{"id":24261,"date":"2021-05-01T01:10:35","date_gmt":"2021-05-01T05:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=24261"},"modified":"2021-04-29T15:20:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T19:20:06","slug":"she-who-is-all-the-goddess-and-the-divine-female-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2021\/05\/01\/she-who-is-all-the-goddess-and-the-divine-female-2\/","title":{"rendered":"She Who is All \u2013 The Goddess and The Divine Female"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><u><b>Sheela-Na-Gig<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24262\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"342\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess1.png 342w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess1-293x300.png 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i><span lang=\"en-US\">(Photo: bbc.com)<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Sheela-Na-Gig. Who is She? What is She?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Carvings of her abound in Europe, with the bulk of them being in the British Isles, most commonly Ireland, and dating back to the 12th century. Her image, carved in stone, has a grinning face, knees bent with legs open, holding open her vagina with both hands, for all to see. Every time I see Her, I smile.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Archeologists, scholars and theologians all have varying theories of Her origins. Some say She is a warning against lust, in general, and women, specifically. It is theorized that is why she is on many ancient churches, as a warning of the evil of women.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Others say She is protection *against* evil as the folklore would indicate that a woman showing her genitals could scare a demon away, as this photo from Wikipedia portrays.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24263\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess2.png 330w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess2-196x300.png 196w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Her name may possibly come from the Irish &#8220;Sighle na gCloch&#8221;, meaning &#8220;old hag of the breasts&#8221;. It&#8217;s worth noting, but most carvings do not show Her with breasts at all, or very little. The etymology seems to center around the word &#8220;hag&#8221;, and &#8220;gig&#8221; may have meant &#8220;a woman&#8217;s bits&#8221; in Britain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24264\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"254\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo: <\/i><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"http:\/\/visualizingbirth.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>visualizingbirth.org<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Some believe that she is an ancient Goddess of fertility <\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">and <\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">child-birth, which seems self-evident based on Her appearance. It is said that brides were made to look upon Her on their wedding day, to increase their fertility, and to bring about a successful labor and delivery. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-24265\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"197\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo: <\/i><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"http:\/\/theguardian.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>theguardian.com<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>) (thanks to BR)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Present-day women, or at least those who have not forgotten the Goddess, see Her as an empowering figure, Her exaggerated genitalia representing the power to give life and claiming our own sexuality on our own terms. Georgia Rhodes, who wrote &#8220;Decoding the Sheela-Na-Gig&#8221; believes that She represents the Crone or Earth Goddess, &#8220;she who gives birth and takes us back in death&#8221;.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Since 1999, John Harding and the Sheela-Na-Gig Project has been collecting and collating information on Her carvings throughout the UK.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24266\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"415\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess5.png 440w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/goddess5-300x276.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>(Photo: <\/i><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"http:\/\/bbc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>bbc.com<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><i>)<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Currently, in Ireland, Irish feminists have reclaimed Her sexuality as empowering for women. Unknown artists are crafting new Sheela&#8217;s out of clay and placing them covertly at places that are important to women and their struggles. It is called Project Sheela and you can follow their Instagram page here: <\/span><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/projectsheela\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/projectsheela\/?hl=en<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">In 1992, an indie performer by the name of PJ Harvey came out with a song that she called &#8220;Sheela Na Gig&#8221;. The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">lyrics are:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I&#8217;ve been trying to show you over and over<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Look at these, my child-bearing hips<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Look at these my work strong arms and<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You&#8217;ve got to see my bottle full of charm<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I lay it all at your feet<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You turn around and say back to me, &#8220;he said&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"nl-NL\">Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"nl-NL\">Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Just like the first time, said he didn&#8217;t care<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Heard it before, no more<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Turn the corner, another one there<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Heard it before, he said<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"nl-NL\">Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"nl-NL\">Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Put money in your idle hole<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Put money in your idle hole<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Just like the first time, said he didn&#8217;t care<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna wash that man right out of my hair<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Heard it before, no more<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna take my hips to a man who cares<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Turn the corner, another one there<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Gonna take my hips to a man who cares<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Heard it before, he said<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You exhibitionist<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Put money in your idle hole<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Put money in your idle hole<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_30134\"  width=\"960\" height=\"720\"  data-origwidth=\"960\" data-origheight=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AF3H-cG-sk4?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=1&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/figure><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"__DdeLink__3486_1026732670\"><\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><b>***<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><b>About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><b>Susan Morgaine<\/b><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"> is a Priestess<\/span>, <span lang=\"en-US\">Healer, Witch, Writer, and Teacher.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">She is entering her 21st year teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, being a Certified instructor through the Kundalini Research Institute.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">She is a Certified Women\u2019s Empowerment Coach\/Facilitator through Imagine A Woman International, founded by Patricia Lynn Reilly. She has long been involved in Goddess Spirituality and Feminism, teaching classes and workshops, including Priestessing local Red Tents.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">She is a monthly columnist with <\/span><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paganpages.org\/\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">PaganPages.org<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"> Her writings can be found in The Girl God Anthologies, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Whatever Works: Feminists of Faith Speak<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201d <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Jesus, Mohammed and the Goddess<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201d<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">, as well as Mago Publications <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">\u201c<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">She Rises, Volume 2, and &#8220;Celebrating Seasons of the Goddess&#8221;. She is the author of &#8220;My Name is Isis, the Egyptian Goddess&#8221;, part of the &#8220;My Name is &#8221; series of children&#8217;s book. She has also been published in Jareeda and SageWoman magazines. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica Neue, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">She is a a Reiki Master and a proud member of the Sisterhood of Avalon. She can be found at <\/span><\/span><\/span><u><a href=\"https:\/\/mysticalshores.com\/\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">MysticalShores.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sheela-Na-Gig &nbsp; (Photo: bbc.com) Sheela-Na-Gig. Who is She? What is She? Carvings of her abound in Europe, with the bulk of them being in the British Isles, most commonly Ireland, and dating back to the 12th century. Her image, carved in stone, has a grinning face, knees bent with legs open, holding open her vagina with both hands, for all to see. Every time I see Her, I smile. Archeologists, scholars and theologians all have varying theories of Her origins. Some say She is a warning against lust, in general, and women, specifically. It is theorized that is why she is on many ancient churches, as a warning of the evil of women. Others say She is protection *against* evil as the folklore would indicate that a woman showing her genitals could scare a demon away, as this photo from Wikipedia portrays. &nbsp; &nbsp; Her name may possibly come from the Irish &#8220;Sighle na gCloch&#8221;, meaning &#8220;old hag of the breasts&#8221;. It&#8217;s worth noting, but most carvings do not show Her with breasts at all, or very little. The etymology seems to center around the word &#8220;hag&#8221;, and &#8220;gig&#8221; may have meant &#8220;a woman&#8217;s bits&#8221; in Britain. &nbsp; (Photo: visualizingbirth.org) &nbsp; Some believe that she is an ancient Goddess of fertility and child-birth, which seems self-evident based on Her appearance. It is said that brides were made to look upon Her on their wedding day, to increase their fertility, and to bring about a successful labor and delivery. &nbsp; (Photo: theguardian.com) (thanks to BR) &nbsp; Present-day women, or at least those who have not forgotten the Goddess, see Her as an empowering figure, Her exaggerated genitalia representing the power to give life and claiming our own sexuality on our own terms. Georgia Rhodes, who wrote &#8220;Decoding the Sheela-Na-Gig&#8221; believes that She represents the Crone or Earth Goddess, &#8220;she who gives birth and takes us back in death&#8221;. Since 1999, John Harding and the Sheela-Na-Gig Project has been collecting and collating information on Her carvings throughout the UK. &nbsp; (Photo: bbc.com) &nbsp; Currently, in Ireland, Irish feminists have reclaimed Her sexuality as empowering for women. Unknown artists are crafting new Sheela&#8217;s out of clay and placing them covertly at places that are important to women and their struggles. It is called Project Sheela and you can follow their Instagram page here: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/projectsheela\/?hl=en &nbsp; In 1992, an indie performer by the name of PJ Harvey came out with a song that she called &#8220;Sheela Na Gig&#8221;. The lyrics are: I&#8217;ve been trying to show you over and over Look at these, my child-bearing hips Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips Look at these my work strong arms and You&#8217;ve got to see my bottle full of charm I lay it all at your feet You turn around and say back to me, &#8220;he said&#8221; Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Just like the first time, said he didn&#8217;t care Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Heard it before, no more Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Turn the corner, another one there Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Heard it before, he said Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Put money in your idle hole Put money in your idle hole Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Just like the first time, said he didn&#8217;t care Gonna wash that man right out of my hair Heard it before, no more Gonna take my hips to a man who cares Turn the corner, another one there Gonna take my hips to a man who cares Heard it before, he said Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig You exhibitionist Put money in your idle hole Put money in your idle hole He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221; He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221; He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221; He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221; He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221; He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221; He said &#8220;wash your breasts, I don&#8217;t want to be unclean&#8221; He said &#8220;please take those dirty pillows away from me&#8221; &nbsp; \u00a0 *** About the Author: Susan Morgaine is a Priestess, Healer, Witch, Writer, and Teacher. She is entering her 21st year teaching Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, being a Certified instructor through the Kundalini Research Institute. She is a Certified Women\u2019s Empowerment Coach\/Facilitator through Imagine A Woman International, founded by Patricia Lynn Reilly. She has long been involved in Goddess Spirituality and Feminism, teaching classes and workshops, including Priestessing local Red Tents. She is a monthly columnist with PaganPages.org Her writings can be found in The Girl God Anthologies, \u201cWhatever Works: Feminists of Faith Speak\u201d and \u201cJesus, Mohammed and the Goddess\u201d, as well as Mago Publications \u201cShe Rises, Volume 2, and &#8220;Celebrating Seasons of the Goddess&#8221;. She is the author of &#8220;My Name is Isis, the Egyptian Goddess&#8221;, part of the &#8220;My Name is &#8221; series of children&#8217;s book. She has also been published in Jareeda and SageWoman magazines. She is a a Reiki Master and a proud member of the Sisterhood of Avalon. She can be found at MysticalShores.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":212,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10004],"tags":[13044,12296,10039,10704,11180,13051,10165,11703,13045,13047,13049,10640,10112,11475,13052,13048,13046,13050,11226],"class_list":["post-24261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-monthly-columns","tag-british-isles","tag-demons","tag-entheogens","tag-europe","tag-fertility","tag-genitals","tag-goddess","tag-hag","tag-ireland","tag-legs-open","tag-lust","tag-myth","tag-mythology","tag-protection","tag-scare","tag-sheela-na-gig","tag-vagina","tag-warning","tag-women"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/212"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24261"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24269,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24261\/revisions\/24269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}