Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater




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It's time to make plans to attend our 2008 Season of the Tree Celebration March 21-23 See Current events page for more details as available

Welcome the the home page of the Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater!

We are a revival of the ancient Cybeline faith, one largely forgotten today but historically one of the most ancient and enduring religions of the world, the Mother Goddess tradition.  We use the Cybeline version because by classical times, it was the most widespread but all Mother Goddess traditions share the same essential elements, a belief in the divine feminine principle of the universe, that all of us and all we see and experience are a part of Her and that since we are all part of Her, none are inferior or superior to others.

In today's neo-pagan revival there has been an explosion of Dianic or divine feminine groups sometimes also known as women's spirituality.  These groups are often fiercely anti male as a reaction to the 3000 or so years of patriarchal domination of the mundane and spiritual and seek to replace a patriarchal world with a matriarchal one.  We Cybelines, believing at we are all part of the Divine Mother, cannot cut off half the population of the world but rather seek to restore balance.  While the Cybeline faith is administered and led by a priestess sisterhood, our mysteries and celebrations are open to all seekers and anyone may become an initiate.  As in the ancient world, today's initiates are not required or expected to denounce whatever other spiritual paths they embrace.

As you wander the pages of our website please bear in mind that although there is much material specific to the Cybeline sisterhood of priestesses, the religion itself is not an exclusive women's religion and never was.  Our need to call out for an awakened restoration of our sisterhood of priestesses in order to re-establish our faith should not be mistaken for trying to establish yet another Dianic, no men need apply, version of paganism but rather our seeking those special women wishing to learn how to awaken the connection to Her in others that is the birthright of all.  Becoming a Cybeline priestess is not a "club" membership or ladder of spiritual superiority, it is making a lifelong commitment to the restoration of our religion and service to others.  It is a commitment to the celebration of the strengths of feminine thought and values and restoration of those values in direct answer to the path that has led to the near destruction of the entire planet.

Gallae and Mellissae historically have always been very spiritual women by their nature, the Gallae were intersexual and transsexual women.  These women, often psychic and from pre-history considered natural spiritual leaders, teachers and healers, viewed throughout the ages as possessing the powers to bless and curse and foresee the future,  have a rich history that is uniquely their birthright.    One of the oldest remaining myths from the "cradle of civilization", present day Iran and Iraq,  tells of Inanna's ( The Queen of Heaven) rescue from the underworld by Asushunamir, a twin sexed being of light and beauty, and Inanna's promise to all like her .........transsexuals, intersexuals, and other gender variant people. The Cybeline priestesshood  includes those women who strive to change their bodies to reflect their inner womanhood and always has as well as Mellisseae women who celebrate their natural connection to Her.  This is important since today many Dianic pagan women's groups have recently rediscovered Cybele yet seek to exclude Her transsexual and intersexual priestesses.  Likewise, many transsexual and intersexual women have found Cybele only to attempt to cast Her as a "Tranny Goddess".......both are equally wrong headed.  Indeed, recently several transgendered women have come to us, been dismayed that we are not a transgender religion but rather one that embraces transgender, transsexual and intersexual women and left angrily to form their own groups.  While we embrace and celebrate the right of anyone to their own path to enlightenment, it would be nice if they stopped representing themselves as our group as they have using our name and resources.

As reconstructionists, we have twin goals.  We wish to restore and revive the best of the ancient practices of a religion that endured more than 8000 years in the ancient world and we do extensive original research that supports that restoration as faithfully to the spirit of the religion as possible.  We believe that an ancient priestess should recognize our services were she transplanted to our times.  Mother's hand seems to guide us in both goals.  This website has grown considerably in the past years, each day seems to bring new discoveries and insights that eluded others for more than a hundred years.  As our knowledge grows, so we expand and examine our practices  There is a difference between researching the past and putting into practice ancient ways.  By doing both, we gain insight and wisdom that escaped those confining themselves to one or the other.

The links on your left are your gateway to further exploration of our history and practices, enjoy and may Magna Mater's blessings be with you.


Rev. Battakes Cathryn Platine

Some notes to important pages on our site

As you explore our webpages the link to the "Who are the people of Cybele" page is where you will find the gateway to the organizational model of the Cybeline priestesses and statements of our theology.  The historical essays reflect part of the research and discoveries we have made restoring our faith.  We are currently beginning a systematic rewriting of much of our website.  Our terminology  may be difficult for non-historians , the glossary of many of the terms we use is here.
 

We also maintain a yahoo groups email list those interested in discussion of our traditions may join at Gallae-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Click to contact us for further information or any questions you may have


Last update: 1/6/08


copyright 2002--2008, Cathryn Platine  Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater.  All rights reserved.  These pages may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any electronic or print media without the express written permission of the copyright holder.
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