TW: Rape, Abuse
I first encountered Medusa in 2014-15 when Poseidon starting coming to me, wanting a follower. After doing research on Him and seeing his many rapes, I vehemently rejected Him, which He didn’t like. Medusa started coming to me on Dark Moons in defense of Him, saying that things aren’t always what they seem.
With this in mind, I started doing deeper research on deity rape mythology and more importantly, I started talking to people about their opinions about it, especially the ones who’re close to gods like Poseidon. I learned how often a deity rape story isn’t about actual rape at all. I’m in a bit of pain right now, so forgive me for not knowing the correct grammar terms for this kind of stuff—but sometimes rape myths are poetic explanations for nature. The Poseidon raping Demeter = An ocean storm flooding and destroying farm lands.
I’d also learn that Poseidon raping Medusa was actually added later.
After talking to Mamas Hekate and Hestia, I gave Poseidon a chance, and He taught me that They are not Their myths.
After this, I stopped seeing Medusa for a bit.
Sometime in 2016-17, I got into Fusion Belly Dance because of Medusa. She appeared on a dark moon through a belly dancer name Nagasita. I watched and got inspired. I added dance stretches and belly dance exercises to my own routines. I loved it. I dedicated my spiritual belly dances to Medusa and several nymphs who would often dance beside me. Once, I even sculpted a belly dancing Medusa wearing one of Nagasita’s headdresses (sadly it broke and the photo is somewhere in my vast boxes of photos).
Every Dark Moon Medusa would come to me. Always in the darkness, underground, covered in blood. She helped me accept and honor my dark feminine nature. My sexuality, beauty, and body. Sacred Rage. Cursing. Me as a Warrior and Guardian. Beautiful and Deadly.
She (and other Dark Entities) also helps to keep me from letting guilt and shame and rare glimpses of nostalgia win when it comes to reconnecting with certain family members—many whom I’ve cut out of my life due to abuse and enabling.
I’m extremely grateful for Her guidance and sternness.
“DO NOT FORGET WHAT THEY DID TO YOU.”
She’s also taught that no I don’t have to forgive my abusers. I can still heal without that forgiveness. Which is a whole nother kind of Empowerment and Sovereignty!
Growing up with people telling you that you have to forgive your abusers and yourself in order to heal. That may work for them, but it doesn’t work for everyone. I personally think it’s highly toxic. It’s like spiritual bypassing and toxic positivity. Like I said, if it genuinely works for some folks, I’m glad.
It doesn’t work for me.
It honestly feels like me making others feel comfortable, and I ain’t down with that. I stopped doing that shit 11 years ago when I realized that the enablers didn’t actually care about me. My actions made them uncomfortable, and I had to do the forgiving and forgetting and come back. The problem was me. I wasn’t being a good silent victim. Instead I was shattering the illusion and challenging the toxic family norms.
“Forgive yourself? For what? You did nothing wrong! They don’t deserve it! THEY DON’T DESERVE MERCY! Some things are unforgiveable! You are not weak.”
Medusa’s lessons have been extremely healing for me. Yall don’t deserve my forgiveness. I did nothing wrong. Fuck you. Nope! I’m a mother fuckin Cycle Breaker, Cunt! Fuckin deal with that!
I was called all kinds of names by that side of the family, and many tried to guilt trip and manipulate me. Some of them violated my privacy to gas light, and even tried to turn me against my husband—believing that this was all because of him. That my husband was manipulating and abusing me.
I made the decision, not him. He supported and stood by my side, though. Then they’d go to him saying that he needed to control me. He told them to fuck off.
It was hard in the beginning. It was extremely lonely, even with support of my true and chosen family, my spirit fam, and my therapist. As the years ticked by and loved ones would die and family/friend gatherings slowly stopped, it got harder to not reach out…but then that fear, those reminders. Medusa in the darkness.
I will say that as my dad’s seizures wrecked his brain, my fears of him finding me have stopped. I grew up with him telling me that if I ever told anyone about the sick shit he did to me, he’d take me out to the woods and kill me—never stopped me, of course, my crazy ass is cut from a different cloth. Now that his brain is mush, I don’t worry about that anymore. He can’t hurt me anymore.
I rejoined FB earlier this year—not because I missed it, I definitely did not. I rejoined to safely reconnect with certain family members from that side. I’ve stayed in contact with a cousin who believed me, and I recently got back into contact with another cousin who wasn’t a dick, and also believes me. Like, that side of the family is starting to invite me to gatherings and its a little scary.
I remember how many of them acted when I cut my dad out of my life. But people are allowed to change. I certainly did. Over the years some of them have contacted me admitting that I was right about my dad—he’s a pervy piece of shit. Me leaving opened their eyes to the truth.
I haven’t done years of therapy and shadow work to break now.
“Never forget what they did. Remember that you can leave at any time. Take no shit.”
Medusa emerges from the darkness and reminds to not forget what and who I am. I am powerful. Let them feel my energy. Terrify them with my presence alone, if I need to. I ain’t one to fuck with.
I am no longer your silenced victim.
I am Transformed.
I am a Priestess. Torch Bearer. Seiðkona. Völva. Conduit. Warrior. Guardian. Healer. Shapeshifter.
I am Gorgon.
Some Correspondences (UPG and Not):
Thank you for the support.
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Foxes and Snakes…
~ Priestess Foxlyn
Sept 29, 2021 - The Medusa statue sitting on my Healing Arete Altar.
This is the version from the 2010 Clash of the Titans.
I first encountered Medusa in 2014-15 when Poseidon starting coming to me, wanting a follower. After doing research on Him and seeing his many rapes, I vehemently rejected Him, which He didn’t like. Medusa started coming to me on Dark Moons in defense of Him, saying that things aren’t always what they seem.
With this in mind, I started doing deeper research on deity rape mythology and more importantly, I started talking to people about their opinions about it, especially the ones who’re close to gods like Poseidon. I learned how often a deity rape story isn’t about actual rape at all. I’m in a bit of pain right now, so forgive me for not knowing the correct grammar terms for this kind of stuff—but sometimes rape myths are poetic explanations for nature. The Poseidon raping Demeter = An ocean storm flooding and destroying farm lands.
I’d also learn that Poseidon raping Medusa was actually added later.
After talking to Mamas Hekate and Hestia, I gave Poseidon a chance, and He taught me that They are not Their myths.
After this, I stopped seeing Medusa for a bit.
2018 Medusa Belly Dance Altar, with real snakeskin that I found on a hike,
hanging from a tree branch in front of me.
Oct 2019 - My Medusa Priestess Belly Dance Ritual Garb
Every Dark Moon Medusa would come to me. Always in the darkness, underground, covered in blood. She helped me accept and honor my dark feminine nature. My sexuality, beauty, and body. Sacred Rage. Cursing. Me as a Warrior and Guardian. Beautiful and Deadly.
She (and other Dark Entities) also helps to keep me from letting guilt and shame and rare glimpses of nostalgia win when it comes to reconnecting with certain family members—many whom I’ve cut out of my life due to abuse and enabling.
I’m extremely grateful for Her guidance and sternness.
“DO NOT FORGET WHAT THEY DID TO YOU.”
She’s also taught that no I don’t have to forgive my abusers. I can still heal without that forgiveness. Which is a whole nother kind of Empowerment and Sovereignty!
Growing up with people telling you that you have to forgive your abusers and yourself in order to heal. That may work for them, but it doesn’t work for everyone. I personally think it’s highly toxic. It’s like spiritual bypassing and toxic positivity. Like I said, if it genuinely works for some folks, I’m glad.
It doesn’t work for me.
It honestly feels like me making others feel comfortable, and I ain’t down with that. I stopped doing that shit 11 years ago when I realized that the enablers didn’t actually care about me. My actions made them uncomfortable, and I had to do the forgiving and forgetting and come back. The problem was me. I wasn’t being a good silent victim. Instead I was shattering the illusion and challenging the toxic family norms.
“Forgive yourself? For what? You did nothing wrong! They don’t deserve it! THEY DON’T DESERVE MERCY! Some things are unforgiveable! You are not weak.”
Medusa’s lessons have been extremely healing for me. Yall don’t deserve my forgiveness. I did nothing wrong. Fuck you. Nope! I’m a mother fuckin Cycle Breaker, Cunt! Fuckin deal with that!
I was called all kinds of names by that side of the family, and many tried to guilt trip and manipulate me. Some of them violated my privacy to gas light, and even tried to turn me against my husband—believing that this was all because of him. That my husband was manipulating and abusing me.
I made the decision, not him. He supported and stood by my side, though. Then they’d go to him saying that he needed to control me. He told them to fuck off.
It was hard in the beginning. It was extremely lonely, even with support of my true and chosen family, my spirit fam, and my therapist. As the years ticked by and loved ones would die and family/friend gatherings slowly stopped, it got harder to not reach out…but then that fear, those reminders. Medusa in the darkness.
I will say that as my dad’s seizures wrecked his brain, my fears of him finding me have stopped. I grew up with him telling me that if I ever told anyone about the sick shit he did to me, he’d take me out to the woods and kill me—never stopped me, of course, my crazy ass is cut from a different cloth. Now that his brain is mush, I don’t worry about that anymore. He can’t hurt me anymore.
I rejoined FB earlier this year—not because I missed it, I definitely did not. I rejoined to safely reconnect with certain family members from that side. I’ve stayed in contact with a cousin who believed me, and I recently got back into contact with another cousin who wasn’t a dick, and also believes me. Like, that side of the family is starting to invite me to gatherings and its a little scary.
I remember how many of them acted when I cut my dad out of my life. But people are allowed to change. I certainly did. Over the years some of them have contacted me admitting that I was right about my dad—he’s a pervy piece of shit. Me leaving opened their eyes to the truth.
I haven’t done years of therapy and shadow work to break now.
“Never forget what they did. Remember that you can leave at any time. Take no shit.”
Medusa emerges from the darkness and reminds to not forget what and who I am. I am powerful. Let them feel my energy. Terrify them with my presence alone, if I need to. I ain’t one to fuck with.
I am no longer your silenced victim.
I am Transformed.
I am a Priestess. Torch Bearer. Seiðkona. Völva. Conduit. Warrior. Guardian. Healer. Shapeshifter.
I am Gorgon.
Medusa’s Oracle Mask
Some Correspondences (UPG and Not):
- Dark Moons
- Dark Half of the Year
- Protectress of Sexual Assault Victims
- Sacred Rage
- Bane Workings
- Snakes
- Bows n Arrows
- Belly Dance
- Caves
- Shapeshifting
Thank you for the support.
Face to the Sun.
Trust in Joy.
Follow the Foxes and Snakes…
~ Priestess Foxlyn