Deaf Pagan Crossroads

In this post, I am going to introduce you to one of my favorite spiritual items found in my Spirit Room. She’s known as the Spiral Goddess, and stands approximately 8 inches tall. Cast out of white resin, she shows two different images on either side - a large spiral symbol and a sacred tree coupled with the three phases of the moon:

The Spiral Goddess was created by Pagan artist Abby Willowroot as part of the Goddess 2000 Project. The purpose of the project was to help bring attention to the Divine Feminine by encouraging women to create their own images and build their own temples - “A Goddess on Every Block!” Although Abby took a leading role in the development of the Goddess 2000 Project, as she likes to say:

The Goddess is the Mother of this project,

 

the Internet is the midwife,

 

and I’m boiling water as fast as I can!

The Spiral Goddess has become perhaps the best known modern symbol of the Divine Feminine; and both the spiral and the moon are strongly associated with Her. The moon is the symbol of the Goddess, and its three phases - waxing, full, and waning - relate to the three aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

Anyone who knows me well knows of my love for spirals. I am immediately attracted to anything bearing this particular shape. The life renewing potential of the Spiral appears in the stories of various cultures, as a representation of the universal process of growth, as well as the desire for diverse expressions of creativity.

It is a natural function for human beings to grow, change and evolve…and the Spiral symbolizes this process of growth and evolution. It is a process of coming to the same point again and again, but at a different level, so that everything is seen in a new light. The result is a new perspective on issues, people, and places.

Couple this with the image of the tree and the moon on the opposite side:

I know that sometimes us Pagans get referred to as “tree-hugging hippies.” Personally, I think that if that’s the worst someone can call me, I shouldn’t complain. There is some truth to such name-calling…I do love trees, and I have been known to embrace a couple of them in my lifetime. Certainly trees hold a position of prominence within Earth-Based faiths, and have an important role to play in the practice of nature religions. And even if you don’t consider yourself Pagan, as a fellow blogger stated to me in a recent email:

“I’m not pagan, but I believe that if we paid more attention to nature, we wouldn’t be in nearly the trouble we’re in.”

The tree represents both that positive, dynamic energy branching out into nature, and also of being deeply rooted in the energies of the Earth. One could view it as being the Tree of Life…swelling towards regeneration, while bathing in the glow of the Full Moon that shines through its branches.

As mentioned above, the Moon is a symbol of the Goddess, and the three phases of the moon shown here help to reinforce that concept of change and evolution as signified by the Spiral.

But perhaps it is Abby Willowroot herself who best defines the concept of this Spiral Goddess figure, whom she named “She Who Creates from Her Own Source.” As Abby explains it (as quoted on the Wild Wisdom website - www.wildwisdom.net/goddess.htm ):

“She Who Creates is about claiming your power and allowing the magick and uniqueness within you to express itself in the world. Look into yourself and claim that part of yourself that is deep at your core. The part you cover up with defense because you think no one would understand or relate to that part of you. It is the part of you that is your humanity, it is the part of you that everyone would relate to. It is your true self, it is where your power resides. Dare to claim that part of yourself and spiral it into the world, and be the strongest, most brilliant, shining you that there is.”

I keep my Spiral Goddess close by as a reminder to reclaim my own power to grow, to change, to evolve. To not be afraid to express my own creativity.

To forever partake in the spiral dance.

With loving blessings and a sincere hope that you too will spiral your power out into the world…

~ Ocean

For more information on the Goddess 2000 Project, check this website at

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Thebes/3163/

Another excellent resource for information about

Abby Willowroot and the Goddess

http://www.spiralgoddess.com/