The Troth

[qos]

This holiday season has brought home to me -- again -- how much I miss having a spiritual community. Whatever the depth of my personal, individual connection to the gods, there is something lacking without having a community with which to share ritual, holidays, fellowship. . .

Those of you who have known me for a while are aware, however, that community membership has long been problematic for me. It is part of my spiritual nature to be a journeyer, to live outside the box. The Grail Quest draws me out from behind the defining walls of church, circle, and city into the Lands Adventurous. If I find a place in a community, it usually only lasts a couple of years before my awareness of how much more is outside their boundaries draws me out beyond them as well. This isn't to say that any given community has been objectionably narrow. But commnunity, by definition, has an "inside" and an "outside," what is "us" and what is "not-us." That's part of how community works.

A few minutes ago, I sent an email to the local steward of the Heathen organization The Troth, asking if there were any upcoming events or activities a newcomer/inquirer could attend.

How does this fit with my Underwold path and my devotion to Ereshkigal? It's part of the greater whole. Tiwaz/Tyr is my household guardian, and LM's patron. Freyja is the primary patron of my hierodule path. I resonate less with the lore of the Heathen path than with the overall flavor of their worship and values. They have a strong emphasis on honor, self-reliance, courage, hospitality, and generosity -- areas which I value, but certainly could use some assistance in reinforcing.

Will it be a good fit? I have no idea. But it's time I reached out again and tried to connect face-to-face with others who share at least some aspects of my path.

Comments

[ulbh.livejournal.com]

I apparently friended you a little while ago, and just now got around to looking at your actual LJ. It's funny, I don't even remember where I found you at this point.

Since you seem to react well to questions … do you have any particular idea why your hierodule work would be with Freyja and not Inanna?

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

I think we encountered each other via sannion, and I friended you because of your Sumerian practice.

Sincere questions are always welcome.

There's a very specific reason why my hierodule work has been with Freyja: because my late partner was deeply involved in Nordic faith, and one night we spontaneously moved into erotic ritual space where he dedicated me to Freyja.

As it became clear what he was doing, I knew I needed to either deliberately consent or stop him, because although it began spontaneously, there was real power building between us. It turned out to be an extremely powerful experience, so I've had reason to continue my practice under Her auspices.

Inanna has been an important patron for me since I first discovered goddess worship back in spring of 1988. I've done some important, powerfully healing work with her around the Descent, and wrote my MA thesis on sacred prositution in the ancient and modern world, getting as close to the primary sources as I could. Much of what I brought to the experience with LM came from what I've learned about sacred sexuality and hieros gamos as a result of Her influence. But LM was the first partner with whom I could actually explore the sexual Mysteries, and this is where his and my sexual and spiritual energies constellated.

As I think about it, I'm also wondering if I needed to not be working closely with Inanna at this phase of my life because I was moving into a relationship with Ereshkigal, to learn the "other side" of the Descent mysteries. I get the feeling they still don't get along very well. Working with Freyja keeps that side of my life and practice clear of complications. I have no idea if that actually played a part in how things unfolded, but it's a thought I've had.

[ulbh.livejournal.com]

I figured it would be something like that. Experience always seems to come first!

My wife (skydancerlilitu) works with Inanna primarily and occasionally with Ereshkigal, and I think she'd agree about keeping them separate.

We found a small text about how Ereshkigal got her "job"; actually, it's in the beginning of Gilgamesh. At the creation, when heaven and earth were separated and the underworld crested, she was drafted to take charge of the underworld. You've probably seen this. Anyway, it gave a new slant to our annual Ereshkigal service.

I think your direction of seeing the Descent from both sides is freaking brilliant.

I'm not surprised that we connected through Sannion. I meet amazing people that way. Are you on the Neos_Alexandria mailing list?

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

I think your direction of seeing the Descent from both sides is freaking brilliant.

Thank you! That means a great deal coming from someone who also works with Ereshkigal.

I was on the Neos Alexandria list for a while, but I found that most of the messages were not of interest to me, although it's clear it's a great group of people.