[For Common Month Correspondences refer to Archives/Gnostic Pagan Calendar of Celebrated Days.]

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1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

NUIT/1st Rotation of January Year of OurSELF2007

7th Rotation of The Conquering Child

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

This month we dedicate to Nuit (new-EET), the primordial Sky Goddess & Source of All Material Creation. Nuit gave birth to Isis & Osiris, parents of the Solar God Horus, The Conquering Child. As with many of the feminine ancient Egyptian deities, Nuit is interchangeable with other goddesses such as Isis and Hathor. This is one of the more pleasant aspects associated with Pagan theology. The Gods & Goddesses reflect a rainbow of personas & realities.

In his book The Hidden God, Kenneth Grant writes of the esoteric meaning of The Goddess:

Babylon—Literally the Gate of the Sun or solar-phallic energy

is therefore the terrestrial formula of Nuit, and her vulva is the

pylon through which the cosmic forces sweep into manifesta-

tion when the magical seals (mudras) have been opened.

[P. 39]

To the best of our knowledge there never was a Pagan deity who claimed inherent superiority over other divinities. In consequence, Pagan religion was free of the overt racism mandated by the false Abrahamic tribal god. Additionally, ritual physical alteration for devotees was pretty much limited to tattooing (often quite attractive) unlike the genital mutilation demanded by Old Aeon (patriarchal) religion.

However, although we reject the biblical god as one of the more unattractive inventions of the human ego, we’re aware that the majority of people devoted

to Abrahamic religion—we’re not referring to terrorists or Fundamentalists—do so out of a deep felt reverence for a power beyond themselves. They are rooted in the heart chakra, (although, of course, they probably wouldn’t look at it that way.)

Go to fullsize image It’s true that there were some very brutal sacrifices associated with the rituals of many Pagan Cults, but

as societies became sophisticated the more unsavory

elements were abandoned. A unique exception to this general scenario is found in the Mesoamerican culture’s strange vampire gods.

ASTARTE/1st Rotation of February,

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

This month is dedicated to the ancient Phoenician Goddess Astarte, also worshipped as the all-powerful Ishtar & known as Ashera to the Semitic tribes. This goddess can be understood as a material plane manifestation of Nuit. The image (left) shows Astarte’s connection to wild beasts & the cycle of life. Astarte is both a Goddess of Fertility & of War—and in these aspects she can also be linked to lion-headed Sekhmet, Kali & Aphrodite.

The Great Feast of Imbolc (also called Brigid) is celebrated at the beginning of February. Brigid is a fire goddess and the Celtic/Pagan custom is to place a candle before each window of the house & to leave it burning all night in order to welcome the dawn from which the goddess is born. The celebration marks the early budding that reveals the life force in the branch after its dead appearance during winter—a promise that Spring is on the way. The Irish Christian form of Brigid is St. Bride (see image below.)

The following special days also fall during Astarte:

11-12--Festival of The Sun (Shiva) and Moon (Shakti)

15--Lupercalia (Festival of Animals)

The Lupercalia was a Roman holiday with unclear origins.

It was probably based on the myth of Romulus & Remus,

the founders of Rome, who were nursed by a she-wolf.

The popular holiday was eventually co-opted by the

Christian Church & transformed into Valentine’s Day.

The Gnostic Pagan School celebrates this day

as a Festival for Animals, a way of recognizing

our interdependent deep spiritual & biological

connection to them as partners in evolution.

We encourage vegetarianism on this holiday

& promoting the word of environmentalism

& pampering animals in general.

— For more information see —

1st Generation of The New Aeon

JEFarrow,

Editor, PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES

Suzanne Radford,

Director,The Gnostic Pagan School

1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

OSTARA/1st Rotation of March,

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

The Gnostic Pagan School calls this month Ostara in

honor of the Vernal Equinox Sabbat. The name is a

derivative of Eostra, a Saxon Goddess of Dawn

representing the fertility of Spring. The illustration

left is a depiction of the Middle Eastern Goddess

Anahita, Lady of the Beasts.

Note the two hares on either side of the goddess’s waist.

Rabbits & eggs have been associated with the Rite of Spring for millennia.

The following special days also fall during Ostara:

5—Navigium (Celebration of
Isis as Patroness-of-Sailing)

During the Navigium sailing craft were blest in the name of Isis.

This form of The Goddess was incorporated into the image

of The Virgin Mary who was likewise called “The Star of The Sea.”

This obviously reflects on the astronomical appellation attributed to

Isis as the star Sirius.

6—Mars (spells of power & protection)

16-19—Dionysia

This was the great literary & dramatic festival celebrated in ancient Greece dedicated to Dionysus.

Dionysus was the god of wine & ecstasy—and also much more. He represents the passionate

side of human nature. As a Christo-Pagan deity he embodies the confliction of passion

& reason.

The Gnostic Pagan correspondence with Dionysus is Osiris.

Observance of the Dionysia was as important to the Greeks as football or soccer is to

contemporary audiences. All the enduring Hellenistic plays were “premiered” during

the Dionysia & awarded prizes—very much an ancient form of the Oscars™.

Admission to the festival was free—although wealthy spectators could purchase

special “box seats.”

20-21—Ostara Sabbat (Vernal Equinox)
Festival of the Crowned and Conquering Child

This Festival celebrates the virile Sun (Horus) and The Mother of

the Son, Isis.

External Ostara Links:

SOLITARY OSTARA RITUAL

OSTARA

31—Luna (Celebration of Isis as Moon Goddess)

Completing this special month celebrating fertility & the Feminine Principle,

Luna commemorates the magickal nature of The Holy Mother Isis.

— For more information see —

1st Generation of The New Aeon

JEFarrow,

Editor, PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES

Suzanne Radford,

Director,The Gnostic Pagan School

Featured Site

Dionysus and Kataragama:
Parallel Mystery Cults

by Patrick Harrigan

Early 20th cent. painting

by NS Balakrishnan, Madurai

Sri Jñâna Pandita: Murugan as Expositor of Gñosis

with His symbols the Vêl or Spear of Wisdom = axis mundi and

vehicle/totem the peacock = Phoenix. Behind Him dawns

the rising sun symbolising the awakened mind (bodhi).

Featured CD

1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

MA’AT/1st Rotation of April,

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

The Gnostic Pagan School calls this month Ma’at (MAH-aht.)

Ma’at is depicted as a young woman either holding or wearing the sacred feather of truth. She represents cosmic order & equilibrium. She is considered to be a fire goddess, but her relevance to the ancient Egyptians went beyond even the exalted boundaries of a goddess. So important was the concept of cosmic law & order to the Egyptians, that Ma’at (or alternatively Maat) was as much a divine Principle as a goddess. The ancients were obsessed with the idea that Egypt was the center of the Cosmos (the pyramid form represented the center mound of creation), that their culture had been divinely inspired, and that it was necessary to follow to the letter the Law (Ma’at) in order to maintain the balance of Heaven & Earth (or Heaven-on-Earth.)

It’s an irony that the observance of Loki, the Cosmic Trickster, occurs during the month of Ma’at, but Loki too is a fire god (albeit of Norse origins.) Although now associated with the light antics of April Fool’s Day, Loki definitely had a more sinister nature (he was seen as the dark side of Odin) that got him into trouble. His mythology has parallels with that of Prometheus—and even with the Testament of Isis and Osiris. Parallel deities include, Hermes, Mercury and Dionysos.

The depiction of Jesus in various Gnostic stories also seems to incorporate certain elements of the trickster/joker nature not found in the “approved” Gospels. Indeed, the Gnostic interpretation of The Crucifixion is that the entire episode was a tragic-comedy with Christ playing The Fool—or, as in some tales—a substitute or double is the one who gets Crucified while the “real” Jesus stands apart on a hill laughing at the farce being played out below.

The following special days also fall in Ostara:

1—Loki (sunrise to midday)

1-10—Megalesia/Festival of Cybelle

30—Night of Pan (N.O.X.)

Walpurgis/Celebration of the Great Lord Set

— For more information see —

1st Generation of The New Aeon

JEFarrow,

Editor, PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES

Suzanne Radford,

Director,The Gnostic Pagan School

Featured CD

All b&w political cartoons by Tom Meyer unless otherwise noted

1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

ISIS/1st Rotation of April,

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

The Gnostic Pagan School calls this month Isis.

Isis was the most beloved goddess throughout the ancient world. The esoteric theology of Egypt identified her with the star Sirius & she was a Moon goddess. She brought her brother & husband Osiris back to life when their mutual brother Set killed him. “The Passion of Isis” refers to the goddess’ grief at the death of Osiris & her journey to retrieve his scattered body parts. Isis gave birth to the Sun god Horus, who vanquished Set & then subsumed his most positive attributes.

Genesis of Isis ©

The theology of Isis as well as her iconography was adapted by the early Christians. The Holy Mother, The Virgin Mary is a complete transfiguration of the Goddess. It was said that Isis brought the art of magick & healing to the world and was also the patroness of sailors, the “Star of the Sea.” Mary incorporated all of these attributes as well.

Spiritual practices during the month of ISIS:

— Shorn hair

— Wearing only white

— Strict vegetarian diet

— Ritual bathing 3x’s a day

— Emphasis on Sharing & Caring

— Meditation on Isis & the Shakti Principle

The following special days also fall during the month of ISIS:

1—Beltane/Veneration of Isis

International Worker’s Day

10—Bona Fortuna

29—Ambarvalia/Veneration of Ceres

1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

HERA/1st Rotation of June

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

It’s no coincidence that the month of Hera/June is the favored month for weddings. After all, Hera was the Queen of Heaven, the wife of Zeus, father of the gods (and apparently the Daddy of quite a few mortals born out of wedlock too.)

The relationship between Hera and her spouse Zeus was literally the stuff of myth & legend, and mirrored the real ups & downs of mortal marriage. Divorce was out of the question for Olympians (and the immortal gods certainly could not kill one another) and so the antagonists resorted to enlisting other gods to help them pursue a course of trickery & petty vendetta, often pulling hapless mortals into the schemes. It was sort of like “The War of the Roses Goes to Mount Olympus.”

The Lithia Solar Festival/Summer Solstice is also celebrated in June.

The Pagan Sun God is at his most virile & the month is a good time for conception.

Lithia is an auspicious day for Handfasting.

It’s like Christmas—for adults.

The following special days also fall during the month of Hera:

The Gnostic Pagan School has discarded formal organizational structure.

Posted below are monthly observances & spiritual practices

formerly reserved for Initiates.

Links to other sites & sources are posted here as wel.

2—Festival of Bastet (Goddess of Pleasure & Fertility)

9—Vesta

21—Lithia Sabbat (Summer Solstice)

The Communion Ritual & Sacred Marriage

Red Candles

Meditation on Shiva

24—Fortuna

Spiritual practices during the month of Hera:

Red bindi (can be applied as removable make-up)

Practice of Tantra

Emphasis on Protection of Women

Meditation on Horus & the Shiva Principle

— For more information see —

1st Generation of The New Aeon

JEFarrow,

Editor, PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES

Suzanne Radford,

The Gnostic Pagan Project

1ST Generation

P.O. Box 1083
Forestville, CA 95436

USA

SEKHMET/1st Rotation of July

Year of OurSELF2007

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS,

COMRADES OF MOTHER EARTH:

July is dedicated to lion-headed Sekhmet, one of the most feared—and revered—deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. Like the great goddess Ma’at, Sekhmet is a solar goddess, represents the South Tower and the power of sensation & fire. Unlike her counterpart Ma’at (who represents perfect balance), it is said that originally the goddess manifested as a sort of Avenging Angel, and in that capacity brought destruction to evil doers (i.e. humanity).

It’s not quite certain when her energy began to be perceived as possessing curative as well as destructive properties—but it may have been when fire began to be used by Egyptian physicians to sterilize their instruments. It is widely known that these ancient physicians were the most skilled in the known world. Records and artifacts show that they were the first to perform brain surgery.

Their skill was reputed to be a gift from Thoth and Isis, but fire was the key to their success. The Eye of Horus alongside the image of Thoth was the symbol of physicians & it’s interesting because this eye relates to the vanquishing of the evil god Set. Obviously by this time Sekhmet had been completely delineated in her own form apart from the darker powers of Set.

Sekhmet also reflects certain characteristics that were traditionally associated with the Hebrew stories of Lilith. In her anger at being ordered to be second fiddle to Adam—a role she refused to adopt—Lilith evolved into a sort of vampire deity and she was particularly feared in relation to childbirth because she was unrelentingly furious at being barren (or at least unable to mate) when she was cast out of Eden. But here again, Sekhmet displays a more relenting nature as her fire was invoked to sterilize the birthing environment. Another little side note, the symbol for Isis was a birthing chair. The interplay of polytheism & pagan symbolism was based on the daily patterns of human life.

The Great Feast of Lammas begins on the eve of the 31st. Lammas marks the first harvest (the final being the Autumn Equinox.) It is a time to celebrate the bounty of the Earth, but there is sadness & sacrifice involved too. The cutting down of wheat represents the Dying God, mourned by The Goddess. It also represents a hope-full time because for those who celebrate The Mysteries The God will be born again.

The Gnostic Pagan School has discarded formal organizational structure

in favor of a free association of kindred spirits.

Posted below are monthly observances & spiritual practices formerly reserved

for “Initiates”. In the months ahead more files will be posted & readers can

glean from them what they will.

NOTE: The most important deities in the GP Pantheon are:

Horus/the Eastern Gate/Air/Thought

Maat/the Southern Gate/Fire/Sensation

Isis/the Northern Gate/Earth/Intuition

Osiris/the Western Gate/Water/Emotion

Links to other sites & sources are posted here as well.

23-25—Neptunalia/Osiris