Shekina

[KissMeImIrish!]

I came across the name of this goddess on some online goddess directory, and I had a question for all my fellow MW'ers....Who is she? Does anyone here follow her? Are there any good websites dedicated to her? The only thing I know about her is her name, and I'm extremely curious. I feel drawn towards her, just from seeing her name, and I want to learn more about her. I'm going to search on my own, but just thought I'd ask the community ;)
thanks,
KMII

[BrigidMoon]

I have no clue, sorry!

[KissMeImIrish!]

lol, that's ok. I don't believe she is a very well known goddess! I do remember coming across someone who was devoted to her on the boards here though...I just don't remember their name! :collapse:

[semi]

In Jungian psychology, Shekina is also a name associated with the Anima. Research Jungs' theories on individuation

[Verthandi]

Shekina is a Judaic being. To some people, she is a goddess. She's sometimes seen as a consort to Yahweh and I believe one of the purposes of the Torah is to reunite Shekinah and Yahweh. I would read up on the Kabbalah or check out sites by Jewitches.

[Anubis RainHawk]

I remember reading that the Empress card of the Rider-Waite deck was inspired by Shekina, I think. I remember reading about her a book of angel magick a while ago. Mary is supposedly one of her incarnations, I think.

Anubis RainHawk

[Seren_]

In the Qabalah, Shekinah is the lowest manifestation of God/the divine; the part of God closest to the material world, and therefore kind of like the divine presence that we feel in spiritual moments.

The Bedtime Shema prayer invokes the Shekinah:

“In the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, may Michael be at my right hand; Gabriel at my left; before me Uriel; behind me Raphael; and above my head the Shekhinah of God.”

The prayer invokes the archangels to provide protection for the sleeper during the night. Michael is invoked to protect the children of Israel; Gabriel is invoked to lend his strength and courage; Uriel lights the way in the darkness; and Raphael – God’s healer – looks after our emotional and physical wellbeing. The Shekinah is invoked as the nurturing aspect of God, hence the fact she is feminine. She is visualised as being a woman with white wings outstretched, while she hovers over the bed like a canopy.

You can find the prayer adapted into part of the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram and a Kate Bush song called Lily (I think...great song, anyway) :)

EDA: Whether you consider her to be a goddess in her own right, or an aspect of God or Deity, depends on your point of view.

[Morr]

Shekhina is the Feminine Divine Spirit of Y-H-V-H. She is often seen as part of Y-H-V-H and he female counterpart. The best way to describe her is like the Christian Holy Spirit.

In the days of the Great Temple in Jerusalem, it was believed that in the Holliest of Holy (the most sacred room where the Ark of Covenent was placed) - Shekhina was present and through her the High Priest could communicate with Y-H-V-H.

[lightdragon]

Shekhina is the Feminine Divine Spirit of Y-H-V-H. She is often seen as part of Y-H-V-H and he female counterpart. The best way to describe her is like the Christian Holy Spirit.

In the days of the Great Temple in Jerusalem, it was believed that in the Holliest of Holy (the most sacred room where the Ark of Covenent was placed) - Shekhina was present and through her the High Priest could communicate with Y-H-V-H.
What about Metatron? This being is supposed to be a male counterpart of Shekinah

[Verthandi]

The Metatron is the voice of God. If you're seeing the Metatron as another facet of God, then yes, Shekhina would a counterpart of his.

[Anubis RainHawk]

What about Metatron? This being is supposed to be a male counterpart of Shekinah

Metatron is an archangel. I don't see how he could be Shekeniah's counterpart.

Anubis RainHawk

[DebLipp]

The Shekinah is a controversial figure. Some people believe that Her place in Jewish mysticism and theology is a remnant of the time when she was a great Goddess of the Israelites. The definitive book on this subject is THE HEBREW GODDESS by Raphael Patai. Others insist, though, that there is no meaning to the gender of this word for the indwelling spirit of God. Hebrew is a language, like Spanish or French, in which all nouns have gender, and so the argument goes that it is a neutral noun with no personhood.

Those who believe she is a Goddess see her as the "Holy Ghost," cognate to Sophia, and the Sabbath Bride.

[Pandoras]

A short article about Shekhina from the Encyclopedia Mythica: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/shekhina.html

I also suggest On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead : Basic Concepts in the Kabbalah (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805210814/qid=1100493262/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-1886146-1092942?v=glance&s=books) by Gershom Scholem.

[Morr]

What about Metatron? This being is supposed to be a male counterpart of Shekinah

Metetron is the Highest of Archangels and is the closest to God. There is a belief that he speaks in the name of God (the voice of God).... You should really watch the movie "Dogma" to get the idea :lol:

and NO he is not Shekhina's counterpart simply because he is NOT viewed as another face of Y-H-V-H. In Judaism there is NO such belief that Y-H-V-H can have diff representations or faces. Metetron is a seperate being, that is lower than Y-H-V-H.

[KissMeImIrish!]

Thanks for all the info and links..I really appreciate it! I knew I could get some answers from you guys, you're all so smart! :D

[lightdragon]

and NO he is not Shekhina's counterpart simply because he is NOT viewed as another face of Y-H-V-H. In Judaism there is NO such belief that Y-H-V-H can have diff representations or faces. Metetron is a seperate being, that is lower than Y-H-V-H.

Well according to A Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson published by The Free Press. On this subject matter of Metatron on pg.192 "In addition,Metatron has been identified as the liberating Angel and the Shekinah(who is reguarded in some sources as Metatron in his female aspect); "

On the subject of the Shekinah on pg.272 "As interpreted by Rabbi Johanan(Midrash Rabba ;Exodus),Michael is the glory of Shekinah.The Shekinah is the liberating angel,manifesting in her male aspect as Metatron"

Also looking at this book on Metatron. I`m noticing a picture supposedly made of him also on pg.192 of him having horns on his head much like the horned God. I`ve seen this before on other jewish figures. Particularly that of Moses. makes you wonder.

[BrigidMoon]

Awesome information here, thanks :)

[Djiril]

Many people in my synagogue say "Aht brucha Sh'china" instead of "Baruch ata Adonai" in prayers to feel more in tune with the "feminine" face of God.

[StephanieAine]

Shekinah refers to the Holy Spirit of God (as in the One God of the Hebrews and of the Old Testament of the Bible). It's said (via tradition, not via Scripture) that the Shekinah is feminine in some way, although God is masculine. In other words, Shekinah is not a distinct or separate being, and is not a personality, but is the Spirit of God Himself. The femininity could refer to the lovingness of God. The idea in Christianity (from the Protestant perspective at least) is that God is masculine yet His love is that of being a mother... so that could explain what the Shekinah means.

[luna rising]

The Shekhina is my patron, and while I really don't have a lot more historical info to add here, I would like to share experiences and interpretations with you. Let me know :)