Immersed in a tub of water, filled with the rich oils and herbs chosen for my ritual of self-love, I heard her. Lilith, a voice rich and raspy, telling me this:

In the garden that is your life, the serpent offers the knowledge from which you can never unknow. You cannot play ignorant. Nor can you remain chained to the narrative or structure where the feminine is defined by the masculine. Your purpose, your pleasure, your passion, and your magic are written in blood that is your own. Take the apple. Be the nasty woman.

It is the same message I believe she gave to Eve, but like Eve, many of us can be confused on what to do with the knowledge once the rose-colored glasses are removed. It is easier to continue the current path. It is easier to not make waves. It is easier to feign subservience and work our magic behind the scenes. I am going to eat the whole apple though, let my own serpent rise, part the Red Sea that rebirthed me, and align with those ready to make waves with me. It was never an option when handed me the apple. Our Garden deserves more.

Correspondences

The Whore of Babylon

The Whore of Babylon is an amazing construct, the one who can take the blame for being in her power of creation through her own sacred sexuality, sensuality, and eroticism. Historically, indiscretions were blamed on the likes of Lilith or The Whore of Babylon (Ishtar/Innana who are also tied to or conflated with Lilith), the scapegoat for their own ‘sins’ or deviant natures. Deborah Grenn-Scott, in Lilith’s Fire: Reclaiming our Sacred Lifeforce (2000) had an amazing take on “sin” as an “insidious social construct” that uses a variety of techniques related to guilt and shame. Perhaps this is why the narrative to demonize women became so powerful as a mechanism to offload shame and guilt? It most certainly became an acceptable action in society instead of accountability.

Lust

In the Thoth deck, the Whore of Babylon is featured on card 11 created by Lady Frieda Harris. This card is titled Lust but is also the card known as Strength within other decks. I encourage everyone to research and sit with this card (although I must be transparent in my total distaste for Crowley, the lesson and underlying education is worth it). Is it about power? Yes. Is it about love? Yes. Maybe not in the sense of intimate love, but yes that too. And what else do we know that is also about power and love? Creation, that of Eros. We all hold Eros, but we have been shamed and guilted into disconnecting from it unless the narrative fits the expectation of society and the view of good or right of those in power.

The Holy Grail that is held by The Whore of Babylon in this card is not a confession and proof of her transgressions as some would love us to believe.

It is her reclamation of the power that she holds rightly, justly, and without shame (and of course that powerful narrative would leave the church and society clutching their pearls to know that the power, domination, and oppression tactics are slowly being deconstructed by none other than the Dark Goddesses themselves).

A Candle & A Key,
Kaycee

Dark Goddess Collective is an upcoming private community of sovereigns launching soon! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram!

I am also collaborating with The Lunar Hearth Cauldron and will be chatting it up during the Lammas Luncheon! You don’t want to miss even ONE moment of all the magic happening there with Cissy!