Sexy Witch
Page 29
The internet is an amazing resource on this front. Many of these amazing women and archetypes have fan sites, bios, and even shrines to them built on the fertile frontier of cyberspace. Many also have biographies or autobiographies that are easy to find in your local bookstore, or even at your library.
One caveat: this is a very partial listing of the female heroes out there. I have left many out, and this list is weighted toward the women I have learned something from in my research and in my life. If I left your favorite out, don’t get mad, get even! Send me a note, and perhaps I will be able to add her to my list for future projects. You could even use the opportunity to create your own tribute website in honor of the women who have influenced your life.
Above all, enjoy this compendium (as limited as it is), and search out more info about the rich and fascinating history of women who changed, and are still changing, the rules.
Virgins and Maidens
While the terms maiden and virgin imply chastity, to me that element is not the defining aspect of maidenhood. In the way I am using these terms, it’s more about a subset of that concept: a girl or women belonging to herself.
Throughout the ages there have been women who chose not to marry, and made this choice for many reasons. Unfortunately, many of their stories are lost to the sands of time. We do know, though, that often a woman who loved women would be considered a virgin. She couldn’t very well correct those who assumed, could she?
Artemis and Diana are “virgin” archetypes who consorted only with their equally “virginal” nymphs in the wild hills of Greece and Rome. The Virgin Queen may or may not have ever bedded any of her suitors. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell never married, and was arrested repeatedly for dressing in men’s attire.
Archetypes
Artemis
This Greek Goddess is a virgin, Goddess of the hunt, a midwife, and a protector of women and children. She is armed with a bow and a quiver of arrows. Artemis lives free of the bonds of cultural convention, running free in the hills with her hounds, the animals of the forest, and her virginal Nymphs.
—http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/artemis.html.
Diana
Diana is the Roman name for the Goddess Artemis. Later she also became Queen of the Witches, with a whole subset of Goddess worship bearing her name. Dianic Witchcraft is woman-oriented Goddess worship. Dianic covens are often for women only.
—http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/goddess/diana.html.
Kore
In the Ancient Greek, Kore means “young girl,” or “daughter.” Kore is one of the deities honored in the great Eleusinian Mysteries. Kore is the innocent, young daughter of Demeter, the Grain Mother, and Zeus, the patriarch of the Olympian Gods. Kore represents eternal springtime, and the hope that is born again with each sprouting shoot.
—http://www.spiralgoddess.com/Demeter.html.
Hestia/Vesta
Hestia is the Greek Goddess of the hearth. She is sister to Zeus, and the daughter of Rhea and Cronos. She was known as Vesta to the Romans, and her Priestesses were known as Vestal Virgins.
—http://www.paralumun.com/romevesta.htm.
The Valkyrie
Odin’s shield-maidens were fierce warriors and protectors.
—http://www.dolls-n-daggers.com/Valkyrie.html.
Historical Figures
Joan of Arc, 1412–1431
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08409c.htm.
Queen Elizabeth I
“You may have many a wiser prince sitting in this seat, but you never have had, or shall have, any who loves you better.”
—From Elizabeth’s “Golden Speech of 1601,” http://www3.newberry.org/elizabeth/forthemedia/elizhistory.html.
The Virgin Queen remained unmarried through her life, though she had many suitors. She was responsible for England’s final conversion to the Protestant faith, and single-handedly ruled England for over forty-four years.
—http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/eliz1.html.
Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D., 1821–1910
http://campus.hws.edu/his/blackwell/biography.html.
Susan B. Anthony
http://www.susanbanthonyhouse.org/biography.htm.
Emily Dickinson
http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson.
Mary Cassatt
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/cassatt.
Current Pop-Culture Icons
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
The last virgins in America. In using the term virgin here, I am not speaking to whether these young women have taken lovers or not. I am pointing rather to the fact that their mutual image is based in the identity of innocence and self-containment.
—http://www.marykateandashley.com.
Mothers, Healers, and Wives
When I first started this section, it was Mothers only. I added Healers and Wives with the dawning realization that there are other aspects to this stage of life (duh!). Also, I found that there were few mothers in the historical category. By broadening this category to include women who may not be mothers but are known to have contributed in some traditionally “motherly” way to culture, I found that I could honor their stories as well.
Archetypes
Gaia
The primary mother in the Greek Pantheon, Gaia is one of the elder Greek Goddesses. From her, many of the other Gods and Goddesses were born. Gaia is the earth herself, and all the creatures who live on her are born of her womb.
—http://www.kheper.net/topics/Gaia/goddess.htm.
Demeter
Another of the deities given homage and memory in the Eleusinian Rites, Demeter is the Grain Mother, mother of growing things. Her daughter is Kore, the eternal springtime. In the Homeric Hymns, Demeter is credited with gifting humankind with agriculture.
—http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/demeter.html.
Ceres
While having her own origins, Ceres came to possess many of the attributes of Demeter as the Hellenic culture was assimilated by the Romans. Ceres also became the Goddess of the Plebeians in Roman culture, with the office of protecting the plebes from the patricians. She governed the fair distribution of grain, and marriage and divorce law.
—http://www.astrostar.com/articles/Ceres.htm.
Isis
The principal Goddess of Ancient Egypt, Isis is the daughter of Geb and Nut, the earth her father and the heavens her mother. Isis was many things: Goddess of Love, Magick Maker, Goddess of Fertility and Healing, and Queen of the Underworld. She is wife to Osiris, and mother to Horus. Isis is often represented as a winged Goddess, and she always carries an ankh, the Egyptian symbol of life, death, and rebirth. She is the mother of the God Who Dies and Is Reborn, a cycle that has many manifestations in religions the globe over.
—http://www.touregypt.net/isis.htm.
Mary, Mother of God
A younger Goddess but one of the most widely worshipped today, by far, Mary is a wonderful and compassionate Mother Goddess.
—http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm.
Brighid, Bride, Breed
Healer, Goddess, and Catholic saint, Bride has stood the test of time. There are shrines dedicated to her in Ireland to this day.
—http://www.seaofstorms.com/mecca/goddess.html.
Hera
The iconic mother and wife to Zeus, Hera stands for the hearth, the family, and propriety. Among other things, she is a jealous wife with a philandering husband. Not the happiest of tales, but it makes for some good Greek myths.
—http://www.promotega.org/asu30020/hera.html.
Historical Figures
Florence Nightingale, 1820–1910
Nightingale was a woman with a calling. The reforms she worked for and the writings she authored still influence the practice of medicine today.
&
nbsp; —http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/flo2.htm.
Sacagawea
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/sacagawea.htm.
Martha Washington
Our first First Lady.
—http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/mw1.html.
Eleanor Roosevelt
The first First Lady to go in with a plan.
—http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/ar32.html.
Jackie O.
The First Lady with the most amazing sense of style, a beautiful husband, and beautiful children. O, Jackie!
—http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/jk35.html.
Princess Diana
A princess story come to life, Princess Di lived the dream and did magick with it. As Diana grew into herself and out of the Royal House, she used her almost accidental influence in positive ways.
—http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page151.asp.
June Carter Cash
A truly iconic, inimitable mother and wife.
—http://maninblack.net/June.html.
Current Pop-Culture Icons
Coretta Scott King
A mother who never sacrificed ideals for family, nor family for ideals. A true warrior of love.
—http://www.africana.com/research/encarta/csking.asp.
Rosie O’Donnell
This is what a mom looks like.
—http://www.eonline.com/On/Holly/Shows/Odonnell/bio.html.
Angelina Jolie
Yep, this is what a mom looks like, too!
—http://www.celebrity-fansites.com/stars/angelina_jolie/bio.html.
Pamela Anderson
And this!
—http://www.pamwatch.com/bio.html.
Kim Gordon
This mother is a Sonic Youth who toured for years while raising her kid. She’s the reason we’re still punk rock.
—http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Gordon.
J. K. Rowling
http://gaga.essortment.com/jkrowlingbiogr_reak.htm.
Lovers and Sacred Whores
Here we are at the whore word. I promised you an explanation of this one, and it is my pleasure to offer that to you here. You may have heard of the concept of the sacred whore, or the temple prostitute. If the mystical and magickal aspects of giving on the sexual level appeal to you, I encourage you to do some research on this subject.
At this juncture, I offer you an etymological basis for understanding these words. They are such loaded terms, and both have beautiful subtextual meaning. The term prostitute comes from the Latin pro and stituere. Pro means “before,” and stituere means “to stand.” The word prostitute literally means “to stand before.” Whore comes from the Indo-European root Ka, which means “to like or desire,” from which carus, the Latin for dear, leads us to caress, cherish, and charity. Whore also shares its root with the word queen.
Archetypes
Ishtar
http://sangha.net/messengers/ishtar.htm.
Babalon
http://www.sexmagick.com/aisha/mywork/procession.htm.
Aphrodite
The ever popular Hellenic Goddess of Love, mother to Cupid, and lover of Dionysus, this lady knows how to party!
—http://messagenet.com/myths/bios/aphrodite.html.
Mary Magdalene
The second Mary, this Mary is also prayed to. Not by most Catholics, though. Rumored by some to be a prostitute, and by others to be the wife of Christ, and by still others to be a prostitute and the wife of Christ, Magdalene is a woman shrouded in mystery. We do know that she washed Christ’s feet, though, and that’s pretty sexy.
—http://www.magdalene.org.
Historical Figures
Veronica Franco , 1546–1591
Have you seen the movie Dangerous Beauty? See it!
—http://www.jazzbabies.com/home/franco.htm.
Mae West
“Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.”
—http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/405.html, http://www.bookrags.com/biography/mae-west/.
Marilyn Monroe
“That’s the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. But if I’m going to be a symbol of something, I’d rather have it sex than some other things we’ve got symbols of.”
—http://www.ariga.com/frosties/monroemarilyn.shtml, http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/bio.html.
Josephine Baker, 1906–1975
All the rage in Paris in the ’20s, Baker was an amazing woman who was not afraid to flaunt what she had: gorgeous dark skin, beautiful lips, amazing breasts, and a dance style to die for. Josephine was a lover, though she knew how to fight, too.
—http://www.harlemlive.org/shethang/profiles/josephinebaker/jbaker.html.
Current Pop-Culture Icons
Annie Sprinkle
Have you seen her movie Sluts and Goddesses? See it!!!
—http://www.sexuality.org/l/art/sprinbio.htm.
Nina Hartley
More than twenty years in porn, and still going strong. Oh, and she’s smart, politically aware, spiritually conscious, sweet, and HOT HOT HOT!
—http://www.adultfilmfan.com/ninahartley.php.
Carol Queen
http://www.carolqueen.com
Susie Bright
The original “sexpert.” I believe she coined the term!
—http://susiebright.blogs.com/about.html.
Crones and Hags
In researching the etymology of the word crone, I found that its root meaning is “carrion” (from the Vulgar Latin coronia). However, the root of crony is a newer word, and is assumed to be based on the Greek kronos, meaning time. I say we keep using the term crone, and assume that meaning!
Hag is a word with a rich and varied past, and has carried the meaning of everything from Witch, to wise old woman with magickal powers, to hedge-rider.
Archetypes
Hecate
The Hellenic Crone aspect. She travels with a pack of hounds, stands at the crossroads, and is a midwife, leading beings into and out of their earthly incarnations.
—http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess_hecate.htm.
Cailleach
This Gaelic Winter Goddess brings the cold, storms, and snow. She is also credited with being the cause of weather, and is fond of animals.
—http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/deitiesc.html.
Historical Figures
Mother Jones
Mother Jones was afforded, along with a choice few others during different time periods, the title of “the most dangerous woman in America.” This white-haired, angelic-faced woman of a certain age was a self-proclaimed “hell raiser” who fought long and hard for workers’ rights. She battled steadfastly for the eight-hour work day, organized strikers and strikers’ wives, and spearheaded the Children’s Crusade against child labor. She had her own children, but lost them all to yellow fever. Out of her loss she built a legacy, and all the workers of America became the children of Mother Jones.
—http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa010430.htm.
Katharine Hepburn
http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_k_hepburn.htm.
Current Pop-Culture Icons
The Queen Mother
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_elizabeth_mum.htm.
Angelica Huston
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001378.
Dark Queens
The Dark Queens are a certain type of woman. Secretive perhaps, mysterious, hidden. She lives in the shadows, or often in the chthonic realm—the Underground—and is no stranger to sacrifice. Many of the Dark Queens find some form of meaning, or even resurrection and eternal life, through their own sacrifices.
Archetypes
Caryatid
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/c/ca/caryatid.htm.
Red Queen
Ereshkigal
http://www.gotojassminesitenow.com/goddesses/ereshkigal.html.
Persephone
http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/goddess_persephone.htm.
Virgin of Guadalupe
http://www.mexonline.com/virginofguadalupe.htm.
Tori Amos
http://www.toriamos.com.
Historical Figures
Frida Kahlo
http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/kahlo/kahlo_bio.htm.
Marlene Dietrich
http://www.marlene.com.
Bettie Page
http://www.bettiepage.com.
Martha Graham
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_martha_graham.htm.
Mata Hari
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/mata-hari.
Isadora Duncan
http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/isadora.html.
Billie Holiday
“You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.”
—http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/billieholiday/a/lhorne.htm, http://www.cmgww.com/music/holiday/bio.html.
Edna St. Vincent Millay
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/160.
Current Pop-Culture Icons
Sinead O’Connor
http://www.iband.com/music/o_bios/Sinead_O_Connor.html.
Dita Von Teese
http://suicidegirls.com/words/Dita+von+Teese+by+Laura+Nixon, www.dita.net/bio.php.
Siouxsie Sioux
http://siberia82.tripod.com/siouxbio.html.
P. J. Harvey
http://www.mp3.com/pj-harvey/artists/21900/summary.html.
Rule Breakers, World Shapers
This category needs little introduction. This is the hall of fame for those women and archetypes who busted out of the other boxes, perhaps even while fulfilling them. These s/heroes lived lives where they put everything on the line, and often had a blast doing it, even against the odds and in the midst of danger.