The mysteries of life and love and the supernatural have often been explained in story, myth, and legend and through the charcters who've flourished from them. Many of these ancient myths were once religion. They were the explanations for the journey of life and its power and effect on humanity. Love, being both an internal and external force in nature, was portrayed through numorous love gods and goddesses throughout history and changing cultures. Focusing in on love and beauty, here are my top picks of mythological love goddesses in the history of love~
1. Aphrodite~ The Greek mythological goddess of love and beauty awarded the apple of discord by theTrojan Paris as the most beautiful of all. She had many of affairs with many men but was married to the ugliest of the gods Hephaestus.
2. Venus~ Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty originally the Italic goddess of vegetation. Venus is the daughter of Jupiter and mother of Cupid. She has been closely associated to Aphrodite and has followed similar patterns as with her marriage to Vulcan and affairs such as that with Mars.
3. Freya~ The Vanir Norse goddess called upon to help in matters of love and was the goddess of magic, love and divination. She was loved by many men, dwarfs, and giants.
4. Isis~The Egyptian goddess of magic, fertility and motherhood. She was the daughter of the earth god and the sky goddess. She was sister and wife to Osirus and mother of Horus.
5. Branwyn~ The Celtic goddess of love, sexuality and the sea. She is known as the Venus of the Northern Sea and one of the three matriachs of Britain. In the Mabinogion she was the wife and the central figure wed to the Irish King Mathowch.
6. Inanna~ The oldest of the Mesopotamian love goddesses.Although she is represented as a virgin, she is known as the goddess of sexual love, procreation and fertility.
7. Hathor~ The African Egyptian goddess of love, music, motherhood, and joy from the predynastic times. Hathor is commonly depicted with two horns as the cow goddess.
As the goddesses of myth and legend remain our historical foremothers of love, and live on in the hearts of us today, make sure to take the time to celebrate your inner living love goddess!
By Jennifer H. McGee
Monday, February 14, 2011
Venus and Aphrodite~
Top Two Love Goddesses~
~Venus and Aphrodite~
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
All About Desire ~ Natural Aphrodisiacs to Light the Lovefire
Want to spice up the lovefire in your romance? Here are five natural aphrodisiacs to light the spell of love in your relationship. These five aphrodisiacs are the natural way to spark your desire and drive. Many of these foods, herbs and ingredients contain the hormones, chemicals and compounds to spark functions in your brain that produce the extra blood flow to various parts of your body and get your heart pumping.
1. Chocolate~ Who would have guessed? Wink*. The King and/or Queen of natural aphrodisiacs. Chocolate is notorious for its "feel good" properties. Anandamide is the pyschoactive compound found in chocolate that releases the feel good quality. PEA, or phenylethylamine, also found in chocolate is known as the chemical of love that produces the feeling of euphoria and attraction . PEA releases dopamine which is at the pleasure center of the brain. No wonder we all have our own secret love affair with chocolate!
2.. Asparagus~ Believe it or not three courses of these tender spears of love were given to bridesgrooms in ninteenth century France at prenuptial dinners to boost their sex drive. Herbalists for hundreds of years have suggested this green vegetable stirs up lust in both women and men. Thiamin and folic acid boosts histamine production necessary for a satisfying sex drive.
3. Peppermint~ This herb is all about stimulation. Seventy percent of peppermint is made up of menthol, a major source of stimulation, skin cooling, and mind alerting. Peppermint helps focus the mind and facilitates the power of concentration necessary during arousal.
4..Almonds~ Does anyone else love the smell of almonds like I do? In myth the almond has been the symbol of fertility, the aroma said to have arousal qualities in females.
5. Oysters~Long considered the food of love, oysters carry a hefty dose of zinc— zinc being linked to male fertility, sex drive and sperm production. In Legend, Casanova was known to eat oysters to seduce virgins by slipping oysters from his tongue!
With Happy Hearts Day right around the corner, why not try to to light the love fire the natural way?!
By jennifer H McGee
1. Chocolate~ Who would have guessed? Wink*. The King and/or Queen of natural aphrodisiacs. Chocolate is notorious for its "feel good" properties. Anandamide is the pyschoactive compound found in chocolate that releases the feel good quality. PEA, or phenylethylamine, also found in chocolate is known as the chemical of love that produces the feeling of euphoria and attraction . PEA releases dopamine which is at the pleasure center of the brain. No wonder we all have our own secret love affair with chocolate!
2.. Asparagus~ Believe it or not three courses of these tender spears of love were given to bridesgrooms in ninteenth century France at prenuptial dinners to boost their sex drive. Herbalists for hundreds of years have suggested this green vegetable stirs up lust in both women and men. Thiamin and folic acid boosts histamine production necessary for a satisfying sex drive.
3. Peppermint~ This herb is all about stimulation. Seventy percent of peppermint is made up of menthol, a major source of stimulation, skin cooling, and mind alerting. Peppermint helps focus the mind and facilitates the power of concentration necessary during arousal.
4..Almonds~ Does anyone else love the smell of almonds like I do? In myth the almond has been the symbol of fertility, the aroma said to have arousal qualities in females.
5. Oysters~Long considered the food of love, oysters carry a hefty dose of zinc— zinc being linked to male fertility, sex drive and sperm production. In Legend, Casanova was known to eat oysters to seduce virgins by slipping oysters from his tongue!
With Happy Hearts Day right around the corner, why not try to to light the love fire the natural way?!
By jennifer H McGee
Thursday, January 13, 2011
What is Your Love Style?
Eros, Storge, Mania.What is your love style? Ever notice people love differently? Sometimes we ourselves go through different incarnations of how we show our love in what John Lee defined as "love colors" or theories in 1973 , later redefined by Clyde and Susan Hendrick as "love styles" in the mid eighties. John Lee described these six love models as the basics that people use in their interpersonal love relations with others.
~Eros~The passionate, physical ,and emotional love also known
as romantic love.
~Ludus~ Conquest love.The love that is played as a sport. Those
that display this kind of love are sometimes more interested in quantity than quality.
~ Storge~ A slow grown love that develops from friendship first.
~Pragma~The practical love that is fueled by the mind, not the heart.
~Mania~ The obsessive love. Possessive and jealous lovers
display high emotions with this style.
~Agape~ Spiritual, selfless love.
The Hendricks found that men tend to be more Ludus and women were more Storge and Pragma in their love relations. Teenagers tend to demonstrate the Mania side of love, the affair entwined in obsession and jealousy. I certainly can remember the elements of my first love wrapped in emotion and need as I'm sure most of us do.
It was also found that relations with similar love styles seemed to last longer and people tend to search for those who have similar love styles as themselves in relationships.
Eros, or the "erotic love", is built on chemistry and is highly
passionate and sensual, almost a fantasy type romance, the typical dream.The attraction that ties the lovers together tends to have a shorter lifespan than other styles due to inevitability of decay of attraction over the years.
The Ludus players are conquest lovers and game players. This type of relationship is also short lived due to the player becoming bored once the conquest is over. People displaying this type of love style tend to have more than one partner and get over relationships quicker.
Storge love is based on respect and understanding, the key quotient to a healthy friendship. Storge lovers view their partner as their best friend. This style of love has a higher probability of lacking passion, its only disadvantage.
The Pragma lover wants to find value and use in their partner. The love is seen through the eyes of realism. The disadvantage is the lack of heartfelt emotion. Arranged marriages are based on this pragmatic type of love.
Mania,the most interesting style of love in my opinion, one that generates a lot of buzz on many occasion, is built off lovers with low self esteem. Lovers are often found randomly or from bazaar situations and love is seen as a rescue or safe haven from their highly emotionally unsafe or tormented worlds. Those displaying this type of love are often very jealous and view sex as reassurance of love.
Lastly, but not least, is Agape love. Spiritual love. Those that possess this style view their lover as a blessing. With this comes the need or desire to take care of their spouse as a mother does with a child. This is the selfless love. These lovers usually remain very faithful and view marriage and children as sacred. Lovers often wait for their partner after a relationship is long dissolved. The disadvantage is the lack of attention one puts towards themselves when displaying this type of love.
Whether you are one, six, or none,have fun deciding the love color you bring forth in your relations. Remember those relationships with partners of similar color or "style" remain the longest. Hopefully with this enlightenment on the knowledge of love theories we can all maintain ageless relationships.
By Jennifer H. McGee
~Eros~The passionate, physical ,and emotional love also known
as romantic love.
~Ludus~ Conquest love.The love that is played as a sport. Those
that display this kind of love are sometimes more interested in quantity than quality.
~ Storge~ A slow grown love that develops from friendship first.
~Pragma~The practical love that is fueled by the mind, not the heart.
~Mania~ The obsessive love. Possessive and jealous lovers
display high emotions with this style.
~Agape~ Spiritual, selfless love.
The Hendricks found that men tend to be more Ludus and women were more Storge and Pragma in their love relations. Teenagers tend to demonstrate the Mania side of love, the affair entwined in obsession and jealousy. I certainly can remember the elements of my first love wrapped in emotion and need as I'm sure most of us do.
It was also found that relations with similar love styles seemed to last longer and people tend to search for those who have similar love styles as themselves in relationships.
Eros, or the "erotic love", is built on chemistry and is highly
passionate and sensual, almost a fantasy type romance, the typical dream.The attraction that ties the lovers together tends to have a shorter lifespan than other styles due to inevitability of decay of attraction over the years.
The Ludus players are conquest lovers and game players. This type of relationship is also short lived due to the player becoming bored once the conquest is over. People displaying this type of love style tend to have more than one partner and get over relationships quicker.
Storge love is based on respect and understanding, the key quotient to a healthy friendship. Storge lovers view their partner as their best friend. This style of love has a higher probability of lacking passion, its only disadvantage.
The Pragma lover wants to find value and use in their partner. The love is seen through the eyes of realism. The disadvantage is the lack of heartfelt emotion. Arranged marriages are based on this pragmatic type of love.
Mania,the most interesting style of love in my opinion, one that generates a lot of buzz on many occasion, is built off lovers with low self esteem. Lovers are often found randomly or from bazaar situations and love is seen as a rescue or safe haven from their highly emotionally unsafe or tormented worlds. Those displaying this type of love are often very jealous and view sex as reassurance of love.
Lastly, but not least, is Agape love. Spiritual love. Those that possess this style view their lover as a blessing. With this comes the need or desire to take care of their spouse as a mother does with a child. This is the selfless love. These lovers usually remain very faithful and view marriage and children as sacred. Lovers often wait for their partner after a relationship is long dissolved. The disadvantage is the lack of attention one puts towards themselves when displaying this type of love.
Whether you are one, six, or none,have fun deciding the love color you bring forth in your relations. Remember those relationships with partners of similar color or "style" remain the longest. Hopefully with this enlightenment on the knowledge of love theories we can all maintain ageless relationships.
By Jennifer H. McGee
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Passion for Poems
My Love~
My love runs through~
Like the blood of time
Runs through the veins
of the Master clock~
Destiny prevails
In this ageless tale
And breathes the words
Love is a rock~♥
~Jenni H. McGee 2010
My love runs through~
Like the blood of time
Runs through the veins
of the Master clock~
Destiny prevails
In this ageless tale
And breathes the words
Love is a rock~♥
~Jenni H. McGee 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Love and the Medieval Concept by Jenni McGee
Although love is a difficult concept to discuss in any age, it is clear that the concept has changed over the ages. A very romantic period in history is the Medieval Age. This frame in history revolves around thoughts on "courtly love". Diving through history to see how thoughts on love have changed may better help define various views on love over time.
The complexity of love surely went beyond this courtly, or romantic type of love, in the Middle Ages as there was certainly brotherly, carnal, filia and homosexual love as well. Yet the elegance and popularity of courtly love was forefront during this time. Courtly seems to have a refined resonating to it...an act of being courteous. In fact, findings show that courtly love has showed many contradictions. According to one examination by Piper L. Bringhurst, the two major elements defining love in the Middle Ages were those of suffering, and pleasure, two entirely different elements in contradiction with eachother.
Quotes taken from various books on love during the Medieval time such as'The Art of Courtly Love', and shown in "The Readings in World Civilations Vol. 1" in Piper Bringhurst's depiction of Medival Love, show the ageless endeavor to define love. A quote by Andreas Capellanus sometime between 1174 and 1186, shows this description of suffering. According to him, "love is a certain inborn suffering derived from the sight of and excessive mediation upon the beauty of the opposite sex"...,and " the easy attainment of love makes it of little value, difficulty of attainment makes it prized".( Bringshurst, pg.2) The famous love affair of Abelard and Heloise shows another depiction of this suffering inclusive in this 'courtly love'.Peter Abelard suffered greatly for his love when he was castrated by Heloise's Uncle Canon Fulbert. In literature of the day, the suffering of two lovers was a common theme.
Other literature of the day points out four mini elements that act as a sub-themes under the greater title of this suffering as suggested by Bringhurst. Jealousy, obsession , secrecy,and danger are all common reoccurring themes in the writings and works of love during the day of the Middle Ages. As Capellanus writes, "he who is not jealous, cannot love", and "real jealousy always increases the feeling of love". Other quotes such as, " a true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved," show the obsession involved in the perception of true love of the day. Capellanus also suggests that lover's should remain secret and not sign names on letters for then their love will always be "retained unimpaired". He also predicts, " when made public, love rarely endures". Secrecy in many ways implies danger or is the prelude to it. As stated in Life in the Medieval Castle, "an erring wife was disgraced and repudiated, her lover mutilated or killed". Affairs remained dangerous and therefore posed a risk of being harmed.
Pleasure remains the other half of the Medieval definiton of love. To love something was to desire something, to be the object of that desire, and to have it fulfilled, became a source of pleasure. The three sub elements of this as suggested once again by Bringhurst, are Sexual Pleasure, Fantasy, and the Heigtening of Honor and Worth. . Capellanus defends the importance of sexual pleasure in the Middle Ages when he quotes the Queen as saying that "women prefer young men for lovers because of physiological reasons". The 13th century scholar, Albertus Magnus, believed that "greater sexual pleasure and appetite belonged to the woman" suggesting that women of the age enjoyed sex unlike the women of the Victorian days.( Bringhurst, pg 5). Another mini element of love brought forth in the writings of Medieval times was fantasy. The songs and poems of the day centered on this courtly love whether it existed in daily life or not. The imagining of what may happen in love in these poems suggest the act of fantasizing and the pleasure it brought to the idea of love. The heightening of power is the final mini element thought to be involved with the theme of love and pleasue in the Middle Ages. Once again as Capellanus concludes, "Love causes a rough and uncouth man to be distinguished for his handsomeness, it can endow a man even of the humblest birth with the nobility of character".( RWC, pg 264/Bringhurst, pg.6.)
Medieval love shares some similarites with the ageless human emotions of today, yet have some other exaggerated themes that exemplify its unique quality and standards that show how the conceptions of love have changed.
Therefore my friends....There is an evolution to love....to some extent.
By Jennifer H. McGee
Notes:
"The Medieval Conception of Love", Piper Bringhurst
http:// people.westminstercollege.edu/facuty/mmarkowski/212/Class-Site/piper
Capellanus, Andreas. "The Art of Courtly Love". Readings In World Civilations, vol. 1. Kevin Reilly. Ny, 1995.
Gies, Joseph and Frances. Life in the Medieval Castle, NY, 1974.
The complexity of love surely went beyond this courtly, or romantic type of love, in the Middle Ages as there was certainly brotherly, carnal, filia and homosexual love as well. Yet the elegance and popularity of courtly love was forefront during this time. Courtly seems to have a refined resonating to it...an act of being courteous. In fact, findings show that courtly love has showed many contradictions. According to one examination by Piper L. Bringhurst, the two major elements defining love in the Middle Ages were those of suffering, and pleasure, two entirely different elements in contradiction with eachother.
Quotes taken from various books on love during the Medieval time such as'The Art of Courtly Love', and shown in "The Readings in World Civilations Vol. 1" in Piper Bringhurst's depiction of Medival Love, show the ageless endeavor to define love. A quote by Andreas Capellanus sometime between 1174 and 1186, shows this description of suffering. According to him, "love is a certain inborn suffering derived from the sight of and excessive mediation upon the beauty of the opposite sex"...,and " the easy attainment of love makes it of little value, difficulty of attainment makes it prized".( Bringshurst, pg.2) The famous love affair of Abelard and Heloise shows another depiction of this suffering inclusive in this 'courtly love'.Peter Abelard suffered greatly for his love when he was castrated by Heloise's Uncle Canon Fulbert. In literature of the day, the suffering of two lovers was a common theme.
Other literature of the day points out four mini elements that act as a sub-themes under the greater title of this suffering as suggested by Bringhurst. Jealousy, obsession , secrecy,and danger are all common reoccurring themes in the writings and works of love during the day of the Middle Ages. As Capellanus writes, "he who is not jealous, cannot love", and "real jealousy always increases the feeling of love". Other quotes such as, " a true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved," show the obsession involved in the perception of true love of the day. Capellanus also suggests that lover's should remain secret and not sign names on letters for then their love will always be "retained unimpaired". He also predicts, " when made public, love rarely endures". Secrecy in many ways implies danger or is the prelude to it. As stated in Life in the Medieval Castle, "an erring wife was disgraced and repudiated, her lover mutilated or killed". Affairs remained dangerous and therefore posed a risk of being harmed.
Pleasure remains the other half of the Medieval definiton of love. To love something was to desire something, to be the object of that desire, and to have it fulfilled, became a source of pleasure. The three sub elements of this as suggested once again by Bringhurst, are Sexual Pleasure, Fantasy, and the Heigtening of Honor and Worth. . Capellanus defends the importance of sexual pleasure in the Middle Ages when he quotes the Queen as saying that "women prefer young men for lovers because of physiological reasons". The 13th century scholar, Albertus Magnus, believed that "greater sexual pleasure and appetite belonged to the woman" suggesting that women of the age enjoyed sex unlike the women of the Victorian days.( Bringhurst, pg 5). Another mini element of love brought forth in the writings of Medieval times was fantasy. The songs and poems of the day centered on this courtly love whether it existed in daily life or not. The imagining of what may happen in love in these poems suggest the act of fantasizing and the pleasure it brought to the idea of love. The heightening of power is the final mini element thought to be involved with the theme of love and pleasue in the Middle Ages. Once again as Capellanus concludes, "Love causes a rough and uncouth man to be distinguished for his handsomeness, it can endow a man even of the humblest birth with the nobility of character".( RWC, pg 264/Bringhurst, pg.6.)
Medieval love shares some similarites with the ageless human emotions of today, yet have some other exaggerated themes that exemplify its unique quality and standards that show how the conceptions of love have changed.
Therefore my friends....There is an evolution to love....to some extent.
By Jennifer H. McGee
Notes:
"The Medieval Conception of Love", Piper Bringhurst
http:// people.westminstercollege.edu/facuty/mmarkowski/212/Class-Site/piper
Capellanus, Andreas. "The Art of Courtly Love". Readings In World Civilations, vol. 1. Kevin Reilly. Ny, 1995.
Gies, Joseph and Frances. Life in the Medieval Castle, NY, 1974.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
What is Love?
So therefore to question, what is love... seems like the most simple, basic, raw question one could be asked. Yet in opinion and possible reality, love is the most elusive, heart wrenching, mind boggling feat of analysis in all of the universe. Will the question of love ever be answered? Can it be answered with a definite? To define love is to ask for a definite. Human belief and opinion, contrasting arguments and facts will continue to enhance the description of love throughout time, failing us of that one unique formatted answer that the world so often seeks.To define is to place a limit or boundary on something. Isn't love limitless? To describe love is to create an unlimited abstract of human beliefs. I believe love exists, yet I believe it has no limit or boundary and the power it has exceeds human understanding. Strangely though, with all its mystery, elusiveness ,and question, love has the solidity of a rock and the power to reveal itself . Strangely as well, the human mind, heart, and soul seem to recognize the face of love without that same questionable doubt when it stands at the door.
Therefore, my attempts will be to answer the question,what is love?...through the various concepts of love throughout time, for there have been many.
By Jenni H. McGee
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Rock and Roll Gypsy Stevie Nicks is Forever Timeless
photo by Jennifer H. McGee
In the World of Stevie Nicks everything remains ageless..including the rock and roll gypsy herself. On August 25th 2010 the timeless Queen of Rock performed at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York to an intimate and adoring audience of about 5,000. I myself was there to see my life's inspiration for the ninth time in 28 years. Stevie just never grows old. Her energy, mystery, spark, and enthusiasm seems to continue growing as she ages. At 62, the woman can STILL rock my friends. Performing classics, a new Tom Petty cover, "You Wreck Me", and a new closing ballad..Love Is..as an encore song, Stevie led us all back into the magic land most of us grew up in. My friend Sherry and I were able to make it up to the front to give our muse flowers and an engraved mirror I had especially done for Stevie and a beautiful handmade and decorated hat made and given by Sherry. The night was a dream as Stevie enchanted us all. May she continue to inspire many and live on in the Wild Hearts of us all.By Jenni H. McGee
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