Category: divine feminine
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Bathed In Morning Light In Ragusa
A view of Ragusa from Ragusa Ibla. During my times here, I’ve studied where the light falls with the sunrise and how the moon rises with the sunset. The Church of Santa Lucia soakes up the morning rays on the hillside. Its eastern exposure helps me imagine an ancient temple under its foundation. Regretfully, with…
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The Ancient Wisdom Of Persephone In Sicily
In Enna, Sicily’s historic center is a copy of Bernini’s Abduction of Persephone in bronze (modeled after the statue in the Galleria Borghese in Rome). Its presence illustrates how pervasive this story from ancient Greek times is still today. In fact, the legend which discusses this event that sparks fall’s arrival, was set in Sicily…
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Persephone Leads Us To Winter
The maiden Persephone holds a dove in this 575-550 BCE votive statuette found in a tomb in Siracusa, Sicily. As we move toward winter in the northern hemisphere, we prepare to send our innocent, pure protagonist of spring and summer to the Underworld or Hades, where she will take on her adult role as the…
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Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 11
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 11! Crossing to western Sicily is dramatic. The landscape changes west of Palermo. Steep and sweeping mountains rose before us along the Costa Gaia. Views of Castellammare del Golfo offered wonder (and great photo opportunities!), but so too do those from the top of Mount San Giuliano, which hosts Erice.…
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Stunning Sicily October 2021, Day 10
Ciao from Stunning Sicily, Day 10! After an inspirational discussion about Santa Rosalia, our emotions were conjured. The will and faith of the people of Palermo touched our hearts — especially the stories about father Puglisi and his work supporting the young minds of the city, aiming to undermine the power of the Mafia. After…
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The Basilica Of The Black Madonna del Tindari, Sicily
Ciao from Sicily! I’ve always had mixed feelings about the design of this basilica for the Black Madonna of Tindari, a most sacred place for those of us who are devotees of the dark mother/goddess archetype. Today, though, was different. Maybe because of this moment in my life when I’ve been strongly devoted to my…
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Climbing To The Top Of La Rocca In Cefalù, Sicily
While in Sicily in August, my cousin Evelina (and Experience Sicily colleague) and I climbed to the top of La Rocca in Cefalù to see the remains of the ancient temple of Diana and the magnificent views of the medieval town below. If you are up for the hike, it is a rewarding way to…
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Obligatory Kisses In Sicily
Erice is a capital of love, so yes, it’s obligatory to kiss (even yourself!) when you come upon these signs sprinkled around the medieval Sicilian village that for centuries hosted a Sanctuary for Aphrodite and Venus.
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Signs Of Rituals For Rebirth In Ancient Sicily
Unless you are a plumber, this may not look so interesting at first. Earlier this month while in Sicily, I returned to the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophoros at Selinunte to understand its placement as related to the Modione River that it flanks and the Mediterranean Sea. I was curious about water placement near and on…