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The name of the goddess of memory is Mnemosyne. She was
considered one of the most powerful goddesses in her
time. After all, memory is a gift that allows us to
reason, to predict and anticipate outcomes. It is the
very foundation for civilization.
The "art" of memory, once vastly important, fell into
horrible decline when it was rendered "obsolete" by the
invention of the written word. Today Mnemosyne is mostly
known only in her role as the mother of the Muses.
But the ancients
believed that when you died and crossed into the
Underworld you would be asked to choose . . . you could
drink from the river Lethe which would make you forget
all the pains and terrors you had experienced in your
life (but also the lessons they'd taught you), or you
could drink from the spring of memory.
Those who chose to
forget would have to be reborn and return to earth to
learn the lessons they needed. Those who elected to
remember were admitted to the Elysian Fields where they
would spend eternity in comfort and peace.
You can read about the ancient goddess
of memory at:
The Greek Goddess Mnemosyne
Sing it Out!
Have a Complaint or Criticism and just
can't hold it in? In our house the rule on special
occasions is that you've got to sing it out! There's
nothing worse for digestion than the tension of
bickering at the dinner table.
Some of our family are blessed with
gorgeous voices and musical training. And others are
definitely not.
What fun when Sarah, our operatic
soprano, belts out a soulful 'Use your fork, child.
Oh gracious, please spare us the sight and use your fine
fork.'
Or when I, basso profundo and
horribly off-key, lash out with 'Pa...a...ass the
graa..aaa..ay...vy, for the fourth and last time someone
ple..ah..eeze hear my plea!'
We credit the Muses for this
tension-reducing idea.
Mnemosyne and Zeus, the ruler of the
Olympian gods, had nine daughters together. Together
they were called the Muses. Their divine
responsibilities included inspiring poets and musicians
and promoting the arts.
No banquet was complete without them.
Seated near the throne of their father,
the nine sisters entertained the guests, singing,
dancing, reciting poetry and keeping the guest
spellbound with their stories of the greatness of the
gods.
Their influence was profound. By their
praising valiant behavior the Muses encouraged further
heroism.
They were described as "having one mind,
their hearts set upon song and their spirit free from
care".
All were friends and followers of the
god Apollo. On many occasions their wise counsel, as
well as their soothing diversions, kept him from making
poor decisions.
Their gift was that "though a man has
sorrow and grief in his soul, when the Muses sing, at
once he forgets his dark thoughts and remembers not his
troubles." A precious gift indeed.
Read about the Muses and their gifts at:
The Nine Muses
But if all this fails, remember that you can always . . .
Run away from home!
The celebrated dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp
(pictured at right--WOW!!) said that
'Art
is the only way to run away without leaving home.'
Lee Ustinich quipped that "Art
is spirituality in drag."
It's high time we start recognizing the soulful
connections between spirituality and the arts. Even the
Pope says so!! |
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In the last issue I revealed that I'm currently struggling
with a crippling illness and having to adjust to what I can
no longer do for myself. One of the challenges has been
preparing and mailing out our gorgeous goddesses from the
Goddess Glass Art Collection, our only 'physical product'
(unlike the rest of our products, such as the
Goddess Quiz, which are digitally delivered.)
Those stairs down to the storage room seem mighty steep
these days!
Hence,
the decision that maybe it's time to help the beauties find
new homes. Soooo. . .
We're holding a
special Holiday Sale
You Don't Have to Shop Till You
Drop! Sale
on the Glass Art Goddess Collection.
Click below:
Show me the goddess goodies!
Glass art aficionados were shocked a couple of years ago to learn that
the internationally acclaimed Australian glass artist Colin
Heaney was packing it in and turning his hand to silk design
instead. We never intended to get "into retail", but
we've been carrying his glass art goddesses at the site
since 2005 when he approached us saying he would only allow
them to be represented by those who truly love the goddess.
One look at them and we were hooked!
But sadly, there are to be no more. We've sold out of some
of them and only have a limited supply of the others.
And in the spirit of Colin's desire that they find homes
with those who love and honor the goddess we offer his
pendants, statues and shrines to our subscribers at their
original (i.e., 2005) prices. Hope you enjoy!
Use this link to check out the lovelies:
I love the goddess!
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