However, it does appear that you are trying to create the same type of outcome for a Deaf person within an environment that may simply may not generate that type of outcome. As a general rule, Deaf people are visually-oriented, so a ritual that bases itself predominately on sound is not going to have the same impact on a Deaf person that it would for a hearing person. And since the “grandeur” of such a ritual is based on that sound, finding a similar substitute may be difficult, unless you can come up with ways to make it more visual. While some Deaf people are capable of speaking, chanting, or verbally vibrating the names as you describe it, others are not. Thus some may get something out of this ritual, while others may not.

The one idea that does come to mind is the use of balloons which a Deaf person can hold in order to feel the vibrations; however, this would not necessarily help them with recreating the sound themselves. A skilled interpreter might be able to find visual ways of describing the sounds in a way that would provide a comparable visual description that will capture that same essence of the ritual, but not everyone has this skill.

My best advice to you is…. talk to your Deaf friend. S/he is the best expert about the type of accommodations needed. Each Deaf person is different, and thus his or her needs may be different. Your friend would be best able to state whether s/he is interested in attending such a ritual and after discussing what could expected, the two of you (along with the ritual leaders) could come up with ideas that will allow for this particular Deaf person to participate in and enjoy the experience.

I wish you the best.

I am a Thelamite, know fluent ASL and I want to invite a Deaf friend to a Gnostic Mass, but this one question has been lingering on my mind…

Any thoughts??

Anyway, I want to inform you that I just read “Discovering Cosmic Mother Goddess” (sp?) last week. It was an amazing read because of the shift of paradigm on the early human cultures being more matrilocal. Or rather, like my yet another author I read (who I love a lot) named Riane Eisler calls partnership culture (or society). These books show by many powerful archeological evidences that for 300,00 years of humans (and possibly other homo types), the Goddess was the main god worshiped.

Just wondering if you can research more on how it is possible that signed languages developed in these Goddess-worshiping societies long ago by theorizing it out?

Ocean has done a tremendous job in raising consciousness about Deafhood within the Pagan Community, and about Paganism within the Deaf Community. Her tireless efforts to bridge the two worlds and bring about a greater understanding and appreciation for both deserves our recognition, and our respect.

Thank you, Ocean.