Dawn comes lightly into ritual. . .

[chronarchy]

Comments

[chronarchy]

Patronage, to me, implies an unequal relationship in which one freely receives more from another than they can ever hope to repay. I don't really think of it as "impersonal," but simply one in which there's a clear notion of who is giving without expectation of repayment and who is receiving without hope of paying back. I don't see that kind of relationship with this particular goddess.

I am likely closest to this goddess of all of them, but our relationship isn't one of her granting me favoured status, or blessings, or money and wealth. I prefer to describe the relationship as a "courtship."

[wishesofastar]

This is an interesting definition of patronage, and one I'd not heard before. Does this mean that there are other gods whom you feel you are "on par" with, or am I misinterpreting this?

[chronarchy]

Not really. I tend to see them all as being able to offer greater blessings than we could ever hope to repay, but the relationship with a patron is particularly special. I tend to look at it through the lens of *ghos-ti-, of course. . . it's a reciprocal bond that's without the idea that "everything will even out in the end

[wishesofastar]

Cool, thanks for the clarification.

I actually haven't read Great Expectations; I'm primarily familiar with the story through other literary references, and of course the brilliant South Park retelling (though I suspect the book doesn't include the Genesis device).

[chronarchy]

There is, actually, a pretty complete synopsis in the Wikipedia article. We had to read it in 8th grade. . . aloud. I couldn't have gotten around reading it if I'd wanted to in that sort of environment. . . and I wouldn't have read it if I'd had a choice, knowing what I do about how I was with literary classics that were assigned at that age.

Add one more South Park I apparently need to watch :)

[wishesofastar]

Thanks, I'm looking at it now. And yes, that episode is awesome; finally, Pip gets to star!