What is polytheism? Lady Aquila explains that it is a propaganda-word designed to confuse and prejudice the complex issue the Multiplicity and the Oneness of the Divine.

In your reply to Miss Bull Dyke, you say that the Hebraic traditions "invented polytheism"; yet you also say

"polytheism" in the Hebraic sense of the term has only rarely existed and that in spiritually degenerate societies such as those of the Classical era in Europe. Were the Hebraic traditions wrong to attack polytheism? No, because they were confronted with societies in which the multiplicity of the Divine had been over-literalized to the extent that the sense of the Absolute was almost lost.

So who did invent polytheism - the Jews, or the Graeco-romans? I am not trying to criticize, I just want to learn. Thank you. We were putting this matter in rather "shorthand" terms in our last reply. Let us explain more fully: As the natural decline of the World Cycle proceeds, times arise in which adaptations and simplifications of tradition are needed in order to serve the needs of a lower and simpler humanity. Sometimes there are great waves of simplification that affect much of the world at once - like the one in the 6th millennium BC described in The Feminine Universe. Even at these times some peoples will be left behind and will continue the older traditions. However, such older traditions will be too difficult for the newer humanity, who will therefore increasingly misunderstand and corrupt them. The case in point here is Indo-European patriarchal angelotheism (if we may coin a phrase) which sees God through Her many powers without losing site of Her ultimate Oneness. The main branches of this tradition were the Indian, the Teutonic and the Graeco-Roman (leaving aside the Persian, which had already been reformed by Mazdaeism). The Indian branch was reformed quietly from within, owing to the influence of Buddhism and the work of Vedantins such as Sri Shankaracharya. The Teutonic and "Classical" branches went unreformed and slipped into an increasing literalism. Among the more spiritually educated it never became a true "polytheism" (ie., an idolatrous atheism), but it moved sufficiently in that direction that the Hebraic hyperbole which represented it as such was not too far wrong. In spiritual terms, patriarchal Europe was desperately in need of reform, and that reform came, for better or worse, from the Hebraic camp. Similar movements were undoubtedly present in earlier survivals of pre-Abrahamic traditions among the Jews, but here there comes a complicating factor - that the Jewish hierarchy had an interest in representing any continuance of the Mother Tradition as an idolatrous (ie polytheistic, Absolute-denying) cultus whether that were true or not. We cannot know whether the Hebrew Queen of Heaven cultus had adapted itself to the spiritual needs of the new era. In sum, the concept of "polytheism" is a polemical one, invented by the Hebraists. Even among degenerate cults, few people would actually have applied the term to themselves. Think of it as like "fascism" in current political usage. More of a label used to brand others than a truly descriptive term.

hi, I'm a lesbian bulldyke feminist & drag king super queer & I dig that you've got a brand new womyn-only religion. I have to add tho since I studied feminist studies, the original religion may be "matristic" but not anything like what you want it to be. First of all monotheism is an invention of Jews after Babylonian captivity, and only after Jews came in contact with civilized world of Mesopotamia. All primitive/native religions are animistic and polytheistic (even that is misleading cos they did not have that inflated big almighty god delusion). Second, the old way was never womyn-only or gynocentric, but only egalitarian, with womyn entrusted with mysteries. Third, there was no hierarchy or what you call traditional social orders before patriarchy. People lived peacefully with the Gaia & everyone was equal. I hope you get some enlightenment, this is okay but still classist, elitist and anti-democratic, just like xtianity. And of course our ancient foremothers all believed in evolution and probably attended the Democratic National Convention. Sorry to be a little flippant, but really - what an overwhelming coincidence that the earth's most ancient civilizations just happened to believe exactly what modern liberals believe and to espouse ideologies of the past few centuries of white European thought. There are so many specifics that might be answered here. The idea that "monotheism" was invented by the Abrahamic faiths, for example is a vast oversimplification. It would be much truer to say that polytheism was invented by the Hebraic cultus. What do we mean by that? We mean that outside of the Hebraic sphere the whole monotheist/polytheist pseudo-argument has never existed. All "native" religions recognize multiple powers, but also recognize a supreme unity. So do we. As for ourselves: do we worship one God, or do we call Her three? Or Seven? The question really only arises when one starts treating the matter with an inappropriate literalism. But "polytheism" in the Hebraic sense of the term has only rarely existed and that in spiritually degenerate societies such as those of the Classical era in Europe. Were the hebraic traditions wrong to attack polytheism? No, because they were confronted with societies in which the multiplicity of the Divine had been over-literalized to the extent that the sense of the Absolute was almost lost. But they were certainly wrong when they imagined that Hindus or most native peoples were "polytheist" in that sense. But to say "I believe in polytheism" - a word coined and defined by Hebraists and taking it in precisely the pejorative sense that they rightly condemned - is to say: "I believe in a universe of pure relativity in which there is no center and no Absolute. I believe in a godless universe." Which of course is precisely what large numbers of people do believe: but there is no warrant for projecting those very recent beliefs on our ancient mothers.

A recent blog post led to the following conversation in the commentary, which our readers may find of interest: Sushuri Madonna-chei: And totem animals - oh one can think so much about them. In a way they are akin to guardian janyati, and yet also they are a thing all their own. And somehow it feels that we, being in Culveria [America - ed.], inherit both. Of course the main correspondences of janyati with birds are well enough known: Sai Raya - Eagle
Sai Rhave - Raven
Sai Sushuri - Dove
Sai Vikhe - Hawk
Sai Thame - Swan
Sai Mati - Owl
But who is Sai Candre's bird? Is it the seagull who constantly cries for the island of Avala, the Paradise of the Daughter? Miss Willow Dreamwalker: I think a suitable candidate for Honored Sai Candre is the Loon. The loon has been associated by many cultures with dreaming and the psychic domain. Its haunting voice is akin to a call to the wilds which is also Sai Candre's domain. It doesn't do well on land, but is an excellent swimmer - the best of all birds, it is believed - and water has long been associated as well with the astral plane. I personally find the call of the loon to be the most chilling, beautiful, irresistable calls in the world. The first time I heard it, in fact, I cried for its sheer haunting beauty and pined for it when it stopped. Not the only option for Sai Candre, but I believe it's certainly one of them! Lady Aquila: Of course the birds Miss Sushuri lists are not the only birds related to each of the janyati. Sai Thame, for example is also very strongly associated with the pavanelle (brunette peahen) the nightingale and the swallow, Sai Vikhe with birds of prey in general. Nor are birds necessarily exclusive. The nightingale also has strong Candric associations. The loon seems very likely to be a Candric bird. Sai Candre has an affinity for water birds (as opposed to sea-birds, which tend to be Sushuric) in any case, and is the name not interesting. While it is not actually etymologically linked to "lunar" we should never ignore the sound-associations of words, which are an important aspect of the traditional science of hermeneutics. This makes perfect sense, of course, when one realizes that sounds are subtly linked to the things they name, rather than being mere arbitrary grunts "evoluted" by ape-men.

We were planning to reply to our recent correspondent on evolution, but as fate would have it, the even more recent contributions, while on a different subject, anticipate and illustrate much of what we have to say. And that is that tradition certainly tends to be opposed to Darwinistic transformist evolutionism (as we have explained before there are circumstances under which the two can be reconciled, though it is unclear why one should wish to do so). But what any legitimate tradition is quite definitely and unequivocally impelled to oppose are such notions as the "evolution of consciousness". Whether or not the human "shell", the animal vehicle, "evolved" from some lower life form (which we consider preposterous, but not inherently incompatible with tradition), what is quite certain is that human consciousness is not becoming more complex. It is becoming simpler. That is why simpler approaches to spirituality are required in the latter age. That is why language - as every linguistic historian is forced to admit - has become progressively simpler over time. That is what is taught by every tradition. However the human body became what it is, the human consciousness became what it is through a process of simplification and reduction. As every authentic tradition attests, "we are less wise than our mothers." That is why we have greater facility with physical and material "science" and less with spiritual wisdom. And that is why a majority of people are even simple enough to treat an exclusively materially-oriented civilization and science as a sign of "progress".

You may be pleased to learn that you can now find the Chapel of Our Mother god on Twitter and Facebook Please pop over and "follow" or "like" our pages. Show your support for Our Dear Mother!

Miss Sarah Andrea Amy writes: Historically it is worth mentioning that the "simple way" gained its popularity in many parts of the world during the early part of the second millennium of the Common Era. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a practice called Hesychasm became an important part of monastic living, involving repetitive chanting of the Jesus Prayer using prayer ropes. This was based on beliefs that the very name of Christ is the dwelling in which Jesus is present. Around the same time, during the 12th and 13th centuries Buddhism in East Asia moved from arduous disciplines to the simpler approach that promises the attainment of liberation through chanting. Honen (Japan, 1133-1212) founded the Jodo-shu, the Teaching of the Pure Land. Instead of the harsh practices taught by the Tiantai (Tendai/Cheondae) School, Honen advocated a new way of Buddhism based on the Nembutsu, or the chanting of the Namo Amituofo Fa/Namu Amida Butsu to attain liberation. Later, Nichiren Daishonin came up with another simple way of chanting the Daimoku: Namo Miaofa Lianhua Jing/Namu Myoho Renge Kyo. Both Honen's and Nichiren's sects of Buddhism grew quickly and still remain to be the largest branches of Buddhism in Japan. As you note, such simpler way is suitable for this latter day, the Kali Yuga -- or as the Nichiren Buddhists would refer to the Last Age of the Law. This rather worldwide phenomenon might also account to the simplification of Christianity, including the Protestant Reformation (Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura...) and much later, the Evangelical movement (which has condensed the essence of Christianity into something like the Four Spiritual Laws).

Honored Miss Nightfall writes:

Even the God the Mother videos that I watched use a style of rhetoric (I hesitate to use the word "preaching") very similar to that of evangelical Christianity, such as saying that all you need to do is invite God into your heart/life and God will take care of everything. I've only seen that said in that particular sect of Christianity.

Perhaps it would be interesting to look at the preaching of ISCKON (the "Hare Krishna" movement). This western-popularizing, but largely orthodox Hindu movement uses such appeals as:

Only chant: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare" [etc.] and your life will become divine.

Now you could certainly say that this may have been influenced by evangelical preaching, but it is just as much influenced by the mediaeval Caitanya movement which has always advocated chanting as "the one thing needful". Have the two movements anything in common? Yes indeed. They are both recognizing (Caitanya devotees consciously, evangelicals - who, much as they may attempt to reject evolutionism, remain in thrall to progressism - unconsciously) that in this latter age maid is far less capable than she has ever been before in the spiritual domain and that simple methods must be presented to us. Honored Raya Chancandre's preaching on the Kinema (homepage of this site) does not specifically mention chanting as it is intended to appeal to "big tent Deanism", but this specific appeal has long been made by the Sucrishi Movement. Naturally, both ISCKON and the Evangelicals, having made their one, simple demand, add many others once one has signed up for their "churches"! We, on the other hand have no church. Not because we are opposed to them or think their demands for greater sanctity wrong (they may be in some cases but not in principle) but simply because it is not at this time our mission, as a site, to create a church, but to inform and elucidate. There are Deanic and Filianic congregations, both all-female and mixed and we certainly wish them all well. And we think the best of them believe, as we do, that in the absence of a true inherited tradition, and in these latter days of Kali Yuga, the best way is the Gentle Way.

A correspondent writes: Regarding your page on evolution: I've been reading the writings of traditionalists like Schuon and Nasr recently, and have been involved in a dialogue with members of the Traditionalist Studies forum, Dr. James Cutsinger, and members of the Radiance Foundation in NYC. I think there has been a radical misunderstanding of Sri Aurobindo's view of the evolution of consciousness, which does not support Darwinism, is not "transformist" in the Darwinian sense, and does not incorporate ideas of macroevolution in the Darwinian sense. His idea of evolution is also radically diferent from that of de Chardin, Ken Wilber, and other 20th century and New Age thought. Furthermore, I think there is evidence that writers on this website as well as traditionalists - evidence fully within the realm of acceptable (though right at the edge) scientific evidence, which is more than enough to undo Darwinism. however - and this is the best part - it is subtle enough that it can be put forward without the evolutionary believers realizing to what extent it fully and completely undoes the physicalist, scientistic mindset and belief system. It is very simply this - there is excellent evidence showing that parallel to the emergence of increasingly complex forms (and idea which itself has only gained acceptance in the past 10 years) there is an emergence of increasingly complex forms of consciousness, exactly parallel to the forms. Combine this with an indepth understanding of mind-body interaction - in particular, recent discoveries that thought and emotion can have profound effects on the genome - as well as Professor Richard Wiseman's recent concession that the major facts of parapsychology are no longer in dispute - and neo-Darwinian thought is seen to be soon at an end. I would VERY much like to correspond with anybody interested in pursuing this further. My wife and I plan to start producing videos next year illustrating these facts, with the ultimate aim of showing that science is in no way in conflict with metaphysics, as long as science is understood to be a method, not a dogma (as William James once said). Thank you

Dear devotees of Dea, I would like to discuss the subject of Head Covering for Femini and Thame In many patriarchal cultures and religions, females are required to wear distinctive head coverings (not related to head coverings worn for protection from the elements). The female head covering is often explained as a sign of a female's inner conviction and outward compliance with God's commands relating to the natural order and harmonious functioning of the universe. The natural order and harmonious functioning of the universe is understood to mean that males are the natural superiors and females are the natural subordinates. In these patriarchal cultures and religions, only males may hold positions of authority or leadership or power in society (from the emperor down to the head of the household). In discussions relating to matriarchal cultures (in The Feminine Universe, the Filianic Scriptures and Aristasia, we are taught about the Golden Chain of Thame (Order, Harmony). In these matriarchal discussions, we find that in the natural order and harmonious functioning of the universe, femini (both scizomorph and intermorph) hold positions of authority or leadership or power in society (from the empress, down to the head of the household). I was wondering if any distinctive head coverings (related to positions of superiority or related to positions of subordination) are worn by femini in any of these matriarchal cultures. If so, I was also wondering under what circumstances and in what places such "distinctive head coverings" were worn. Rayati, Reverend Mother Georgia

Your site is very interesting, and despite my disagreement with you on a number of issues, I applaud your efforts. One thing I'd like to comment on is that, at least to me, this site seems to take quite a lot of influence from Christianity. Even the God the Mother videos that I watched use a style of rhetoric (I hesitate to use the word "preaching") very similar to that of evangelical Christianity, such as saying that all you need to do is invite God into your heart/life and God will take care of everything. I've only seen that said in that particular sect of Christianity. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. It might be a little "pushy", but it is effective isn't it? My question, though, is about men's worship of Dea. I understand that they are by all means allowed to do so, but what if they have trouble connecting with God-as-Mother? As a woman, I used to have trouble identifying with male deities. Might I man similarly find it difficult to identify/worship a feminine deity? If so, how do you think they should resolve this issue? Thank you, Nightfall Thank you for taking the time to comment. We have no problem with the word "preaching". Making Truth clear and vivid is what we are here for. Similarities to Christianity are often more superficial than real. Case in point "how do we suggest men resolve this issue". We don't. While we believe - and preach - that the of Dea is Absolute Truth, we do not say that it excludes other perspectives. If gentlemen (or anyone else) feel uncomfortable with God as exclusively feminine, let them take a path they find more comfortable. Unlike certain sects, we are not here to force the Good Doctrine upon anyone - but to offer it - with clarity and with uncompromising purity - to those who actually want and need it.

Kerea 22nd (August 1st) is the Festival of Regeneration, also known as Hiranya - the Golden Festival. Listen to this sermon on this holy and joyful day.

An Aristasian blog post on a flowering cactus elicited the following response which we feel may be of interest to our honored readers: I have been thinking about this question of cactus flowers. It is one, indeed, that was considered in a famous Tellurian poem: . Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Of course "desert" does not mean a dry sandy place, but the idea is the same! The thought that occurred to me is that the cactus is a plant of Sai Vikhe - in a way, she can be seen almost as the inverse of Sai Sushuri's rose. The rose's flower is her salient point, although her thorns are well known. With the cactus the thorns are the salient - dare I say point? But she also (at least in some cases) has a lovely flower. But only very briefly, and - at least in nature - largely hidden from the eye of the world (that is, from the world's axial being, maid). Sai Vikhe protects Sai Sushuri's flower with thorns, and Sai Sushuri blesses Sai Vikhe's plant with a lovely flower. In old Japan, the Samurai were often compared to the Sakura - the cherry blossom - because they were resplendent and beautiful in their nobility, but destined to bloom but briefly before being cut down. A similar analogy existed in the Motherlands during the perilous centuries following the death of Raihiranya Sai Rayanna. Never again would our whole civilization fall to the Outlander, but the knightly defenders of the Raihir led a dangerous life which rarely ended in a peaceful death. Sai Vikhe's flower blows but brief,
Yet blows exceeding fair.

Dear Chapel Webmistress, Thank you so much for publishing the article Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, An Allegory of God the Daughter. I look forward with great hope and joy to viewing a copy of this wondrous story. Reverend Mother Georgia B. Cobb
The Elegant Lady Feminine Seminary
the_elfs Yahoo Groups Thank you, Reverend Mother. We do hope you will enjoy it. There are those who are put off by anime - by its "cute" rendition of characters and even by the fact that it is animated. We believe that the cult of kawaii (cuteness) in Japan - even when pursued in works less exalted than Nausicaa is an attempt - by no means wholly unconscious - to invoke the spirit of childlike goodness. The cynical West could learn a lot from kawaii.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: An allegory of God the Daughter

Is there life after death, an immortal soul? Are we even the same being from one hour to another? What does the world's first religion, the Faith of Our Mother God, teach?

Blue for girls, pink for boys? A popular legend states that pink for girls and blue for boys was once reversed. Only a few decades ago it was pink for boys and blue for girls. But is this really true?

Thank you so much! I have been struggling with coming to terms about my own religious beliefs. I didn't fit in with anyone specific religion, but when I found this website I knew I had come home!
-Samantha I've been searching for something like this for over 15 years. I would like to know, besides the rosary, where I might find examples of your devotions that I can do at home. I am planning on buying your book, but have to wait a couple of weeks.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Pam Appreciations like these really tell us we are doing something worthwhile! Miss Pam, The Gospel of Our Mother God really is the best source for devotional practice. Many of us say The Great Hymn to Mahalakshmi (which you will find in the Gospel) daily. There are also the five Daily Offices in the book). Part of the reason we decided to publish the Gospel as a physical book was that it is so important for devotees to be able to have a real bible/prayerbook in their hands for daily devotion, meditation and reading.

As worshipers of the Supreme Mother god, what do we find so wrong about Wicca?

I understand the importance of choosing a living stream Goddess. I don't want to make this lengthy. I went through a lot as both Traditional Catholic and Russian Orthodox. I need to stay away from Christianity. On the other hand, it is better to choose a Face of the Divine Mother from a living stream from one's own culture..which, for me would be Mary...to Whom I was devoted all my life until I left Christianity fifteen years ago. I don't think I can separate Her from Christianity or Jesus.. because of the depth of training and teachings I endured over the years. I don't know that I could separate Her from Mary of Nazareth. I wish I could, I really do. If I couldn't separate Sophia from Gnostic Christianity (where She is a Fallen Aeon) I don't think I could separate Mary from Her Patriarchal story/myth. There is some built in fear/guilt associated with this as well. I was wondering if you had any further info on Mary/Mari as Dea or would it be a simple matter of calling Her Mari and change the prayers and KNOW that She is not Mary the mother of Jesus? Also, I do want to order the Gospel.. so, I'm also just checking that you are 'still there', so to speak. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Pam Honored Miss Pam, you say "it is better to choose a Face of the Divine Mother from a living stream from one's own culture", but this is not necessarily the case. A stream from one's own culture can have both advantages and disadvantages. The primary disadvantage is that one may continue to imbue a "familiar" image with patriarchal notions that surround it and that have often been used to "neutralize" images of Dea. In your case it may well be that the the disadvantages outweigh any advantages and you would be better advised to choose images from outside Christian culture. The image of thousand-hand Kwan Yin, for example, is such that cannot be confused with a mere human woman, and the sheer depth of Her compassion as well as the omnipotence conveyed in this image may help both to free your mind and recapture your heart. If you do choose to persevere with Marian images, it would certainly help to use the form Mari or Marya as in the heart invocation (you may find listening to this chant interesting from the point of view of this discussion). And yes we are certainly still here and still selling The Holy Gospel of our Mohther God

Honoured Miss Veronika writes:

In your wonderful essay on The Three Werdes you say "...These words are related to the Latin root sol, which gives us "solar" and (with the standard l-to-r transposition) to the ancient Indo-European Solar deity Surya/Syria." Syria is "the Country of the Sun" and its capital, known as Heliopolis (Sun-City) to the Greeks, was the original Heliopolis; according to Guenon, pre dating the Egyptian one. The Aristasian Sun-City is Rayapurh. What fascinates me is that Sai Raya, the Aristasian Sun Goddess has a name structurally identical to Syria and the ancient Indo-European sun-Deity Surya if the name is taken together with the honorific. I am a little puzzled. Would the learned and honourable votaries of this Chapel care to comment?

The name Raya is connected to a huge group with the root *reg, meaning to set straight, rule or guide. It is the root of countless words: right rule, reign, royal, Sanskrit raj, German reich Latin rect and regulus (correct, erect regular, regulate etc.) as well as the straight rays of the sun. However, while this is the Tellurian "etymology" of what is essentially a non-Tellurian word, it is clear that Sai Raya, taken together (and Sai Raya is the only Janya whose name is never used without the honorific), reproduces the ancient structure of Surya/Syria. We must understand here that language is a deep and living thing connected organically to the underlying structure of being and that these Aristasian words have a fascinating power and depth. Another interesting example is the name of Sai Thame. While immediately it may seem clearly to be akin to Greek Themis, the equivalent classical Goddess, the name is also strikingly close to Sanskrit dharma (Pali dhamma), which expresses in Tellurian terms the precise concept of (small t) thame.

Candredi Rosea 9th (Monday June 21st) is Rosa Mundi, the great Midsummer festival of Fire and the Rose. It is the antipodal festival to Nativity, and the Southern Gate of Heaven. Traditionally Rosa Mundi is celebrated with a great bonfire and fireworks. ! But above all, Rosa Mundi is a mystical festival, the feast of the soul ascending to Dea, like a lark ascending directly to heaven: of our little selves entering the innermost depths of the great Rose-Heart of being and being consumed in the fire of pure Divine love.

A while ago we published an account of Ma-tsu (Mazu), a Chinese Form of Dea, written by honored Bishop Sarah Morrigan of the Collyridian Episcopate. Fascinating news is now coming to light of a revival in Her worship after years of official-atheist darkness in China.

For this years Mazu (Ma-Tsu) festival, a major celebration in Taiwan, there have been more visitors from the Mainland than ever. While the changing policies on the both sides of the Taiwan Strait can be a factor in this increase of tourists/pilgrims from the Mainland, it is also an indicator of the Chinese peoples hunger for the Goddess worship that has been an important part of Chinese culture but has long been banned under the guise of anti-feudalism and anti-superstition under the Communist Party of China (CPC). According to the BBC, Mainland visitors are in Taiwan trying to learn how Mazu is worshiped. Indeed, it is not just tourists who are curious; the government of the Peoples Republic also has consulted with the Taiwanese for help in restoring various Mazu temples throughout the coastal region of the continental China, which have been destroyed, repurposed or put in disuse following the 1949 revolution and the Great Cultural Revolution.

The Rt. Rev Sarah A. Morrigan of the Collyridian Episcopate makes an interesting point in her weblog concerning how a follower of the Filianic Faith of God the Daughter might see the story of Jesus:

As a Filianist, my faith is universal in that it expresses eternal Truth about Our Divine Mother and Her creation in the form of fundamental Mythos rather than through a particular historical narrative. ... Some evangelical and conservative Christians praise C.S. Lewiss story of Narnia. They feel that Narnia is a parable of Christs gospel retold using symbols and allegories, and that Aslan is the symbol for Christ. That does not mean they have constructed a religion that worships a lion. To me, Christianity has been a Narnia of sorts, that eventually led me to the ultimate original behind its stories. I had never worshipped Jesus any more than an evangelical Christian would worship Aslan the Lion.

Incidentally, while we fully understand the purely analogical nature of this comparison, symbolism is always a living reality. While the Lion may seem to be a distinctly male god-figure, in actuality the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet (pictured above) was commonly depicted in human/lion form. Sri Durga, in the Devi Mahatmya (the Scripture which brought the worship of Dea as Supreme and Absolute Deity back to India in the Middle Ages) rides a lion, and the oldest known zoomorphic sculpture (some 32,000 years old) was originally called by archaeologists the "Lion Man" but has since been discovered to be a Lion Lady and indeed (as you can see from the picture to the left) bears a striking resemblance to the Egyptian Sekhmet of tens of millennia later. Since the lion is always and everywhere a solar symbol, this once again discounts the patriarchal "lunarization" of Feminine Deity.

Today God the Daughter, our Savior, is risen and the new year is begun. 15. And the Mistress of All Things came into the Nether World; and the six gatekeepers flung wide their gates and fled. 16. And Her Janyati took down the corse of Her Daughter, and laid it upon Her knees; and She wept anew, for none but She could know the awful depth of the oblivion in which Her Daughter lay. And She sprinkled on the corse the water of Life, which She had gathered from the holy tears of Her own sorrow. 17. And Her Daughter rose again and was alive again. 18. And amid tears of joy, They embraced and were one. And after this, the Daughter stood alone. 19. And the souls of the Nether World were awakened by Her gentle light, and followed Her through the shattered gates of Hell. 20. And when they beheld Her, the children of the earth rejoiced, and the rivers flowed again, and the sea began to move. 21. And the children of the earth cried: lift up your voices in song and laughter, for the Princess of the World was dead and is alive again, was broken and is whole; and there is no place whereto Her joyous rule does not extend. 22. Give praise to the Mother of All Things and praise to Her Daughter. 23. Rejoice, for the world is renewed. This year is the year of Sai Raya, the Angel of the Sun and we wish you joy and gladness in this noblest and most auspicious of years.

And the Mother of All Things wept and walked in sorrow over earth and Heaven. The year is ended. Our Lady lies dead. In the Filianic calendar, this day has no date, for the world has stopped. The statues of Mother and Daughter are veiled from sight, for the Daughter is no more, and it is only through Her that we were able to see the Mother. On this day, we think of no future nor, as far as is possible, acknowledge that there will be one, but we call upon the Mother to come and save Her Daughter. There is a very special chant for this day, and we urge you to hear it. You may load it down and play it as a loop if you wish. Click the link below to learn more and to hear the chant.

We are coming to the end of Moura, the end of the year and the end of the decade. To begin a decade on the Year of Sai Raya is particularly auspicious and we hope it will be a wonderful year and a wonderful decade for all of you. But for now we are still in Moura. Tomorrow (Sucridi/Friday) is its last day and the day of the Passion of Our Lady. In the evening of Sucridi, statues and pictures of both Mother and Daughter should be covered (for it is only through the Daughter that we see the Mother). On Hiatus (which is on Rhavedi/Saturday) it is important that no important venture should be begun as this is a very inauspicious day for starting anything. Properly speaking, one should treat the day as if there were literally no tomorrow - as if it were truly the end of the world. As far as possible, we try to avoid speaking, or even thinking, as if there will be a future. This is an important spiritual exercise and we find that the more faithfully one is able to follow it, the greater is the sense of rebirth and renewal on Eastre Day, the first day of the New Year, which this year falls on Rayadi (Sunday).

A correspondent writes: Hi - just wanted to share my version of the Hail Mary Prayer. Hail Mary full of Grace
Mother of Earth and Heaven
Blessed art thou among women
Holy is thy name
Holy Mother
Holy Mary
Mother of All
Bless us now and always.
Thank you. Just to remind you, the authorized Filianic version is: Hail Mary, Fount of grace,
Lady of earth and heaven,
Blessed art Thou by all maidens
And blessed is Thy most beloved Daughter.
Holy Mary, Mother and God,
Shelter us fallen ones
Now and in the hour of our death. For a line-by-line explanation of the thealogical reasons for this wording please see our page on the Hail Mary Prayer

By Minako Farshore Sweetest Raya, most Glorious Queen,
Oh Mother, fount of Heavenly Life,
Look on our sighing, on our tears,
Regard our cries and end our strife. And heed us, reach Your arms to find,
Your exiled children, draw us near
Unto Yourself, to Your bless'd Heart,
Oh Clement Love, our voices hear!

Sucridi (Friday) Moura 14th (March 5th) is Med-Moura. It is the day when Moura disciplines are suspended and also the day of honoring mistresses, mothers and other closely-attached superiors. A day to show our gratitude for their care and guidance throughout the year. May you all have a happy and blessed Med-Moura.