IAmAn Ex-Member of the Westboro Baptist Church

IAmAn Ex-Member of the Westboro Baptist Church

Ever wonder what makes the Westboro Baptist Church so horrible? Check this out, from one of the children of Fred Phelps...

Goddess...

In passion’s grip
In love’s embrace
In thought and feeling, Goddess take
My heart
My soul
My eternal gratitude, blessed may you be

In days bright light
In nights cool dark
In bliss and ecstasy, Goddess see
My heart
My soul
My eternal gratitude, blessed may you be

In love’s sweet laughter
In lust’s harsh moans
In desire and longing, Goddess feel
My heart
My soul
My eternal gratitude, blessed may you be

In my soft prayers
In my scented smoke
In offerings and sacrifice, Goddess accept
My heart
My soul
My eternal gratitude, blessed may you be

Pride

Here I am in Columbus, Ohio for the.annual Stonewall Gay Pride festival which happens here every June. It is called the largest Gay Pride festival in the Midwest, but I have to assume that excludes Chicago, though having been here several times, it would not surprise me of the parade itself was not the biggest even including Chicago.

I left home last night and spent the night doing honor to all those soldiers who have given their all in the east against sexlessness.

Before leaving home I made a small offering to the gods, and one in particular to Aphrodite, goddess of fabulous parties and pride in our sexual and gender differences. I did her proud, I think.

But now it is morning and I am sitting across the street from the Ohio State House, drinking a really good cup of coffee (am I the last one to know Tim Horton has such awesome coffee?) And pondering a few things.

First, I find out annoying that the politicians in the state house, with the help of the Columbus city council have moved the parade route just enough that technically it no longer passes right in front of the state house. It annoys me that our politicians, our so-called representatives, have become like the monarchs of old. If the people are making demands, hide then away and ignore them.

Second, I was pondering the role of Artemis on this day. I have to be honest, I am not sure I can come up with a way in which this particular goddess is of particular influence to a gay man. Yet to lesbians Artemis is known for being important to the exploration of the feminine that lesbianism implies.

My lesbian sisters must, I think, hold a deep respect for a deity that explores and encourages female independence, female strength, female love, and female power over their own fates.

So here I am, a gay man in Columbus, up too early, being taken for a ride by Artemis, who is reminding me, on this day of Pride, to not forget the women who have been fighting the fight for equality along side Al those men who get most of the attention. To remember and honor them.

Link to YSEE and role of the hellenic priesthood

The YSEE and the role of Hellenic Priests...

Strike me Athena

In a blinding flash, you strike me.

I am made stronger by your blow.

 

And as I fall you hold out your hand.

I am made safer by grasping it.

 

And in the midst of this battle you whisper to me.

And through your words I am made wiser.

 

It is a battle of wills. 

Mine mortal and fallible, sometimes weak. 

Yours eternal, patient, and strong.

 

In a moment of weakness I reach out to you.

In recognition of weakness I am strengthened.

 

In a moment of silence I listen for you.

In the sounds around me I am fortified.

 

In a moment of terror I see you for what you are.

In that terror I see my reflection.

 

These are moments of realizations.

Mine of the self, frightening and true.

Yours of revelation, blindingly pure.