maidenofsophia

[maidenofsophia]

The label thing really is something I feel like I'm doomed to struggle with forever, I always feel this compulsion to declare myself as Something and then end up grappling if that's the right word to use.

So far I've settled on that I'm Déanic in the sense that I still love Déa, the One Goddess Who Is Many. But I also feel I'm very much Pagan in how much I love the Earth and the Universe and all the spirits and lore they hold. Sophia is still my patron so I would still call myself a Sophian though I'm not a Gnostic or Christian. I guess one could say I am somewhat Filianic or Filianist inspired, as I still believe in the Trinity of Mother, Daughter, Absolute Deity - I don't know if this concept is strictly Filianic but I connect to it more than the Maiden, Mother, Crone. I look to the Clear Recital for guidance and comfort but I wouldn't say I hold it above any other divinely inspired text. So out of all of them it's the label I'm the most "meh" on whether it applies to me or not.

But I am expanding looking into other pantheons which is also feeling more Pagan to me. So far I'm half way through Stephen Fry's retelling of the Greek gods and heroes to help myself get a better understanding of the Hellenic pantheon, I know these are rather basic but I had forgotten how much I loved Greek mythology as a little kid and then never really looked into it again. I guess as Sophia is Greek, though not part of the usual gods unless you compare her to Athena (I don't, they are similar but different personalities to me. Sophia is more like a female Prometheus), but it does feel like that's a set of gods and goddesses I feel comfortable connecting to. Celtic mythology is another and if you have any good books to rec, please do! Obviously I'm not expecting anything as in depth as the Greek myths but I love whatever information we can find. Irish and Norse gods are also on my list, just looking to expand what I can learn about the Goddess' many faces (as well as the male gods) as much as I can.

Faith Update

I'm going through something of a religious identity crisis at the moment and trying to decide exactly what I am. I still adore Filianism and align myself with most of the beliefs and teachings and concepts on Déa. But I don't know if I feel truly comfortable calling myself a Filianist anymore.

I'm not even completely sure I'm a Déanist.

Most of this has been due to my growing connection with the Horned God who has been coming to me a lot lately. I've been going through a lot of difficult times lately and while Sophia has been there for me and protected me, it's the Horned One - sometimes as Pan, sometimes as Cernonnus - who has come to give me comfort. It's strange because I was never drawn to him all that much in my Wiccan days but have found myself connecting with him more over the years.

There's always been this debate on whether someone can be a Dèanist or a Filianist if they believe in male gods alongside Dèa / The Goddess. I had this same dilemma back when I was a Gnostic and was determined to keep Jesus in my faith.

Reason I still consider myself Déanic is that my inclusion of the Horned God is not a Wiccan "God and Goddess" dualithic system. For me, Sophia is Déa. She is the Supreme, the Goddess. She is Mother, as Zoe She is Daughter and as Barbelo She is Déa Absolute. She has no equal or consort. The Horned God is not some Great Father, but he is a divine father figure to me. He's also a brother, a guide and just an all round positive masculine energy. Most of all, he's a friend. While I love and respect him, I wouldn't prostrate myself before him as I would my Lady and I don't feel he'd want me to (not that Sophia demands it either). I see the Horned God as one of many entities or aeons who were born of the Pleroma, the womb of Barbelo.

While I give the Horned One he/him pronouns most of the time. I'm currently reading James Mankey's book "The Horned God of the Witches" to try to get a better understanding of these different forms he or they can take and I'm looking forward to reading the chapter on Elen of the Ways. Does this mean any god or goddess with horns is part of the Horned God? I dunno. I guess it depends on their attributes, Cernonnus and Pan and Herne, as well as Lucifer in his horned depictions, all bring this similar energy. This feeling of freedom and harmony and mystery and playfulness but also guidance born from being in tune with life and nature. Despite wearing horns like "crowns", they're not judgemental or controlling or wrathful like angry kings. They don't rule beside or above Déa, but in Her name. More like a steward than a ruler.

I also never connected much to the Horned God before being an demisexual lesbian. There was always so much of a focus on the Horned One as a lustful deity that it put me off. But letting him come to me in meditations has weirdly helped me feel comfortable understanding my sexuality in a way that never felt right discussing with Sophia. Sophia connects more with that side of me, which does not feel almost any sexual desires, whereas The Horned One does in those rare moments where I do experience something or even just a romantic fixation. It's like the Horned One helps me manage my more base and material desires while Sophia is more about my spiritual and esoteric growth.

Dunno if any of this is making sense but as I'm no longer a Gnostic, I don't believe we need to forsake the material world entirely to become one with Spirit. There is a harmony to be found and I think with Sophia as my (supreme) Goddess and the Horned One as my (lesser) Lord, I've found that balance, and I've been looking a lot more into various open Pagan practices to help reconnect with the world outside rather than just praying at my altar with my rosary. Which also feels more like Paganism to me than Filianism.

[maidenofsophia]

Gilbert Williams

[maidenofsophia]

“Beltane” ~ depicting the May Queen and the Horned God.

Prints of this version without the knotwork frame and the writings are now available!🌸🌱 The work in progress of the painting and the knotwork frame + initial sketches and videos are on Patreon!:)

******** Portfolio and bio : • Official site New work, news, events : • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram Work in progress, tutorials, videos : • Patreon Prints and goodies: • Etsy • Society6

******** © Nataša Ilinčić, please do not remove credits

[maidenofsophia]

Creating some wallpaper images for my phone.

[maidenofsophia]

The Goddess teaches us to be kind, compassionate, and generous. She wants us to live in harmony with nature and each other. She does not approve of violence, hatred, or greed. She does not favor any race, nation, or religion over another. She does not judge us by our appearance, but by our actions. She does not reward us for our rituals, but for our deeds.

[maidenofsophia]

All religions lead to the same One Supreme Being, the one Goddess within all. Goddess is one; sages call Her by various names.

[maidenofsophia]

Sometimes you have to focus more on your love for Goddess than their hate of a woman who worships.

[maidenofsophia]

[maidenofsophia]

Faith Update

I'm going through something of a religious identity crisis at the moment and trying to decide exactly what I am. I still adore Filianism and align myself with most of the beliefs and teachings and concepts on Déa. But I don't know if I feel truly comfortable calling myself a Filianist anymore.

I'm not even completely sure I'm a Déanist.

Most of this has been due to my growing connection with the Horned God who has been coming to me a lot lately. I've been going through a lot of difficult times lately and while Sophia has been there for me and protected me, it's the Horned One - sometimes as Pan, sometimes as Cernonnus - who has come to give me comfort. It's strange because I was never drawn to him all that much in my Wiccan days but have found myself connecting with him more over the years.

There's always been this debate on whether someone can be a Dèanist or a Filianist if they believe in male gods alongside Dèa / The Goddess. I had this same dilemma back when I was a Gnostic and was determined to keep Jesus in my faith.

Reason I still consider myself Déanic is that my inclusion of the Horned God is not a Wiccan "God and Goddess" dualithic system. For me, Sophia is Déa. She is the Supreme, the Goddess. She is Mother, as Zoe She is Daughter and as Barbelo She is Déa Absolute. She has no equal or consort. The Horned God is not some Great Father, but he is a divine father figure to me. He's also a brother, a guide and just an all round positive masculine energy. Most of all, he's a friend. While I love and respect him, I wouldn't prostrate myself before him as I would my Lady and I don't feel he'd want me to (not that Sophia demands it either). I see the Horned God as one of many entities or aeons who were born of the Pleroma, the womb of Barbelo.

While I give the Horned One he/him pronouns most of the time. I'm currently reading James Mankey's book "The Horned God of the Witches" to try to get a better understanding of these different forms he or they can take and I'm looking forward to reading the chapter on Elen of the Ways. Does this mean any god or goddess with horns is part of the Horned God? I dunno. I guess it depends on their attributes, Cernonnus and Pan and Herne, as well as Lucifer in his horned depictions, all bring this similar energy. This feeling of freedom and harmony and mystery and playfulness but also guidance born from being in tune with life and nature. Despite wearing horns like "crowns", they're not judgemental or controlling or wrathful like angry kings. They don't rule beside or above Déa, but in Her name. More like a steward than a ruler.

I also never connected much to the Horned God before being an demisexual lesbian. There was always so much of a focus on the Horned One as a lustful deity that it put me off. But letting him come to me in meditations has weirdly helped me feel comfortable understanding my sexuality in a way that never felt right discussing with Sophia. Sophia connects more with that side of me, which does not feel almost any sexual desires, whereas The Horned One does in those rare moments where I do experience something or even just a romantic fixation. It's like the Horned One helps me manage my more base and material desires while Sophia is more about my spiritual and esoteric growth.

Dunno if any of this is making sense but as I'm no longer a Gnostic, I don't believe we need to forsake the material world entirely to become one with Spirit. There is a harmony to be found and I think with Sophia as my (supreme) Goddess and the Horned One as my (lesser) Lord, I've found that balance, and I've been looking a lot more into various open Pagan practices to help reconnect with the world outside rather than just praying at my altar with my rosary. Which also feels more like Paganism to me than Filianism.

#filianism #déanism #divine sophia #the horned god #the horned one #cernunnos #god pan #eclectic pagan

[maidenofsophia]

Happy Exaltation! 👑

Things have been crazy busy on my end (my college semester is winding down, finals, moving, etc.), so I basically haven't touched Tumblr since Eastre! But today is a rather important day, so I have returned!

Happy Exaltation! Today is a very joyous celebration of Our Lady, the Queen of Heaven. There are many joys to celebrate: the completion of the Maid's journey from the lowest point to the highest, Her coronation as Heaven's sovereign, and Her perfect union with Our Celestial Mother.

Where I live, the early buds and blossoms of spring have given way to lush greenery, full leaves, and rain (so much rain; it is raining today in fact). Each day feels like a blessing though, whether rain or sun, because being outside is finally comfortable again!

I do hope, though, that the clouds clear up some time today so that I might glimpse the blue sky, which is rather the color I imagine Our Lady cloaked in.

May you find joy today and all days! 💐

[maidenofsophia]

[maidenofsophia]

HAPPY EXALTIA!

#filianism #déanism #beltane #may day

[maidenofsophia]

Verse(s) of the Day

My children, whose souls are My sisters, I shall speak to you of the things that I have seen.

Let none say that the world is good, nor that the world is evil. For I have stood at the highest point of the world and the lowest; and from both of these can the world be seen, and from no other.

- The Secret of the World, page 40, verses 1-3

[maidenofsophia]

“From without beginning I was ordained; and from eld times, before that the earth was made… I was making all these things with him.”

- Sophia, Proverbs 8:23,30

[maidenofsophia]

May everyone be blessed by the Holy Daughter on this wonderful new year💗 Amadea. Please visit my instagram if you want a filianic insta feed😁

[maidenofsophia]

Rayati! I was originally a Gnostic Christian for many years and came across Filianism on this site while trying to find fellow worshippers of Sophia. I became mutuals and friends with someone on this site who had converted from Christianity to Filianism. It took me a while as I tried to decide which path was for me before I fully left Christianity and focused on Sophia alone through Filianism.

Are any Filianist/Madrian/Deanists willing to share how they came to/found that religion?

The religion my sisters and I practice is far closer to that than the mostly Wicca (and Wicca based) traditions that those we share a community with follow, and I know there is a greater call for these more devotional paths in those spaces. I’m hoping to develop a better understanding of the needs of devotional Goddess religion seekers and devotees, and I know the Filianist community has a lot of valuable perspectives on that.

[maidenofsophia]

Happy New Year!

Our Lady has gone down into that darkest place, has suffered and been broken, and She has triumphed! No soul shall be lost forever, no soul shall suffer in any eternal hell.

The world is fresh and new, reborn by Her Hand and flush with Divine Light and energy. And so today is the first day of spring, and also of a new year!

The Filianic Eastre is not dissimilar from its Christian (Easter) and neopagan (Ostara) counterparts, or from many springtime festivities around the world. Dancing, music, egg games & dyeing, flowers everywhere, and a big feast with plenty of dessert.

3344 (I.E.), is a year of Sai Thame, Janya of divine law and harmony. The year itself, as well as each month and week of the Filianic calendar will begin on Thamedi / Thursday, until next Eastre.

And the children of the earth cried: Lift up your voices in song and laughter, for the Princess of the World was dead and is alive again, was broken and is whole; and there is no place whereto Her joyous rule does not extend. Give praise to the Mother of All Things and praise to Her Daughter. Rejoice, for the world is renewed.