The Earth Path - Chapter 4 - Creation

Impressions and Thoughts

This was an interesting chapter and made me focus my thinking to my own theories and beliefs about evolution. The author writes about historical and biblical theories of evolution as well as her own creation story. I’ve always found creation stories very interesting and entertaining. I’ve also found next step evolution theories quite interesting as well. I did have one problem with her story, however, and that was her unintentional hypocrisy (that keeps turning up). She states that life experiments and changes because it is so creative, in by doing so creates something new, the next step in evolution. She also states, in earlier chapters, that by man experimenting and being creative to make change in things such as bioengineering and the like, he is sabotaging other life on this planet and basically doing it all wrong. Discussing this accusation with my husband, we have agreed that human life is so different from other life even if it is codependent on the natural systems of the environment. Human life is dominant and there has never before been a dominant life form that was capable of making decisions for its own evolution separate from the rest of the natural system. It, therefore, is new and something that is separate. Humans may now be in charge of their own evolution apart from everything else. Several scientists agree with this theory too. In fact I found several websites discussing the possible next stage in human evolution being combined with artificial intelligence and robotic engineering. I also felt that Starhawk had a bit of a defeatist attitude towards the end as well because she finished the chapter by saying that we never know when the next great crisis will hit, but small bacteria will most likely live on and create a whole new series of lives anyways. I guess this could also be uplifting in a way, but goes against everything that she strives for in saving the environment and therefore, saving humans. I find it interesting that there is even a chapter on evolution because so much of evolution theory goes against what she works towards. What we are doing with society and the environment can be seen as evolution to many theorists, even if it is perceived as damaging to some. It’s a touchy subject that is filled with debate.

On a separate note, Starhawk states at the beginning of the chapter very briefly, that having knowledge in things other than our religion can benefit our worship. Just as she has knowledge in biology and chemistry, other subjects may have value to us as well. I agree whole heartedly with this!

Questions

What creation stories do you like and why?

How do different creation stories link with the theory of evolution?

What do you think is the next step in our own evolution?

Activities

None for this chapter.

The Earth Path - Chapter 3 - The Sacred

Finally, this book is starting to hit home with me! But I'll get to that more in the activities section.
This chapter is all about what is sacred and important to you, the reader, and how you can effect change for that cause. A lot of it is defining certain systems, and commenting on how informative the information is, really doesn't speak to how I'm understanding it. I have a few points, but most of the breakthrough stuff comes at the end.

Impressions and Thoughts

The author takes about frames a lot and discusses that we create these frameworks to contain certain aspects of our lives. This must be why labeling is so popular in mainstream society. As Pagans we are often guilty of this as well, but these frames are also important because they contain the identities we have chosen for ourselves and outline what we feel is important to us. Since Paganism is such a diverse religion, everyone practicing it in a somewhat unique way, we often don't have the exact values as each other. I give talks to my sister's world religions class when she gets to Paganism and Wicca, and the concept that her students find the most difficult to understand is that we have no real set of definite values that we all, as a whole, believe. What this chapter seeks to do, and does so well in my opinion, is break down what we feel is important enough to change when it is broken, and how to go about making that change. The first step is knowing about the system enough to know how to make beneficial change, which includes the health of the system as a whole. We need to learn to speak the language of that system to communicate on a meaningful level with it. Immersing ourselves into it, is the best way to learn about it and then create positive change. She warns us that it is also important to remember and be aware of consequences that will inevitably arise with this change. This is something that is very important to me as I have had several past experiences where the consequences of a certain action affected not just me, but a multitude of people and systems. I understand how important this concept can be. Another concept that I found extremely interesting in this chapter was how we look at something and quantify its value. Starhawk uses the example of buying tomatoes versus growing them. She explains that the value of growing her tomatoes is not just monetary, but brings joy and affirmation to her and those around her enough to account for the cost and time to grow them herself. Looking at ALL the benefits of doing something can help us make decisions about what choices we make when it comes to the things we value. Along with this, she discusses the ability to do what you value and the feelings one may have when they cannot do everything. I've read about this before in "An Ye Harm None: Magical Morality and Modern Ethics", so it is not a new concept to me. One cannot feel guilty for what they cannot do, but should feel accomplishment and pride as well as well being for what they can do. It is also easier to change something from a meeting point, a point that is close enough to what you want to change something into that it only takes a small shove instead of a big one. From there a ripple effect can occur, changing things along the way. For example, if you want a more feminist viewpoint in religion, start with religions that value women, change their ideals first and then from them, they can move to persuade others.

Questions
What values should all Pagans have in common? Wiccans?
What paradigm shifts should be made in society today?
What ideals are beginning to become outdated and useless?

Activities

A Sacred Intention:

What is Sacred to me?

There are many things that are sacred to me. Right now, at this current moment, self esteem is sacred to me as well as sexuality. This is probably because of my work with Aphrodite’s Magic. Other things that are sacred to me include, but are not limited to: Pagan ethics, animal rights, preventing and aiding homelessness and poverty, women’s rights, religious rights and education, and Pagan rites of passage.

What do I care about so strongly that I couldn’t see it compromised or destroyed? What would I take a stand for? Risk myself for?

Out of all those, I wouldn’t know how to pick just one. The one that is closest to my heart at this moment is self esteem and sexuality. I would love to take a stand for promoting these more in women’s lives, having us focus not on our bodies and its link to our self worth, but to our feelings and relationships. I would love to attack the media and fashion industries that put so much pressure on looking a certain way that we are obsessed with numbers such as clothing size, weight and BMI.

Consider for a moment what the world would be like if our social, political, and economic systems all cherished what is most sacred to you. In what ways do they already? In what ways would they need to change? What would change in your daily life? In your community? In the world around you? Can you describe that world in a few sentences?

I think that there are a few systems out there that help support those who feel negatively about their bodies, especially in North America, such as teen health centers, and BANA. It has also become a topic that is discuss, although infrequently, in schools, women and teen magazines and social clubs such as Girl Guides, for example. I do feel, however, that this topic needs a hell of a lot more attention. Fashion needs to reflect the averages as well as the ideal. Support groups and centers need to be in place for people to go to change or seek counseling. Gym memberships should cost less and be more available to those that need them. Programs should be established that encourage people to get healthy instead of “lose weight”. My life would benefit from these programs as well. I know I personally need the support and working on these goals and helping others meet them would help me with my own issues revolving around these topics. I live in such a small community, where we have the highest grossing LCBO in the province. More focus on our health and psychological well being would greatly affect this community for the better. I t would also help other systems such as local farming, which is also very important for this area.
A world where the ideal was happy and self assured would have woman of all shapes and sizes trying to get healthy for the sake of health instead of looks. Gyms would be community places that didn’t charge a membership fee. Groups of women would go for runs together and talk about what they love about themselves instead of focusing on their faults. They would also get along more because there would be less visual competition between them. Healthy, local foods would be cheaper to buy, and schools would focus on self esteem and teamwork. There would be doctors and psychologists in every community to help women who still were having problems. There would be no quick fixes like plastic surgery or “slim band”.

Do you want to bring that world into being? Do you feel responsible towards it?

I do want to bring this world into being, but I don’t feel personally responsible for it. I think it is something that I could advocate and help towards.

Are your best energies directed toward bringing about your cherished vision of the world? Towards service and what is sacred to you?

No. I need to understand my own health issues before I can tackle other women’s issues. I need to create and find ways to make this a reality and plausible first. I also need to get healthy myself and find ways that will support me as well as those around me.

Is there anything you need, support or opportunities or luck, to help you in that work? Who can you ask for support, in the human world? In the larger realms of the universe? What do you need to make that change? Support? Opportunity? Courage? Luck?
 
I would need the courage to start something and a super idea to make it popular enough to work. I would need people in my community who would support and work with me towards these goals. I would need to see a paradigm shift in our feelings towards our own self images.

What is blocking you? How would your life change if you were to put your best energies toward creating a world that cherishes what is sacred to you?

Like I said earlier, I’m only blocking myself. I need to get healthy so I can help others choose to get healthy instead of “lose weight”.

It is my sacred intention to create a world that cherishes: health instead of weight

The Beauty Parlor of the Goddess

Moving onto the second cord of Aphrodite's Magic, I decided to do an optional post activity first. The second cord is all about beauty and the activity was to compile images that reflect your appreciation of the beauty of women. I wanted to do this activity first so that it made me aware of what I find beautiful in other women before I examine my own beauty. So, this post is actually two activities in one. I found this activity both difficult and easy at the same time. Easy because there were so many images of beautiful women out there. As a bisexual, I find women attractive in general. I know what I like and what makes me look. But narrowing it down was what was difficult. Because there was so much out there I found it difficult to pinpoint what it was specifically that I liked best of all.
The following are the images I found that, to me, are beautiful:

This first picture is by  Alessandro Barbucci. I'm a bit obsessed with this picture. It represents my love of girl on girl, as well as dominant/submissive sexuality.I sort of have a fetish for android women too. if you're the same, I suggest you check out this Bjork video. I really love the naked doll's mouth and the way the other doll is gliding her hand up the front of her thigh. It's so suggestive of what's to come...

 

 Full round breasts...

 A doll from Enchanted Dolls. I find this artist is able to capture such pure beauty with these dolls. Many of them are the ideal image of beauty to me; soft, demure, large eyes, long luscious hair...

 A perfectly round bum...

 Angelina Jolie - I love her eyes and mouth.

 A slim pregnant woman. It's the obvious belly that I find so attractive; full of life.

 This is an image of Aphrodite, one of my favorites, complete with girdle...

 I lovely lady covered in tattoos. I love tattoos because they are art that is expressed on the body, one of my favorite canvases. Tattoos also represent ownership of one's own body as well as personal expression.

 Burlesque, and everything about the genre. It's sexy but classy.

 Gemma Arterton - I find her to be positively gorgeous.

 Evan Rachael Wood - My favorite girl crush.

 Something about the wistfulness of this picture and the roundness of her body. Women are all circles and the rounder the circles, the more attractive to me. I tend to like women with curves and a bit more flesh than the average super model, but the roundness has to be smooth.

 The eyes of this little girl. She is going to grow into the most beautiful woman.

 Pin-up style makeup and hair. I think it appeals to me so much because it really accentuates my two favorite facial features, the eyes and lips.

 Pin-up models. I find these poses to be very feminine, enhancing the bust and bum.

 My friend. I took this picture but I believe I captured her beauty here. I love her dark eyes, smile and freckles. She has no makeup on, just got out of the water and is absolutely gorgeous!

 Women of Eastern Asia. Their exotic look and sun kissed skin.

 Deborah Ann Woll. So fresh and lovely. I also have a thing for red hair, as you may have noticed...

 This is a photo from America's Next Top Model. The woman here is a plus sized model and actually won the season. This was my favorite picture of her and it's the expression of almost pain on her face and in her hand that I love. It's almost orgasmic, which is something else that holds a lot of beauty for me.

Again, dark eyes and mouth. This woman also has a lovely nose. She just has a beautiful face in general.

Again, this is another picture of a friend taken by me. She has the most beautiful hair and eyes and looks so serene and peaceful in this shot.









Sometimes I see more beauty in my friends than I do in myself. I guess it might be because I see them through eyes that also see their inner beauty shine through. When having to find my own beauty I aimed to come up with 10 things. The activity is called, "The Beauty Parlor of the Goddess", and asks what the Goddess handed out at Her beauty parlor for me. So here goes:

1. My knees: I like my knees. They aren't knobbly or too small. They are soft and I rarely have to shave them. They are what I kneel upon when at my alter, they allow me to walk and dance. They feel good when they are rubbed.

2. My skin: My skin is soft with light colored hair. It is mostly still young and firm. I have very few blemishes but many little "beauty marks". It is scared in places that show I am able to heal. It smells nice.

3. My breasts: They are full and soft, softer than most of my skin in fact. They are big and round. My mother always told me that, "A champagne glass was plenty" and than later replaced champagne glass with mouthful. Well I have waaaaay more then a mouthful, and that works just fine for me. They look amazing in a corset and they are an excellent substitute for a pillow.

4. My hands: My hands are small and dainty, yet they do a lot. They allow me to create things like sewing projects, paintings, writing, picture taking, crafting, etc. They give pleasure. They prepare meals. They pet my cats.

5. My surgery scar: Although not an original feature, it is one I'm most proud of. It reminds me of my own strength and will, my pain, my hardship and my courage. It's a foot long and almost the same color as my skin which makes it not unpleasant to look at as well.

6. My shoulders: Round and well shaped, smooth and soft to the touch. A great place to kiss. Right between them on my back there is a place that when touched always makes me shiver.

7. My lips: Don't they look kissable to you? They have a pleasing shape and a soft pink color. I'm told they often taste good too. From my lips comes my voice which I use for singing and speaking. I use my mouth to eat, and smile.

8. My eyes: I love my eyes. They are deep set but still light. They have no distinct color but change from bluish green to brownish grey. They hold expression and I try to decorate them whenever possible with makeup and glasses. I take good care of them because they are my favorite feature about myself. I often try to keep them moist with drops and pluck the hair of my eyebrows meticulously. They allow me to cry when I'm both happy or sad. They show my personality better than any other part. They allow me to see beauty in anything and everything. Along with my hands, they allow me to create art.

9.  My ears: I have small dainty ears. My sister thinks they are freakishly small. I like them. They allow me to listen to music and birds chirping. I also like to decorate them as well. I have 3 piercings on my left ear and 2 on my right.

10. My face: My face in general is made up very well in my opinion. You can see both my mother and my father there as well as my grandparents and aunts and uncles. I have features that were passed down from my ancestors and it is a visual reminder of where I come from. It's round and soft and expressive. it's the first thing someone generally sees when they look at me. It's fair and pinkish and loves the sun.

So, that's ten things/features I like about myself. This was much easier to do after I had realized the things I found beautiful in other women. I thought, "Well, I have those things too!" and it made this activity very pleasant and uplifting for me. I believe it is important to feel comfortable in your own skin and finding things about myself that I thought were beautiful really helped that.

The Earth Path - Chapter 2 - Seeds and Weapons

Impressions and Thoughts

I had to read most of this chapter twice. The plethora of big pseudo-scientific words really hindered the flow of my reading and comprehension. Once I got the hang of it, however, I found that I actually disliked most of what was being said.

This chapter talks about our connections and understandings of the world around us and the attempt at change we have, as a people, forced upon the Earth. It speaks of changing our perceptions of how to change things in a positive way, connecting ourselves to the history, myths and magic of the land, and learning to listen and speak with the land as well. Unfortunately, a lot of this message gets lost in the negative attack on modern science and societal putdowns. The author seems determined to make a point that modern science is outdated and approaches such as bio-engineering and genetic modifications are evil and an attempt to play god made by western man. Although I agree with what she is trying to say, that certain bio-changes have inadvertently impacted our world for the negative, I feel that Starhawk is almost yelling at me and only focusing on the horrific instead of any good advancement in these fields. I’m not educated enough to really state any positive experiments or advancements myself, but I feel that the quotes she gives and the evidence she portrays are a bit biased. I understand her warnings that anything we do chemically or changing it on a cellular level, changes everything around it for better or for worse and we need to be aware of that. When we make unnatural changes, the outcomes are often more than we anticipated and many are negative side effects.  

Everything is connected, and I truly believe this. Certain communities of plants may help each other and an understanding of this concept is important. One change may not work the way we want it to. For example, when planting an herb garden, knowing which herbs help each other and hinder others may make for a more thriving and contained garden. Just like the seed balls were communities unto themselves that supported the other seeds within that community for a better more efficient growing outcome.

Understanding how something thrives, however, doesn’t always allow us to make the correct assumptions on how to fix it when it’s broken. Like the author says, “If bugs are devouring your plants, it’s a sign that something is out of balance in the overall community. Some predator that could eat the bugs is missing, or something is putting the plants under stress and making them more vulnerable.” But how can we fix this problem even if we know what is causing it? Sometimes, it is not personally our fault and personally changing doesn’t help the entire community change, just like changing one thing may not have the desired effect on a cellular level. The author is often hypocritical in other broad statements as well. She often portrays an, “I’m right and they’re wrong” attitude throughout most of this chapter. This leads me to my biggest question: If what “they” are doing is so bad and so detrimental to the well being of the natural world and there is also so much evidence to prove this, why does it continue? Her answer is that they just don’t understand. They get so caught up in looking at the problem in one specific way (looking for weapons) that they are unable to see it from any other point of view. But Starhawk often falls into this same trap of only looking at it in one dimension.  Maybe it’s my own university education that has clouded my opinions, but I always want to see both sides and draw my own conclusions. I feel the need to be educated enough to understand the whole. Just getting her side of the issues is a bit frustrating to me. I also feel that her attack on progress leading to the witch trials is completely unfair. I agree that the burnings were perpetrated by men against women and things they could not understand, but I do not agree that it was caused by a worldview change that happened many years before and very gradually.

All that being said, there were things in this chapter that I completely agreed with, I just felt they were presented in such a negative way that the reader may have the trouble of seeing them for the gems they are. I really liked the concept of unknown unknowns. I agreed that everything is alive and conscious and changes need to be small, observed and reacted to. I agree that magic is science that cannot be explained. And I agree that more testing needs to be done in areas of supposed positive environmental advancement.

Questions

If scientific testing for environmental advancements is not thorough enough, how can we create standards?

What are natural changes I can make, when I know the problem to be fixed, which is bigger than just me?

How can I involve or even create a community to make small natural changes to positively effect our land?

Activities

None for this chapter