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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Prince Charming, Etc.

As promised, I am posting the poem I based upon the photo prompt featured in yesterday's blog post.

Prince Charming, Etc.

Someday I want to read Cinderella’s story –

Not the fairy tale –

I mean her story.

How would she tell it?

Or how would Beatrice tell

Of Florentine nights

When the city’s finest

Gathered in grand ceremony?

When she appeared

Just long enough

To capture a poet’s heart

On her way to becoming a goddess,

What did she see?

And what about that dancing queen

Who took to the dance floor

When the lights were low

On a Friday night?

What would be her story

Should her lips tell the tale

Or her pen fashion the narrative?

I can only speak

For the hopes of a man

Made helpless by the sight

Of that fair maiden of story and song.

When beauty walks a razors edge

In stiletto heels,

A man can suddenly imagine

A lifetime

In the span of a heartbeat

Or the blink of an eye.

That imagined lifetime

Will prod him to cancel

All previously scheduled tomorrows

To follow that one bright star.

When daybreak comes

And bleary eyes survey the gray-cast city

That now holds only a fragment of that dream,

He joins the ranks of troubadours

And would-be Prince Charmings.

With a single shoe

To remind him

Of life lived to the full –

That shoe left in haste

By the curb

Before the lady’s departure –

He is ready to search the kingdom

To find the lady

Who will fit that shoe

And fill his dreams.

Some of us

Caught up in that drama

Will bring her home,

Like Prince Charming.

Others of us will, like Dante,

Resign ourselves to forever

Seek the goddess

Just beyond our reach,

Content to only catch a glimpse.

Either way,

She has taken our heart

Filled our days

And overturned our lives.

We would put everything on the line for her.

We would hope to win her heart,

Or at least buy her a house.

Someday I would like to hear

Cinderella’s story.

Is hers

As upended

As mine?

                              ~ CK

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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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