Cyprus Temple of Dionysus

On our Journey to the Mystical Gem of the Mediterranean-Cyprus with Finbarr, a pivotal moment for me happened at the temple
of Dionysus, he who was so deeply wounded by the feminine principle.

His father was Zeus and his mother a mortal, Semele. When Hera, Zeus’s wife, found out Semele was pregnant, she killed her while Dionysus was still in the womb. Zeus saved him and brought him to full term sown in his thigh, but Hera never let up pursuing him. He was in constant mortal danger and hunted down by a devouring female. This continues for years until Rhea, an earth goddess, takes him in hand, helps him release his pain and find balance within himself.

I have known his story for a long time, but it wasn’t till I saw that he had a temple in Cyprus that things from the past started coming up. I could see clearly where I have also hurt men in my life through words and actions and it hurt my heart because I have four brothers and I have seen the pain that women’s cruel words and actions have caused them. It grieved me I had done things that would make other men feel the same thing.

The closer our trip came, the more I felt a real need to find a way to make this right, to whatever degree I could. I felt the influence of Aphrodite pushing me to do a simple ritual, in this sacred place, in between the worlds.

So, I asked Finbarr, with that deep longing to pour out the anguish I felt for my behavior, I asked if at the last moment, when we were in the temple of Dionysus if he would be ok with me doing something there and Finbarr agreed. It is because of Finbarr's grace and willingness to stand in for all men, as I asked for forgiveness, first from him, because of my behavior on the France tour many years ago. I hope I am a better person today than I was then. Secondly, I had to expand that to ask forgiveness for all the pain that I have caused all the other men throughout my life.
Having been hurt myself by others, men and women alike, I know how devastating that can be. I thought of all the times I wished someone who had hurt me would just admit it and say, “Yes, I did that, I was wrong, and I am so sorry that I hurt you. You didn’t deserve that.” More than not, it didn’t happen. That is why it was so important for me to own up to what I did and show remorse.

Thirdly, I also needed, to extend that further, to include all the hurts that women, as a collective, have inflicted on men through time and space. Men represent the Divine Masculine, and I will be forever grateful Finbarr made the space for me to do what I needed to do to honor that Divine Masculine.
Thank you, Finbarr.

Linda CA.