The Pagan Heart
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May 2005 Issue
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Sheela na gig
By Nokomis Dream
Strong female symbols have always intrigued me. Mysterious, strong female symbols are even more exciting. And the epitome of a mysterious, strong female is none other than the Sheela na gig. There is some debate (isn't there always?), about what exactly the words Sheela na gig mean, or stand for. I will not go into all of that as I could write an entire article just on the supposition of what the words mean, but you can explore the links that I provide, and come to your own conclusions. I think that in modern times the definition that connects to your inner knowledge and resonates for you is the one that best explains it. So, what are the Sheela na gigs, you ask? Physically, they can best be described as carvings or statues that are often found in cemetaries, churchyards, abbeys, and many other structures, in and around Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. They are always female, usually with spread legs, as if squatting, and generally the Sheela is using her hands to spread her vulva wide open. Quite a confrontational image. Sheelas often appear bald - with maybe a few wavy lines scratched across the skull - as if a crone, and sometimes they have breasts. A few Sheelas have been found with braids, but these are rare. Other times the Sheelas have what can only be described as "emaciated ribs" or scars carved across the chest region. Many of the faces of the Sheelas look mischevious, in my opinion anyway. Some may appear as if sneering, or laughing at the world. As with the meaning of her name, there is discrepancy about what the Sheela represents. Is she a fertility symbol? Many say "yes", so let's look at that theory. Breasts are a symbol of fertility. They provide milk to babes, the very essence of life itself. For without breastmilk, and before the invention of formula, a baby had little chance at survival, needing the breasts of the birth mother, or another woman willing and able to share her most wonderful gift. If a woman has full breasts, they can be a symbol of her ability to bear children. They are also a comfort. How many times have we sat upon our mother's knees, and rested our cheek against the fullness of her breasts? However, full-breasted Sheelas are rare indeed. Those with breasts usually display the long drooping dugs of the crone. Fertility that has been. The grandmother figure who also provides comfort, once provided physical nourishment, but now feeds us with her wisdom and protection. The Sheela na gigs are often bald-headed. Does this represent the age and wisdom of the crone? If it does, what is she telling us? The crone holds many secrets and much knowledge. She passes on to us things such as the legends of our people, herbal remedies and old ways to cure the ill. The crone has been young, and learned from her mistakes so she can teach us and guide us. Or maybe the bald head means that she is a newborn? Full of promise of things yet to come. Innocence and assurance that life goes on, and that you must treat her gently, as you would a newborn, and that you, not she, is the leader, the guide in this life. Sheela's face is not, however, what some would consider beautiful - like a newnborn's her eyes are overlarge and staring, her face wizened. She looks like she may be grimacing - with the effort of birthing? Perhaps she is angry with the lack of obedience in her followers. I like to think that she isn't portrayed as beautiful, so as to turn attention aside from beauty - a mask we all wear at times. So she is made less attractive. Maybe she is laughing at us, because she knows not only about what has happened, but also about what is yet to come. Why are Sheela's ribs bony and prominent? Again one would have to consider the crone aspect. But is she perhaps warning us, or reminding us of hard times? The existing figures we have were made in the Middle Ages, although evidence points to a more ancient precursor. There was more chance of one not living to a ripe old age through illness, starvation, general ill-health at the lack of good food, death through childbirth, lack of medical knowledge, and the simple fact that people didn't live as long as we do now. Is she portrayed as starving, a reminder of hardship and illness - things she wards against in her role as protector? For Sheela herself is clearly not weakened or dying. She is almost aggressively vital. Now we look at the spread vulva, and the wide open hole in between. This aspect of Sheela is truly the most confrontational and shocking. We are unaccustomed to viewing women this way, but Sheela makes us do so. She is not flauting but confronting as she displays her innermost parts. But why? What is it she is showing us? Is she in the process of, or just finished pushing a child out? Maybe she gives birth to the world itself, or all of the human race, a life-giver and primal Mother. Or maybe she gives birth to the underworld, and that is why she is somewhat of a scary figure. One of the theories that I find quite fascinating, is that the Sheela na gig has her vulva spread wide as a doorway - so that when you die you can return to your mother. Some cultures refer to the earth as Mother Earth, viewing burial as a return to the Mother. Sheela would be the path that leads you back to where you come from. As I said earlier, the Sheela na gig is a mystery and interpreting her is up to you. This really hit home for me. She has the ability to give life, hence the breasts and the vulva, but yet she also takes it, allowing you passage home, back inside of her. There is a festival day called Sheela's day - commonly dated as the day after St Patrick's Day because some claimed Sheela as the wife of Saint Patrick. That is just not so. Here yet again, we see an attempt by early Christians to incorporate Pagan deities and beliefs into Christianity as a way to tempt early Pagans into their church. Many of the Sheelas have been defaced - most long ago, but some quite recently. Many of them are located in churches in churches. One need not wonder too long why the carvings were defaced, although it is curious that they were placed there originaly. A remnant of the desire for Her protection perhaps? But I'm off the subject again! At the turn of the 20th century, revelers would take the shamrock worn since St Patrick's day, and down it with drink at the end of the party, celebrating St Pat's "wife", Sheela. Perhaps the term Sheela has passed into language - to our Australian friends a slang term for female is "sheila"! Anyway, modern Pagans have moved the celebration into May to a time more suited to honoring powerful women. Placed beside Beltaine, Freyja's Day, and Inanna's Festival, Sheela's Festival is a time to celebrate women. There needs to be more investigation into the people of the time that carved these magnificent figures, and the festival of the same name. At any rate, one way that we can incorporate the festival into our lives is to honor the women we know - not just mothers, as on Mother's Day. But all women. The Crone, the Mother and the Maiden. The women in our lives are the bearers of life, wisdom and promise. |
Primary Article - Frigga Blot - Sacrifice for Frigga
Secondary Article - Beltaine
Return to the Index of articles for Seasonal Festivals
