The Goddess As Maiden The first aspect of the Goddess is the Maiden, sometimes called the Virgin or Huntress. She is spring, the fresh beginning of all things. The Maiden is the continuation of all life, the repeating of endless cycles of birth and rebirth, both of the body and of the spirit. She is the dawn, eternal youth and vigor, enchantment and seduction, the waxing Moon. Traditionally, Her color is white, denoting innocence and newness. Although the Maiden is most often associated with youth and puberty, her attributes can be experienced by anyone, male or female, in any stage of life. We cannot reverse the actual aging process of the body, however much we submit ourselves to the bodies tucks and wrinkle creams and diets. But within the mind, we have the unique ability to experience all three aspects of the Goddess whenever we choose. Indeed, it is beneficial to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health if we periodically refresh ourselves in this manner. And when we improve these areas of our lives, our physical health improves also. Too often we lock ourselves into one phase, thereby missing the growth and experience of the other two. By studying and meditating upon the Threefold Goddess, it is possible to bring life back into balance, back to the rhythm of Nature, back to sanity and wholeness. Through the Maiden aspect of the Goddess we learn to see the beauty of all things; the wonder of Nature at work in all creation. The maiden is the budding strength of natural and Nature magick at work everywhere. This aspect is the mental ability to find delight in a butterfly winding its way through a patch of sunlight; the slow rise and fall of waves on a beach of brilliant sand. Even the contemplation of a trickle of raindrops down a window can be a means of flexing mental muscles long out of use. The Maiden face of the Goddess can be valuable when we need a fresh perspective on things---when we have reached a point in our lives when we feel directionless and do not have a clue as to what to do or where to go next. She can be the Creator of new ideas and new beginnings. But as the other phases of the Goddess subtly blend into each other, so does the Maiden blend with areas of the Mother and the Crone, completing the cycle of the the Threefold Goddess. The Maiden has attributes that can seem frightening, as in her form as the Huntress and Mistress of the Woodlands. Even as the Huntress, though, senseless destruction is abhorrent to her. She is the armed keeper of the Mother's universal laws. A swift messenger from the Divine Source of life. She can deal out punishment to offenders of those laws, not blindly as with the figure of blindfolded Justice, but dispassionately as a guardian of balance. The Maiden is a friend and companion of all young creatures, more a comrade than nurturer, as is the Mother phase. She is free with Her feelings and emotions, often expressing Herself in sudden decisions. She is aware of Her sexuality, sometimes holding it at bay, other times abandoning all else to revel in it. The term Virgin does not mean physical virginity, that state so strangely and highly prized by patriarchal males; this "virgin" means independent, Her own person. No one rules Her. She is responsible for Her own actions, in adherence with the Mother's laws. She knows who she is and dreams of the potential for what she can become. The Maiden can make herself felt mentally without warning and when least expected. Her shyness and coyness may arise in sexual partners at any time of life when a renewal is experienced in their relationship. Her wonder and reverence of life may surface when a new child or grandchild is held for the first time. The sudden awareness of a sunset or a scene in Nature may trigger deep spiritual feelings that make one feel renewed and truly part of all creation. The Maiden aspect of the Goddess is synonymous with the physical stage of puberty in humans. In females, She represents the waxing Moon of beginning menstruation. But to both sexes She symbolizes the mixed feelings of approaching adulthood and the stirrings of the sexual drive. She is shyness and assertiveness, confidence and fear, all rolled into one. Understanding the Maiden will help humans understand themselves. If one is past this stage she can still help. For the Maiden can unearth long buried reasons, however remote, for certain youthful actions and help one to tolerant with oneself. The Maiden is known in many forms and variations around the world. She is an essential part of the cycle, of the Threefold Goddess, yet She is unique in Herself. Her empathy for all creatures, Her curiosity about all things, Her determination to be Her individual self and all She is capable of achieving---these are qualities that are vital to human happiness and development. The Maiden shows us the way, the clues to safely passing through the spiritual labyrinth to the calm center. Teasing with laughter and promises, She runs before us, enticing us to follow the path we fear the most, the labyrinth deep within our minds that leads to the deeply buried collective unconscious. There lies the treasure, the true source of all knowledge and ideas. The Maiden is the Way-Shower, the Keeper of the Keys, the seed stage of creation, whether that creation be physical, mental, or spiritual. Without Her aid we have little chance of making a safe journey or finding the treasure at all. Created for Witches Circle of Brew By Lady Middy Web Design ©Graphics R Us | |
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