Just a note. You alluded to the early followers of Jesus, before Constantine. There are a couple of excellent gospels, one being the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, in which Mary Magdalene had a close, intimate relationship with Jesus. This is evidenced by writings throughout this gospel, but most notably in the fact that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the resurrected Christ, mistaking him for a gardener, at first. She was called in both this gospel and the canonical gospels as the apostle to the apostles because of this. She also rallied the other (male) apostles after Jesus’ death, who were afraid for their lives.
All of this has been systematically suppressed by mainstream Christianity from the get go, and now especially by the fundamentalist groups much in vogue by the Hegseth crusaders (who are actively courting what they believe will bring Christ to earth, namely Armageddon). This being a well accepted but egregiously and dangerously false reading of scripture.
Joe, this is spot on. I'm fascinated by the gospel of Mary - all of the apocryphal texts, actually. And the suppression of them is so telling, isn't it?
Thank you Amanda, and yes it says a lot, even elevating Peter, as the “leading” apostle, who notably did not think it was worth listening to Mary Magdalene. That view has persisted to the present day.
And, interestingly enough, Peter was not referred to as the beloved, as John was, and in fact was frequently rebuked and was the quickest to deny his Lord. Yet he is perhaps the most venerated Saint to this day.
For many years Mary of Magdala was in biblical stories referred to, as the Whore that Jezus cleansed of her sins. And even was blamed for her buying the ointment to balm him before his death. Not praised for her deep connection to God and Jezus, but shamed for using her "dirty-gained" money for this. I was in France following her trailer, when finally the Christian church decided to restore her in grace and gratitude and lift the shame and blame. Her gospel is of great value to all of us, speaking to us, directly from the Ancient Mother Wisdom "MA", with everlasting Unconditional Love
Such an interesting article and lots of food for thought. I am Christian and attend a Church of England service each Sunday. I have long been interested in how women have been portrayed in the Bible, from Eve to Jezebel to Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha and Mary Magdalene. The Apology of Aristedes tells us that the early Church was not hierarchical and everyone looked after each other, and women were able to preach, teach and speak. It all changed when the Romans adopted it as their religion, they had to impose their structures onto it. Hence, women were either perfect or whores and couldn’t be anything in between. I am often prone to a feminist rant about the Bible, and change words in hymns from “son” to “daughter”.
I also did not know the background of the superstition of the number 13 or the phobias of spiders and snakes. As they say, you learn something new every day.
Thought I would have heard of this in my life’s travels. Also studying Mary Magdalene, and the books of the bible that were taken out of the KJ version.
I just read The Apology of Aristides on the website earlychristianwritings. No offense, but I didn’t really see anywhere in the document it said women were allowed to teach, preach, speak. I wish it did… Would love someone to show more evidence from early writings that this was normal practice.
Women were prominent in Jesus’ ministry and in the very early church, until they became invisible again. I must admit I kind of assumed women were able to participate in leadership roles from the Apology of Aristedes, so I apologise for being misleading. It was not my intention.
I’ve never understood the hatred of women. All the laws gatekeeping women out of power, or personal autonomy. I’m so sick of patriarchy and of women only being seen as sex objects with very little intellect.
…the first written language was “cuneiform” which pictograph represented the female genitalia. In the beginning was God. In the beginning was the Word. And the first words were carved into rocks and animal skins with “cuneiform” the ubiquitous pie shaped triangle…
This was researched longterm tho.. the link was to wedge shaped .. as in letters etched into stone . The notion of masculine and feminine are better seen as yin and yang rather than sexual gender . I've wondered about Cain and Abel .. Abel being protruding and Cain being possessing . Qualities and gender need not relate to sexual objects.
Thanks for sharing this @Addy. I also found it empowering to remember / rediscover Kundry. She felt like a powerful feminine expression of sovereignty. Around the time I read her story, my friend had an ox-horn, and I learned to sound it up on the Tor at Glastonbury. Calling Her back into being.
I was raised in an environment where my father was an avid advocater against the use of "swear words", though it meant that his words hurt more when he called you stupid even though you just made a small mistake. He didnt mean it to be hurtful, but that simple word swap for someone like him who doesnt use swear words at all hurt so much.
My mum was less conservative, sometimes when she rages she swears, most of the time she refrains from saying it other than like stubbing her toe.
Honestly, I dont care what words you want to choose. But if writing taught me something, it's that words are meant to be used, and used appropriately. Not excessively, but not avoided. When you are emotionally charged, throw a "fuck" out there. It makes you feel better, its accurate in conveying how painful stepping on that lego was. But dont chain them up unnecessarily.
And dont avoid them. As a professor of magic who's high most of the time taught me, fear for the name increases for the thing itself. (If you dont know who that is, its Dumbledore)
You just opened my eyes to this topic on "swear words", I dont know why I didnt think about it before, but I didnt know that those words too have such long and rich history behind them.
I agree with you (and Dumbledore). The more we know, the less we fear, as well. This goes for words, yes, but also with people - it's always fear that leads to othering. Here's to reclaiming words and making them holy!
Now that’s a collection I’d like to read! Especially as I’ve been beginning to describe myself as ‘dynes hysbys’ or wise woman in my professional capacity, as I loathe the terms ‘therapist’ and ‘coach’
I really loved reading this. I’ve been in the women’s studies space for all of my adult life and never read such a deep dive on cunt! I do love the reclamation monologue for the word in the Vagina Monologues! Regarding the word cunt, the actress says, “I rather like it.” ;)
I am very glad to be informed about this! It so distinctly brought to my mind a memory. As a young child, quizzing my mother about bad words—I was always morbidly curious—she admitted there was one word bad so bad that she wouldn’t even give it a short hand like f word or n word etcetera. It was too bad even for that. I of course had to know more and eventually annoyed her enough to where she spilled the tea. It was strange to me when she finally spoke it, such a plain word. How could it really have so much power? I didn’t trust adults enough to believe that things were bad simply bc they said so. I’ve always wondered, I think, about the word, though despite being a boundary-pusher, I’ve never spoken it much, partially, I guess, out of respect for how serious she was about it. i think it’s probably true that in their unconscious instinct ppl like my mother revere that word and enjoin children never to say it for the same reason that other cultures teach their children only to speak sacred words at the right times or never….Anyways, a pleasure to learn about this:))
Thanks for sharing this! To this day I can write the word a lot easier than I can say it (I think maybe the ghost of my grandmother would be wagging her finger at me if I made it too common in my vocabulary!)
recently someone posted a note that americans should throw the “cunts” out of office; i replied that the word he used was actually a word used to denigrate women, and asked for clarity; they/he responded that in britain it means, well, ill leave it at that.
that aside, thank you for this clarity, and the reminder of the value of socrates’ quote which is, after all, foundational.
ps: mozart had a tight bond with his older sister and in fact she was also a talented composer who “helped” her younger brother in his journey. but at that time no one was interested in a woman performing as a piano composer because to see anything but a man at the keys was meh, and that’s an understatement.
i had no idea he even had a sister who was by his side.
I'm completely fascinated with those Sheela na gig statues dotted around the UK around churches.and like anyone, I'm wondering... what would make an adult make those symbols what could they mean?
Placed down low.
Open.
Vulnerable.
then I settled on...
Protection.
That's the word that ultimately came to me from these ancient symbols. Trying to protect children.
How do we question?
Pause.
Stop.
Think.
Protect vulnerability.
Symbols... they make children and adults ask what it means...
and my mind says protection from those who want to touch or desecrate the womb.
Little concrete tattoos into eternity, that speak from the dead ... whispering and witnessing...
It's yours.
It's your divinity.
It's the womb and tomb of life.
These concrete tattoos were stamped when babies and children were being stolen and used as sex slaves.
Orphans became maids and workers.
Too young to know how to protect their own sacred kingdom.
And so the elders made concrete tattoos, for the young and vulnerable, to mark the low places that childrens eyes go.
To guide and to learn, to think, and to question the cause.
To feel the softness in the expression of vulnerability as protection, not shame.
Fear and protection together. Ancient symbols to protect the divinity of the child.
Since supermarkets placed candy on the bottom shelves, ignoring mothers cries, with plastic and gods in media - the heroin candy of evil forces.
hansel and grettal is the main dragons fattening children with candy while taking from their lack of awareness. Stephen King said we use their love against them.
we take their trust.
overdose on dopamine.
🍄
that was a lot to think from one concrete statue from long ago...
my eyes saw protection.
what to protect.
what can happen
what not to do.
look out if you're a child. children look at those things. the symbol speaks.
don't let anyone do that to you.
that's private for you.
i can imagine being a mother...
I would say that to my child.
Imagine why someone made those statues in that way?
our privates are very sacred, and very special, and for us, and that's what I would tell my child. 🍄
What a brilliant essay! I've learnt to revere the word cunt and never honor anyone with it as a curse, although perhaps we, with our women's wisdom should be raining down curses on certain men in this beleaguered world right now. Thank you so much for this, and all the great comments too.
Very interesting. Was raised with the same dislike for that word. It takes on a whole new meaning. My current interest is bringing back the Divine Feminine and bringing it into balance with the Divine Masculine…both within ourselves and in relationships. It is so out of balance.
The balancing of the two is key. I've seen a lot about reclaiming the divine feminine, and that's great and needed. But it's in the balance where we are going to find lasting reform.
Yes. Too much one way or the other and things go haywire. It even goes into businesses that are run on a fear or authoritarian level rather than balancing logic and wisdom to resolve problems. We've gotten so used to the loudest person having the most power we've completely stopped listening.
Growing up i always thought people were looking for a happy medium but I have yet to see that in society at large. The divine concrete tattoos are fascinating but I see the feminine connection to the divine primarily; with any protective elements stemming from that point of view.
Just a note. You alluded to the early followers of Jesus, before Constantine. There are a couple of excellent gospels, one being the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, in which Mary Magdalene had a close, intimate relationship with Jesus. This is evidenced by writings throughout this gospel, but most notably in the fact that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the resurrected Christ, mistaking him for a gardener, at first. She was called in both this gospel and the canonical gospels as the apostle to the apostles because of this. She also rallied the other (male) apostles after Jesus’ death, who were afraid for their lives.
All of this has been systematically suppressed by mainstream Christianity from the get go, and now especially by the fundamentalist groups much in vogue by the Hegseth crusaders (who are actively courting what they believe will bring Christ to earth, namely Armageddon). This being a well accepted but egregiously and dangerously false reading of scripture.
Joe, this is spot on. I'm fascinated by the gospel of Mary - all of the apocryphal texts, actually. And the suppression of them is so telling, isn't it?
Thank you Amanda, and yes it says a lot, even elevating Peter, as the “leading” apostle, who notably did not think it was worth listening to Mary Magdalene. That view has persisted to the present day.
And, interestingly enough, Peter was not referred to as the beloved, as John was, and in fact was frequently rebuked and was the quickest to deny his Lord. Yet he is perhaps the most venerated Saint to this day.
For many years Mary of Magdala was in biblical stories referred to, as the Whore that Jezus cleansed of her sins. And even was blamed for her buying the ointment to balm him before his death. Not praised for her deep connection to God and Jezus, but shamed for using her "dirty-gained" money for this. I was in France following her trailer, when finally the Christian church decided to restore her in grace and gratitude and lift the shame and blame. Her gospel is of great value to all of us, speaking to us, directly from the Ancient Mother Wisdom "MA", with everlasting Unconditional Love
Such an interesting article and lots of food for thought. I am Christian and attend a Church of England service each Sunday. I have long been interested in how women have been portrayed in the Bible, from Eve to Jezebel to Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha and Mary Magdalene. The Apology of Aristedes tells us that the early Church was not hierarchical and everyone looked after each other, and women were able to preach, teach and speak. It all changed when the Romans adopted it as their religion, they had to impose their structures onto it. Hence, women were either perfect or whores and couldn’t be anything in between. I am often prone to a feminist rant about the Bible, and change words in hymns from “son” to “daughter”.
I also did not know the background of the superstition of the number 13 or the phobias of spiders and snakes. As they say, you learn something new every day.
I wasn't aware of the Apology of Aristedes. I'm very much like you in the feminist rants, and now I'll be adding this to my arsenal. Thanks!
https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/aristides_05_trans.htm
The bit about the Christians is at XV.
To be honest, I’m quite prone to a feminist rant any time.
Thanks for the link!
No problem at all, I often refer to it when I look at the damage “Christianity” has caused.
I had a sympathetic priest (male) who used to say, "Everything went downhill after Constantine."
I couldn’t agree more. God bless him 🙏
Havé not be the scholarship òf thé author, but havé wondered if 13 also has to do with Revelation 13. But—a different topic.
Interesting, Jesus was kind to women. Wonder if His mother’s experience was used by our Father, to teach compassion for women.
I like Ruth, Abigail, Keah ànd Rachel, other women in thé OT.
New to me too, Suzanne. I’m old!
Thought I would have heard of this in my life’s travels. Also studying Mary Magdalene, and the books of the bible that were taken out of the KJ version.
I just read The Apology of Aristides on the website earlychristianwritings. No offense, but I didn’t really see anywhere in the document it said women were allowed to teach, preach, speak. I wish it did… Would love someone to show more evidence from early writings that this was normal practice.
I had a quick look and found this:
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/women-in-the-early-church
Women were prominent in Jesus’ ministry and in the very early church, until they became invisible again. I must admit I kind of assumed women were able to participate in leadership roles from the Apology of Aristedes, so I apologise for being misleading. It was not my intention.
Hope it helps.
I’ve never understood the hatred of women. All the laws gatekeeping women out of power, or personal autonomy. I’m so sick of patriarchy and of women only being seen as sex objects with very little intellect.
Very true indeed
Also see The Gospel of the Beloved Companion, powerful and beautiful Gospel of MM. ❤️
…the first written language was “cuneiform” which pictograph represented the female genitalia. In the beginning was God. In the beginning was the Word. And the first words were carved into rocks and animal skins with “cuneiform” the ubiquitous pie shaped triangle…
Word ⭐️
You've just added an entirely new layer to this discovery. Absolutely brilliant.
I love etymology!!
I do as well 🙌⭐️
This was researched longterm tho.. the link was to wedge shaped .. as in letters etched into stone . The notion of masculine and feminine are better seen as yin and yang rather than sexual gender . I've wondered about Cain and Abel .. Abel being protruding and Cain being possessing . Qualities and gender need not relate to sexual objects.
Delicious etymology! When someone throws the word “cunt” as an insult I think I’ll reply “Thank you, you recognize my power” 😌
Absolutely same!
YES TO RECLAIMING OUR LANGUAGE
💥 Brilliant!!
I really enjoyed the depth and power of this post, Amanda - I’ve just shared it.
There’s a Kundry in Avalonian/Arthurian/Grail mythology too - she shares her name so closely with the other feminine deities you have named here.
A little about Kundry in this article: https://goddessconference.com/kundry-dark-goddess/
I don't know how I've missed this Goddess - thank you for sharing the link so I can discover more about her.
You’re so welcome! Thank you for the depth and nuance you’re bringing to the conversation 🌀
I’m so grateful I saw your comment. Reading about her feels like remembering. My first familiar was named Percival.
Thanks for sharing this @Addy. I also found it empowering to remember / rediscover Kundry. She felt like a powerful feminine expression of sovereignty. Around the time I read her story, my friend had an ox-horn, and I learned to sound it up on the Tor at Glastonbury. Calling Her back into being.
brilliance, throughout, & truly love the poem
Thanks so much!
I was raised in an environment where my father was an avid advocater against the use of "swear words", though it meant that his words hurt more when he called you stupid even though you just made a small mistake. He didnt mean it to be hurtful, but that simple word swap for someone like him who doesnt use swear words at all hurt so much.
My mum was less conservative, sometimes when she rages she swears, most of the time she refrains from saying it other than like stubbing her toe.
Honestly, I dont care what words you want to choose. But if writing taught me something, it's that words are meant to be used, and used appropriately. Not excessively, but not avoided. When you are emotionally charged, throw a "fuck" out there. It makes you feel better, its accurate in conveying how painful stepping on that lego was. But dont chain them up unnecessarily.
And dont avoid them. As a professor of magic who's high most of the time taught me, fear for the name increases for the thing itself. (If you dont know who that is, its Dumbledore)
You just opened my eyes to this topic on "swear words", I dont know why I didnt think about it before, but I didnt know that those words too have such long and rich history behind them.
Beautiful piece.
I agree with you (and Dumbledore). The more we know, the less we fear, as well. This goes for words, yes, but also with people - it's always fear that leads to othering. Here's to reclaiming words and making them holy!
Cheers to that!
My friend - that second stanza. You have wrecked me. This is incredible & deeply fascinating. More, more!
Thank you! Now to begin the wonderful process of researching the next topic.
I really like that poem, and interesting history. Hadn’t connected cunning to that word. But it makes sense.
I never would have made the connection on my own, either.
Cunnection? :)
Same here - it casts a whole new meaning on cunning women!
Yes! This same professor I mentioned wrote an entire poetry collection devoted to the cunning woman.
Now that’s a collection I’d like to read! Especially as I’ve been beginning to describe myself as ‘dynes hysbys’ or wise woman in my professional capacity, as I loathe the terms ‘therapist’ and ‘coach’
I fully understand that!
https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/hide
Her collection is stunning!
And how perfect that cunning is almost considered evil these days! The wisdom of women is always feared.
I really loved reading this. I’ve been in the women’s studies space for all of my adult life and never read such a deep dive on cunt! I do love the reclamation monologue for the word in the Vagina Monologues! Regarding the word cunt, the actress says, “I rather like it.” ;)
Oh yes! Excellent reminder from the Vagina Monologues!
chanting “cunt” with the audience at the end of the Monologues changed my view of the word forever.
I am very glad to be informed about this! It so distinctly brought to my mind a memory. As a young child, quizzing my mother about bad words—I was always morbidly curious—she admitted there was one word bad so bad that she wouldn’t even give it a short hand like f word or n word etcetera. It was too bad even for that. I of course had to know more and eventually annoyed her enough to where she spilled the tea. It was strange to me when she finally spoke it, such a plain word. How could it really have so much power? I didn’t trust adults enough to believe that things were bad simply bc they said so. I’ve always wondered, I think, about the word, though despite being a boundary-pusher, I’ve never spoken it much, partially, I guess, out of respect for how serious she was about it. i think it’s probably true that in their unconscious instinct ppl like my mother revere that word and enjoin children never to say it for the same reason that other cultures teach their children only to speak sacred words at the right times or never….Anyways, a pleasure to learn about this:))
Thanks for sharing this! To this day I can write the word a lot easier than I can say it (I think maybe the ghost of my grandmother would be wagging her finger at me if I made it too common in my vocabulary!)
recently someone posted a note that americans should throw the “cunts” out of office; i replied that the word he used was actually a word used to denigrate women, and asked for clarity; they/he responded that in britain it means, well, ill leave it at that.
that aside, thank you for this clarity, and the reminder of the value of socrates’ quote which is, after all, foundational.
ps: mozart had a tight bond with his older sister and in fact she was also a talented composer who “helped” her younger brother in his journey. but at that time no one was interested in a woman performing as a piano composer because to see anything but a man at the keys was meh, and that’s an understatement.
i had no idea he even had a sister who was by his side.
I think if we look at famous men in history, we would VERY often find a women behind him inspiring or even producing much of the brilliance.
Even Paul had Thecla, though you’d never know from reading the New Testament.
Absolutely. Another example is astronomer William Herschel’s sister Caroline
I'm completely fascinated with those Sheela na gig statues dotted around the UK around churches.and like anyone, I'm wondering... what would make an adult make those symbols what could they mean?
Placed down low.
Open.
Vulnerable.
then I settled on...
Protection.
That's the word that ultimately came to me from these ancient symbols. Trying to protect children.
How do we question?
Pause.
Stop.
Think.
Protect vulnerability.
Symbols... they make children and adults ask what it means...
and my mind says protection from those who want to touch or desecrate the womb.
Little concrete tattoos into eternity, that speak from the dead ... whispering and witnessing...
It's yours.
It's your divinity.
It's the womb and tomb of life.
These concrete tattoos were stamped when babies and children were being stolen and used as sex slaves.
Orphans became maids and workers.
Too young to know how to protect their own sacred kingdom.
And so the elders made concrete tattoos, for the young and vulnerable, to mark the low places that childrens eyes go.
To guide and to learn, to think, and to question the cause.
To feel the softness in the expression of vulnerability as protection, not shame.
Fear and protection together. Ancient symbols to protect the divinity of the child.
Since supermarkets placed candy on the bottom shelves, ignoring mothers cries, with plastic and gods in media - the heroin candy of evil forces.
hansel and grettal is the main dragons fattening children with candy while taking from their lack of awareness. Stephen King said we use their love against them.
we take their trust.
overdose on dopamine.
🍄
that was a lot to think from one concrete statue from long ago...
my eyes saw protection.
what to protect.
what can happen
what not to do.
look out if you're a child. children look at those things. the symbol speaks.
don't let anyone do that to you.
that's private for you.
i can imagine being a mother...
I would say that to my child.
Imagine why someone made those statues in that way?
our privates are very sacred, and very special, and for us, and that's what I would tell my child. 🍄
I appreciate your insight into this. I agree, they must have had something to do with protection and the sacredness of the feminine.
What a brilliant essay! I've learnt to revere the word cunt and never honor anyone with it as a curse, although perhaps we, with our women's wisdom should be raining down curses on certain men in this beleaguered world right now. Thank you so much for this, and all the great comments too.
Totally blew my mind. Thank you for educating us on the etymology of this scandalized word.
SO GOOD 🔥
Thank you!
For real 💓🫀🧠💃🏽👣
Very interesting. Was raised with the same dislike for that word. It takes on a whole new meaning. My current interest is bringing back the Divine Feminine and bringing it into balance with the Divine Masculine…both within ourselves and in relationships. It is so out of balance.
The balancing of the two is key. I've seen a lot about reclaiming the divine feminine, and that's great and needed. But it's in the balance where we are going to find lasting reform.
Yes. Too much one way or the other and things go haywire. It even goes into businesses that are run on a fear or authoritarian level rather than balancing logic and wisdom to resolve problems. We've gotten so used to the loudest person having the most power we've completely stopped listening.
That is such a powerful insight. But does it take pushing to other extreme for balance to be found in the recoil?
There's always a pendulum swing
Growing up i always thought people were looking for a happy medium but I have yet to see that in society at large. The divine concrete tattoos are fascinating but I see the feminine connection to the divine primarily; with any protective elements stemming from that point of view.
Thank you very much for your deep insights.