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| By Denice Taylor
I HAVE A "Venus in Scorpio" empathy with anyone whose name is synonymous with the word whore. As famous whores go, Mary Magdalene is right there on top. She is a Sacred Whore, a whore of truly biblical proportion. She is the priestess who transforms being fucked with, from a bargaining chip to a sacrament. In The Secrets of the Tarot: Origins, History, and Symbolism, Barbara Walker equates Mary Magdalene with the Papess, or High Priestess, in the major arcana. She cites references in early Gnostic texts that include Mary Magdalene as one of the disciples, stating: the first "pope" was not St Peter, but St Mary Magdalene, who received spiritual authority directly from Jesus after the Oriental custom of cross-sexual transmission -- male to female, or vice versa. Jesus loved Mary Magdalene above all his other followers; he called her Apostle to the Apostles, and the Woman Who Knew the All. (1) Many of the Gnostic texts found at Naj Hammadi in 1945 include specific instances of this close relationship of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Some even indicate that their relationship was sexual and ritually so: Christ was the Sacred Bridegroom and they were united in Sacred Marriage. As a Sacred Whore, Mary Magdalene teaches the feminine aspect of infinity, initiating her followers through the experience of karuna. Karuna is the power behind loving behavior and all kinds of voluntary giving, including the mutual giving of erotic pleasure. (1) Mary Magdalene carries tantric and pagan tradition deeply into Christianity. Sex is her communion. Joy and creativity are her blessings. In the tarot, the High Priestess (II) card is connected with all cards associated with the number two. Strength/Lust, the eleventh card (1+1=2) in the Thoth deck, shows what is necessary to receive the blessings of the High Priestess. Voluntary giving is only possible from a position of strength, passion and light. Coming into the power of lust is the process of taming the fears and insecurities that diminish strength. It means achieving a balance between the intellect and intuition that allows faith in the self as a divine creation. Strength is the capacity to radiate peace, love and trust; Lust is the capacity to fully experience strength. (2) In my life, Venus in Scorpio (conjunct Neptune among other things) is the placement I associate with the energy of Mary Magdalene. Venus is the planet of love, attraction, beauty, and excess. Scorpio is the sign associated with sex, and deep, penetrating emotion. Venus in Scorpio is my potential to move from everyday slut to Sacred Whore. Venus in Scorpio, like the word whore, is traditionally interpreted as loss of self and power. In the Thoth tarot, Venus in Scorpio is pictured as the 7 of Cups. The overflowing cups ooze and drip greenish slime into a stagnant pool. Its word is debauch. Its feeling is of decay, or loss of creative potential, through emotional excess and addiction. (2) When I express this aspect of Venus in Scorpio, the prostitute as slut, my relationships are really power struggles. I am selling or trading pieces of myself for some measure of temporary security. I am relating through a sense of loss or separation and I am looking for someone or something to fill me. The lights are off and my eyes are closed. However, Venus in Scorpio is potential -- a process of transformation. In other decks, the 7 of Cups is called the Dream or Wish card. It reflects the search for communion and is associated with inspiration and the tantric Way of the Muses. (1) For me, it is the way to find the strength of my lust and the path of the Sacred Whore. When I express this aspect of Venus in Scorpio, I begin filled. There is light, and my eyes are open. When I receive the full expression of the sacrament of sex, I radiate. I am a High Priestess, and I know in the deepest part that the, "Self is a sea boundless and measureless." (3) We are all whores at some time, some where, some how. The archetypes of the prostitute as slut and the prostitute as Sacred Whore are not gender specific. Neither is the need to know your strength or the desire to experience timeless ecstasy. Venus is in Scorpio until early January. Communion anyone? ...would smell like spikenard. Or, maybe you would prefer sacred whore aromatherapy? Smell is linked to the oldest parts of the brain and memory...anything that goes up your nose goes straight into your brain. There is a strong relationship connection associated with smell -- it seems smell is probably responsible for pair bonding and tribal association. And, smell can help you remember events, people, and experiences. Spikenard (nardostachys jatamansi) is an herb long associated with healing a variety of illnesses on several levels. Life of Man, Horse Heal, and Great Fleabane are a few of its common names. Spikenard smells earthy -- like dirt. It is a soothing balm and particularly useful for creating felicity -- that state of being happy. Some people believe Jesus used spikenard in his ministry, but the most well-known biblical association with this herb is in the hands of Mary Magdalene who anointed Jesus' feet with the costly and precious oil of spikenard. The sensuous image of Mary Magdalene bathing the High Priest's feet with this aromatic and healing herb, using her hair to remove any excess, is one of the most erotic scenes found in the Bible. Even today, I find that the essential oil of spikenard, used in a base oil which includes hemp, serves as a balm for the entire being. It promotes feelings of peace and calm. It may also be used in a ritual bath asking for blessings from the High Priestess. The following information regarding spikenard is from the "Gritman Guide to Essential Oils," Second edition, by Margaret Shehad (4): Physical actions and uses include: calming, relaxing, reducing stress, promoting sleep, uplifting moods, regulating male hormonal system, inspiring devotion, and giving deep inner peace. Mental uses: "I may know what is right for me, but that may not be right for you. I direct and lead my own life secure that you are doing the same. I cannot be a teacher without also being a student. I am willing to give myself, but I cannot give what I do not have." Emotional uses: To go from confusion, needing to be right, being defensive, and always on the go, to a state of calm, rested, spiritually centered, balanced, peace. Spiritual uses: Can indicate that you have come to a special time in your life where you are re-examining your goals, motive, accomplishments, and relationships. Especially good for balancing the heart chakra and solar plexus chakra. Promotes the realization that humans act as bridges between the material or the earth and the heavens. It allows us to remember what we agreed to do with this life, and the re-evaluation and renegotiation of self within that agreement. (As with all medicines, please be careful when using essential oils. No formal testing has been done with spikenard, although it appears non-toxic at low dosages. This is a customary caution: Do not apply essential oils full strength to the skin, do not take internally, and avoid use if pregnant or on children.)++ ------------------ References: 1. Barbara Walker. The Secrets of the Tarot: Origins, History and Symbolism |
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