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| Home > Reconstructionism > Greek/Hellenic > Kerux Index > Kerux #7 | Search |
| The Kerux #7 1 Gamelion 4/694 (26 December 2000) edited by Drew Campbell |
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THE KERUX #7
1 Gamelion 4/694
26 December 2000
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
* Mythos: Hera's Secret
* Prayers for the Gamelia
* From the Hearth: Hieros Gamos Incense
* Tip: Post-Holiday Bargains
* Poll Results: The December Dilemma
* New Polls: Relationships and Religion
* Upcoming Events
* How to Contribute to the Kerux
*** HERA'S SECRET: A MYTHOS FOR THE GAMELIA
Once upon a time, the poets tell us, Tiresias was walking along and came upon two snakes copulating. What mischievous daimon could have possessed him, I don't know, but he struck the snakes. Now everyone knows that snakes are children of the Earth. The spirits of the dead appear as snakes, and sometimes even great Gods like Zeus do, too. Striking the snakes was not the best idea Tiresias had ever had in his life, but it did it nonetheless.
He knew immediately that it was a mistake, because he was overcome with a strange feeling. He looked down, and instead of his dusty travelers cloak and his tunic, he saw a lovely peplos--a woman's gown. Underneath the gown was not his flat chest, but two soft womanly breasts. He had been transformed into a woman.
For seven years, Tiresias lived in this new body, working, sleeping, and loving as a woman. One day, Tiresias again came upon the two snakes. "What worked once, may work again," Tiresias thought, and struck them a second time. Again a swooning sensation came, but this time, when Tiresias looked down, he saw himself once again a man. And so he went his way.
Some time later--who knows how long?--the King and the Queen of the Gods were arguing, as They so often do. This time the fight was about love: who had more pleasure from the gifts of Aphrodite, a man or a woman? They argued back and forth until finally it was decided that They would have Tiresias as Their judge, for who would know better than one who had experienced love as both man and woman? And so They called Tiresias to Them.
He came, and stood before them. "Tell us, o mortal," said Zeus, "who has more pleasure from the act of love, a man or a woman. I say that women have the better of it, but my wife here disagrees."
Now Tiresias was in a bind. He knew the truth, and yet from the look on the lovely face of the Lady Hera, he knew that to speak of it would bring disaster. And yet, he thought, Who am I to lie to the King of the Gods, Great Zeus who sees all? And so he swallowed hard and said, "Divine Ones, Deathless Gods, if love were divided into ten parts, it is the woman who has nine of them."
And with that, Hera flew into a rage and cursed him: "You shall be blinded, blind as you are to a woman's privacy." And so it was; the light of Tiresias's eyes went out forever.
It is said that no God can undo what another God has done, for such an act would bring chaos into the orderly cosmos. But Zeus, He of Good Counsel, knew what to do. He said, "Yes, Tiresias, blind you are and blind you shall be, but I shall give you a gift in place of your sight. Though your bodily eyes cannot see, your mind's eye shall be enlightened with prophecy. Go now and serve your fellow mortals as a seer. And mind you don't step on any snakes."
And that is how Tiresias came into the gift of prophecy.
***
PRAYERS FOR THE GAMELIA
Great Zeus, King of gods and mortals, you fill the earth and Olympus with your progeny, the shining immortals and well-born heroes. Share with us your largesse, for we are children of Earth. Keep us honorable and true to our word, and let us not reject the gifts of a partner's love when they are offered. Protect our families and our homes, so that we make live in safety and come again to your altar to honor you another day.
Queen Hera, Pais, Teleia, Khera, white-armed and golden-shod, you protect those who live in love and partnership and hold sacred the bonds of marriage. Help those of us who wish to live in partnership to find loving and gracious mates and those of us who have committed to a common life to honor our vows and our spouses. Remind us that love demands that we sometimes yield to our partners. Protect all women from harm, especially those who suffer violence at a lover's hands. As we honor you with offerings today, may we do so again.
*** FROM THE HEARTH: HIEROS GAMOS INCENSE
Hieros Gamos
To honor Zeus and Hera at the Gamelia and at weddings.
3 pts. frankincense
2 pts. rose petals
1 pt. aromatic herbs (a combination of equal parts of lavender,
sage, thyme, and marjoram)
1/2 pt. myrtle
1/2 pt. white willow bark
1/4 pt. storax gum or oil
***
TIP
Shop post-Christmas sales for miniature ornaments to use for decorating your eiresione later in the year.
***
POLL RESULTS
Poll Question: Which of the following December holidays do you and your loved ones celebrate?
Choices and Results:
- Country Dionysia, 7 votes, 8.05%
- Other Hellenic holiday, 3 votes, 3.45%
- Saturnalia, 6 votes, 6.90%
- Yule, 11 votes, 12.64%
- Alban Arthuan/Alban Heruin, 3 votes, 3.45%
- Solstice (Winter/Summer), 15 votes, 17.24%
- Chanukah, 4 votes, 4.60%
- Christmas, 15 votes, 17.24%
- St. Nicholas Day, 1 vote, 1.15%
- Kwanzaa, 0 votes, 0.00%
- Eid, 0 votes, 0.00%
- New Year's, 19 votes, 21.84%
- Other non-Hellenic or civic holiday, 3 votes, 3.45%
***
NEW POLLS: RELATIONSHIPS AND RELIGION
This month there are two polls: (1) If you are partnered, do(es) your partner(s) share your religious beliefs? (2) If you are not partnered, would you consider a relationship with someone who did not share your religious beliefs? To vote, go to: http://www.egroups.com/polls/kerux
*** UPCOMING EVENTS
=Northern California=
Saturday, December 30, 2000: Thiasos tes Glaukos will be hosting a Country Dionysia Open House in San Francisco. For more information, contact Drew at nomos-arkhaios@n....
February 16-20, 2001: PantheaCon, pan-pagan convention in San Francisco. Drew will be giving a talk on Hellenism. For more information, check the organizer's web site at http://www.ancientways.com .
On Saturday, 13 January 2001 Thiasos Olympikos will celebrate the Lenaea, a comedic festival of Dionysos. For more information, visit http://home.pon.net/rhinoceroslodge/ or contact Pyrokanthos at rhinoceroslodge@p....
=New England=
The Greater Boston Pagan Network hosts a series of open rituals by different local Pagan groups. For transportation and parking details, send a blank message to: sabbats-faq@n... or contact Maureen at MaureenRW@e... or 781-388-3773.
***
CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERUX
The Kerux is always looking for articles, reviews, and announcements of interest to the Hellenic Reconstructionist community. We're particularly interested in items that support home-based religious practice and eusebeia (piety). Paste your contribution into an email and send to kerux-owner@egroups.com.
***
The Kerux is a project of Nomos Arkhaios, an educational resource center promoting the study and practice of traditional Hellenic religion. For more information, visit the website at Individual authors appearing in the Kerux retain all rights to their work. If you'd like to reprint something you see here, please write directly to the author of the piece for permission.
This article originally appeared on Andrew Campbell's Nomos Arkhaios site which is currently on hiatus.
This article is copyright © 2000-2003 by Andrew Campbell and is reprinted here with permission.