[Innanna]

I just thought I would share this with Darkness:

In the early days of humanity, sexuality was regarded differently than it is now. Back then, there were three reasons to have sex:
1. Procreation
2. Enjoyment
3. Revitalization of the personal self and the Earth as a whole
During this time, women were revered as magical beings because of their ability to bring new life to the world.

Fertility Traditions
In ancient times, a womans' fertility was not restricted to a relationship with a man. The act of reproduction had connections with the fertility of the Earth and the changing seasons. As such, women did not have to have sex to please their partners but to revel in their powers of creation.
A woman could be a mother, but she was never a wife--fertility, enjoyment and motherhood were not dependent on men.

Sexual Liberation in Your Life
By referring back to ancient attitudes about sex, you can apply some liberation in your life. Today, women are very concerned about how they look and the shapes of their bodies but women of old were empowered by their life giving abilities, as aspect of sexuality often overlooked today. By adopting the confidence the ancient women had. you can gain conviction in your attractiveness as a woman. In other words, quit worrying if you have cellulite or if you are not "perfect", you are a woman, revel in it, enjoy it! Yes, by all means, seek to improve yourself but don't obsess over it! Most men do not want a stick thin "Barbie" doll, they want women that are real!

Primitive Figures From The Past
The earliest figurines found in Europe are all female. They emphasize heavily sexual and fertile aspects of a woman--heavy breasts, bulging belly, and large hips. Many of the figurines were stained with red ocher-the color of blood.

Ancient Stones
The megalithic stone circles of Europe were situated at places of high energy. Couples would make love, particularly at power points in times such as the cross-quarter days or the solstices. The energy released at the point of climax could be channeled down these energy lines, consciously intended to commune with the land, revitalize it and be revitalized in return. (I have never heard that theory before but I suppose it makes sense.)

Sheela na gig
In earlier days, menopause was seen as a time when the wisdom inherent in menstrual blood was retained by the woman rather than being released on a monthly basis. This notion became the Celtic Sheela na gig, who holds open her vulva in a blatant sexual image. The vulva of the hag is the gateway to death and the womb of rebirth.

Sacred Art of Ritual Prostitution
One ancient practice of sex magic was "ritual prostitution". It was a sacred act performed by women who followed the Goddess. It was in lovemaking that these women were revered as the reincarnation of of the Goddess, celebrating Her gift of sexual unity. Sex with a stranger was the ultimate expression of God and Goddess--the personal and personality were not involved. (I have heard of this practice)

[Eirian]

oh that is all incredibly interesting and there are certainly a lot of parts that women should be trying to reclaim in there.

Thank you :)

[Silver]

This may not actually belong in this thread.. but the Victorian era is so far passed most of us might as well consider it to be ancient..lol.

Victorian Sex Magic

[Cobus]

We've certainly come a long way since those times. Women are now seen as inferior to men in the biggest part of the world. Almost all of my female friends are on some kind of anti-depressant (or at least have mild depression). A lot of things have had an influence on this almost global inferiority complex - the Catholic Church being but one of them in my humble opinion. Depression is the new Black Plague. Wouldn't it be nice if we could return to what was? Our planet would definitely benefit as well... to say the very least.

[Gautr]

Interesting!
They actually found another of those ancient mini sculptures of large naked women in Germany quite recently.

Also in less "ancient times" in Greece, sex was the way to not only please yourself, but the godess of love; Afrodite. It was the way of worshipping her.

I read somewhere that an old soldier who lived in the late 19th century in the province Dalsland in Sweden told that fertility rituals at rock carvings from the bronze age were performed when he was young.
It often worked like this: a young couple had sex near small holes (like bowls) made in the rock, and the man then filled a bowl. His seed was mixed with the seed for sowing to get a richer harvest.

I both agree and disagree with you, Cobus, about women being seen as inferior to men all over the world. I think so too. But women are not the only victims of sexism - men are too. It's just that we concentrate on the women. But that's perhaps something that should be discussed in a different thread, just wanted to have it said.

This post has been edited by Gautr: 08 August 2009 - 05:20 AM

[Embraced]

Start that thread, and watch it get huge right away, lol....Hell I may even jump in for a while....:)