Opening Our Hearts to the Feminine

This week (August 15) marks the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Taking advantage of that occasion, I am re-posting a couple of posts in celebration of the feminine archetype which rises within us and among us to bring life, love, and creativity. ~ CK

"She is always and forever rising. When she arises, there is creativity, compassion, and wholeness… We would all do well to take this day to recollect and to recognize all the beauties, delights, rewards and treasures that have come to us in life by way of the feminine principle."

This week is a time to celebrate the sacred feminine. The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is coming up on August 15. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic liturgical year.  The Assumption of Mary only became dogma in 1950, but Carl Jung called it the most significant religious event since the Reformation. To him, if codified a deep longing for that feminine archetype to take her place alongside the Holy Trinity. He went on to say that “For more than a thousand years it has been taken for granted that the Mother of God dwelt there [in the heavenly court].” (See Answer to Job, by C.G. Jung, pp. 99 - 100)

Interpreting and Honoring

When one looks at the fields of literature, art, music, religion, psychology, and
archaeology, it is quite clear that the feminine principle cannot be suppressed. She is always and forever rising. When she arises, there is creativity, compassion, and wholeness. Many people will disagree on the significance of the feminine that is displayed in so many aspects of life. Some will call her Goddess, some will call her Mediatrix, and some will declare her Queen of Heaven. Some will call her anima while others will exult in the divine muse. Traditional Catholics will have their view, feminists, artists, musicians, psychologists, academics, and “new age-ers” will each have their particular take on the significance of the various manifestations of the feminine archetype. How we interpret the transcendent feminine principle and how we name it is far less important than the fact that the feminine is honored. And on this day, she is honored in a big way. She is recognized as an immanent presence in the highest realm of the universe. We would all do well to take this day to recollect and to recognize all the beauties, delights, rewards and treasures that have come to us in life by way of the feminine principle.     

I think of the feminine as necessary for bringing balance to life and creativity to the spirit. I, of course, am thinking from a male perspective. A woman would naturally have a different understanding of that feminine archetype (and any comments from a woman’s perspective will be welcomed on this post).

Poetic Connection

I mentioned in another blog post that the Catholic view of Mary is a stumbling block to many Protestants, but it was one of my greatest attractions as a convert from Protestantism.  The following poem is my first attempt to write about the profound nature of the feminine archetype. I was still a Baptist at the time, though I borrowed the Catholic title of “Our Lady.”

To Our Lady

My love bore twilight in her breast,
And starlight beauty shone
That bade me gladly leave the rest
To seek out flesh and bone.

My love bore sorrow in her eyes,
And joy within her heart
That made me fully realize
That all-connecting part.

My love bore grief within her bones
And victory in her brow.
Her strength rolled back the massive stones
That held my heart till now.

                                                    ~ CK

 *     *     *     *     *

Other related posts:

• A Jungian Appreciation of Mary
• Ave Maria (Morten Lauridsen)
• Schubert's Ave Maria (Bobby McFerrin)
• Reflecting upon Michelangelo’s Pieta
• To a Local Goddess

_________________________

Photos: The upper photo, judging from the watermark, is by Eddi van W. I found it being used on two websites: Temples of the Moon, and Woo Woo Momma.

The lower photos are details from Michelangelo’s Pieta



(This post first appeared on August 15, 2014, under the title, "Celebrating the Feminine Principle."

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Monday Music: Two Choirs Walk into a Bar

"Here's what happens when two of America's premier male ensembles, Cantus & Chanticleer walk into a bar..." A beautiful rendition of Franz Biebl's Ave Maria!

I'll never forget the day I met Chanticleer during it's early days.It was in the Spring of 1978, I had started grad school in the San Francisco Bay Area just a couple of months earlier. My roommate and decided to go into San Francisco one afternoon, and came upon some young men in Renaissance costume singing old songs a Capella on the street near Ghiradelli Square.

We were quite impressed and went up to talk with them after their performance. I was a recent English Major graduate and was fascinated when the young man we spoke with said the group's name was Chanticleer. In the years hence, I am always thrilled when I hear them mentioned on the radio, recalling having met them on the streets of San Francisco. Now I am happy to hear about the group Cantus, as well.

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Celebrating the Feminine Principle

"She is always and forever rising. When she arises, there is creativity, compassion, and wholeness… We would all do well to take this day to recollect and to recognize all the beauties, delights, rewards and treasures that have come to us in life by way of the feminine principle."

Today, August 15, is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic liturgical year.  The Assumption of Mary only became dogma in 1950, but Carl Jung called it the most significant religious event since the Reformation. To him, if codified a deep longing for that feminine archetype to take her place alongside the Holy Trinity. He went on to say that “For more than a thousand years it has been taken for granted that the Mother of God dwelt there [in the heavenly court].” (See Answer to Job, by C.G. Jung, pp. 99 - 100)

Interpreting and Honoring

When one looks at the fields of literature, art, music, religion, psychology, and
archaeology, it is quite clear that the feminine principle cannot be suppressed. She is always and forever rising. When she arises, there is creativity, compassion, and wholeness. Many people will disagree on the significance of the feminine that is displayed in so many aspects of life. Some will call her Goddess, some will call her Mediatrix, and some will declare her Queen of Heaven. Some will call her anima while others will exult in the divine muse. Traditional Catholics will have their view, feminists, artists, musicians, psychologists, academics, and “new age-ers” will each have their particular take on the significance of the various manifestations of the feminine archetype. How we interpret the transcendent feminine principle and how we name it is far less important than the fact that the feminine is honored. And on this day, she is honored in a big way. She is recognized as an immanent presence in the highest realm of the universe. We would all do well to take this day to recollect and to recognize all the beauties, delights, rewards and treasures that have come to us in life by way of the feminine principle.     

I think of the feminine as necessary for bringing balance to life and creativity to the spirit. I, of course, am thinking from a male perspective. A woman would naturally have a different understanding of that feminine archetype (and any comments from a woman’s perspective will be welcomed on this post).

Poetic Connection

I mentioned in another blog post that the Catholic view of Mary is a stumbling block to many Protestants, but it was one of my greatest attractions as a convert from Protestantism.  The following poem is my first attempt to write about the profound nature of the feminine archetype. I was still a Baptist at the time, though I borrowed the Catholic title of “Our Lady.”

To Our Lady

My love bore twilight in her breast,
And starlight beauty shone
That bade me gladly leave the rest
To seek out flesh and bone.

My love bore sorrow in her eyes,
And joy within her heart
That made me fully realize
That all-connecting part.

My love bore grief within her bones
And victory in her brow.
Her strength rolled back the massive stones
That held my heart till now.

                                                    ~ CK

 *     *     *     *     *

Other related posts:

• A Jungian Appreciation of Mary
• Ave Maria (Morten Lauridsen)
• Schubert's Ave Maria (Bobby McFerrin)
• Reflecting upon Michelangelo’s Pieta
• To a Local Goddess

_________________________

Photos: The upper photo, judging from the water mark, is by Eddi van W. I found it being used on two websites: Temples of the Moon, and Woo Woo Momma.

The lower photos are details from Michelangelo’s Pieta

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Monday Music: Ave Maria (Lauridsen)

There are many feast days devoted to Mary throughout the year. May is traditionally a month especially dedicated to Mary, with May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary practiced by many within the Catholic faith. Here is a twentieth century composition of Ave Maria by Morten Lauridsen accompanied by images from the works of  Italian Renaissance painter Raphael Santi.

Monday Music: Bobby McFerrin, "Ave Maria"

Bobby McFerrin does something remarkable at a music workshop with "Ave Maria." I post this today in honor of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary coming up this week on August 15.