The Black Madonna

The Black Madonna of medieval Europe, many scholars suggest, was the ancient Earth Mother, revered and re-incarnated within the iconography of the Catholic church. Inspired by the mystery and summer vitality of the land I was living within I took the image a step further.

To me, the Black Madonna is also about the numinous "spirit of place" associated with sacred places. Before there were churches, there were special caves and trees and wells, places where people went to "speak with the Earth" - to be healed, reborn, and symbolically participate in the cycles of nature. Almost certainly this is what many of the pre-Christian "Mysteries" rituals were about, including the Elusinian Mysteries associated with Demeter, Persephone, and Hecate.

"In western traditions there was once a vast pilgrimage that took place in Europe. Pilgrims made their way towards the town of Compostella in Spain, where an ancient effigy of the BLACK MADONNA is housed. The word Compostella comes from the same root word as compost. COMPOST is the living, black material that is made from rotting fruits, grains and other organic matter. From this compost -- life and light will emerge. When the pilgrims came to the Cathedral at Compostella they were being 'composted' in a sense. After emergence from the dark confines of the cathedral and the spirit -- they were ready to flower, they were ready to return home with their spirits lightened." ........... Jay Weidner

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