The archetypal stories in many primitive cultures talk about the stories of division of consciousness which resulted in the individual's separation and alienation from the larger group- tribe or community. This alienation often results in the individual losing his/her way and in turn, becoming a victim of internalized oppression- violence, alcoholism, abuse etc. Tayo, the protagonist in Leslie Silko's "Ceremony" gets alienated from the web of his Laguna Pueblo community, loses his way, becomes ill and his healing is affected through his re-tracing the filaments of his community's web by ritualistically re-enacting the story of alienation and re-connection with the help of the medicine man Betonie.
In India too, the tantric traditions often through ritualistic processes affect the re-connection of the individual to the goddess energy within him/her. Separation of consciousness results in division, violence and pain and we often end up in a state of duality that makes us say " You are that". A rationalistic approach is often used to justify the workings of the brain over the brawn - this furthers the division.
Art and architecture of the much-celebrated Age of Reason in Europe perceived emotion as crude and vulgar and made a mockery of it - probably it resulted in misogyny too, as evidenced in the case of writers like Jonathan Swift. While the Occident clearly experienced and lived the stories of separation and division, the Orient was to a largest extent, spared of this because of the goddess cults prevalent in these cultures. Goddess was perceived as the symbol of a unified consciousness - a way of being which celebrated the combined power of Yin and Yang within the individual and in the social fabric.Tales of the goddesses also provide individuals with paradigms for living/being.
In India too, the tantric traditions often through ritualistic processes affect the re-connection of the individual to the goddess energy within him/her. Separation of consciousness results in division, violence and pain and we often end up in a state of duality that makes us say " You are that". A rationalistic approach is often used to justify the workings of the brain over the brawn - this furthers the division.
Art and architecture of the much-celebrated Age of Reason in Europe perceived emotion as crude and vulgar and made a mockery of it - probably it resulted in misogyny too, as evidenced in the case of writers like Jonathan Swift. While the Occident clearly experienced and lived the stories of separation and division, the Orient was to a largest extent, spared of this because of the goddess cults prevalent in these cultures. Goddess was perceived as the symbol of a unified consciousness - a way of being which celebrated the combined power of Yin and Yang within the individual and in the social fabric.Tales of the goddesses also provide individuals with paradigms for living/being.
