Chat About Anything Thread (quote, God, Earth, witness)
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Goodness gracious, that was the first time I've seen somebody address someone as Odin. But that's the male side. How about the distaff? That is, who on this thread is Freya?
Interesting that sunflowers are connected with Lammas, as I plant them every year.
Interesting coincidence about the Friday. As far as Freya and goddesses in general, I notice that a Wiccan altar usually has statuettes for both a male god and female god. I think that's good because of the equal balance, as opposed to the monotheistic religions such as Islam and Christianity and even Hinduism.
And it's not necessary to believe Odin and Freya as actual entities but instead to let them symbolically represent male and female Energies working together. That's what resonates with me both philosophically and psychologically. It's Polytheism but it can be either literal or metaphorical. Either way works fine.
Interesting coincidence about the Friday. As far as Freya and goddesses in general, I notice that a Wiccan altar usually has statuettes for both a male god and female god. I think that's good because of the equal balance, as opposed to the monotheistic religions such as Islam and Christianity and even Hinduism.
And it's not necessary to believe Odin and Freya as actual entities but instead to let them symbolically represent male and female Energies working together. That's what resonates with me both philosophically and psychologically. It's Polytheism but it can be either literal or metaphorical. Either way works fine.
Works for me, too. The balance between male and female energies is visible everywhere.
Similarly, even though I attend a church, I do not see God as a Person. I see that people personified whatever it is that connects us. By us, I mean not just humans but all of nature/creation.
The origins of the monotheistic religions come from patriarchal societies, so naturally God was male and a father or authority figure. Some of the liberal sects of Christianity have moved on from that--generally speaking, the same ones who ordain women and accept LGBT people--and sometimes even refer to God as Mother and Father.
Works for me, too. The balance between male and female energies is visible everywhere.
Similarly, even though I attend a church, I do not see God as a Person. I see that people personified whatever it is that connects us. By us, I mean not just humans but all of nature/creation.
The origins of the monotheistic religions come from patriarchal societies, so naturally God was male and a father or authority figure. Some of the liberal sects of Christianity have moved on from that--generally speaking, the same ones who ordain women and accept LGBT people--and sometimes even refer to God as Mother and Father.
I just had this conversation with someone in real life, and that person said "Perhaps they will come up with a gender-neutral pronoun for God."
They already have. "Godself". It's been in use for some time now.
So, my youngest step-daughter was visiting this weekend with 2 of her 3 kids. We took a walk to the park and on the way home, we decided to walk by our old house that we just sold. They are painting the house and we wanted to show her. (This was the house she grew up in.) When we got there, my heart sank-not because they were painting over the BRIGHT blue (which was a buyer's remorse because Hubby said "PICK ONE" because it took so long to find the right color-I picked the wrong color). My heart sank because they pulled out the lilac bushes that were in front of the house. There was one bush on each side of the front porch and they went up to the second floor. When they were in bloom, you could smell the lilacs whenever you walked out of the house-either by the front door or side door. When we used the front door, I used to love going in and out in the spring because the aroma was heavenly. I am now saddened over the loss of those two beautiful bushes.
When we moved over here, I told Hubby that I will really miss the lilacs. We then discovered that we have a bush in back. Smaller than the ones at the other house. But, this one was being strangled. So, the first year we were here, Hubby & I went out there and cut away all the vines that were strangling it. It filled out after that. It doesn't get a lot of blooms in the spring but it does get some. We are hoping in the coming years, it will get more.
Last fall, I donated to the Arbor Foundation and they sent us two lilac bushes and 10 pine trees. ALL of them were maybe about 6 inches or so. We gave the pine trees to the town to plant wherever because we don't have the room for them on our property. But, the lilac bushes we planted. They were pretty much sticks. Now, we have sticks with leaves. So, they seem to take. It will be YEARS before they flower.
I do LOVE lilacs but they are only in bloom for about 2 weeks or so.
^When I was a little girl, I just loved the huge lilac bush in front of my grandmother's house, where I spent a lot of time.
Eventually she sold the house and moved in with us. A few years later, I drove by her house, and was dismayed to see the lilac bush gone. The road had been widened and the front yard shortened, and I guess they decided to rip out the lilacs. It is always sad to see a tree or plant to which you had gotten attached gone.
Sometimes, it does not take great ritual. Sometimes, all it takes is to be in the yard, with the scent of roses and mint and earth and trees and rain all blended together, washing over you and opening you up to the infinite.
Very nice, IC. All too often, we don't take the time to fully appreciate the moment.
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