Dark Spirituality | Lesson Two

[Mairwen]

For the next phase of this class, I'd like you to consider the following two passages, both from my website (if you'd like to see them in "color" go here: http://pagan.drak.net/feymariblue/crone.html and http://pagan.drak.net/feymariblue/night.html.

The Crone Pages

Gods of Rapport

My My gods are those most associated with Darkness, the Crones.

Her names are Kerridwen, the Morrígan, Kali, Hecate, Demeter. She is the Dark Mother, the Hag, the Lady of Death. She helps us understand our own immortality, our own Divinity. Learning to face her without fear helps us become closer to our Higher Selves. From her All Things come and All Things shall return.

It is from her Cauldron all life emerges. The Cauldron is the sacred vessel of the female, the life-giving, mysterious womb of every woman. The Cauldron is the original Holy Grail. This sacred womb possesses physical rebirth, wisdom, strength, and spiritual happiness.

The Goddess isn't all "Goodness" and "Love and Light". She has a dark side, just as we, and all things, have a dark side. It is this dark side that all too many of us ignore, that side of us we each need to reclaim.

Yes, the Goddess has her sweet, nurturing side, but all too many Pagans choose to see/worship just this side of her, at the expense of the whole. To this type of people, negativity is something to be banished, avoided at all costs. They want only "goodness" in their lives.
Women have strange powers men do not! The power to bear children and nourish them; to bleed without being injured. And this is only part of the Dark Mysteries. When a woman ignores or berates or "banishes" the Dark Mother, this is the side of her femininity she casts out. This is the side of our femininity we need so badly to embrace!

Be ever mindful that the Goddess has three faces -- not one, not two. Maiden, Mother, Crone. It is in Cronehood that psychic and magical power are strongest. The Crone represents the height of feminine power, and the wisdom and experience which comes with age.

The Crone is the Goddess of death and endings. She is the Goddess of the Waning Moon, the New Moon, the night without which there could be no dawn. Too many treat this as a time of rest, reflection, "quiet magic". This is the time when we, as women, have greatest power.
Death must be understood as a process of growth and continual regeneration. Few things terrify us more than knowing ourselves, and in order to achieve this, we must embrace the Crone. Those who confront the mysteries of the Crone without fear will invariably find her their benefactor.

I am the Beginning,
And I am the End.
I am the womb,
And I am the tomb.
I am in your mind,
Your heart;
I am in your soul.
Search for me,
Find me,
And learn to fly.
I am the Goddess.
--- by Red Lupa

Death, destruction and fear, all dreadful things, do happen. They happen to all of us and cannot be avoided. These things can be minimized, but the cannot be eradicated. These things are not unnatural insults; they, too, are sacred. Darkness must be accepted as a part of life. Death must be valued as highly as birth.

Darkness does not have to mean evil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call of the Dark Goddess

The Dark Goddess Speaks ...

"...devils speak of the way in which She'll manifest..."
You know me...for I am
the Essence of the Dream and
the darkest thoughts inside your soul.
Fear, ecstasy, rage, misery. I am the beauty of All Things Forbidden.
You shall keep thy mind pure in intent, and sin not unto the soul.
You shall worship Me in the darkest of Night, under the Hidden Moon.
You shall not fear to bear thy body unto Me, as I am Mother, Lover, and Dark Sister to thy Self.
You shall keep all vows unto Me.
I demand no sacrifice, but will taste a gift of your own blood.
Do not fear Darkness, but enter into the Night, and learn to love shadow.
My secrets you shall keep but to others of the Circle.
Behold: Mine is the Realm of Night and all things here are for you, in time.
Loyalty will produce the fruits of wisdom.


Children of Nocturne

My Goddess emerged from the Mysterae of all things. She is the Mother... Night.

The Night is dense with mystery. Heat under the cool darkness. Bodies close. Heat of magick, and of passion. The Goddess Nocturne shares with us Her deepest secrets.

Darkness does not have to mean evil. Keep to comforting shadows...listen to the whispers of truth. Wisdom is found apart from the cold structures and unnatural light of humankind.

We know that without Mother Night, life would perish as without sunlight. Darkness is as essential to the Being of Nature as is the light of our Sun.

We are few that come to know the quiet darkness of the soul, the unknown goddesses of inner silence: deities of the self, eroticism and fantasy. Few are we that find beauty in death and introspection.

We are the children of a Dark Goddess that revels not in war or murder but in the products of a quiet mind who worships the Night with its attention. It is to listen to the breath, the trees, blood rushing inside, and the many voices.

We are those that are chosen by Darkness to experience the deepest mysteries of existence, to take on a voluntary role of insanity, for the secrets She unlocks are most disturbing and wonderful.

What would we be without the graces of the Night? Torture is to be without a sleep in which one may dream. The mind must be allowed to wander...

~ Excerpt from The Principia Nocturn by C. Littlefield. Copyright 1998 by Misery Loves Co.

[Kateshadowwoman]

The power of these two passages touches me deeply.Only gradually in the last few years have I come out of the intense darkness of my innerself which began in 1992. The pain and anguish did not leave me unaffected or unchanged. The hand of the Dark Goddess definitely left her mark on me now when she periodically returns I can at least deal with it. To experience what is being said in this passages can only bring wisdom.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Kateshadowwoman
The power of these two passages touches me deeply.

I wrote The Crone Pages, and a friend of mine wrote The Call of the Dark Goddess, if you need/want an attribution.

The hand of the Dark Goddess definitely left her mark on me now when she periodically returns I can at least deal with it. To experience what is being said in this passages can only bring wisdom.

Yup. I remember a time when I refused to acknowledge the Dark Ones ~ dismissed them out of turn like some do. I remember standing screaming at one of my friends with tears running down my face, wagging my finger in the air, screaming at what a "horrible person" the Morrígan was. I remember feeling like a complete heel (or worse) when I realized the Guiding Force in my life, for all of my life, had been Her. The turn-around took three years of eye-opening experience.

And you're absolutely right ~ the experience has brought Wisdom, indeed.

[Dextra]

Heh. I've definetly been known to go to the "dark side of the Force" on more than one occasion. I know that when I am justifiably angered, I can feel the Dark Mother with me. One such example is when I had to rid my home of a certain bastard (pardon the language). You know who I'm talking about, Mairwen. But anyway, a physical confrontation ensued, and I can honestly say that my actions were not my own. I'm not a petite woman, but I'm no amazon either (the Wonder Woman avatar is just wishful thinking :) ). But I beat a man almost twice my size to the ground and was loving it. It kind of scared me, but I felt like a voice was telling me "this is good for you," so I didn't stop until the guy was screaming for me to stop. So I know what it means to take on a "voluntary role of insanity." It proves to be quite helpful sometimes. ;)

[Mairwen]

Among my titles is "Daughter of the Morrígan", which I wear with care and pride. The Morrígan I am closest to, however, I do on occasion work with her Badb aspect ~ some say I have her Fury! :D

Too many people are afraid of the Dark Side. However, I realize that by ignoring the Dark Side and, in so doing, the Dark Ones, we're ignoring the greatest part of us that makes us who and what we are.

The Crone: She is the womb and the tomb ~ it is she who gives us death and transformation and leads us to rebirth. She is the strength to bear hard times. She is the Advisor when we're troubled. She is the Guide when we're lost.

I have tasted the waters of the Cauldron of the Dark Mother, and thus was reborn. I have walked through the Cave of the Otherworld Fire and warmed by soul, my body, by its cold, flickering, blue flames.

I am a Survivor.

[Dextra]

Originally posted by Mairwen


I have tasted the waters of the Cauldron of the Dark Mother, and thus was reborn. I have walked through the Cave of the Otherworld Fire and warmed by soul, my body, by its cold, flickering, blue flames.

I am a Survivor.

Sing it sister! :D

[Armitage]

Both those passages define, mostly, my mental archetype of a Goddess when I first began learning about the magical path of things. Basically embodying eveything that divinity wasn't 'supposed' to contain.

[Mairwen]

But that's the whole beauty of it ~ that it does, indeed.

[mol]

Originally posted by Mairwen
But that's the whole beauty of it ~ that it does, indeed.

Contains all of it!

:D

[Kateshadowwoman]

I'm ready for the next lesson.

[Mairwen]

Me too. Just be patient. I'm juggling this class, my Gwyddon classes, and a class at the local Pagan Community Center ~ plus daily life. :D

[random]

all i can say, since im still on my novice, is that ill be learning lots here, and im glad all of you are willing to share your information with me. thank you more and more.

final drift,

-random-

[Nyxee]

I occasionally define myself as a Rationalist Witch
(check http://www.io.com/~cortese/spirituality/rationalist.html for more detail).
As such, goddesses I often work with tend to be 'Dark' ones, such as Kali, Hine-nui-te-po, Cerridwen, Hecate. The are the teachers of the Mysteries. Mairwen, I love both of those articles you posted, you have much to teach us :)

[Silver Venus]

Thank you Mairwen :) they are beautifully written and very touching.
I am only a novice and didnt really know that much about the Crones until the start of this year when I was givent a Goddess Calendar and was shocked for a second as when I flicked through it I found Hel, Kali and others ~ But then after a few moments I really liked them and thought how naive I had been! I always thought of the Maiden when I thought of the Goddesses, now I know I am both dark and light and feel powerfully toward the craft as I am powerfull.
I look forward to learning more about the Dark Gods and Goddesses.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Nyxee
I often work with tend to be 'Dark' ones, such as Kali, Hine-nui-te-po, Cerridwen, Hecate.

Not picking on you Nyxee ... But one of my personal pet peeves is people labeling Kerridwen as a "dark goddess". She's a Triple-Goddess (and in my tradition, she's a nine-fold Goddess). So, you see, she has MANY faces. Not just one. :D

[cydira]

Your words have reminded me of some things that I have had come to me when I was meditating on the Dark Aspects of the Goddess and God. Here is a few of the things that I have:

I am the Bone Mother
I am the Inatrix, the Crone who sits at the Well of Darkness

To some, I am Clotho, the cutter of the life thread, I am a Valkarie, a mysterious and frightening warrior-sorceress who's kiss carries away a powerful warrior to a dark hall, I am the Great war goddess, vengeful, furious and dangerously alluring

I have been described as dispassionate, uncaring, vile or malicious; as charitable, merciful or soothing; and also, am I described as redeeming, liberating and sublime

All who describe me thus have failed to see me as I truly am; they seek to remove me from my place of power and to banish the sacred mystery of which I am the keeper of

To grow, one must die
That which is a tiny acorn can not transform into a mighty oak with out dying as an acorn

The Lord moves towards me and learns this mystery
I am the one who guides him through death and to the Otherworld where he rules through the Winter of the Cycle

[cydira]

Here's the second one.

I am the Horned One
I am the Hunter and the Stag
I am the Holly King, Lord of Winter

Mine is the dark wood and wild path
My voice is the hunting horn's call
My strength is the ice's cold power

To some I am the Lord of Death; In truth, I am far more

I am the Lord of Death, the High King of Shadows, the Masked Reaper, the Dread Lord, the Protector of the Lady and her children, and much more

Mine is a powerful lesson of honor
All things wild hold to a code of honor unto themselves, an eagle seeks not to live as a sparrow nor does a bear seek to live as a salmon; this is honor's way

Life feeds off life, a give given for a gift by this manner give the blood brice of your breathren and supporters

I am the Shadow King
Lord of the Hunt and of Justice

I am the bringer of the Lady's Justice
As such, I am the Dread Lord
By my hand is not needlessly crule
Just as the seasons turn, all shall submit to my hand
and bear the laurels or stripes they have earned

[Mairwen]

*bump*

[loopy]

*sigh* Thank you for those passages; they were beautiful. :)

I'm so grateful for the ability to change my mind. :) When I was younger, I subconsciously denied Darker aspects of life. I was shy, veered away from conflict, even refused to acknowledge that Autumn was my favorite season. I always told people it was Spring, because it seemed like that was supposed to be it, and it seemed wrong to like a season that seemed so much darker, colder. How sad is that? :)

I guess what I couldn't see then, was that within the darkness, there was beauty. Yes, the trees lost their leaves and became barren eventually, but in the process they became a multitude of beautiful colors. The air wasn't too hot, and hadn't yet become too cold, and it was just the time when you could throw on a snuggly sweater and sit outside, enjoying everything. Things seemed quieter, and in the silence came good time for reflection, for appreciation.

It's the same with embracing the darker aspects of the Gods, and of yourself. Anger and darkness may seem frightening, off-limits, but within anger there is strength. Within tears there is cleansing. And while you can't see see what lies around you in the dark, the possibilities are endless and exciting.

And now I've babbled long enough. :D

(And thanks again for the bump) :)

[Spirahl]

Many years of suppressing the "dark", anger, resentment, pain, is what in part led me to a very dark place a few years back. These things always did manifest themselves in self-sabotage, but this time I did get down into the depths of lunacy. In the end, I found that I was a lot stronger than I thought I was. The Dark Ones taught me that it can be a place of transformation, not losing one's mind. In fact, I found myself there.
Dealing with the dark in the external world is still a struggle for me. About a month ago, I was very upset to find that a neighbours' cat had injured a blackbird. I brought it in, it was eating so I was hopeful that it was not in shock and wouldn't die. But it did, during the night. I gave it a tearful burial. Later that week, my youngest dog found a wee blackbird, and scraped it all bloody, out of curiosity. I drowned it, the first time I've done such a thing. No running to hubby, I decided I had to deal with what had to be done myself. Very difficult.

[Faery-Wings]

Loopy, what you wrote really struck a chord within me. As did the reading all of the passages here. This one in particular hit home:

I guess what I couldn't see then, was that within the darkness, there was beauty. Yes, the trees lost their leaves and became barren eventually, but in the process they became a multitude of beautiful colors. The air wasn't too hot, and hadn't yet become too cold, and it was just the time when you could throw on a snuggly sweater and sit outside, enjoying everything. Things seemed quieter, and in the silence came good time for reflection, for appreciation.

I have seasonal affective disorder and have dreaded the end of fall every year. The depression usually begins in November and ends in March. You have given me a different perspective in viewing this time. This upcoming winter I will try to focus on the lessons of the darkness and look to some of the Dark Gods and Goddesses for their wisdom.

While I am not at the point where I can say I am comfortable in embracing the darkness, and I am guessing it is a long and difficult process, I am now more open to the transformation that will occur.

BB

Chris

[Mairwen]

I have SAD, as well ~ mine goes from October to April. bleh. However, I think you're doing the right thing, here. Once I figured out what the problem was, and started looking at it from a different angle, my symptoms haven't been nearly as bad. In fact, last Fall/Winter were the easiest season I've had in a while. Good luck to you.

[loopy]

Chryssi, I'm glad I could help. Thank you for telling me; it really means a lot to me. :D Good luck with overcoming your disorder. :) And to you, Mari. :) :)

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks Mairwen. SAD really sucks. Last year I started taking ST J's Wort in early October and that seemed to help a bit. Have you tried a light box? I wish they weren't so darn expensive or I would have bought one ages ago. But I am really hoping this new perspctive will help. If I can focus on The Earth's changes and put them into relationship with the Wheel of the Year, I think it will help.

Loopy~ you are such a sweetie! :)

Chris

[Faery-Wings]

Could you tell me a bit more on why you put Demeter as a Crone? :) I haven't read a lot on any of the Goddesses, so I am curious if I am missing something. I have mostly read Demeter as a Mother figure rather then Crone, and I have kind of sense her in that manner too.

Thanks!

Chris

[Mairwen]

Can you quote me where??:confused:

[Faery-Wings]

My My gods are those most associated with Darkness, the Crones.
Her names are Kerridwen, the Morrígan, Kali, Hecate, Demeter. She is the Dark Mother, the Hag, the Lady of Death. She helps us understand our own immortality, our own Divinity. Learning to face her without fear helps us become closer to our Higher Selves. From her All Things come and All Things shall return.

Thanks!!!

Blessings,
Chris

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by chryssi1


Thanks!!!

Blessings,
Chris

DUH!8O If you look up Demeter and read her myths, yes, she can be considered a Dark One. :D

[Spirahl]

This may be only my way of looking at it, but I see Persephone/Kore, Demeter, and Hekate as being different aspects of the same triple lunar goddess. Selene and Hecalene are also variations that fit in.
In the part of the myth of the abduction of Kore, where Demeter grieves for her daughter and thus removes her fertility from the land- this I see as Demeter in a dark, crone type of aspect. She is no longer nourishing as a mother. The crone aspect is often referred to as Hekate, but there are many layers and variations.

[Faery-Wings]

I was looking at the Persephone/Demeter/Hecate myth and breaking them down strictly as Maiden/Mother/Crone, respectively. I see that they are overlapping in a lot of ways. I think I just read in one of these dark Goddess threads that Persephone can be a crone too, for the 6 months that she resides in the Underworld.

I should know better than to take anything of the Goddess at face value :p

Thanks for helping me understand a bit better.

Chris

[mythril]

Hi all :)

I have one question, when u speak of dark side, what exactly do u mean?


Just for interest.

[KissMeImIrish!]

I dont know if any of you could help me, but I feel a strong pull towards the Morrigan (Ever since I can remember shes always popped into my head) I believe in a balance, and I want to accept the darker side of the goddess but im afraid that if I do my life will be destroyed in some way or somthing bad will happen. This may be juvenile, but I want to know how you got over the terrifying aspect of a dark goddess. I want to work with the Morrigan but Im afraid something will go terribly awry. Plus, is it alright to work with a "light" goddess and a "dark" one at the same time (not in the same ritual, but at different times) would that offer conflict if i were to worship both of them? I hope someone can help me on this. thanx :)

[Myst]

When *I* speak of dark side I mean negative energy - destruction, endings, chaos, etc. That's JMHO, and you probably weren't even asking me :)

I understand exactly what you mean, KMII! Lately I've been working with Hecate - traditionally a dark goddess. It has been a scary, crazy road. Just like light and dark exist together, so can you work with light and dark together. You may be "tested" - ie. have to face dark parts or yourself or face shadows and chaos to understand them. I just started on that road too, and it's so scary, but so fascinating.

[KissMeImIrish!]

Willow,
so in your experiences with hecate, nothing mucho bad has happened right? Im talking, cat dies, parents divorce, etc. etc.
Im afraid my world would come crashing down if I tried to work with a negative goddess such as the Morrigan. I dont want to push the mysteries away tho, im definatly being called. I used to be terrified of any aspect of darkness, now im not THAT bad im just still alittle edgy on giving it a try. I belive in a balance, light and dark and you need both to function..but I dont want to approach any dark goddess with fear in my heart.

[Myst]

No animals died during this mot... err.. I mean.. religious experience.

No, they aren't going to kill people on you for embarking on a spiritual experience with them. Sour relationships? Bad habits? Running away from your fears? Not embracing your power and wisdom? These things might all end tho. You might somehow find yourself in a dark forest alone one night, forced to face your terror (like I did last time I went camping). You may be forced to choose to end a bad relationship. But they won't kill your familiar on you.

[KissMeImIrish!]

thanx willow for helpin me out :)
I think i'll give it a try and see what the Morrigan has to teach me.
blessed be

[mythril]

thanks Willow Raven
i was asking anyone :).

[cydira]

Well, I'm feeling a little shy about my learning experiences with the Dark ones. <bites her lip a little> I'm not sure why I'm saying this here, but I guess it's because it feels right. <takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly>

Of late, I'm beginning to find that I am learning to understand something of the Morrigan and her aspects. While I am still uneasy in working with her, I've come to see that her influence in my life is no worse then those of a certian Nordic god of chaos (who will be unnamed due to the fact that when I mention his name he decides to send some chaos in my direction). It may be difficult and it my hurt, but in the end I do benefit from it.

I've had a lot of painful and trying experiences of late. Amoung them, came a great deal of good and growth promoting experiences. I know I'm rambling, but there is a point to all of this. In the process of my long and difficult past few months, a truth came to me. Growth is not a light aspect. It is a dark aspect. Growth comes from pain, difficulty and some form of harm that forces us to abandon our past ways.

Perhaps grasshopper is starting to learn something....

[Faery-Wings]

In the process of my long and difficult past few months, a truth came to me. Growth is not a light aspect. It is a dark aspect. Growth comes from pain, difficulty and some form of harm that forces us to abandon our past ways.

This is so true. It is hard that we have to learn and grow this way, but IMHO, it makes the lesson that much stronger.

BB

Chris