Perspective

I love ritual!  Be it a Sabbat at the Turning of the Wheel, the drums at a Voodoo ritual, the swinging incense censer at an Orthodox Church, dancing at a women’s Passover Seder, or listening to the hypnotic chant of a Latin Mass, I’m mesmerized.   Add tradition and I’m hooked.

            That being said I hadn’t planned to spend Christmas Eve at a Christian church.  But the music is ethereal; the decorations are rich, and the feeling “holy”.  The people there are full of quiet anticipation.

I settle in and gaze up at the altar.  Painted on the back wall are sparkling gold even-armed crosses.  They point out the quarters: north-earth, south-fire, east-air, west-water.  This particular cross is a pagan representation of balance…..balance in nature and balance in life.  The harpist is playing Suo Gan, a haunting Welsh lullaby.  Peace…..

The candles are burning brightly.  Their light and warmth send forth healing to all gathered there.  I think of both Goddess and saint, Brigid of the Flame!  Brigid, Saint or Goddess, is an eternal being who, like the flame of life itself, keeps the our light shining and rekindles hope and inspiration.  And of course there are a host of others, Hestia, Vesta, Pele, Freyja, Agnayi, all associated with fire’s strength.

The choir is singing a “Christmas” song, The Holly and the Ivy.  Hummmm…. The holly and ivy are definitely Pagan fertility symbols.  Holly was sacred to druids who associated it with the winter solstice.  And there are stories of the Holly King who rules nature from the summer solstice to Yule. Ivy symbolizes vibrancy.  The druids admired its deep green hue. Sprigs of ivy would be woven into necklaces or chaplets to bring about clarity of thought as well as celebrate the vitality of nature.

The stained glass window behind the altar is back-lit.  The image of the dove, the Holy Spirit, hovers over all.  In Gnosticism the Holy Spirit is the "feminine" or female aspect of God so Gnostics see the Holy Spirit was the true "mother" of Jesus.  The dove is also the symbol of many Goddesses including my beloved Sophia!

Above the massive pipe organ I see a clover-shaped cutout. Three parts yet one leaf, a triskele of sorts, a trinity….Maiden, Mother, Crone.  And She is intently watching all that goes on here.

            The Mother aspect of the triune has many names, but tonight She is Mary, Maria, Virgin, Madonna, Blessed Mother.  The banner being carried by the acolytes is crimson red with an image of the Mother and baby on it.  The church is decorated with beautiful red poinsettias and the pine garlands are tied up with red bows.  The red wine is poured in to the chalice (yet another symbol for the Great Goddess, the Mother of the Universe).  She is here!
            Perspective, I begin to realize, is all that makes us different.  These folks, deep in prayer, are worshiping the tiny baby.  My focus is ever on the Mother.

Blessed Be!

v     “I am protected by your might, Blessed Mother, day and night.”

v      (freely adapted from a prayer by Scott Cunningham)