Column 18 - Gaia and myth in the Demontagne saga
Let’s just say that what follows is the myth underlying the Demontagne saga. Some of the people mentioned here will be introduced in the second book, A Circle of Dreams.
For those of us who went through the struggle of the sixties there was a growing concern for our mother, the earth, and the struggle for women coming into their own was especially prominent.
We spoke of Gaia, the mother earth goddess, the earth herself. It was as if we had found her again after the millenia.
It is appropriate that Gaia is viewed as a power or a force rather than a goddess. Goddesses have a specific form and function while Gaia is the basic life force that governs our planet. And is inseparable from the planet herself.
There are places where there are fundamental openings to the power of Gaia. In such places are usually found a tree of life such as Father Samaan, a wise old man such as Marcus and a mother earth figure such as Bertille.
As a power Gaia demonstrates that there is a continuity in life and death. All are manifestations of the power of Gaia. When a being dies it simply moves to another form and part of the power. It can be reincarnated in a similar or another form as the need may arise. Neither form is less or more. For example, a person may return as a beloved dog who gives joy and comfort to children and is their guardian.
There is evil in Gaia’s world but evil is not an independent being. It is a manifestation of human frailties. It must be recognized and controlled. Gaia guides people to seek to relate to a world in which there is only abraxas. Abraxas is all that there is in the universe except for evil. Seeking abraxas is very much like seeking nirvana in buddhism.
Jamie’s ancestors came to an opening to the power of Gaia but tragedy intervened and a child was lost. The fabric of the opening was rent with sorrow which endured until a descendent returned. The earth mother saw who the newcomer was. Jamie did not know it but Gaia was watching over her. Rufous represents the visits of Gaia which is why Jamie found him such a calming influence and special friend.
When Jamie had children they assumed special powers in the special place. Yvie formed a secret bond with the plants and creatures of the rain forest. The secret bond led her to become a shape shifter. She took a tete chien (boa) as a pet and it became a confidante. With her powers she was able to travel with her tete chien and experience Gaia’s world more fully. The snake is often associated with evil but in this case it is associated with the constant renewal in the death and rebirth cycle. The snake is also an important conveyor for power in rituals. In a sense Anne-Cecile was reborn in the ritual and moved from being a mourning spirit to a guardian. Bertille came to recognize that Yvie is a shape shifter because Bertille is also a shape shifter. She does it in trance and then flies with the parrots.
Lissa falls more closely into the priestess class. As such she conveys the meaning of the powers to others. She can see behind reality and is close to the moon mysteries. At her full power she can open the way to command of the physical world as symbolized by her power to move objects. As a twin to Yvie she has complimentary functions. While Yvie has strong aspects of chaos Lissa brings calm and order. Yvie can be the forest imp while Lissa commands the powers of order and perception. Lissa can come to command a great passion as well. She is also a powerful protector of great strength as seen when her brother was threatened. Lissa has great command over all of the wheel of her personality which is extremely rare. She has a highly developed animus. A male component which lies in the unconscious of a woman. One of Lissa’s greatest challenges is to keep her powers calmed and in abeyance so that she may function in the world as it is and move toward her destiny. But such a priestess is challenged by her own sexuality.
Because of his special place as a link to a past tragedy Philippe has assumed the power to perceive things from the past. It remains to be seen how this power may develop. We do not yet know if it extends to the future. In the third book his future may be better defined.
The present time has a special vulnerability for the people of Gaia. There are now very many of them. They have too often abandoned reverence for their mother earth and women have lost their proper position of power and independence. As such earth cannot be sustained.
The old religions have wasted away along with the reverence for the earth and the proper place for the just power of women. The priestess has been diminished at our risk. There is continuing violence and intolerance. Rather than viewing themselves as one people, the people of Gaia are alienated from each other.
The people of the Caribbean live in the crossroads of the world and are being threatened by dark forces in part reflected in the growing power of the drug cartels. They risk losing control of their countries, over their destiny and their futures dim. Are there some of the children of Gaia who can help them restore balance? But first these children must order their own worlds.
Visit us at www.annierogers.com
Let’s just say that what follows is the myth underlying the Demontagne saga. Some of the people mentioned here will be introduced in the second book, A Circle of Dreams.
For those of us who went through the struggle of the sixties there was a growing concern for our mother, the earth, and the struggle for women coming into their own was especially prominent.
We spoke of Gaia, the mother earth goddess, the earth herself. It was as if we had found her again after the millenia.
It is appropriate that Gaia is viewed as a power or a force rather than a goddess. Goddesses have a specific form and function while Gaia is the basic life force that governs our planet. And is inseparable from the planet herself.
There are places where there are fundamental openings to the power of Gaia. In such places are usually found a tree of life such as Father Samaan, a wise old man such as Marcus and a mother earth figure such as Bertille.
As a power Gaia demonstrates that there is a continuity in life and death. All are manifestations of the power of Gaia. When a being dies it simply moves to another form and part of the power. It can be reincarnated in a similar or another form as the need may arise. Neither form is less or more. For example, a person may return as a beloved dog who gives joy and comfort to children and is their guardian.
There is evil in Gaia’s world but evil is not an independent being. It is a manifestation of human frailties. It must be recognized and controlled. Gaia guides people to seek to relate to a world in which there is only abraxas. Abraxas is all that there is in the universe except for evil. Seeking abraxas is very much like seeking nirvana in buddhism.
Jamie’s ancestors came to an opening to the power of Gaia but tragedy intervened and a child was lost. The fabric of the opening was rent with sorrow which endured until a descendent returned. The earth mother saw who the newcomer was. Jamie did not know it but Gaia was watching over her. Rufous represents the visits of Gaia which is why Jamie found him such a calming influence and special friend.
When Jamie had children they assumed special powers in the special place. Yvie formed a secret bond with the plants and creatures of the rain forest. The secret bond led her to become a shape shifter. She took a tete chien (boa) as a pet and it became a confidante. With her powers she was able to travel with her tete chien and experience Gaia’s world more fully. The snake is often associated with evil but in this case it is associated with the constant renewal in the death and rebirth cycle. The snake is also an important conveyor for power in rituals. In a sense Anne-Cecile was reborn in the ritual and moved from being a mourning spirit to a guardian. Bertille came to recognize that Yvie is a shape shifter because Bertille is also a shape shifter. She does it in trance and then flies with the parrots.
Lissa falls more closely into the priestess class. As such she conveys the meaning of the powers to others. She can see behind reality and is close to the moon mysteries. At her full power she can open the way to command of the physical world as symbolized by her power to move objects. As a twin to Yvie she has complimentary functions. While Yvie has strong aspects of chaos Lissa brings calm and order. Yvie can be the forest imp while Lissa commands the powers of order and perception. Lissa can come to command a great passion as well. She is also a powerful protector of great strength as seen when her brother was threatened. Lissa has great command over all of the wheel of her personality which is extremely rare. She has a highly developed animus. A male component which lies in the unconscious of a woman. One of Lissa’s greatest challenges is to keep her powers calmed and in abeyance so that she may function in the world as it is and move toward her destiny. But such a priestess is challenged by her own sexuality.
Because of his special place as a link to a past tragedy Philippe has assumed the power to perceive things from the past. It remains to be seen how this power may develop. We do not yet know if it extends to the future. In the third book his future may be better defined.
The present time has a special vulnerability for the people of Gaia. There are now very many of them. They have too often abandoned reverence for their mother earth and women have lost their proper position of power and independence. As such earth cannot be sustained.
The old religions have wasted away along with the reverence for the earth and the proper place for the just power of women. The priestess has been diminished at our risk. There is continuing violence and intolerance. Rather than viewing themselves as one people, the people of Gaia are alienated from each other.
The people of the Caribbean live in the crossroads of the world and are being threatened by dark forces in part reflected in the growing power of the drug cartels. They risk losing control of their countries, over their destiny and their futures dim. Are there some of the children of Gaia who can help them restore balance? But first these children must order their own worlds.
Visit us at www.annierogers.com
posted by Roger | 4:28 PM
<< Home