Chivalry and Other Mid-evil Concepts (Part 2)

ROUGH Draft

Maybe I should call the other post a prelude and call this part one?

I am a Witch. I believe in God, but is not the Christian version.

In my particular, unique, and singularly individual belief system the God is multi-faceted. For this particular topic I would like to concern myself with the aspects of the God as both the Hunter and the Stag.

He is the Lord of the woods, God of the hunt, and of animals. He provides for the tribe as the Hunter and is honored or rewarded for his deeds by being permitted to join with the Goddess through the Great Rite and give himself life again through his son. (His son is himself, a reincarnation type of thing.)

The Horned God is the Lord of Life because by providing food for his family he gives them life. He is the God of Death and the Underworld because he is also the Stag that must die in order for this sustenance to be provided to them. He is the Sun to the Goddess' Moon. He reigns with the Goddess in ruling over the fertility cycle of birth, death and rebirth. He is born at the winter solstice, unites with the Goddess in marriage at Beltane, and dies at the summer solstice to bring fertility to the land.

It's all about cycles, my belief system.

You might wonder how this relates to chivalry and in some ways it doesn't, but it does relate to the manner in which I believe men and women should treat each other. Be respectful. Understand that without both life would not exist.

From my perspective (and I understand many women, probably especially feminists, will not share this viewpoint) those people who channel the God in the day to day have a sacred privilege. The God in your household, whether that is a woman, a man, or a hermaphrodite, has the privilege of acting our the God's role. Some people strongly channel the God in a literal sense. They hunt, bring home deer and whatnot, clean it, cook it, and put it on the table. There is nothing wrong with that kid of man. Put it in perspective.

The Goddess is just as multi-faceted as the God. She provides life through the womb and care through empathy but she is also the Crone, a Goddess of Death and a dark mother. She respresents our destruction, death, and decay. She forces us to realize that death is a part of the cycle we must all go through. Here, as in nature, the death of Winter is followed by the promise of rebirth in the Spring. She is often depicted as a Grandmother, a wise woman, or a midwife. Her own child rearing days are past; she is the wisdom keeper, seer and healer, whose knowledge is sought out to guide others during life's hardships and transitions. Invoke the Goddess in her dark aspect to help you face your deepest fears as despite her often fierce ways and appearance she offers great wisdom to those prepared to look upon her face.

Do you really think the Hunter would leave his home, his castle (a castle is a place to retreat to, a place to defend above all else), if he didn't respect the woman he left in charge of it to keep it (and his progeny) safe from harm?

If a Hunter leaves his Goddess home in charge of the castle he must know she isn't going to lower the drawbridge (open the door) to any Tom, Dick, or Harry that comes along. He must know that she is going to grab his spare shotgun out of the case and defend the home they share together, should it be threatened while he is away.

Today, you don't see that happening literally in U.S. cities. Because they are cities. Besides, if you can afford to leave you wife at home, generally speaking you are a business man and not a hunter. (All generalizations are dangerous, including this one.) The modern-day idea of a homemaker is someone who... doesn't even want to own a shotgun. (Of course, I think this because I just watched Nanny Diaries, but still.)

Now, I'll be honest. I've never seen a gun in person much less learned how to use one. I'm not someone who channels the Goddess' war-like facet. Or the God's war-like facet. I tend to be more pacifist in nature (though not completely).

Still, everyone should see respect where it is given. Respect is not necessarily shown by opening doors for women, but in loving, trusting, and respecting them. And women! Pay respect to men, please. Don't let your need for respect from drown out your common sense. Appreciate respect from others when they show you real respect. Besides, would you respect a person who was not respectful of you? No? So, why do you expect a man to be respectful of you if you are going to be dismissive and belittle the importance and significance of men in our lives?

Do your best. That's all anyone should ask of you. Anything above and beyond that, you should be asking of yourself.

Feel free to disagree, I know a lot of women friends of mine who are going to hate this post. :)