Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

She stares at you with a penetrating stare, knowing your darkest secrets, stripping you of all your pretenses and masks. You don’t fool her and your excuses fall on a deaf ear. She does not suffer fools. She dwells within us all, the secret side of ourselves we hide from the light. She has been called by many names: Kali, Medusa, Hecate, Lilith. In earlier times she was seen as the bearer of death, completing the life cycle so that it could begin again. In later times she was reduced to a monster, punished when she defied the other gods, an example set to women who reached beyond the boundaries set by society. Currently, I think she has begun to emerge as a tool for people, especially women, to explore the unexpressed sides to their personalities. While American society portrays itself as individualistic and open, it in fact encourages conformity and discourages anyone from coloring outside the lines. I feel with the Age of Aquarius upon us this may change. It will have to. The old ways just don’t cut it anymore.

The Dark Queen can be used to express anger, vulnerability, power; things that threaten a conformist society. I encourage you to study up on the subject, finding a particular goddess that speaks to you, and spend some time with her. Don’t be thrown off by the word “dark”; it is not evil and only refers to the hidden. Meditate, do ritual, dance, anything to connect. It may not happen immediately, but give it time. The work you put into it will reap many rewards. Stop sleepwalking. Free yourself and live to be who you are. ---- Vivienne

The following resource list can help you start off on your path:

The Dark Goddess: Dancing With The Shadow by Marcia Starck and Gynne Stern
Dancing in the Flames: The Dark Goddess in the Transformation of Consciousness by Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson
Mysteries of the Dark Moon: The Healing Power of the Dark Goddess by Demetra George
The Storyteller’s Goddess by Carolyn McVickar Edwards and Kathleen Edwards
The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and Hrana Janto
 

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Last Updated: January 30, 2002
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