Demeter's Kore

Demeter by Micha F. Lindemans The Greek earth goddess par excellence , who brings forth the fruits of the earth, particularly the various grains. She taught mankind the art of sowing and ploughing so they could end their nomadic existence. As such, Demeter was also the goddess of planned society. She was very popular with the rural population. As a fertility goddess she is sometimes identified with Rhea and Gaia . In systematized theology, Demeter is a daughter of Cronus and Rhea and sister of Zeus by whom she became the mother of Persephone . When Persephone was abducted by Hades , lord of the underworld, Demeter wandered the earth in search of her lost child. During this time the earth brought forth no grain. Finally Zeus sent Hermes to the underworld, ordering Hades to restore Persephone to her mother. However, before she left, Hades gave her a pomegranate (a common fertility symbol). When she ate from it, she was bound to spend a third of the year with her husband in t

Eleusis by Dr Alena Trckova-Flamee Ph.D. Eleusis is the place, where the cult of the goddess Demeter existed many centuries and where the most famous religious festival, called the Eleusinian mysteries were performed in the honour of this deity. According to the "Homeric Hymn to Demeter" (7th century BCE), when the goddess Demeter was desparetely looking for her daughter (=Kore) Persephone -kidnapped by Aidoneus ( Hades )- during her wandering she came to the city Eleusis. Here she was welcomed by the Queen Metaneria. To thank her, Demeter took care about prince Demophon . Each night she brought the boy near the fire to make him immortal and she fed him with the nectar and ambrosia of the Gods. When the child´s mother saw once at night what was happening, she was astonished. Demeter revealed, who she was and she asked to build a sanctuary in her honour to teach them secret rituals. She closed herself in the temple, troubled for her daughter and she did not allow a

Now, while I realize that the reserve officer, which isn't really a law enforcement officer but a volunteer, sent them a letter urging them to convert. I don't know where they get the right to say that they should get off scott free because of that man. They were breaking some pretty valid laws, I know, I've broken them and I was pulled over for it and had my car towed away because of it. I didn't have stickers on the back of my car stating my religious beliefs. I was pissed but it was just a routine check and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have posted a lot of news articles I have found of pagans standing up for their rights when faced with adversity from Government officials, but I really don't know how I feel about this one. They were driving around illegally, it's not as if these officers fabricated things to fine them with, they were perfectly within their rights to fine them. While I say stand up for yourself, I have to say have some comm

Indianapolis Star about it written on Thrusday August 18, 2005. An Indianapolis father can share his Wiccan beliefs and rituals with his 10-year-old son, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday in a unanimous decision upholding parents' rights to share their religion with their children. The court declared that a Marion County judge erred in approving a divorce decree last year that also directed the man and his ex-wife to shelter their son from "non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals." Thomas E. Jones Jr., a practicing Wiccan who waged the court battle, said he's relieved that his life can return to normal. "Because of this, I think a lot of education has gone on about religious freedoms," said Jones, who planned to tell his son the good news when he got home from school Wednesday, his first day of fourth grade. The case involved the divorce of Jones and Tammie U. Bristol, both practicing Wiccans. The Indianapolis residents married in February 1995, an

I don't know how many of you already know this story, but I just came across it today while chatting to a friend online and I felt morally compelled to share it with you. This excerpt was taken from the States News on November 14th. 2001 Lincoln Park - Pictures of Tempest Smith’s crooked smile and blue eyes are frozen in time - reminders of the ballerina, honor role student, flute player and daughter Denessa Smith called her “blessing.” Denessa’s eyes fill up with tears when she remembers “My Family,” the song Tempest composed and the Sylvester slippers Tempest put on her feet to keep her warm when she fell asleep on the couch. “It was a rule that if mom didn’t tuck you in, you tucked mom in,” Denessa said. Denessa remembers the last “I love you” from Tempest, the night before the 12-year-old tied a scarf around her neck and hung herself from her bunk bed on February 20. Tempest’s journal, found under her bed after her Feb. 20 suicide, shed light on the harassment she endure

Ever since Darla Wynne won her case in court about the name Jesus Christ being spoken in prayer conducted by the town council, she has suffered abuse and torment. Now they have gone so far as to kill her pets in protest against her to drive her out..... Taken from the Lancaster News August 24th, 2005 A parrot belonging to the Wiccan high priestess was beheaded and affixed with a note reading "You're next" at Wynne's home Wednesday. The 5-year-old bird, named "Little One," also had its heart ripped out, Wynne said. ... Police Chief Mike Revels said there are no suspects in the case, and his officers have yet to apprehend any of the culprits associated with a litany of disturbances to Wynne's property, some going back several years. Since the lawsuit was filed nearly five years ago, the gas tank in Wynne's vehicle has been filled with sand, horses in her yard have been tortured and her dog was kicked so hard it went blind in one eye. ... The vandalism