So, what do we mean when we say, “Thou art God” or “Thou art Goddess”?
Why use that antique word, “Thou”? Once, it was the familiar form of address.
It was used between equals, between intimates. Robert Heinlein (the author that inspired this phrase) chose “thou” for a reason. In his letters about his book,
Stranger in a Strange Land, he writes that the phrase “Thou art God” is not about
being god, it’s about taking responsibility for our lives. It’s about making choices,
being self-aware, and acting with intention and deliberateness. It’s about aspiring to become the best people we can be. It’s about not depending on someone outside ourselves to direct our lives. It’s also about equality, for it points out that
we are all equally divine. It sets no one person above another.
When we say to one another, “Thou art Goddess” or “Thou art God”, we hear
that we are part of the divinity that pervades our world and our universe. It lives
in us, and is our highest self. “Thou art Goddess” and “Thou art God” reminds
us to pay attention to that divinity, to aspire to behave in accord with our highest self in all situations. It reminds us to be conscious in our interactions with others, for they, too, are divine. We practice ‘Being Excellent’ to each other.
Water-sharing is a central part of our practice, and is done in all of our community rituals. Water is something all living beings need for life and symbolizes our connection with each other, as well as our environment. Water is sacred to us. When we share water, we say to one another “Drink deep!” This means much more than “Drain your cup”. It’s not just about how much water we swallow. It’s about how we live our lives. Drink deeply of life! Drink deeply of nature, of friends, of experiences. Don’t just sip the waters of life. Open your mind and your heart and your soul. Drink in the love and joy and wonder life offers you. Drink in the sadness and grief that comes your way, too. Don’t wallow in it, but take it in, accept it, understand it, and work your way through it. When we share water, we experience life, knowing that we live in the midst of this community, in the web of interconnectedness, in the support of friends, family and lovers - our waterkin.
Why use that antique word, “Thou”? Once, it was the familiar form of address.
It was used between equals, between intimates. Robert Heinlein (the author that inspired this phrase) chose “thou” for a reason. In his letters about his book,
Stranger in a Strange Land, he writes that the phrase “Thou art God” is not about
being god, it’s about taking responsibility for our lives. It’s about making choices,
being self-aware, and acting with intention and deliberateness. It’s about aspiring to become the best people we can be. It’s about not depending on someone outside ourselves to direct our lives. It’s also about equality, for it points out that
we are all equally divine. It sets no one person above another.
When we say to one another, “Thou art Goddess” or “Thou art God”, we hear
that we are part of the divinity that pervades our world and our universe. It lives
in us, and is our highest self. “Thou art Goddess” and “Thou art God” reminds
us to pay attention to that divinity, to aspire to behave in accord with our highest self in all situations. It reminds us to be conscious in our interactions with others, for they, too, are divine. We practice ‘Being Excellent’ to each other.
Water-sharing is a central part of our practice, and is done in all of our community rituals. Water is something all living beings need for life and symbolizes our connection with each other, as well as our environment. Water is sacred to us. When we share water, we say to one another “Drink deep!” This means much more than “Drain your cup”. It’s not just about how much water we swallow. It’s about how we live our lives. Drink deeply of life! Drink deeply of nature, of friends, of experiences. Don’t just sip the waters of life. Open your mind and your heart and your soul. Drink in the love and joy and wonder life offers you. Drink in the sadness and grief that comes your way, too. Don’t wallow in it, but take it in, accept it, understand it, and work your way through it. When we share water, we experience life, knowing that we live in the midst of this community, in the web of interconnectedness, in the support of friends, family and lovers - our waterkin.