Venus and Her Lover

by Becca Tzigany

  Zimmerman, J.E., DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY (New York: Bantam Books, 1971)

  Zolla, Elemire, ARCHETYPES - THE PERSISTENCE OF UNIFYING PATTERNS (New York & London: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, 1981)

  Zolla, Elemire, THE ANDROGYNE – RECONCILIATION OF MALE AND FEMALE (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1981)

  GLOSSARY

  This is an alphabetical listing of some words and how they are used in Venus and Her Lover. In many entries, the mentally-satisfying definition is framed by evocative input* for the feeling right brain:

  * First — Original meanings or literal translations appear in “quotation marks,” and

  * Toward the End — The word appears in the script of its root or current language, which is shown in [brackets],

  No brackets indicate an English word.

  “Also” = variations of the name or word.

  “See also:” refers you to other related or contrasting entries in this Glossary. For further investigation, consult the Index.

  abuelograndparent. Abuelo = grandfather. Abuela = grandmother. [Spanish]

  adobea sun-dried, unburned brick of clay and straw; a structure made of these bricks. Adobe is common in dry climates, such as the American Southwest. [Spanish]

  Ahau Kines Mayan kings connected to or representing the sun/galactic center; fifth-dimensional beings who exist outside our concept of time and dwell in Shambhala, the mythical Tibetan realm of Buddha-nature. Ahau is a day-sign in the Mayan calendar, representing the sun. [Mayan]

  ahimsa“Do no harm.” Buddhist and Hindu principle of nonviolence, based on the belief in the sacredness of all living creatures. To hurt another would be to hurt oneself, as well as become a source of karmic consequences. [Sanskrit: अहिंसा]

  ahoNative American saying that indicates agreement; closing of a prayer, akin to “amen.” While many New Agers have adopted the expression with enthusiasm, others consider doing so to be a form of cultural appropriation. [Crow: “many,” “plenty;” Lakota/Dakota: “I understand;” “I acknowledge you”] Also: Ahu.

  AIabbreviation for Artificial Intelligence; computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Computers that are capable of visual perception, speech recognition, translation between languages, logistics, data mining, and medical diagnosis have greatly enhanced many areas of life. Ethical questions arise when computers exercise their capacity for decision-making, because they could feasibly decide that humans are counterproductive to their goals and decide to eliminate us. Books and films have portrayed this dilemma, most notably The Matrix. See: transhumanism

  aikido“the Way of unifying (with) life energy;” Japanese martial art that redirects the force of an attacker so that nobody gets hurt. [Japanese: ]

  ‘a-ina“land,” “earth;” natural environment of Hawai’i. Native Hawaiians ground their identity and sense of well-being in their connection to the land. The state’s motto: “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono,” or “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” [Hawaiian]

  alchemythe medieval forerunner of the science of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a panacea or universal elixir, and included mysterious or mystical methods.

  alpacaa domesticated South American camelid mammal (Lama pacos), related to the llama, known for its long, wooly hair; soft, silky fleece of this animal. [Aymara] See also: llama, vicuña

  amarilloyellow. [Spanish] Also: amarilla.

  amicifriends [Italian]

  amrita“deathless;” ambrosial drink or food bestowing immortality. According to Hindu mythology, by drinking this nectar, the devas (deities) lived forever. [Sanskrit: amrta: ]

  Anasazi“ancient enemy;” ancient Pueblo people; Native Americans who established their culture in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. Present-day Hopi people consider it a derogatory word for their ancestors, since the Navajo, who now reside in former Pueblo territory, referred to them as Anaasází, meaning “ancestors of our enemies.” [Diné/Navajo] See also: Hisatsinom

  androgynoushaving both female and male characteristics; hermaphroditic; being neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine, as in dress, appearance, or behavior. [from Greek: ἀνδρόγυνος, (andr- = man) and (gunē, gyné = woman)]

  anima mundi world soul; animating force of the world; vital force of the Universe. Plato stated: “…this world is indeed a living being endowed with a soul and intelligence ... a single visible living entity containing all other living entities, which by their nature are all related.” Similarly, Buddhists call it Buddha-Nature; Hindus call it Brahman-Atman. [Latin] See also: chi, Tao.

  anthropocentricconsidering humans to be the most important element of the Universe; human-centeredness. When making decisions, the anthropocentric view puts the welfare of humans above all else. [from Greek: , ánthrōpos, “human being” + , kentron, “center”]

  anthropomorphizeto ascribe human form to something; to attribute human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena. [from Greek: ἄνθρωπος, ánthrōpos, “human being” + , morphē, “form”]

  antipasti“before the meal;” appetizers. Typically, antipasti include olives, pepperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses, smoked meats, or vegetables. [Italian]

  Anunnaki“those who from Heaven came down to Earth;” primordial Sumerian deities; those of royal blood. Traditionally regarded as the gods and goddesses of Sumero-Babylonian mythology, recent interpretations have considered them to be extraterrestrial visitors to the Earth who genetically manipulated hominids to produce human beings. Hence, the Anunnaki were regarded as creator gods. [Sumerian] Also: Anunna, Anunnaku, Ananaki, Elohim.

  AphroditeGreek Goddess of Love and Beauty. It is said she was born of sea foam (after Ouranos’ castration) or of Zeus and Dione. Because she was irresistibly beautiful, Zeus (King of the Gods) tried to avert jealous battles over her by marrying her off to the sooty, gruff smith god, Hephaestus (Vulcan to the Romans). Nonetheless, Aphrodite had many love affairs with gods as well as mortals, with children resulting from these liaisons. According to myth, Paris awarded her the apple as the “fairest of all” the goddesses, setting off a chain of events that led to the Trojan War. [Greek: ] See: Venus.

  apsara“moving in water;” a supernatural female being in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; shapeshifter; female spirit of the clouds and waters; mistress of a soul in paradise. The Apsaras are celestial nymphs, the dancers in the court of Indra (the king of the Devas), known for their beauty and elegance. [Sanskrit: ] Also: apsarasa.

  apumasculine nature spirit, particularly the spirit/deity of a mountain from one’s birthplace; a person’s “guiding star.” Likewise from the Andean indigenous tradition, the feminine counterpart is the paqarina, the nature spirit of a body of water, valley, or cave. [Quechua] Also: itu apu. See also: paqarina.

  archetypeseed form; primordial image; symbolic pattern or prototype upon which all other similar things are based; basic motif of the collective unconscious; symbol universally recognized by all. Since Carl Jung’s identification of archetypes in psychology, they have also been recognized in world mythologies; for example, actions (The Quest, The Fall, the clash of Good vs. Evil), symbols (spiral, serpent, rose, cross), and characters (Mother, Trickster, Hero, Divine Child). [from Greek: ἀρχέτυπος: arche, ἀρχή, “beginning, origin” + tupos, τύπος, “pattern, model, type”] See also: theosphere

  AresGreek God of War; one of the 12 Olympian gods. He embodies manly courage, lust for conflict, and unrestrained violence. He is son of Zeus and Hera and lover of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. The Romans, who gave him a more elevated status than the Greeks, called him Mars. [Greek: Ἄρα, ára] See: Marsr />
  aria“atmospheric air;” song, air, tune; an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment, as in an opera or oratorio; a striking solo performance. [Italian]

  arroyodry creek or stream bed that seasonally fills and flows with water after substantial rains; gulch; wash. [Spanish]

  asana“sitting down;” posture of Hatha Yoga; body position for meditation. [Sanskrit: ]

  ashram“toil,” “penance,” “austerity;” Hindu spiritual hermitage; center of yoga or Hindu teachings; religious retreat where a guru resides. [Sanskrit/Hindi: ])

  atelierworkshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer. [French]

  atman“breath,” “spirit;” “he places in himself;” individual soul or essence, known after enlightenment to be identical with Brahman; Self (eternal Kosmic Spirit) manifest as self (soul). According to Hindu philosophy, atman is the spiritual life principle of the Universe, especially as inherent in the real self of the individual. [Sanskrit: ]

  axis mundicosmic axis; world pillar; pivot point or line connecting Heaven and Earth; navel or center of the world. As an omphalos (navel), this archetype is feminine – a place from which everything originates and the point which joins the Above and Below, where the directions meet. As a masculine archetype, it is the World Mountain, Tree of Life, Shiva lingam, minaret/steeple/ziggurat, maypole, totem pole, and caduceus. The axis mundi rests at the center of mandalas, crosses, and medicine wheels. [Latin]

  ayniprinciple of reciprocity and balance. Right relationship is maintained through mutual exchange, gratitude, and a desire for harmony, according to Andean indigenous tradition. [Quechua]

  BacchusRoman god of wine and ecstasy. [Latin] See: Dionysus.

  baklavapastry made of thin layers of phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey, traditional in Greece and the Middle East [Turkish]

  bambinobaby, child [Italian]

  Baubo Greek crone goddess known for her bawdy sense of humor and wisdom. In Greek mythology, she saved the Earth’s fertility when she pulled Demeter out of her depression. Demeter was mourning the loss of her daughter Persephone, and Baubo raised her skirts and spoke from her yoni, reminding her of feminine wisdom and the healing power of laughter. [Greek: Βαυβώ]

  BCEabbreviation for Before the Common Era (or Before the Current/Christian Era). BCE is an alternative name for the traditional calendar era, BC (“Before Christ”).

  beloveda dearly loved one, sweetheart, cherished favorite.

  — Beloved that which allows us to be whole, the oneness we share with the All That Is. Rumi, the 13th century mystical poet of Islam, popularized the personal relationship with Allah/God/the Divine by addressing it as the Beloved.

  BeltaneCeltic festival celebrated halfway between vernal (spring) equinox and the midsummer (summer solstice), i.e., May 1st (Northern Hemisphere) or October 31st/November 1st (Southern Hemisphere). Pagans honor the time when the Earth Mother opens up to the fertility god, by marking the arrival of summer with bonfires, Maypole dances, planting rituals, and prayers and ceremonies invoking healthy livestock, strong crops, and the vitality of all life.

  bhaktispiritual devotion in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions; worship, piety. The bhakta (devotee) experiences divinity personally, considering the deity as the Beloved, the devotee being the lover. Bhaktas purify their hearts and minds through frequent religious practices (chanting, singing, praying, studying, reciting poetry), often guided by a guru. [Sanskrit: ]

  bījaseed sound or syllable, the basis of mantras, considered to represent thought forms, divinities, or cosmic powers that, through their vibration, cause things to arise. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Tantra, each chakra is associated with a bīja sound. Om is the most well-known bīja. [Sanskrit: ]

  bindia decorative dot worn in the middle of the forehead, especially by Hindu women. A red mark is often placed between the eyebrows to mark the sixth chakra, ajna, said to be the focus of psychic power and inner vision. [Hindi: ].

  bindupoint, dot [Sanskrit]

  biospherethe part of the earth that is capable of supporting life; the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

  bisexual an orientation toward people of the same and other genders; choosing sexual loving relationship with others, regardless of their gender.

  bodhisattva“enlightenment being;” a person who has attained enlightenment; someone seeking liberation from the illusions of the world in order to help others to do the same. [Sanskrit: ] Also: boddhisattva

  bolognesefrom Bologna, Italy; pasta sauce made from tomato paste, beef, mushrooms, ham, and vegetables [Italian]

  bon vivant“good living;” a person who knows how to enjoy life; a person who takes pleasure in luxuries, especially good food and drink. [French]

  Boriquén“the great land of the valiant and noble Lord” or “land of the great lords;” original indigenous name for the island of Puerto Rico [Taíno] Also: Borikén

  boriquanative Puerto Rican [Taíno] Also: boricua.

  bougainvilleaclimbing shrub, native to the South American tropics, known for its colorful flowers, particularly red and purple. [named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville, 18th c. French navigator]

  Brahma Creator God of the Hindu Trinity. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva make up the Trimurti (Holy Trinity) and stand for the creative, sustainer, and destroyer aspects of Brahman, the Supreme, Universal Principle. This god is depicted with four faces and four arms – perhaps related to the four Vedas and his four infinite qualities: maitri (loving-kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upeksha (equanimity). Brahma is no longer worshipped as a primary deity in modern India. [Sanskrit: ]

  Brahmanthe ultimate essence of material reality; the absolute, eternal, ineffable, and impersonal Beingness; Great Cosmic Spirit; the immanent Divine. It is the creative force of Brahman that brings everything into existence. [Sanskrit: ]

  Brahminthe class of cultural and social elite; someone born into the priestly Brahmin caste of India; an individual knowledgeable about Brahman and trained in religious rituals of the Vedas (Hindu scriptures). [Sanskrit: brāhmaṇa ]

  Buddha “enlightened one,” “awakened one;” a person who has self-realized, or become enlightened, and achieved liberation from the cycle of existence. The historical Buddha was a prince, Siddhartha Gautama (born 563 BCE in the foothills of the Himalayas), who experimented with various spiritual paths until he overcame all cravings and could maintain inner peace no matter what his external circumstances. His teachings, as well as later commentaries – such as the Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras, and The Tibetan Book of the Dead – form the sacred texts of what would become the philosophy/religion of Buddhism. [Sanskrit: ] Also: Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni. See also: dhyani Buddha

  caduceus“herald’s staff;” short rod entwined with two serpents and capped with wings. It is the famous scepter of the Greco-Roman god Hermes/Mercury, psychopomp (guide for the dead) as well as protector of merchants. Before that, the caduceus appears in Sumero-Babylonian art associated with Enki (perhaps associated with his genetic engineering work). The archetype also appears in Hinduism (representing the ida and pingala energy channels winding around the spinal column) and Native American and Aztec art. Its modern association is with the medical profession.

  café con leche coffee with milk [Spanish]

  capitounderstood. In conversation, it is akin to the English expressions, Uh huh, I see. [Italian]

  caste“race,” “lineage,” “breed;” social class, based on heredity, occupation, or racial purity, in Hindu society. The social stratification of the caste system has perpetuated millennia of discrimination against those considered “lesser humans.” [Spanish, Portuguese]

  CEabbreviation for Common Era (or Christian Era, or
Current Era). It is an alternative name for the traditional AD (Anno Domini, “Year of our Lord”).

  chaitea. Masala chai is spiced-milk tea, made by brewing black tea with spices (cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper), and adding milk and sweetener. [Persian / Hindi: / Urdu: ]

  chakanastepped cross with equidistant arms; Inca cross. In the Andean tradition, it symbolizes the different levels of existence, as well as the axis mundi or World Tree. A “pole” placed in the center allows the shaman to travel up or down. The three steps, or levels of existence, are Hana Pacha (the upper world inhabited by the superior gods), Kay Pacha, (the world of our everyday existence) and Ukhu or Urin Pacha (the underworld inhabited by spirits of the dead, the ancestors, their overlords and various deities who can work on the Earthly plane). [Quechua: chakay, “to cross or bridge”]

  chakra“wheel,” “circle,” “cycle.” Subtle centers in the human energy body (astral body). They concentrate, mediate, and transform the energy (prana/chi/kundalini) that flows through them and may open or close – like lotus flowers – according to outward or inward conditions. Indian yoga identifies seven main chakras where the soul and body meet. [Sanskrit: ]

  chapatiunleavened flatbread made of wheat, common in South Asia. [Sanskrit; Hindi: , chapat, “to slap”] Also: chapatti, chappati, chapathi, roti.

  chediBuddhist stupa, a spherical pagoda-like structure, usually housing religious relics, in Thailand. [Thai: , ]

  chemtraila visible trail left in the sky by an aircraft as part of a covert operation of the government. Chemtrails have been analyzed to contain barium and aluminum salts, polymer fibers, thorium, or silicon carbide, as well as biological agents. They were termed an “exotic weapons system” according to US House Resolution 2977 (2001). Whereas chemtrails and chembombs have been routinely denied by governments, their purpose is theorized to be for weaponizing the weather, sickening the population, advancing a transhuman agenda, or as part of a geoengineering effort to combat global warming.