One in herself

Hello and welcome here. The new moon is in Gemini and rules our shift from spring to summer (in the northern hemisphere). More about this new noon from Mindy Nettifee. This twin-ish new moon also rules our shift from Maiden season into Mother in our 13 month Year & a Day journey where we explore our cyclic natures & the cycles of women’s life through stories and emergent collaborations.

Our emergent collaboration in this new moon begins with a poem, Parthenos by Steph Ament reclaiming the original concept of "virgin." Then moves into a body based, guided connection with the maiden inside, you/us.

The 2ns cycle of A Year & a Day began at the full Worm Moon with a retelling of Vasilisa the Brave, followed by Persephone's Return at the full Pink Moon, and The Wild Twin - Tatterhood at the full Flower Moon. Woven into the space between were a handful of gorgeous new moon collaborations with: Elizabeth Jane Lovely, Adriana Forte, with a gathering of nine women sharing their first blood/first moon stories, and with poet Caroline Mellor.

Enjoy and thank you for your bright listening. If you value the content here, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

With such gratitude!

Tracy

Parthenos

by Steph Ament

This poem reclaims the original concept of "virgin," which is not what I was made to think when I was young.

Whichever way scholars trace the term, its tracks settle on self-sovereignty. A virgin is a woman (or man) who stands in her own power. A protector of small things. An archetype of fertility and growth, wisdom and war, birthing and death. A "one-in-herself," a coming together of worlds. There's a layered irony in the shift this word has taken. It has been stripped and simplified, reduced to a state of pre-penetration, objectified as inexperience, misconstrued as chaste. In a word, perverted.

Language is fascinating.

But there are remnants of its original meaning that slip through the seams. A virgin forest is self-regenerating--and, yes, in a way, untouched and unpenetrated--but at equilibrium, one-in-itself, an autonomous, biodiverse whole. In ecological terms, a climax community. To be virgin and virile need not be mutually exclusive terms.

However sullied their fabric becomes, our words can rarely escape their own inner knowing.

"Parthenos" is an epithet depicting the archetypal virgin, and stood in for many Greek goddesses, including Athena. This poem, like my own true virginity, is in a constant state of birthing.

parthenos

this thing

of native grasslands

virgin forests

blood-stream

song

is a thing

of being Virgin

already

standing strong

and a thing

not of hymen

but of archetypal

dawn

to reclaim

the Virgo-maiden

with bow and arrow

drawn

so this thing

of native grasslands

virgin forests

blood-aligned

is a thing

of being Woman

not penetrative

but divine

Steph Ament’s writing life is a pendulum between nitpicking syntax and releasing into creative flow. As a freelance translator and editor, her work traces the unexpected lines between academia, international development and art. As a writing doula, she brings her experience alongside other writers in the intuitive birthing of words. Between it all, she plays outdoors, nurtures creative anarchy among a sprightly group of teens, co-runs an inn that’s packed with local art, and forages words for poems. You can learn more about Steph at www.root-words.com/creative-work.