The Ancient Meaning of Virginity

In our culture, our mother, sisters and daughters have been wounded by the concept and definitions of the words- virginity and purity. We have punished ourselves for physical intimacy or invasions for the fear of it robbing ourselves of our inner beauty, innocence, light and love.

No one, absolutely no one can take away our inner beauty, innocence, light and love.  Our inner light, which is absolutely sacred and pure, will always remain untouched and will always remain in its perfection. It was always there, and will always be there, no matter what.

Let us embrace the broader meaning of the word virgin, which is about being whole in oneself and having a bright light within that forever will maintain the purity of its own sacredness and beauty, no matter what happens in the world in relation to touch, sex, love and marriage.

See this excerpt from Nancy Qualls-Corbett”s book, The Sacred Prostitute:

In our modern understanding it is paradoxical to view the goddess (Aphrodite in this case) as virginal when she is identified with passion and many lovers.  But there is not paradox; in Latin virgo means unmarried, while virgo intacta refers to  the lack of sexual experience.  Today, the word “virgin” simply carries the latter meaning.

The virginal attribute of the goddess (Aphrodite) simply means she belongs to no man; rather she belongs to herself.  She is not seen as a counterpart to other gods or as the feminine version of a god.  Although she may be married, her husband is viewed as a consort.  Her wifeliness does not alter her own attributes or lend her special status.  The goddess of love exists in her own right, as “one- in-herself” (11).  She is true to her own nature and instinct. One speaks of a virgin forest, which is free and unconstrained, pregnant with life in accordance with the laws of nature.  It is untrammeled and untouched by man, or, we could say, the laws of man (12).  Likewise, the goddess of love behaved in accordance to her own divine laws of nature, free and unfettered by manmade laws.

11 M. Esther Harding, Woman’s Mysteries: Ancient and Modern, p124
12 See John Layard, The Virgin Archetype

 

So, once a virgin, always a virgin.

And, may you remember that the bright light within always remains sacred and pure.

And may you always embrace yourself with the fullest of love.