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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
SOPHIA
By Terry J. McCombs
NAME: SOPHIA which is the Greek verson of Her name, other names and
titles are Hohkma (Hebrew), Sapienta (Latin), Mother-Of-All (Gnostic),
Holy Spirit (very early Christians),Wisdom (what the other names
mean).
SYMBOLS: A cup, the cresent moon, a dove, a tree.
USUAL IMAGE: A red winged woman, crowned with seven stars, at Her feet
lies the World, She carrys a golden cup. She is also often shown
wareing a red gown, and pregnant.
HOLY DAYS: November 28th is the Day of Sophia.
HOLY BOOKS: The Trattato Gnostico. The Clementine Homilies. The
Gospel According to Mary.
PLACES OF WORSHIP: Temples, but also places of learning.
RELATIVES: Yahway (ex-husband), Adam, Eve, Lilith, angels (children),
Jesus Christ (step-son).
SYNODIETIES:Isis (Egyptian), Juno (Roman), Hera (Greek), Frigga
(Norse) Spider Grandmother (Native American), Inanna (Sumerian), Tara
(Tibetan) Yemaya (African-Caribbean), Amaterasu (Japanese), Pachamama
(Incan), Estsanatlehi }Changing Woman{ (Navajo and Apache), Danu
(Celtic).
DETAILS: Sophia, or Hohkma or Sapienta etc... is the primary female
figure of Judeo-Christianity, She was once very important, but because
of the efforts of men who had a very serious problem with the female
force in nature and themselfs She has all but been exsponged from
modern Bibles. She was the veiled holy spirit of wisdom, pregnant with
knowledge and inviting us to drink deeply from Her cup. Old Jewish
literature tells of Her role as God's co-creator, "She reaches out
from one end of the earth to the other with full strength and orders
all things well...Herself unchanging, she makes all things anew."
without Her God is powerless. She shares God's throne, and is his
creative breath. The Shakers recognized her in the rhyme: "Wisdom
holds the Mother's seat, and is the Father's helper-meet."
Yes, it's time that Mrs God got Her due!
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Gnostics and sophia
Gnosticism (Gnost = knowledge) was one of the very earlyist forms of
Christianty being some what older then what became the Roman Catholic
Church, and one of it's chief rivals during the first part of the
first millennium. They sought communion with Sige (Silence) who dwelt
at the beginning of all things and gave birth to Sophia (Wisdom or
Knowledge), The Gnostic Great Mother, who was both spouse and mother
of God. (Hey! it's how they thought back then, read your Joseph
Campbell.)
What became the orthodox church especially hated the Gnosticfemin-
ine imagery. Followers of Paul denounced the Gnostics as the spawn of
Satan and ravening wolves in human form, and both devil worshipers AND
atheists, and other insults Christians used against other Christians
of a diffrent type in those times, and for that matter today against
other religions that they don't like today.
Starting mainly in the 4th and going through the 8th the Paulist
church persecuted any Gnostic minorities that they could find, killing
them in the thousands.
Church fathers of the Paulist type were very upset and angry by the
Gnostics admiting women to ecclesiastical rank. Tertullian reported
with horror that "All initiates, men and women alike...might be
elected to serve as priest, bishop, or prophet. Beyone that the women
teach, engage in discussion; they exorcise; they cure. They even
baptize and in all way have equally, they pray equally -- even Pagans,
if any happen to come...They also share the kiss of peace with all who
come."
Some sects of Gnosticism even went sofar as to say that there were
twelve female apostles lead by the beloved of Jesus Mary Magdalene,
and that while Jesus was the real God made flesh, Mary Magdalene was
the real Goddess also made flesh, most of their gospels pertaining to
this were distroyed by the eary Paulist, though some have survived.
In return for what the other Christians had to say about them the
Gnostics said that the God of the Roman church was not the real God
but was a devilish
demiurge who only wanted to entrap human souls in lies, illusion, and
evil.
But what about some of these differences that are to be found
between the
Gnostics who had a Yahway AND Sophia, and the Paulist who had only
Jehovah and Jesus? Lets take a short look at the Gnostic verson of
the Garden of Eden myth next.
The Gnostics said that Sophia was born from the primordial female
power Sige (Silence). And that she }Sophia{ was God's mother, "the
great revered Virgin in whom the Father was concealed from the begin-
ing before He had created anything.
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Sophia gave birth to a male spirit, Christ, (who only much later
came to earth in human form) and a female spirit Achamoth (who later
came to earth as Mary Magdalene). These two gave birth to the elements
and the terrestrial world, then brought forth a new god named Jehovah,
Son of Darkness, along with five planetary spirits later regarded as
emanations of Jehovah: Iao, Sabaoth, Adonai, Eloi, annd Uraeus. These
spirits produced archangels, angels, and finally men and women.
Jehovah forbade men to eat the fruit of knowledge, but his mother
Achamoth sent her own spirit to earth in the form of the serpent Ophis
to teach menkind to disobey the jealous god. The serpent was also
called Christ, who taught Adam to eat the fruit of knowledge despite
Jehovah's prohibition.
...later
Sophia sent Christ again to earth in the shapeof one of Her totems
the dove, to enter the man Jesus at his baptism in Jordan. After Jesus
died,Christ left his body and returned to heaven to help collect
souls.
But notall of Sophia was taken out ofthe final verson of the Bible
by the Paulist, some was able to slip past ie from the 8th and 9th
chapters Proverbs we see the early conflict between followers of
Sophia and those of God. Maybe the divorse was going on at this time?:
Doth not Sophia cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She
standeth in the top of high places, by way in the places of the paths.
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in of
the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of
man. O ye simple, understand Sophia: and , ye fools, be ye of an
understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and
the opening of my lips shall be right things... for Sophia is better
then rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be
compaired to Her. I Sophia dwell with prudence, and find out knowlege
of witty inventions... Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am under-
standing; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree
justice. By me princes rule, and and nobles, even all judges of the
earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall
find me... I lead the way into righteousness, jin the midst of the
paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasures... Blessed is the man that
heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my
doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life... But he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
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Then we get:
Sophia hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her sevenpillars:
she hath killed her beasts: she hath mingled her wine: she hath also
furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maindens: she crieth
upon the highest places of the city. Whoso is simple, let him turn in
hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come,
eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled...(but)
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the kknowledge of
the holy is understanding. For by me (God) thy days shall be mul-
tiplied, and the years fo thy life shall be increased... a foolish
woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she
sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high place of the
city, (temples) to call passengers who go right on their ways: whoso
is simple, let him turn in hither... But he knoweth not that the dead
are there; and her guests are in the depths of hell.
Sounds like thenasty sort of thing that goes on in a lot of divor-
ces to me. Or at least a heated PR battle.
Lets say that the campaign to bring Sophia (or Sapienta or Hohkma or
Goddess which ever) is a success, what are some of the effects that it
might have? I mean other then the religious aspects, I mean also the
political or more mundane aspects, because as it is now while women
make up the majority of those that DO anything in the churchs the
power is in the hands of men, well, with Sophia back thinks would have
to loosen up more then a little bit, so what are some of the changes
that could take place?......:
Catholicism
Sure theyhave nuns, but that does not count because even they have
to have a Priest that is over them (I think I'm really not sure about
the details). So with the return of Sophia we could see also the
Catholic Priestess who would have her very on sacraments and every-
thing (see following message) and to be sure they could also become
bishops and cardinals I understand that such things were quite common
way back when.
And Pope? There was Pope Joan, but she had to be in disguise to do
that.
and all that Pope stuff did not start till well after the last of the
Sophiaist had been offed.
But I know the perfect compromise, there is a lotof controveray in
the Roman Catholic church right now between people who think that
Priest should be able to marry, and those that think things should
stay just as they are. But if you let Priest marry who knows what
would happen! after all nobody can understand anybody elses choices in
books or mates, and if your Catholic would would you do if Father Dan
showed up one day married to a Yahway's Witness or a nice Jewish
girl?! you know what gosips church people can be, well here's the
solution, let them get married, but only to Priestesses, sure that
cuts down the feld a lot but hey! that's tough, it comes with the
territory.
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Protestantism
Now here's a group that needs some work, ever seen some of the more
hard-core groups with the men in their Penta-Pimp suits and the
poofyed up hair-dos and their drab mousey wifes who never seem to say
anything? (not to try and get anybody mad or upset, but if I do...I
try) I think there is more then room for a little loosening up to be
done there, and in the more avereage protestant churchs too.
Along with the minister have a wominister, yeah that would work,
maybe haveing another power would help cut down on the power triping
that often takes place. And just think, one more person to gosip
about!
Judaism
Sorry, I really don't know enough about Judaism to talk about
changes that might take place with the return of a Goddess figure, but
I'm sure it would have to mean something...right?
All Judeo-Christianity
One thing that is to be found in all Christian religious groups is
the male-force verson of the leader, no matter if he is called Priest
minister or what, who is let's face it more matter how you might like
to not look at it, is for the most part a political figure, somebody
in charge, so that you have a lot of religion but very, very little if
any real spirituality.
Perhaps that could be fixed with the return of Sophia because with
the return of a Female eleament to a religion you open up the door to
the possibility of the Christian Shaman, something that the world has
yet to see, this person could be ether male or female and..well I
think this needs it's own message.
Even if you are not Catholic yourself I am sure that you are at
least somewhat familiar with each of the seven sacraments that a
priest can perform as part of his office. Just for the record they are
listed below.
The seven sacraments that a priest of the Roman Catholic church can
preform are:
1. Baptism 2. Communion (eucharist) 3. Confirmation 4. Marriage 5.
Priesthood 6. Sacrament of the Sick (formerly known as 'last rites')
7. Reconciliation (confession)
Now, what would be the case if a campaign to return Sophia to Judeo-
Christianity were to succeed? There would be no need to take anything
away from the priests, or even for them to share the seven sacraments
for that matter, I think that the priestess would have plenty to do
with the seven sacraments of the Priestesshood:
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1. Pre-Baptism (sacred midwifery) To atend in a number of ways to the
spiritual and physical needs of pregnant women, blessing the child,
doing some rite at the birth etc...
2. Blessing the Cup. Rite by which a cup of milk or water is imbued
with the essence of Sophia.
3. Bake the Love in. Rite in which an entire meal is imbued with the
essence of Sophia.
4. Match-Making. Something that is badly needed before the Priest can
do the marriage bit. a number of ways in which the compatablility is
tested between two people, also the aiding of finding a suitable
match. ("Nu! have I got a girl for you!")
5. Nag. Sort of like confession, only while one is told to the priest
this one is told to you by the priestess, sort of like naging...but in
a good way, a way of pointing out where some improvement could be
made, all under the influence of Sophia and not the good Mother
herself `nach. Mayby it could start out by the Priestess saying
something like "Watch it buster, for you have sined" or something like
that.
6. Tidy-Up. Rite to "clean-up" the spiritual "being" of the person in
question, sort of like all that aura cleaning that the New Agers do.
7. Make-Over. Training that lets the Priestess note changes that would
be helpfull if they were made in an individual, sort of like that Hail
Mary thing, only the Priestess would asign things of a more tangible
form. Like give me one week with no beer drinking, or such like.
The White Goddess. Robert Graves.
Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity. (2 vols.) Francis Legge.
The Gnostic Religion. Hans Jonas.
Venus in Sackcloth. Marjorie Malvern.
Myths to Live By. Joseph Campbell.
The Gnostic Gospels. Elaine Pagels.
When God Was a Woman. Merlin Stone.
The Lady Was a Bishop. Joan Morris.
Spiral Dance. Starhawk.
The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. Patricia Monagham.
The Goddesses and the Tree. Ellen Cannon Reed.
Urban Shaman. Serge Kahili King.
Growing the Tree Within. William Gray.
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Barbara G. Walker.
Many of these booksare to be found at the libary. . And there is a
new one out called Sophia the Black Goddess I believe butI'm not sure
and I don't know the authors name.....sorry.
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