The darkening autumnal month of October is the time to honour the Crone Goddess of Death and our departed ancestors. My altar features the Cycladic Goddess, whose small devotional statues were often found in ritual sites or buried in graves dating from 4-6 thousand years ago in the Cyclades Islands off Greece. Her largely featureless death mask and body prepared for burial symbolize Life's return to the Great Mother of All. The prominence of her breasts and pubic triangle promises rebirth and new beginnings.
On the altar I have placed the best photos I have of my direct ancestors, all of whom are now gone to their eternal rest.
On the top left is a photo of my maternal grandparents taken in the late 1930s on a trip back to Switzerland from their home in Saskatchewan. On the top right are photos of my paternal great-grandparents taken in the early 1880s in Ontario before they moved west to homestead in Manitoba. Beneath their photos is the wedding photo of their son taken on his wedding day to my grandmother in 1907. Both lines of forebears converge on the photo of my parents taken early in their marriage, probably in the late 1940s.
My parents, maternal grandparents and paternal grandmother all played important or central roles in my life, of course, but I never knew my paternal grandfather or paternal great-grandparents, since they died before I was born.
[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, September 2022]
33 comments:
Thanks for sharing the ancient statue. I saw this type for the first time.
I hadn't heard of her before! Thank you for making the introduction, and for sharing the pictures of your ancestors.
that great-grandmother doesn't look like someone you would want to mess around with!
@ jaz@octoberfarm -- You're right, Joyce! She was a tough one. As soon as they moved west to homestead in 1885, my great-grandfather unexpectedly died. Instead of going back to Ontario, she homesteaded and broke the land by herself with 8 children, the oldest of whom was 14.
You come from some tough forebears! As usual, thanks for the education on the goddesses.
Incredible photos to have.
Remarkable photographs. Is the idea that images of the ancestors are offered to the crone goddess? What was done prior to the advent of photography? Back in Ireland (it seems I'm always referring to Ireland) many landscape features such as hills and seaside cliffs are named after crone goddesses. For instance, Hag's Head on the southern end of the Cliffs of Moher, which is called An Ceann Cailleagh in Irish, meaning "the head of the crone". Hag's Head is also thought to resemble a head from out at sea, but the Irish name for her refers to a very old status as a crone goddess. Medbh is not a crone goddess, yet she 'resides' in a cave on a mountain, a site far older than the legends that have been passed down in The Tain.
Thank you for everything.
A lovely alter in the spirit of the season. Honor the dead - perhaps they will pay you a visit.
@ Dunstan Skinner -- An ancestors altar honours and memorializes those who came before us. Other things which could be used besides photos might include small items previously possessed by the ancestors or even just some item which represents their significance or spirit. I'm glad your comment included wonderful info about the Cailleach. She was the Crone Goddess honoured in my October Full Moon Altar from last year -- here's the link if you want to see:
https://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/2021/10/october-full-moon-altar-cailleach.html
@ Lady M -- Actually, I did have a dream a few nights ago about my parents! We were painting an apartment. Well, that's dreams for ya.
The most touching alter yet. And one of personal interest. I like the added touch of the photos. Having seen you pictured here a few times, I dare say you look like your mother a bit? Or is that just me?
this is lovely
~*~
I have been thinking of my ancestors a lot this month. I now know why. You have some great photos of yours!
I really love the symbolism. And I'm always inspired by death rituals that include aspects of rebirth.
How life has changed - I have seen all of my grandchildren grow up to be fully fledged fine adults, something that never happened a couple of generations back.
I too have a cycladic figure that I purchased years ago in Greece. I greatly admire their sculpture pieces and it is hard to believe that they date so far back in time as they look so contemporary. I know that people like Picasso and Henry Moore, the sculpture, were greatly influenced by them.
For a moment, I thought you were going to start a new movie production for Marvel. I love the story about Goddess.
My dad passed away when I was young. It really shows how I miss him so much after his long absence.
Oh yes I had forgotten we have a full moon. No wonder I felt like eating rare meat all day. Now if you'll excuse me, I am off for my night hunt, errrmmm, I mean, stroll.
A strong-looking lineage indeed!
The top two pictures look like they were taken in the 1800s when you couldn't move for 5 minutes while the film was being exposed.
I'm a lousy pagan..I knew nothing of her.'
oh by the way...your surprise box is groooowing..
How interesting. Something I didn't know (okay-there is a LOT I don't know). Great family pictures-I am happy you have them. xo Diana
I like and enjoy family history. Last set of my ancestors came from old country would be my 2nd grandparents.
Coffee is on and stay safe
@ Mistress Maddie -- I do have some of my mother's mannerisms, I believe, but physically I take after my father's side of the family more. I have the build and facial features common to several of my father's sisters (dear old Aunties!) which I notice more and more as I age, worse luck. Hahahaha!
Lovely! I too like to remember and honor the dead.
Love the idea of the altar.
Many cultures have this tradition, I see. And I totally love the photographs!
Your grandpa was very handsome.
XOXO
Looks like something Picasso might have done. Even though he was Spanish, maybe he had ancestors who lived on the Cyclades Islands.
Thanks. I think they would be proud of you. I never did love my stepdad, but i loved his mother and some other family. They all lived in some prairie place in Saskatchewan. They were all immigrants. After WWI they had to leave the Old Country. They were able to get to Canada. I think the whole town is probably not there anymore. It was in Saskatchewan and they had Dukovor or Mennonite neighbors. Thank you Canada.
My stepfather and i never understood each other, but everytime we had to take a dirt road, he would call it a Saskatchewan super highway.
thank you for sharing treasured images of your grand parents dear Debra
i saw and lived my maternal grandparents for some years but like i could not see my paternal one and this makes me sad once in a while specially when my father was alive as he was quiet man and i wished if i had his parents and i have asked them about my father all i wanted to ask about him
your grandparents are beyond gorgeous people wow
Your mum looks like a film star!
@ Liz Hinds -- Thank you, yes, my mother was quite a looker in her day. At this link, you'll see a "combo" photo of her when young and in old age. It's one of my faves --
https://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/2018/09/away-in-manitoba.html
Wow, what a fabulous post! Great altar. Those old photos are stunning.
I loved seeing your family photos, Debra! Featuring them with the Cycladic Goddess makes a truly meaningful altar. Thank you for sharing them. The goddess statue is austerely beautiful. I look forward to seeing you altars every month. Take care!
Nice Statue
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