Rising from the grave...Happy Easter!
Am thinking that watching "Resident Evil" (with commentary) in the wee hours of the morning is a peculiarly appropriate way to welcome in Easter -- also snuggling my new friend Edmund. He is my big, fluffy, stuffed Easter Sheep. (What else do you do for Easter when your diet doesn't allow candy?!)
I would also like to point out that the Christian holiday "Easter" shamelessly steals pagan symbolism, and more so than any of our other holidays -- right up to and including the NAME!! Eostre is a pagan goddess of springtime! Geez, Christianity...whatever happened to subtlety on this one?
So, joyous "Eostre" to all, and remember that bunnies are a symbol of fertility, eggs are a symbol of life, and that neither of these has a THING to do with a good man who just wanted everybody to love each other and be kind no matter what dying -- mainly because he spoke what he felt was important and real, thereby royally pissing off the ruling Powers That Be (and was coming scarily close to upsetting their base of power and income) -- on a simple- but disturbingly-effective wooden torture device back in ye olde antiquity. Now, nearly two thousand years later, we remember him and his teachings (though some folk seem to have an awfully selective memory) at the time when my hemisphere of the Earth is regreening and blossoming and growing warmer with new and renewed life.
Say what you like about Christianity -- but you have to admit that our forebears had an excellent feel for when to place our particular holy days.
Thank you, Jesus, or Joshua, or whatever your name was, for setting an example which has lasted for so long, and for teaching values which have passed to so many. What you feel is important enough to die for may, in fact, get you killed -- but if it truly matters, then the cost is fair, if hard.
My own Easter wish: May you have the wisdom to decide what is most important, and the courage to defend your decision no matter the cost to you. Go out today into a place which is greening with new life and flowing with cold, fresh water, and take a deep, deep breath.
He is risen. Blessed Be.
I would also like to point out that the Christian holiday "Easter" shamelessly steals pagan symbolism, and more so than any of our other holidays -- right up to and including the NAME!! Eostre is a pagan goddess of springtime! Geez, Christianity...whatever happened to subtlety on this one?
So, joyous "Eostre" to all, and remember that bunnies are a symbol of fertility, eggs are a symbol of life, and that neither of these has a THING to do with a good man who just wanted everybody to love each other and be kind no matter what dying -- mainly because he spoke what he felt was important and real, thereby royally pissing off the ruling Powers That Be (and was coming scarily close to upsetting their base of power and income) -- on a simple- but disturbingly-effective wooden torture device back in ye olde antiquity. Now, nearly two thousand years later, we remember him and his teachings (though some folk seem to have an awfully selective memory) at the time when my hemisphere of the Earth is regreening and blossoming and growing warmer with new and renewed life.
Say what you like about Christianity -- but you have to admit that our forebears had an excellent feel for when to place our particular holy days.
Thank you, Jesus, or Joshua, or whatever your name was, for setting an example which has lasted for so long, and for teaching values which have passed to so many. What you feel is important enough to die for may, in fact, get you killed -- but if it truly matters, then the cost is fair, if hard.
My own Easter wish: May you have the wisdom to decide what is most important, and the courage to defend your decision no matter the cost to you. Go out today into a place which is greening with new life and flowing with cold, fresh water, and take a deep, deep breath.
He is risen. Blessed Be.