN:

it applies to our lives...and our current reality... Another example of this would be the alphabet...we know these symbols...put together make other symbols that mean something to us Non- English speaking people however...do not know these symbols or place a different value on them. Symbols belong to a HOLISTIC approach to expression encompassing the whole experience of thought...not just reality...It is the language of Godess worship. We use symbols to communicate on all levels as we cast a circle... as we do spell work as we go through our day and remember the Godess is present.

Please remember this class focuses on ancient Godess symbols that still hold relevance today... Most Godess symbols fall into two categories...Water/rain...which are represented throughout ancient times into Old Europe...these were represented as V's meanders, zigzags, chevrons, spirals... etc...the other being Moon/Lunar...signs of becoming....seasons...vegetal cycles... transformation birth/death seen in crescents, horns, egg, fish... etc. symbols often overlap as in the fish... which obviously also is a water sign...but we also see it representing birth.....transformation and becoming... Some mean different things at different times in different cultures... YOU must find how they best work for you...and use them this way mostly so they retain their integrity

Vivienne Crowly in talking of using symbols says "ancient myths and rituals of our ancestors are fortified castles... which guard psychological truths about the inner developmental powers of the human race. In the earliest times... in the minds of our ancestors... earth and female performed basically the same functions on an individual level. The individual then was herself a living symbol of the Great Mother. There was not a separation of life and death but it was seen as one process...a continuous cycle circle....all that was the ONE ...GREAT MOTHER."

Artifacts suggest the lunar cycles were understood in the Paleolithic times... but was more of a marking of time...rather than a cyclical representation in tune with the cycles...example the herds would reappear when the moon had passed so many times. A revision in the symbol structure occurred when agriculture developed as the cycles of the moon became even more closely associated with the menstrual cycle...and the planting cycles... this became an association with birth, growth, death, rebirth or more clearly tied to the three phases of the moon birth death rebirth... related to maiden, mother, crones... so we now have the Triple Godess...

The males' part in reproduction becomes better understood at this time perhaps with the onset of animal husbandry...no pun intended...and he becomes part of the vegetation cycle...

The vulva was often termed as the devourer of men...the phallus was perceived of as entering the comb/tomb of woman...the outcome was a child...perhaps this is the vestige of the consort/son relationship...and we see the dual god emerge... as I myself put this evolution together... I could not help but see it as the basis of what most of us believe now...the triple Godess...dual god...and the one...

In the Neolithic....human effort aligned itself with and depended upon the company of the Godess...she remained largely still a person Godess... although larger images appeared. She remained ever present in the daily lives of the people...was present in their homes and was responsible for advancements.

One wonderful image showing cycle... flowing one to the other and an overlapping of symbols is that of bread making... it includes the vegetation cycle...the seed goes into the womb/tomb of the mother to emerge as a plant...is sacrificed is then placed into a clay oven often shaped like a beehive...which is representative... of a tomb... or return to the mother... through transformation by fire... comes out as sustenance... we see life out of death...many of the animal associations we will look at not only have their own meaning but often represent the Godess herself and a connection with the animals...woman becomes the intercessor between the Godess and animals for the hunter gatherers...and a memory of this time when there was a closer link...

Now, as Sylverhare pointed out from my last class....the interpretation I am using based on noted woman scholars such as Gimbutas... Eisler... Sjoo... Levy... Stone... etc... and Psychological connections drawn from Jung and Neumann all are still just that interpretations...as this is a class on symbolism that works for me...the data has been somewhat generalized...and so I URGE you to take it on yourself to look further...

Now a quick list of some symbols...is that OK?

Morrigan:

OK

Elenya:

please....

PAniteowl:

quick!!!

OceansShadow:

OK

RawSymposium:

kool

Morrigan:

lol

WytchLady:

proceed

Shinma4v:

OK

ANNWYN:

I cannot do anything quick...teehee

RebbelleRose:

go on..

Elenya:

lol

Shinma4v:

lol

ANNWYN:

BEE...symbol of regeneration, believed born out of carcasses of bulls...life out of death light of honey born of dark/night cavern of comb.

SNAKE....umbilical cord, sacred energy, intimate with the Earth. Life and death, above and below ability to overcome death - rebirth sloughs skin and is alive again coiling movement symbol of energy guardian of house bird and snake combo... earth and sky...primordial mysteries

PIG...intercessor between life and death...impressive growth cycle... links to vegetation cycle... because grows so quickly...transformation

FISH...womb and process of becoming almond shape also symbol of fertility shape of uterus2 crescent moons... tail as triangle...

DOGS AND BOARS...attendants at death

RED DEER...{G} birth attendants... as was fish

LEOPARD...strength and dignity to patroness of hunt... animal and human.

REINDEER...image of plenty

VULTURE...symbol of compassionate purification cleaned up rotting flesh... was seen as facilitating life...by cleaning up death

OWL...Death, wisdom... sometimes seen just as eyes and beak

BODY PARTS...teehee.

The HANDS were one most fascinating to me...

PAniteowl:

hmmmmm

ANNWYN:

they represent the energizing touch of the Godess..

I am Death:

Death{g}

Morrigan:

healing?

ANNWYN:

they were seen is some of the oldest cave drawings....both as representative images... and perhaps as invoking images... a way to reach out to the Godess. They permitted humanity's spiritual and physical move forward. They provided safety and food... In Catal Huyuk...believed that Red print meant life. Black fertility...hand represents connectedness...also... absolute identity of person... BREASTS... Mena... is an Egyptian word for breast and moon in almost every language MAMA... means something like breast. Physically in landscape of course mountains represent the breast of the Great Mother...sometimes in drawing shown as Mountains.

Lumping these - VULVA...VAGINA...WOMB...UTERUS...often depicted as a triangle...sometimes as flower...cowry shell. Womb was one of holiest of symbols of Neo- and Paleo-lithic times. Sacred threshold through which all life passes both abstract and natural.

HORN... sometime represented woman's reproductive organs...

This list is interminable...and I will post... so one more please... and I give it to you tied to womb...as vessel of life giving blood...(Moon Blood). Some ancients believed that people were literally made of blood from mother's uterus that it coagulated into the form of a baby this was still believed into Greek and roman times. Primitive beliefs also held that the Mother Godess herself created the World by clotting it out of the PRIMAL DEEP or cosmic womb... this could be represented as WATER...or even perhaps as ?lava?

Red ochre...was used in burials...through-out ancient times...often dead buried in fetal position...returned to the mother to prepare for birth... One such occurrence was found in the old stone age...in a child's grave the child was placed as described... and a stone slab was placed above it with cup marks... representing breast... just thought that was a wonderful image...

Because I could go on forever...I won't...but will post...any questions..?

DethDesire:

thank you Ann

RawSymposium:

do u Ann, hold these symbols to be absolute? or can they be different from culture to culture? that part I did not understand too good.

PAniteowl:

comment??

ANNWYN:

not only from culture to culture... but from individual to individual

PAniteowl:

{{{ waves hand in air madly!!!

RawSymposium:

OK

Le Pup:

Posted where Ann, thank you, WONDERFUL!!!

ANNWYN:

but some are so universal...that they tend to reflect same to many

OH OK HOOT

PAniteowl:

thanks

Elenya:

{{{{{{{Annie}}}}}}}, wonderful class

ANNWYN:

On BB as note with the Log Le Pup

I am Death:

Ann that was very interesting

ANNWYN:

this material is overwhelming and it is maddening that I could not make it more concise... I even cut it down...{G}

Shinma4v:

Good insight, nice to learn something new Ann

Morrigan:

it was pretty comprehensive Ann

ANNWYN:

thanx.

JaimeHM:

well presented though :) Very interesting!

Elenya:

I thought it was very concise and clear, Annie

Le Pup:

Feel like we have been sitting with Merlin Stone!! Thank you very much, excellent, Wildswan and myself!!

PAniteowl:

Annie .. I agree with your perspective to a point, but was a little confused on the Goddess aspect

RavenSea:

Thank you Ann that was great!

ANNWYN:

which one PA?

welcome all...

Freinsch:

Annwyn, thanks for the info...good job.

Shinma4v:

Ann - what more do you know about the symbolism on snakes???

PAniteowl:

well, the balance was confusing to me ...

ANNWYN:

the snake is a hard one...

Freinsch:

Ann, do you have any books you'd recommend on this topic??

DethDesire:

snake is phallic is it not?

melilott:

ann loved class just when you were talking about breasts and then said lumping made my chest hurt

ANNWYN:

of course the main one on snakes... left out is associated with the world tree and connection with the spiral..

Guys... little Wiccans... request attention...if you have any questions...feel free to E-Mail also...

JaimeHM:

Thanks, me too, Morrigan. It was worth it!!

Le Pup:

ANN, going to list books, or will they be posted?

Shinma4v:

ANN: Thank you for the info on the symbolism.

ANNWYN:

LePup... can post a few with info...

Shinma4v:

Ann - where did you say you obtained your information from??

ANNWYN:

guys...hoot asked a question about the male aspect of horns. This is one of the symbols that can go either way or both simultaneously. The horns from male perspective represent great procreative energy

melilott:

to me horns, snakes are representative of the male

PAniteowl:

thanks Ann ... good class, has made me think {g}

ANNWYN:

Till midnight...teehee

ANNWYN:

Gotta scoot...MP all

IbisWolf:

MP Ann

JaimeHM:

MP Ann, thanks!!

Freinsch:

MP Annwyn thanks again

OceansShadow:

MP Ann

Elenya:

{{{{{{{{Annie}}}}}}}} Thanks!

Merry Meet,

The following are the Godess Symbols that were incorporated into my class. Please remember that this in no way represents all meanings or correspondences, but is a limited list pertaining to ancient evidence of the Godess.

BEE - regeneration, believed born out of carcasses of bulls thus life emerging from death... light of honey... born from dark/cavern of comb... honey comb associated with womb/tomb... rebirth and transformation

HANDS - energizing touch of Godess permitted humanity's spiritual and physical move forward... planting, harvesting, making, writing... secured food and safety(question from myself regarding a time before we used our hands... now they were worshipped for what they helped provide magical and physical force/invoking and toil handprints in ritual sites way of touching Godess

RED PRINTS - life

BLACK PRINTS - fertility, connectedness

BREAST - "Mena" Egyptian for breast and moon almost every language Ma stands for mother or breast... Mountain peaks or letter M sometimes represent breasts... Provider of life... Direct sustenance

SNAKE - umbilical cord... sacred energy... intimate with Earth/Mother... life and death/above and below... coiling motion symbol of energy... guardian of house... spiral... creation... regeneration (sloughs skin as if to die and is born again)... primordial mysteries

PIG - intercessor between life and death... transformation... this is linked to impressive growth cycle related... to vegetation cycle... so also regeneration

VULVA/YONI - sacred threshold through which life passes both abstract and natural... caves... portal...

VAGINA - known as gate of life and devourerer of men

WOMB - holiest symbol of Neolithic and Paleolithic times... Sanskrit word for Temple meant also Womb... Old Hebrew word for Tribe was from "Batn" or Belly... word for "Kin group" meant "womb"

FISH - womb and process of becoming

ALMOND SHAPE - fertility... shape of uterus

FISH = 2 crescent moons(Tail is a triangle) which represents female genitalia... In Delphos fish and womb were synonymous... Fish Godess of Lipenski Vir (Yugoslavia) founded on Danube near large natural whirlpool. Small icons with fishlike attributes representing primeval creatrix... whirlpool natural cauldron of rebirth.

NETS - symbol of weaving

DOG - Attendant of Death

BOAR - Attendant of Death

RED DEER - Attendant of Birth

WHITE DEER/STAG - messenger of otherworld

REINDEER - image of plenty

VULTURE - symbol of compassionate purification, regeneration

OWL - Death... Wisdom... Awareness (able to see in all directions)... Beak and Eyebrows stylized symbol

CUP - aquatic... presence of Godess... regeneration...

CORD - umbilical, connectedness

MENHIR - long stone representing sacred precinct... as most stone monuments serve as symbol of permanence standing for eternal and divine... born of Godess body

CAVES - symbol of womb/tomb... portal/threshold... Godess

LABYRINTH - womb with uterine passage... direct purpose... symbol of journey

TREE - regeneration... life cycles... Incorporates all three sacred zones - heaven, Earth, underworld...

GREEN ONE - Neolithic Mother/daughter of all... vegetation symbol for agricultural knowledge and abundance... Tree of life/above and below

DOVE - symbol of Female sexuality often seen in World Tree

STALACTITE/STALAGMITE - Earth Pillars representing life force... of Godess - ever wet, ever growing... (Stalagmite - can represent both sexes... shape as phallic/born of mother sometimes represented with small heads and breasts carved)... Trivia - to remember which is up and which is down...hold on tite... push up with mite

LOZENGE - symbol of fertility(vulva and pubic triangle)... Diamond shape usually depicted with red dot or slash in center... Earth diamond... lozenge with equal arm cross reaching point to point

HORN - procreative power... can be either male or female symbol or unison... usually a lunar symbol... similar shape to woman's reproductive system... (fallopian tubes and uterus)... regeneration (grows, dies, is reborn)... breeding cycle... sacred power

LABRYS - double crescent

BUTTERFLY - association/regeneration and transformation

TRIANGLE - Woman's pubic area (see also Vulva/Yoni)... trinity... gateway

CIRCLE - nowhere and everywhere... all and nothing... vastness ready to be used to represent and to invoke the Godess... Full face of moon... Sun... double circle - infinity... circle with dot in center represented primal Womb

SPIRAL - Life force... triple spiral most potent... one of most important symbols of Godess... connected with idea of rebirth - entering the mysterious earth womb, penetrating to it's core and returning by same path... symbolic key to eternal process

BLOOD/WATER - I put these together because they both represent primal life giving waters

BLOOD - womb vessel of life giving blood (moon blood)... some ancients believed that people were literally Blood... formed from uterine blood that coagulated into a baby... even into Greek and Roman times... primitive beliefs that the Mother Godess herself created the world by clotting it out of the Primal Deep or cosmic womb... (water/blood... ?lava?)... association with wine - wine symbols represent blood of the Mother... Sharing of wine/blood was sharing ultimate kinship symbolically linking to one womb... became male symbol as in communion cup... But was through "Sacrifice" not because man was feeling altruistic but because he could not learn the art of bleeding without injury or death (wise wound)... Jesus and Fisher King examples... Represented in rituals, burials, and artifacts by red ochre... Crones determined as Wise because they no longer shed the Wise blood but retained the power and wisdom within themselves... Lineage often associated with bloodline of mother... men - Moon arche - water...moonwater...

CAULDRON - (will limit to ancient views rather than our own associations although mainly overlap)... one of prime pre-Christian female symbols which is one reason associated with witchcraft... Egyptian hieroglyph for the great female Deep (womb) that gave birth to the universe... similar correlations in Indian and Norse mythology... Celtic Cauldron of Regeneration and inspiration... womb of Great Godess... vessel of rebirth and potential...

Think I got them all in regards to class material.

Bright Blessings and Protection Bound

(Shua) Annwyn (Shua)