THE APPLE
Rotorua's local Creative Fibre group meeets weekly on a Thursday morning. However, this does not suit all who are interested, and so a small group meet twice a month in the local library.
In its early days, this group called "Loosely Gathered", would set challenges around a word or an idea. 'The Apple' is my response to such a challenge. It is my initial reaction to the journey of 'the apple' through mythology and time.
I happened to be reading Barbara G. Walker's "The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets" at the time and used this as a starting point for my exploration. I love tossing ideas about, trying to be open and receptive to new ways of thinking while, at the same time, balancing these with my worldview at that time. I am continually changing ... this constant evolution both surprises and nourishes me.
In its early days, this group called "Loosely Gathered", would set challenges around a word or an idea. 'The Apple' is my response to such a challenge. It is my initial reaction to the journey of 'the apple' through mythology and time.
I happened to be reading Barbara G. Walker's "The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets" at the time and used this as a starting point for my exploration. I love tossing ideas about, trying to be open and receptive to new ways of thinking while, at the same time, balancing these with my worldview at that time. I am continually changing ... this constant evolution both surprises and nourishes me.
AVALON
The 'apple' used to be the Goddess' sacred heart of immortality.
STOLEN
The 'apple', the symbol of immortality,
was stolen from women, the female, the goddess.
was stolen from women, the female, the goddess.
CONVERTED
The 'apple' was converted by the Christian Church to be the sole providence of a male deity.
Its guardians were to be celibate males.
Its guardians were to be celibate males.
COVERED UP
At grass roots,
the belief in a female deity or goddess,
and the belief in the 'apple' as a sign of immortality, continued and grew.
So women were subjugated.
They became the 'brides of Christ' (son of the male deity).
Women were to be sub-ordinate and obedient;
and played no active role in ritual.
the belief in a female deity or goddess,
and the belief in the 'apple' as a sign of immortality, continued and grew.
So women were subjugated.
They became the 'brides of Christ' (son of the male deity).
Women were to be sub-ordinate and obedient;
and played no active role in ritual.
SCAPEGOAT
Men, especially in a patriarchal and hierarchical church,
continued to be threatened by the power of women
to conceive, to birth, and to nurture;
to perpetuate ritual and long-held beliefs.
Women who gave an 'apple' to others who then became ill or died,
were proclaimed witches and killed.
continued to be threatened by the power of women
to conceive, to birth, and to nurture;
to perpetuate ritual and long-held beliefs.
Women who gave an 'apple' to others who then became ill or died,
were proclaimed witches and killed.
RECLAMATION
As the rich storehouse of our mythological story is revealed,
women are able to reclaim or repaint themselves:
to become truly whole with integrity and intelligence,
and to fully embrace their 'femaleness'.
women are able to reclaim or repaint themselves:
to become truly whole with integrity and intelligence,
and to fully embrace their 'femaleness'.
