Yom Kippur and the Apple of Knowledge

There is no school today for Yom Kippur, so I looked up what we're "celebrating".

Wikipedia: Yom Kippur is a day of atonement for sin. On Yom Kippur, refrain from eating, drinking, leather shoes, bathing, anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions, and marital relations.

"Refraining from these symbolically represents a return to a pristine state of re-attachment to the purity of Edenic existence, and symbolically therefore one avoids that which arose as a need only after the exile from Eden: The Eden account tells of God saying "thorns and thistles will grow in your way...the snake will raise its head (to bite you) and you will give your heel (to crush it)" and so in the new post-Edenic existence it became necessary to wear strong protective shoes, and so these are avoided on Yom Kippur (see article for specifics). The Eden account also states that as opposed to the automatic food and drink in Eden, it will be necessary to work for it "by the sweat of your brow", and so food and drink are refrained from on Yom Kippur, as well as washing, and the use of cosmetics to remove sweat or its odor etc. Similarly for the description of the post-Edenic relationship between man and woman, and so on Yom Kippur marital relations are avoided"

So, here is a creepy self-portrait I painted the other day, inspired by a broken sculpture of Manat, pre-Islamic Goddess of fate, showcasing disturbingly visible ribs, which reminded me of me! I titled it, Becoming the Crone. And of course, the Crone would not be complete without the apple of knowledge. Atonement for eating the apple...no thanks, Yom Kippur.

Smashing the patriarchy = questioning religion daily.

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Asherah

An inscription from Khirbet El-Qôm (near Jerusalem) dated to the 700s BCE and translated by archaeologist Judith Hadley reads, "Uriyahu the Rich wrote it. Blessed be Uriyahu by Yahweh for from his enemies by his Asherah he has saved him by Oniyahu by his Asherah and by his A[she]rah.” ( Source ) Asherah was the Great Goddess of the Ancient Near East. From this inscription and other evidence, it is surmised that Yahweh, the God of the Jews, once had a wife - Asherah. Asherah was also sometimes known as Astarte and was associated with lions and the planet Venus, like her relative, Ishtar/Inanna. Asherah's symbol was the tree of life, and her worship involved sacred groves and asherah poles. Asherah original painting available through Saatchi Art . Stickers, prints, and other merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America. All of the Asherahs in my painting are based on figurines housed in the Isra...

Al-Lat

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Hannahanna

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Angrboda

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Sophia and the Apocryphon of John

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