Hail Pachamama

Bolivian Constitution Mentions Earth Deity

Is Bolivia a trendsetter? If you are going to include religion in your constitution, at least embrace early as well as later gods:

...Bolivia has eliminated any mention of the Roman Catholic Church in its new constitution, and instead recognizes the Christian God and Pachamama, the Andean earth deity...

Roman Catholicism is out, but "the Christian God" is in! Not only that, but now the constitution is shared by "Pachamama", a deity I'm sad to say I've never heard of.

...Adoption of the governing document was celebrated in El Alto, one of Bolivia’s poorest cities. Festivities included a military parade and a ritual by an Aymara priest, who burned a llama fetus as an offering to Pachamama (or Mother Earth) to invoke divine protection for the charter.

Maybe this is where my rituals have been going wrong: I've not burn any llama fetuses! Heh!

President Evo Morales adds:

“...I believe strongly in the rites and in Mother Earth (Pachamama). But, of course, I am a Catholic and an admirer of Jesus Christ...”

This certainly is an interesting example of a local culture's expression of traditional religion, as well as their embracing and interpretation of later Christianity. Seems very polytheistic to me. After googling around a bit, I found a 'Pachamama Alliance' concerned with rain forest issues. Cool.

Soft vs Hard

Isims and Schisms

Livia over at MagicHills has some interesting thoughts on "soft" vs "hard" polytheism:

...But I see all of that "all are one" stuff that I was bombarded with in my early studies as trite oversimplification that limited my perception and worship of the gods...Now that I've got a few years of study and practice under my belt I see that my past soft polytheism was really a hangover from my knowledge and experience of monotheism. I think soft polytheism made the transition from Christianity to neopaganism easier: one god, to one goddess, to a goddess and a god and now to many distinct deities...I see all gods as unique and distinct beings who are each worthy of study, reflection and worship. Hard polytheism isn't easy for me like soft polytheism was; I have to work harder, study more and think more. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I agree with Livia that it's good to focus on individual gods and goddesses, and I like her distinction between the two types of polytheism. But those darn gods and goddesses have a hand in this as well. The characteristics of deities can mix and blend through time, and one can even absorb another. In addition, cultures can sometimes try to make sense of a complicated theology by simplifying it, such as the Greeks did when they tried to order and explain Egyptian mythology, in terms of the Greek pantheon and philosophy.

Greek Goddesses return home

U.Va. to Return Looted Greek Statues to Italy

It's always good hearing about the repatriation of treasured antiquities:

...The University of Virginia plans to return two ancient Greek sculptures to Italy nearly three decades after tomb raiders looted them from Sicily...The acroliths of the Greek goddesses were created about 525 B.C. out of cloth, wood and marble...The life-size statues were originally displayed inside a temple in Morgantina, an ancient Greek settlement near what is now the Italian city of Aidone. They are thought to represent Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and grain, and her daughter Persephone, the queen of the underworld...

According to U.Va. art history professor Malcolm Bell, the return of the acroliths is especially appropriate because:

...the myths of Demeter and Persephone involved themes of traveling and returning. After Persephone is kidnapped and taken to the underworld, her mother searches for her across the Earth. Meanwhile, Persephone returns to Earth once a year, heralding spring and rebirth...

The Goddess must be very pleased! Additional article here.




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Ten Years: Heaven's Gate & Hale-Bopp

Heaven's Gate: The Sequel by Joshuah Bearman

The Heaven's Gate ritual mass suicide occurred ten years ago, this month. LA Weekly has fascinating article by Mr. Bearman, featuring an interview with "Rio", one of the few survivors. At times, poor Rio's life reads as a cliché Freudian example of someone prone to cult victimization. Yet you're compelled to feel sorry for the guy, the interviewer pointing out that he seems a pleasant and calm fellow. On the other hand, Rio still professes belief in the cult, claiming to receive messages from the dead founders.

I highly recommend the article for anyone interested in science and alternative religions. The author does a good job recapping the history of Heaven's Gate. One peculiar fact I had forgotten: one of the suiciders was Thomas Nichols, brother of Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura, of Star Trek fame). Reading it brought back some vivid memories for me:

At that time, I was just getting into amateur astronomy, so I was really excited about the discovery of the comet Hale-Bopp. The comet had real potential to be spectacular.

Then the hucksters and wackos started chiming in. A newbie amateur astronomer took some pictures of the comet, claiming they revealed a UFO trailing behind it. Art Bell's radio show, a hit among paranoid insomniacs back when the X-Files commanded some relevancy, featured the poor fellow as a guest. Soon after that, the "Farsight Institute", an organization that promoted 'remote viewing', issued a statement their psychics were in contact with the extraterrestrial piloting the spaceship!

I recall a flood of new subscribers joining astronomy and telescope msg boards, bulletin boards, and mailing lists, all asking about UFOs. Many of us tried to explain that thousands of telescopes were trained on Hale-Bopp, giving it the distinction of being one of the most observed objects of all time. If a spaceship existed, how come nobody else was seeing it? Some astute astrophotographers chimed in, pointing out that what the hapless amateur actual photographed appeared to be just internal reflections arising from peculiarities in the optical desing of the telescope. Of course, we were accused of all taking part in 'the conspiracy'! Heh! More photographs were promised by the amateur, but they were never forthcoming.

At that time, in San Diego CA, a secretive messianic group of UFO devotees, calling themselves Heaven's Gate, had interpreted the arrival of the comet as a sign that doomsday was at hand. They believed the UFO claims of the conspiracy crowd; they had faith the ship was going to whisk them away to technological salvation. They purchased a fine 8" SCT (oddly, this was at about the same time I purchased my telescope--almost exactly the same model) to view the craft. They saw what we all did: NO SPACESHIP! The telescope was returned to the store and exchanged for a pair of binoculars.

Up to this point, I found sparing with the net-kooks something of a guilty pleasure. The truth is, not everyone on the other side of the issue was a UFO zealot. A sizable minority asked good questions; some were certainly open minded. On the other hand, there was a verbose hard-core bunch who expressed unyielding faith that we were about to be invaded. Then suddenly, the conspiracy stuff took a deadly turn. Goofing around with the UFO nuts didn't seem so amusing any more.

I posted the following comment to a number of UFO and astronomy boards:

Hi:

I'm comet Hale-Bopp. How's it going, Earthlings?

It's been a long time -- over 4,000 years -- since I last visited your neighborhood. Unfortunately, my last visit went unrecorded. At that time, you did not yet have the knack for transcribing your own history. But you people did some crazy things then, when I reached perihelion. A thousand people had their hearts cut out and were tossed into a bottomless sinkhole, kings were deposed, godheads ascended, and blood drenched wars were waged, all because I graced your skies. You even blamed me for a couple of famines and plagues. What was really puzzling is that you seemed completely unconcerned about what I really was. I chalked this up to mere ignorance.

Now that you have all this science and technology you are so proud of, I was hoping things would be different this time. So much has been written about me, I feel I must speak up!

It's amazing to see how little you have changed. The wars, the famines, and the diseases are all still here. It's as if I never left. And even in your so called "information age", more craziness has proliferated and been written about me, than ever before. I never would have guessed that you still do human sacrifice -- but you now call it "ritual suicide". What gave you the idea I'm hiding a space ship from you? You even made me some sort of symbol for *your* coming millennium. Your self importance could really break me up.

Oh, I almost forgot. I'm not supposed to tell you this, but the real "aliens" consider your planet the laughing stock of the galactic quadrant. See you next time, in about 2,500 years. Just wait till my friends in the Oort cloud hear about this. Don't change, whatever you do! LOL

Signed,

The Comet presently known as Hale-Bopp

Of course, some people got the joke--others were inflamed at my crass insensitivity. Heh, so I posted the following:

People of Earth... Attention:

I am the commander of the space ship orbiting the comet known as "Hale-Bopp".

Thank you! Those 39 people you sent are a good start, but we need some big time help up here. I don't wish to sound ungrateful, but could a few hundred more of you commit suicide? ASAP? This is a big space ship and we've really got our hands full. Conspiracy advocates with computer skills will get the best positions.

One more thing: don't listen to anything that brainless comet says. So what are you going to do? Pay attention to a dirty snowball? Ha! This stupid comet cannot tell its ion tail from its nucleus.

Best wishes,
Commandress Lacerta

In college, I had a wonderful astronomy professor. He was a consummate skeptic, constantly debunking astrology, psychic phenomena, religion, and such. Someone asked in class asked "Do you believe in God"? He grew thoughtful, then responded "I see God every time I look through the telescope." But the author points out that Rio sees the Universe differently. He challenges him on his beliefs:

"...When he finds out I don't believe that the Grays — the bigheaded, almond-eyed aliens — are abducting humans for genetic sampling to save their species, he looks surprised, as if such knowledge is axiomatic, and says, "Well, you'll get there eventually."

Uh, no thanx! I prefer my Gods & Goddesses, Elementals, the Faery-folk, the 'Hero with a Thousand Faces', even Dragons and the Unicorns. Studying them and welcoming them, I feel I am learning something about our history, our place in nature and society, and this amazing existence. The central thing is, that for me at least--these glorious beings don't have to be real to be important. Such acknowledgment helps one keep a foot planted on terra firma. Maybe that's the thing missing from sterile religions such as "Heavens Gate". For the unfortunate followers of that path, it was a tragic omission.

The Universe is mysterious and awe inspiring. The Hale-Bopp comet was a wonderful gift, glorious and magnificent. It was easily viewable with the best telescopes ever evolved: our own eyes--provided free of charge courtesy our Earthbound evolution. Yet, why did so many people feel they had to imagine it all had to do with spaceships? Why is it that some find our Universe so dull, boring, and meaningless, that they compel it to be interesting? Can they only find comfort in this world if they people it with super advanced technological beings, in some anthropomorphic daydream of angelic salvation? Maybe I'm missing something, but where is the spirituality in that? Where are the myths and metaphors, the mysteries and beauty?

Pagan's have a saying: "The Old Ways are Best".

(image: astronomy.com)

Finding your Goddess and God

Quest for Deity

One fascinating element of Wicca is selection of your own personal deities. Over at Witchvox, there is a great essay by Nicole Gilbert called Quest for Deity. Nicole outlines a process to help you find your Goddess and God. The first is a somewhat academic approach:

...A good place to start is to ask yourself some questions. Are you drawn to any particular time periods or cultures? Ancient Egypt, perhaps, Classical Greece, or maybe pre-Roman Britain? How about Ireland? Most people seem to feel some affinity with an older culture or two and that is a good place to start. Studying the mythologies of the times and places you feel drawn to is an excellent idea...

That academic approach works for some. On the other hand, for other Wiccans, it's the other way around--it's you gets selected! Nicole draws on her own process:

...I have had the experience of being chosen by a goddess... I was feeling overwhelmed and trying to narrow it down between Egyptian or Celtic pantheons but also being strangely drawn to the Greek underworld goddess, Hecate...I was napping when I had a very vivid dream. I was standing on a hill, looking up into the sky at a tiny speck way up high, spiraling down, closer and closer. All my attention was focused on the speck, though I did notice a bit of a chilly breeze. Down and down the speck spiraled, growing larger the closer it got. Finally it got close enough for me to see that it was a large white owl...

What a refreshing illustration of how differently the spirituality of Wiccans and Pagans is from mainstream monotheistic religion. It begs the question Joseph Campbell, Jung, Alan Watts, Diane Osbon and others have asked, "Could God exist if nobody else did?" Of course not. That's why Gods and Goddesses need us to believe in them. I like entomologist Alan Watts' answer for this, "If you believe in God, I don't. If you don't , I do". As Osbon states, "There are as many Gods as people thinking about God". For many ancient cultures, all we have left of what they knew and felt about the Cosmos are their conceptions of Deities. The Deities our history has created are really the mirror images of ourselves. Deity is actually the work of human kind, projected in beings we call Goddess or God.

Considering how rotten we have been to the Earth lately, it's really nice of Goddess and God to still believe in us.

Teaching God and Evolution

Thank God for Evolution

There should be more workshops like this:

Washingtonville —The Rev. Michael Dowd and his wife, Connie Barlow, will present a free workshop, “Thank God for Evolution! How Science and Religion Are Spurring Each Other to Greatness,” at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday Nov. 19, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 175 East Main St., Washingtonville.

(Kudos to Darksyde over at Kos for this)