Sunday, April 5, 2009

Goddess of the Week



This week it is again Pele, the Hawaiian Volcano-Goddess; She is the latest in a string of repeated Goddesses. Last time I picked Her, three weeks ago, She spoke of change and adaptation and anger.

I think we are in a turbulent time right now, and I mean not just the times in general but this week in particular. Something old is being destroyed, and is coming to an end, right now. And it is a big change.

Something is boiling over.

One thing I'm seeing is that this past week there seems to be a rash of Dudes Who Can't Handle It. You know the type--something bad happens in their life and so they open fire on nursing home residents, immigrants, strangers, their own children. Sometimes they kill themselves, too. (Though really, I can't help thinking, can't they just do that bit first? You know, and spare the rest of us all the misery? But then spreading the misery around is the point, isn't it?)

It's entitlement clashing with the reality of a painful life, or a negative change; and instead of changing themselves to fit, or adjusting their expectations, they decide the world is the one that has to change.

This is a peculiarly male phenomenon in this society. And I'm afraid I have no sympathy for men who do this; even less when I read the articles, which are usually careful to point out in what way the man was 'driven' to it. 'Driven,' really? As if it's all understandable, all justifiable, and the man had no choice.

Yeah, well, I call bullshit on that.

Something is boiling over.

The thing about volcanoes, about Kilauea, is that you cannot make them adjust to you. A lava flow will do as it likes; you cannot stop it, and it will destroy anything that does not move. So you move. You get the hell out of its way. And you don't expect anything else.

Also I cannot help but think this card is about the Earth pushing back. We have abused Her for so long; and in some ways it is already all coming undone.

I don't know; that's not exactly cheery, is it? I don't know what advice to give that doesn't sound like I'm telling us to devote our time to quelling a mutiny on a rapidly sinking ship.

What does She say?

Oh honey, it's not that bad. Though, my idea of bad and yours are probably different, true. But as something is destroyed remember that something else is born. To be reborn you must first die, remember? Your resistance is what will make it difficult, or less difficult. Sorry, it's true; easy is not an option right now. Okay maybe it is that bad. The world will end in fire, you know that, right?


Oh great. The only thing I can think of that might help is to look at what is going on, as honestly, as bravely, and as humbly as possible (there is no room for ego in this), and then being willing to change.

That and that we support each other. That, I think, is crucial.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

There was a lot of destruction in my life for the past two weeks... I ended a 8 year relationship because of the feelings I have and the dreams I want to persue... I did feel bad... But I can see some flowers springing in the torn earth...

I am filled with hope =)

Anonymous said...

I find it very interesting since a volcano in Alaska erupted yesterday. Perhaps too literal but I prefer that to it being my life. How much upheaval can one person take?

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/world/world/general/alaskan-volcano-erupts-with-little-warning/810543.aspx

Thalia said...

Well for what it's worth it feels pretty general to me (for once), like it's tied in to all the recent economic mess, and that there is a shifting of consciousness because of that. A painful one, for most, I suppose.

Also volcanoes have been in the news a lot recently, both with Mt. Redoubt in Alaska and that Bobby Jindal thing a while back (January I think?)

Who else (with a Pagan blog) was talking about Pele? I know I saw something recently.

Thalia said...

That's right, Medusa at Medusa Coils mentioned something over at Daily Kos about Pele.

ked'a said...

Sometimes a straight up death is too easy. The metaphorical ones are harder to bear. And survive.

Plucked a funny little snippet out of thin air today, and it feels like a whole new world. Then again, the dog is still eating the cat food. Silly rabbit. (My dog is a papillon.)

Thalia said...

Why that reminds me of a story I heard:

Once upon a time the Trids lived on the other side of the river, and every day they had to cross a great bridge to go about their business. But one dark day, a troll moved in underneath their bridge and starting lording it about. So every time a Trid attempted to cross the bridge, the troll, being an evil sort, would kick them back the way they came. The troll was so thorough and so violent that it was soon apparent no Trid would ever be able to cross the bridge again so long as he was there.

So the Trids called in the local rabbi. Now, the rabbi didn't necessarily believe in trolls; but the Trids were good neighbors and he wanted to help. So he went to the bridge; and sure enough, there was the troll, standing there at the side of the bridge. But the rabbi was brave (though nervous), and he quite defiantly set off to cross the bridge. To his surprise, the troll did not bother him; and he got all the way to the other side and came back again. Curious, he asked the troll why he had let him cross. And the troll said:

"Silly rabbi, kicks are for Trids!"

Dancing With Fey said...

I somehow missed this post, and have only now read it.

This totally sounds like Pele. She's my matron goddess, by the way. It doesn't really make sense, because all the other deities in my life are Celtic, NOT Hawai'ian, but I'm not about to get into an argument with her about whether her choosing me is appropriate or not. lol

Dancing With Fey said...

I just wanted to share this quote of Picasso's, since I think it really embodies what Pele does: "Every act of creation is first an act of destruction." Unfortunately for us, the destruction bit can be somewhat painful. :(