The Reiki Cafe 

Greetings,
Sitting in a chapel for a concert today, looking at a portrait of Mary, regal, Divine. It occurred to me that if she lived today, she would not be allowed to celebrate Mass, or in some places, to stand on the altar in a Catholic Church. Was she not the first to transform Jesus into Flesh? I wonder......if she walked into the Church and asked to celebrate Mass......what would happen?
Blessings,
Feather

Dear Feather,

Not to worry...at least institutionalized misogyny as a reflection of dominant culture isn't limited to the RCC. After all, women clamored to be admitted to the Sangha. It was finally allowed...whereupon it was said (quite pettishly, I thought) that the Dharma would have lasted 1000 years...but since the women were now involved, it would only make it 500.

The Liberal Catholic Church (officially viewed as a schismatic movement by the RCC) allows its priests to marry...but women aren't allowed to study for/hold any office. After being a member for three years and finding this out, I left without a backward glance.

I reflect more and more on the wisdom of what a man once said to me: Transcendent religions foster self-hatred and aggression.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Pretty unbelievable, isn't it? What is so fearful about Woman?
Blessings,
Feather

Dear Feather,

I find it more unbelieveable that women continue to support such. Not a penny of my money, not a minute of my time to any such institution or individual.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

That might be the Key to Change.........
Namaste,
Feather

goldenisis,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- one view is that religions, being simply the Masks humans put on 'Spirit', are really nothng more than the accumulated projections we have about being human and mortal in the current body - projections which, of course, include major influences from Shadow

>:-}}

- yes, Patriarchy and mysogyny seem intertwined, most certainly

- yet, is misandry the healing and resolution solution to mysogyny??

>:-}}

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

firekeeper

Um yes in fact we are... to the easily frightened man.

Let me explain as best I have been taught by spirit:

In terms of spirituality:

Man (i don't mean to be sexist here, but it is my finding) can live within either the physical or mystical worlds, but not both. It takes great men (of which there have been many) to bring the spiritual into the world, and because it is such a challenge for them, it is often men who take up this task.

Women however bring the spititual into the physical in their actual body. childbirth is this act, and is not done sometimes without thought from the woman. This is why Mary was revered, and other female dieties. women make spirit flesh as part of their function as woman.

This makes it hard for men meditate around women (its very much like learning to sneeze around someone who has a cold ,- its off putting and they wouldn't take you seriously)- this bringing spirit to flesh is a very important act for men though, and needs to be taken seriously.

Physically:

Women in the histories of time, were able to bleed without dying. This is still a matter of control within our patriachal society, were women are trained to feel disgusted by their own blood.

Women are also physically attractive to some men, and many of those who feel the opposite have jealosy/ intimacy problems with the female physical form. Both male sexualities find the female form difficult becuase it poses a power threat (many men have a problem with the lack of control they feel over sexual arousal).

Socially and emotionally:
women usually take the role of domstic centre in most societies, therefor weilding great power over day to day matters.

The Catholic Church is one of the old boys clubs of the middle ages. Its history is profoundly unchristian and bloody, and it supresses vast amounts of information on the teachings of Christ and his history that do not fit in with its belief sytem. It also breaks its own commandments by worshiping graven images.
It does hovever have some beautiful teachings and ceremonies.

I, by the way, have a Catholic background on one side of my family, and have experienced beautiful moments in Church, though I'm not sure it had anything to do with the service being held.

much love and light

Shanta

I got to chime in on this: Heck the holy mother wouldnt even be allowed allowed to play golf at Augusta Nat. if she wanted to! (think about that)

With all the scandle in the Church I actually went back. I am Catholic, I tried Luthern (that is what my wife is) but since the Pastor there thinks chiropractic is part of the occult (evil) (wife was a office manager for chiropracter)
I never wanted to go back. I think the reason why I went back is that I started to have a relationship with god, it seems to be even closer now with Reiki. I want to learn about God, and they hold "classes" every sunday so I go. There are many things I dont agree with in the Church, but I have found common ground, mainly God, Jesus, Mary, prophets.

While I think anyone should be capable to hold mass, it is their club, and their rules right now. God has rules also.

Edgar Cayce say's (in readings) "That god is not found in any church or temple, but it is in you" So while it may not be nessary to belong to an orginized religon, I think it is a formal way to thank god, pray , learn about Jesus & Mary Saints etc.

Actually believe it or not, the POPE has devoted his life to the holy mother. This is the year of the Rosary and he added a new set of Mysteries.

Catholics do not idol worship.

What religon doesnt have a bloody past? Humanity has a bloody past.

Halaliel

Dear Firekeeper,

Lovely to see you; had been hoping/waiting for you to join us.

Misandry and separatism the solution? In an ideal samsaric world (think 'jumbo shrimp'...lol), absolutely not. After all, my best friend is a man.

But being old enough to have participated actively in the
fruitless struggle to get the ERA passed, I'm also too old to say, "Aw, come on guys, won't you acknowledge us as equals...pretty please?" At that point I would rather take my marbles and go play elsewhere.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Bless you all for chiming in on this important subject! It has just confirmed what I have felt led to do for quite some time.

The key for me is "change from within". I liked the comment about "their rules". I'm comfortable with being affiliated with a church. While it does not govern my every move, (or all of my doctrinal beliefs, for that matter) it does provide a venue for me to worship God with like-minded people. Churches are not perfect because they are made up of people who are not perfect.

With that said, I will share here for the first time what I believe I am being asked to do. I will begin work on a book that will be accepted by evangelicals (the faith I am affiliated with), that will speak "their language" and "play their game", but will also challenge their beliefs regarding the role of women in their churches, homes and communities. All I have been given so far is the title, but it's a powerful one.

The Feminine Face of God

Wish me luck! :-)

Herbmom

Halaliel,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- bloody past is just one symptom of Shadow in human nature

>:-}}

Reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

Dear Sutia,

While I think there's merit to your position, I would suggest that it is rather too broad and doesn't take into account the wide variance in individuals. Biology is not entirely destiny, and I know some women who are seemingly thoroughly obtuse to matters "spiritual." My experience has been that mystical receptivity (or not) is more a matter of what I'll call, for convenience, individual yin/yang proclivities. Further, spiritual materialism is no more useful than the other kind; we walk in two worlds if we are balanced.

And then there's always the matter of the 'third sex'...

Catholics worshipping graven images? No more so than Vedic "worship" of, say, the Shiva lingam. A representation of one aspect of the Absolute is just that, and may well serve as a useful focus.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Dear Halaliel,

Mother Mary swinging a golf club...lol...I like it, I like it (even though my proclivities for chasing a little white ball around something green are entirely limited to the pool table)! Is she still in long robes, or do you think she might have changed to knickers?

Yes, spiritual fellowship is important.

While it's nice that the Pope has "devoted his life to the Holy Mother" it still seems to me something of an empty gesture as long as women are banned from Full participation in the Church; and that's something he fiercely defends.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Dear Herbmom,

Best wishes for your book...although I remain sceptical about "change from within" (but I'm afraid I'm a bit sceptical about most things).

I believe "The Feminine Face of God" was used as a title some years ago, though...

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Goldenisis,

/*\ Namaste :-}]

- most kind. Good to see you as well

>:-}}

- tried to get here earlier but having a hard time eating tasty nummers with my coffee and typing at the same time

bagl

- yes, some might have rather mixed feelings about the line from James Brown's song: "It's a man's man's world but it would be nothing without a woman........."

>:-}}

- marbles??? who plays marbles?? I still have my olde Shooter.

>:-}}

reiki all around,

all blessings,

Firekeeper

Hmm...I will have to see about finding that book then. Perhaps it's just what I need right now.

Blessings,

Herbmom

"Catholics do not idol worship."

I think Sutia said "worship graven images"....and many religions view both the crucifix and the statuary of the Catholics as graven images. I'm not saying it's right, wrong, or indifferent.....just that I can certainly see why these things are generally seen as "graven images" and many people do kneel and pray before a statue of of the Virgin, for example. To most Christians it would seem to be worshiping a graven image. I'm not Christian, so I'm not criticizing the practice, just saying I see why people view it thusly.

"What religon doesnt have a bloody past? Humanity has a bloody past."

Oh yeah, this is true. How about the entire Inquisition? How about the Crusades? How about the Holocaust? How about witch burnings? How about "Christian white man" stealing the entire U.S. land from the Native Americans? Gives me shudders any time I think of either of these, and many other atrocities.

Namaste,
Lionheart

Ahh yes, Sutia, and if anyone wants to see how scary we really are, there is the Malleus Maleficorum (Witch's Hammer)of 1588 to be read, to see how men really saw women in that time and culture. I think some of the nastiness still hangs on in the psyche of men to this day.

No misandry from me. I'm just stating that man has seen woman as evil and scary for a very long time. It isn't new and it's probably not going away any time soon. Sigh. I'm not a militant feminist; just stating the obvious I think. Maybe an oversimplification, but it looks to me like we were so scary and evil that we had to be subjugated and controlled for the civilization of mankind. Ick. Don't get me started :-(

Namaste,
Lionheart

Dear Lionheart,

Thanks for the gentle correction; you are right.

But while I agree about the perception of "worshipping graven images", I still contend that it arises from a misapprehension of the function of said image...along the lines of mistaking the reflection of the moon for the moon itself.

Bright blessings,

goldenisis

Halaliel,

>"What religon doesnt have a bloody past? Humanity has a bloody past."

I'm not an authority and this is just an observation but possibly The Friends (better known to some as Quakers)?

Every generalization has an exception (or two)

>"Humanity has a bloody past."

So maybe we should stop living so much in the past.

;-)

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Rebecca, very good thoughts. You are certainly right about the Quakers. Always exceptions.

Definitely we need to let the past go.

Namaste,
Lionheart

Aronaya was afraid of Columbine. As he fell deeper in love with her, he learned to live with his fear. What they might become, together, the change, the metamorphosis -- he was too young to know, to give up who he was to become part of a shared whole with her.

That would have come with time, but he was struck down in battle. And so now, he exists in his tower by the ocean shore, while Columbine wanders in the wilderness.

Aronaya knows in his heart, as one knows one's own hands and feet, that Columbine is not evil. The evil is in his own fear, exile and imprisonment.

But he can feel change, a great shifting in the world's axis, and knows that now is the time to prepare. So he tells his story, to this humble struggling scribe.

Love,
Jeffrey

I believe I gave the impression that I disagree with the worship of images, which I dont. Having a partially Hindhu background I have many graven images in my own room, which i occasionally offer prayers to.

I was only pointing out the practice in a religion which commands @thou shalt not worship graven image'. i don't particularly disagree with it either, I have a crucifix witch i have great fondness of (also having a catholic background0.

much love and light
S

Namaste dear Sutia,
*hugs warmly**

My sister believes that I idolize my crystals because I have them on alters. :}
I think she is idolizing her children and family because she has pictures of them all over her walls!! I think that sometimes its a bit too heavy a burden to carry, worrying about such things, in the end it will drive you nuts.

And I wasn't really making a comment about your comment at all, more a sharing of my sisters and my related thoughts and how they vary with mileage in what graven images mean.

Love Laughter & Mishcief for all,

Jahnavi