The lost goddesses

  Max Dashu's presentation: Restoring women to cultural history: Max starts her talk at minute 21 or so.

Today there are many interesting archaeological goddesses in Max Dashu's talk. I hope you look at a bit of it, if you don't have time for the whole thing. 

She also did several other YouTube videos, about the Suppressed Histories of the Goddess. 

I was very fortunate to be in one of her day-long workshops many years ago. What a wealth of knowledge! She  spread a sheet on the floor,  then mapped out the ancient worlds by outlines of major continents. Then she presented each goddess culture that was dominant in those diverse areas in ancient times. It was amazing. She'd put a little figure to represent each goddess on the huge map at our feet as we sat in a circle, taking voracious notes!

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This lovely goddess is from the Tel Halaf culture which refers to an archaeological culture from the Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age (approximately circa 6000–3500 BCE) that was centred in what is now north-eastern Syria, in the region of the Khabur River. It is known primarily through excavations at the site of Tell Halaf, an important archaeological tell (an ancient mound created by human occupation) near the modern town of Ras al-Ayn, Syria.

Jenny Mendez Ceramics on FaceBook

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Today's quote: (Not sure I agree with this one!)

The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.  -Iris Murdoch, writer (1919-1999)

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One more shot of the trip north Monday.

My initial part of the trip going through Hot Springs NC and then to Newport TN to avoid the single lane back-up on I-40 between Asheville and Knoxville…where continuing floods hit the highway. Here we had about a 5 minute back-up for construction - the only one on my whole day of over 300 miles.

The road (US  25/70) followed the French Broad River into Hot Springs NC, where the Appalachian Trail also intersects. Here was the only construction I had a delay from all day.

 

On the road again

 

This goes along with my theme of traveling. Today I'm on the road to my son and his family's home in Columbus OH. The weather reports say it's going to be rainy. Oh no! But I shall persevere! I spent one night in a hotel on the way from home, so am taking my time getting there.

I'm grateful not to be traveling the way people in Asheville NC did in 1886

For a week I'll not see my dear Appalachian Mountains. But instead I'll see my dear granddaughters and their parents (and their friends too quite possibly.)

Just before I wrote this post, I enjoyed this chocolate croissant...and almost forgot to take a photo of it! 

Though I seriously considered flying for the visit, I would not have a non-stop trip. So the worry of moving around with my carry-on in one airport or another was a big concern for my limited breathing and walking these days. The above Pan Am DC-7 was similar to ones on which I was a stewardess in the smaller airports of the Caribbean in 1963. Some places didn't have long enough runways yet for jets.

Willie Nelson sings On the Road Again at the Grand Ole Opry

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Today's quote:

Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry. 

-William Butler Yeats, writer, Nobel laureate (1865-1939)

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Goddess of the day:

4000 year old mother goddess figurine 18.5 cm high -the iconography of the eyes is typical of the late Chalcolithic or early 4th millennium BC.

National Archaeological Museum of Bulgaria, Sofia.

Thanks Jenny Mendes Pottery site on FB

Statues in a pocket park commemorating public education in Berea KY. I stopped to stretch my legs on my 2 day drive to Columbus OH. More of my trip pics will be shared eventually. But of course first I’ll see my family!

It's just from getting older!

 

A week ago I went to my dermatologist. Here I am in the new-fangled gown with wings on the shoulders. My dermatologist thinks I must have spent most of my 83 years outside in the sun. Hey, I have been using sunblock moisturizers for at least the last 5 years! Before that, I worked indoors, but spent vacations outdoors at least!

He froze off some spots on my nose...so then I spent the last week covering the swollen area with Vaseline, and a Band-Aid! Here I am on Wednesday morning. I continued to have the red bump on the tip of my nose, since Vaseline is great to oil my pores down.

The band-aid is off, and I'm not sure if this scabby thing will be coming off or not. Not much improvement yet!

I'm posting blogs from a different place this week...more will be revealed soon!

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Today's quote:

Women can support each other and bring back the sacred sisterhood we yearn for at our core. Venus figure from the Siberian Paleolithic site of Mala, dated approximately 24,000 BP. There is a leaf shaped mark on her right shoulder/breast and a hole drilled in the base, presumably indicating it was worn or hung as a pendant. Source: The Mother Goddess site on FaceBook Er, just 6 more Mondays in 2025! ------------------------ And just a bit more about the Rovin' Toad (see header photo of my old camper van.) Marty, my oldest son using my typewriter, with the van's door open behind him, taken on our long summer camping trip in 74 or 75. I think it was 75. My younger son turned 8 that summer, and entered 3rd grade in Tallahassee when we finally settled again. Here's an older blog about our trip...without many details.  A photo of the real van...the only one  I have. ----------- From last Wednesday I want  to share a newsletter about NC and Charlotte and ICE and politics. Skip it if you've had enough already! Asheville Watchdog -  "Democracy Watch: How the shocking killing of a Charlotte woman has shaped the Republican Party’s strategy for winning North Carolina elections against “soft-on-crime” Democrats"

Who do you trust?

First a note about the new header (a  duplicate below because eventually I'll change the header)

The underside shows how I built the ceramic van  with slabs, painted with acrylics, and indicates the 12 years I drove that really cool van! Not sure which of my sons might like the clay version when I'm gone... 

I called it the Rovin' Toad...a play on Open Road which made the conversion set up. It slept 4 (2 children or small people up above). had a gas stove with oven, water heater, furnace, various configurations of seating/table/bed, a chemical toilet in a little closet, which we didn't use, and a few seat belts. It wasn't air conditioned, and I lived in Florida most of the time I owned it. I dream about it frequently still. The engine block froze over a long weekend in Gainesville FL over Christmas in '84.

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Back to trustworthiness.

My lifelong attitude is that people are naturally trustworthy. So a stranger is just as good as a friend who I just haven't gotten to know yet.

That's not exactly the case in all situations. Look at ICE and how people are being treated. I sure wouldn't trust anyone wearing that gear and a mask.

Strangers who give services in my home are sometimes the hardest for me to say I can trust them. A recent new cleaning person did an ok job. I'll hire her again.

But this morning I couldn't find my jewelry box (aka a glasses case.) I looked all over where it is usually kept, and nearby, and remembered the last time I picked it up and put things in it, prior to the cleaning woman, so she would be able to dust easily.

Where did I put it? Did she take it? I hate thinking that, but as I struggled with opening drawers and cabinets, that came to my mind.

I finally found it of course. And I asked myself, do I trust strangers any more?

More questions might be lurking in our social networking sites... 

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Yes, I have one of these, but mine looks different.

Just saying...

We have a president (note no capital letters) who lies continually. And now he's not only called a female reporter a "Piggie" but said members of congress should be hanged (due to the above).

Remember the Mi Li incident in Viet Nam? Look it up if you don't.

What about things that just don't add up?

Social media loves  to show us the short-comings of others... or maybe in their world cats can say Woof!

But this is just wrong!

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On my other blog Alchemy of Clay (about art) there're some great sculptures!

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Today's quotes:

Truth-tellers are not always palatable. There is a preference for candy bars. 

-Gwendolyn Brooks, poet (1917-2000)

Faith is a cop-out. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can't be taken on its own merits.

 -Dan Barker, former preacher, musician (b. 25 Jun 1949)

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Today's goddess:

Amazon Goddess by Barbara Rogers, 2011

Saturday fun with animals

 This week I have few encounters with critters.

Last week I met a friend's trial new dog, Champ. I haven't seen him this week, so he may not have worked out for her.

He was a rather slow moving older beagle. The interesting part of his  story was that his owner had recently died. And she had died the same day that my friend had lost her own dog suddenly. She was trying out living with Champ for a few weeks, I believe. 

Another blogger recently posted some art by an artist who was also recently deceased, Leoma Lovejoy. Blogger is Southwest Daily Photos. 

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From a Gallery Show by the Red House artists, in 2021 a selection.

My contribution was a ceramic open sculpture of trees (which sold!!)

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Today's quotes:

Every student needs someone who says, simply, "You mean something. You count."  -Tony Kushner, playwright (b. 16 Jul 1956) Be part of the discussion on climate change as we move our society to a critical mass of people who can change the way we live, govern, support, communicate, and save the earth. ---------------- Today's goddess: Amazing goddess figurine from Balzi Rossi (red rocks), who is apparently depicted giving birth. Dated ca 26,000-20,000 BC Gravettian period, it was found in Balzi Rossi caves (archaeological site), Grimaldi di Ventimiglia, Italy on the border with France. Musée des Antiquites Nationales of Saint Germain-en-Laye, France SOURCE: The Mother Goddess site on FaceBook And over at my other blog, Alchemy of Clay, see E. J. Taylor's wonderful dolls!

Bridges help you get where you're going - even if nowhere!

 Sepia Saturday (a day early) brings the idea of bridges to mind.

So I am off to search for any kind of structures that cross space or water...

1890s "Otto Mears’ Toll Road, a daring creation that connected Oray Colorado with the now "Million Dollar Highway."

I've been waiting for a chance to share this structure! I wonder how long it lasted! Isn't it interesting to see the rejected lumber lying about all over the place!

Old Bridge over Flat Creek, Montreat NC 2014

The old bridge with Rhododendron rails over Flat Creek, Montreat NC

Bridge rebuilt in 2022 over Flat Creek - before Hurricane Helene floods washed it away in 2024.

Rod Chase- Twilight in Central Park, NY

Van Gogh, The Gleize Bridge over the Vigueirat Canal

A modern covered bridge (over a road I believe) in Old Salem NC...where my friend stood as we began our tour of the old town.

A true bridge to nowhere, near Arches National Park, Moab Utah. 2025

 The High Shoals Bridge on South Fork River NC (now closed)

by Koowah Shining - The High Shoals Bridge on South Fork River NC,  for History of North Carolina on FaceBook.

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Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week!

Our host, Alan, gives this introduction:

For want of something better, I have given this week's prompt image the title "Bridges To Nowhere". The photograph comes from the extensive collection of my Uncle Frank, and shows a very decorative bridge across a seaside boating lake. As it leads simply from one side of the lake to the other, I suppose you can say that it is a bridge to nowhere, but that is not something that can be said about old photographs in general. Old photographs provide us with a bridge to somewhere, and that somewhere is the past. So, once again, we ask you to share your old photographs here on Sepia Saturday, by posting them on or around Saturday 22nd November 2025 and adding a link to the list below. And if you would like to plan your Sepia Saturday posts for the remainder of the year, here is a list of our weekly prompt images.

 I invite you to consider joining the fun of sharing an old photo or two with Sepia Saturday sometime!

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Today's quote:

I wanted to live my life so that people would know unmistakably that I am alive, so that when I finally die people will know the difference for sure between my living and my death.

 -June Jordan, writer, teacher, and activist (1936-2002)

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Today's goddess:

Beautiful pregnant goddess figurine, created about 24,000 years ago at the Kostenki - Borshevo region on the Don River, north of the Black Sea.

Kostenki / Kostienki is a very important Paleolithic site on the Don River in Russia. It was a settlement which contained goddess/ansestor figures, dwellings made of mammoth bones, and many flint tools and bone implements. Actually it is not a single site but an area consisting of more than twenty Palaeolithic site locations on the right bank of the river, between the villages of Kostenki and Borshevo.

The Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Thanks FB post The Mother Goddess