Celtic Path...New Member

[SassySharon]

Hi all,
I'm new here, and looking to make some friends also on a Celtic path. I've read most of the posts here, and am very interested in how other lesbians make the Celtic path work in a same-sex family? There is so much written on the male/female dynamic, and little on same sex households.

I'm a post-op transgendered woman (Australia 2000) Penczah, thelma, what LGBT sites do run, as I'd like to visit both. I'm big into Amazon history as well, especially the matriarchal sites on Crete. Thanks for letting me join your Cauldron family!

elurnemownacciw,
SassySharon

[Artemis_NYC]

I can only speak for myself, of course, but I work with male/female energy all on my own. Because, really, it all starts from within, and has everything to do with making peace with our dual natures. Or the inner hieros gamos (sacred marriage) or whatever you'd like to call it. We all have a spark of the Goddess and God already inside us; a masculine side and a feminine side.

For a lot of women, getting in touch with their masculine side deals with casting off the notions that women can't be agressive business leaders. For men, it's getting in touch with emotions, and the like. But for either, what it really comes down to is refusing to accept societal limitations on ourselves. We are children of the Goddess and God. We can do anything.

I try to keep that in the forefront of my mind, when I perform a ritual, or meditate, or whatever. Because I was born genetically female does not mean I am stuck only in the role of priestess, mother, caregiver, confessor, and nurturer. And because I identify heavily with the TG community, especially my FTM friends, does not mean I am relegated to the role of "replacement male" in my coven setting; forced to wear the torque, invoke the God, or be the disciplinarian.

Anyway, forgive my rambling, but that's how I personally handle the male/female dynamic. As for my household, my partner follows an Egyptian path, so we have very different thoughts on a lot of this stuff!

I'd love to know as much about your journey as you're comfortable sharing, particularly how and when you knew to transition, and how this impacted your life as a Pagan (and vice versa).

[bbg_1980]

Merry meet and welcome SassySharon.
I am following a Irish Celt path. I couldn't tell you how lesbian households deal with the "male", "female" aspects of this faith but I can express how I feel.

Most traditions, especially the new ones have defined these terms as "projective" (male) and "receptive" (female). This is how I see them. The ideas of "male", "female" roles are based on cultural concepts. I ultimately feel that this world at its core is genderless. Deities are referred by gender to represent their role in life. Their are a few exceptions to this rule, such as Badb the Irish Celt goddess of war and Angus Og the Irish Celt god of love. These deities are opposite the traditional gender roles of "male", "female."

Now, if you take into account ancient Irish and Celtic culture it was common practice for men to love men and women to love women. However, it was considered a duty for a groom to take a bride in order to pro-create. Even this method of pro-creation was taken loosely. There wedding ceremonies where the brides would stand on one side of a fence. The groom would stick his hand through a hole in the fence if the bride accepted then they would be married for no less than a year and one day.

With this information it leads one to believe that some of the stories of deities could have been altered by those who kept the records. (The Catholic church.) I honestly feel that there are deities which were comfortable with both sexes. Or perhaps all deities are comfortable with both sexes and sense we see only their active aspect we only associate them with that traditional gender role.

Okay, I'm beginning to ramble out loud. If you have any more questions or need some clarification, just let me know.
Take care.

[thelma6954]

SassySharon wrote:

... thelma, what LGBT sites do run, as I'd like to visit both.

I'll send you a PM. [smile]

[JayneBond]

Merry Meet Sassy Sharon!

I think the thing I have learned over the years is, "take what works and blow the rest away", whatever ceremonies, spells, lifestyle aspects of the Celtic path that work to make you a more fulfilled person are the ones to incorporate into your life- and if there are one's that don't seem to resonate, don't bother with them.

namaste,
JB

[thelma6954]

SassySharon, dress a monkey as you will, it remains a monkey still. I had my suspicions this was you registering under a phony name, and my gut instinct was just confirmed. The wording of your post, your choice of name, and talk of Celtic and Amazon women stuff, your one and only post on this site directed to me, and you think after 32 years I don't recognize your style? You can't even keep your lies straight, saying in your profile you had your SRS surgery in Canada and in your post you said Australia. Grow up Bob, and act like a man. Oh, that's right, I forgot. That would be impossible for you.

To everyone else here, "SassySharon" has been outed as my soon-to-be ex husband, continuing his conniving and underhanded ways of trying to "catch" me doing some imagined garbage that he will use to attempt to sully my character in court.

[bbg_1980]

You have got to be kidding me. How dare you BOB! What a slick, slimy, simple-minded way to try and drum up some dirt on your wonderful EX-WIFE. All I can say is drum way "Little Drummer Boy," because you wont find anything here to use against this wonderful person. I could not even begin to imagine the CR@P Thelma is going to have to put up with on Wednesday.

Don't you worry Thelma. We have your back and send you all the Light and Love we can muster up.

[Artemis_NYC]

These forums are intended to be a safe space for open and thought-provoking conversation. As a friend of Thelma's, and a member of CL who has poured a lot of heart and soul out here, I am especially offended. How dare you?

Oh Thelma, take solace in your Cauldron family, as well as those wonderful three-fold laws.

[Kat]

Standing right beside you Thelma