Creative Writing at The Haven - Goddesses 6

Final week - Domestic or fireside goddesses

                                                             

A household deity is a deity or spirit that protects the home, looking after the entire household or certain key members. It has been a common belief in pagan religions as well as in folklore across many parts of the world.

Household deities fit into two types; firstly, a specific deity- typically a goddess- often referred to as a hearth goddess or domestic goddess who is associated with the home and hearth, with examples including the Greek Hestia and Norse Frigg.

"Frigga Spinning the Clouds" by J. C. Dollman.

Household deities were usually worshipped not in temples but in the home, where they would be represented by small idols (such as the teraphim of the Bible, often translated as "household gods" in Genesis 31:19 for example), amulets, paintings or reliefs.

  

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. She is the consort of the god Vishnu. She is said to bring good luck and is believed to protect her devotees from all kinds of misery and money-related sorrows.

Lakshmi is worshipped daily in Hindu homes and commercial establishments as the goddess of wealth.  The festivals of Diwali and Kojagiri Purnima are celebrated in her honour. Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favourite of women.

Diwali  popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a five day festival that falls between mid-October and mid-November. (2012 Diwali starts on 13^th November.)

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of "Deepavali" (Sanskrit: दीपावली Dīpāvalī), which translates into "row of lamps". Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome. Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. The third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

We discussed what "wealth" might mean and decided it had little to do with income.   We wrote about our inner goddess and re-read Ruth Fainlight's poem that acted as a sort of keynote for this series:

Gloria

Ruth Fainlight

(an extract)

  

However she’s personified

Or represented,

I won’t forget

How space expands inside me,

Can easily contain

A million goddesses or concepts.

 

 Domestic Goddess may refer to: a household deity it is also the nickname of Nigella Lawson, author of a cookbook entitled How to Be a Domestic Goddess.

As a final sweet treat - all the winter festivals seem to involve eating - we discussed the history of the great  Be-Ro cook book.  Here's a classic recipe:

Be-Ro Milk Chocolate Cake serves 12 200 g (7 oz) Be-Ro Self Raising Flour 225 g (8 oz) caster sugar 1 x 2.5 ml spoon (½ tsp) salt 25 g (1 oz) cocoa powder, sieved 100 g (4 oz) butter 2 medium eggs 5 x 15 ml spoon (5 tbsp) evaporated milk 5 x 15 ml spoon (5 tbsp) water few drops vanilla essence 1 Heat oven to 180ºC, 350ºF, Gas Mark 4. Grease 2 x 20.5 cm (8 inch) tins, not loose-bottomed as the mixture would run out. 2 Mix flour, sugar, salt and cocoa. 3 Rub in butter. Beat eggs with milk. 4 Stir egg mixture, essence and liquids into the dry ingredients and beat well. 5 Place mixture in prepared tins and bake for about 30-35 minutes. 6 When cold sandwich and top with Milk Chocolate Icing (see below).

Bake in moderate oven 180 C  350 F Gas 4 for about 30 mins.

When cold sandwich and cover with

chocolate icing as follows:

60g (2½ oz) butter

2 tablespoons cocoa

225g (9 oz) sieved icing sugar

45 ml (3 tblsp) hot milk

5 ml (1 tspn) vanilla essence

Soften butter, blending in cocoa, then stir in icing sugar, milk and essence.

Beat until smooth and thick.

Note from Sally:

For a more grown-up taste I substitute one ounce of sugar for an extra ounce of cocoa in the cake mix and I use light muscovado rather than white caster sugar. I also use quite a bit of vanilla extract – a generous half teaspoonful. 

Happy winter festivals!

Next series starts Friday January 11th 2013 - as before.