spirituality

Sarah J. Connell
CATS Staff Writer

Although there are many who follow a spiritual path in the lives through Christianity there are also some of us who have found other paths leading to our acceptance of our authentic/real selves for a fullness of growth in our spirits.

For some it has been Judaism, some Buddhism, some Hinduism, some Wicca, and for some of us it has been a return to the Goddess.
The Goddess may be seen in many aspects and in many different names in many different cultures. This article will be looking at one aspect of Goddess which for me as a transsexual is one which brings me comfort. She is well known in China as Kuan Yin and is revered in Japan, Korea and Vietnam. She is in fact the MOST revered Goddess in all of Asia. Kuan Yin is a Buddhist Bodhisattva. Goddess of mercy and boundless compassion.

Her compassion for humanity has been so great she rejected the transcendency to retain human form. Her Chinese name literally translates as "she who listens". She is seen in many forms-one many may recognize as the One thousand-eyed Goddess. Perhaps reminding us She has Her eyes watching on all aspects of our lives. The peacock is a symbol of Kuan Yin - a story told of Her coming to earth to instruct all the creatures how to live with one another as they were in constant conflict. As long as She remain there, they would be compassionate and loving toward one another, but when She left, they would return to fighting and treating one another badly. There was one bird who was brown in color but with very very long feathers. She passed Her hand over Her face and the bird's plumage was transformed with a bright colored eye at the end of each feather. This eye stared out at all the other creatures so as to remind them to be compassionate and loving to one another. This is why the peacock struts around as it is proud of its special role given to it by Kuan Yin.

The original concept of Kuan Yin was brought to China from India about 500 CE but was then known as a MALE figure, Avalokitesvara. This god of compassion remained in depiction as male (although androgynous) for about another 300 years when "A" transitioned to the FEMALE Goddess Kuan Yin under Confucian influence.

Her wonderful aspects of love and compassion have been seen in other religions such as Catholicism with the Virgin Mary and in Judaism with the Shekinah which is the feminine aspect of God or more literally "Goddess full of mercy".

It appears even among our gods we have had our transsexuals. I find the many aspects of this Goddess a comfort for me. This article has been too brief to be able to cover all of Her qualities and aspects. In the future I hope to share of other Goddesses from the many cultures and ages of humanity who have all given some comfort and hope to we humans in our lives.

There is Ane who is the mother goddess in Nigeria to Xochiquetzal who is the flower goddess in Mexico. Let me know if you have an interest in exploring the world of the Goddess.

You can reach the author at Shalomsarah13@aol.com