Conclusion
The prehistoric images of the unclothed Great Cosmic Mother surely represent humanity's first volumes of theology "written" for our preliterate ancestors. Wordlessly, the statues proclaim: "In this image you'll find all you need to know about the divine. She is beautiful, wise (her hair), strong with inner strength beyond belief (soft flesh), the liquid source of our very bodies (menses), the producer of our first meals (her breasts), our way into the world and back to paradise (her vulva), the one who shows how to live harmoniously with nature (connection to the lunar cycles), and a cosmic co-creator.
Beyond that, men's quasi-magic reaction to the very sight of the unclothed goddesses and the sexual interaction that sometimes follows provides evidence of the Cosmic Mother's idea of human fulfillment and purpose - not consumption and accumulation, but ecstatic pleasure and joy simply from what the earth and human relationships provide."
What could be more beautiful, simple -- and salvific in a world obsessed with materialism and consumerism that is driving the species to omnicide? We need to return to the Great Cosmic Mother.
But what about the images of mature cyberspace women? Aren't they pornographic?
It depends on how they're viewed. If seen appreciatively as the acts of proud subjects rather than as demeaned objects, they can edify as representing sexually independent mothers and grandmothers acting for themselves and not primarily for men, profit, or in the service of cultural misogyny, and sexism. They communicate the same message as the statues found in Ã?atal Huyuk (in Turkey), in ancient Egypt and throughout the African continent.
They can be seen as proudly "bodying forth" the overlooked teachings of the Great Cosmic Mother viz., that:
- "Pornography" is a construct of the twisted perspectives of toxic patriarchy. It does not even occur in more sane societal configurations.
- Ordinary women owning and claiming their sexual power and independence are indeed goddesses, beautiful and inspiring.
- Sexual pleasure is good. It is one of Life's greatest gifts. It is everyone's right to enjoy it in all its forms - including that provided and elicited by mature women subjects.
- As incorporating spirit and flesh, the guidance of female wisdom is more grounded in Life and Nature than men's. Female wisdom represents the leading edge of human consciousness.
- Since the Great Cosmic Mother's nourishment embodied in life's original food producer (i.e., our mother) feeds us without charge or need to earn that gift, human economies would be more harmonious with the cosmic Design if they were similarly gift-based.
- Nature's cycles are mirrored in our sisters who remind us each month of the unity shared by all with the moon, ocean, tides, and seasons.
- Life is so abundant, prolific, and lavish, that all of us (and women especially) are truly co-creators with our Great Source. Like the Cosmic Mother herself, women can choose which fertilized eggs to bring to term and which to terminate.
- None of us (especially men) is ultimately in charge of Life's super-generous processes which thankfully are beyond everyone's understanding and control but are more fully understood by women.
- Women deserve special honor as the gateway to life that points us back home to paradise lost.
- Our world would be a better place if women as embodiments of the Great Cosmic Mother were in charge.
With all this in mind, it is possible to approach proudly unrobed mothers and grandmothers in the following spirit of appreciation and gratitude quite foreign to the unconscious misogyny which indoctrinated me so many years ago. I express that liberation in the verses I offer here with the hope that others might share the freedom they attempt to express:
Divine Images Lost and Found
Goddesses all
They are
Unfailing springs of rapt delight
Virgins, Mothers, wizened Crones
With tresses
Surpassing even
Samson's might,
Sweet gentle eyes
Playful, smoldering, and mischievous,
Sensuous lips
Smiling wordlessly
While wondrously expressing
Our Mother's cosmic purpose
Through soft flesh
Fulsome breasts,
And the Great Divide
Enticing
Between extended thighs
Calling
Vagrant children's return
To origins lost
While inviting contemplation
Of her
And our (!)
Unfathomable mysteries within.* * * * * * *
Note: Nina Paley, American cartoonist, animator and director, is the genius behind the animated gifs of the goddess statues used in the video in this article. They are from her fabulous video, "Seder-Masochism." Nina is a free culture activist and releases all of her work into the public domain. Her website is https://blog.ninapaley.com
(Special thanks to Meryl Ann Butler, OpEdNews Managing Editor, for her marvelous editorial guidance in helping me formulate these thoughts whose shortcomings, of course, are mine, not hers.)
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
