From: hz225wu@unidui.uni-duisburg.de (Micaela Pantke)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Amazons and the Labrys - was: Re: Question/symbol
Followup-To: alt.pagan
Date: 7 Jan 1993 09:59:49 +0100
Organization: University of Duisburg
Reply-To: hz225wu@unidui.UUCP (Micaela "Stayka" Pantke)
NNTP-Posting-Host: unidui.uni-duisburg.de

Hi there - Stayka is here!

amanda@intercon.com (Amanda Walker) writes:
AW>
AW> However, as always, don't jump to any conclusions.  Someone may just 
AW> have thought it looked cool :)--the decals are often sitting in a 
AW> basket at the counter in women's bookstores as an impulse purchase 
AW> item.  

Yeah, just how I got two stickers.  And I must admit that I also bought
them in utter ignorance of there 'lesbian meaning' - I DID find them 
cute, and I'm quite sure that I'm not lesbian.  I like good-looking AND
intelligent males too much...  :-)  

ksm@abb-sc.abb-sc.com (Ashley) writes:
A>
A> Obvious next question: What is an Amazon? To those I know and myself, 
A> an Amazon is a very great warrior woman. It is a status earned or born 
A> to, depending on the person. Many women are warriors, but to be 
A> confirmed as an Amazon is a *great* honor and anyone who bears that 
A> title is worthy of *very* deep respect.

I agree.  But I also do define Amazons very much in the Darkovan way
(which is best described in the books "The Shattered Chain" and
"Thendara House" by Marion Zimmer Bradley), and I must admit that I
would have great difficulties to take the Amazon Oath (Better: The Oath
of the RENUNCIATES, which was also the word Corun referred to), for it
means to renunciate every boon given to you by a man, be it relative or
not, even the (sur-)name given to you by your father.  Unfortunately I
have only the German translations of the before mentioned Darkover
novel, else I would have included the complete Oath for you.  It's a
very fascinating one, I must admit, and none to be taken lightly. 
(Maybe someone who has the original version could provide it?) Darkovan
Renunciates are not only swordwomen, but also midwifes, healers, traders
and so on. 

cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes about Amazons:
JMC>
JMC> I've always held in my mind the image of an Amazon as being a woman 
JMC> who says, "This is what I am, and it's not changing to suit anyone 
JMC> else but me.  If you don't like it, look the other way."  Someone who 
JMC> knows what she is and will defend her self to the death, someone who 
JMC> won't hide any portion of her self, of alter it to "fit in."
JMC> 

Yeah, that would be a small part of that which I consider an Amazon,
because you don't consider any duties coming with the right to call
yourself Amazon.  Those duties would imply giving any other woman help
when you are asked for it, and several others I don't seem to recall. 
But I must note, that I DO adher to the Darkovan way, which does not
have to be yours. 

Avarra bless you! 
                   Stayka deyAvemta  (who is PSI-Technician, but no 
                                      Amazon, though she admires them
                                      very much)

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Email: hz225wu@unidui.uni-duisburg.de  |  Now Stayka is online!!!
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Snail Mail:              | 
Micaela "Stayka" Pantke  |  What is done under the four moons need not
Westhoffstrasse 111      |  be remembered after they have set.
W-4200 Oberhausen 11     |        (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
Germany                  | 
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