Goddesses of Intoxication
A mythological roundup for dry February...
For the fifth year in a row, we’re doing Dry February, which means we’re not drinking all month. We do this for several reasons, mostly because it’s the shortest month, and it’s a lot less depressing than launching into dry January right after the holidays.
While I have no intention of stopping drinking long term, I recognize the value of giving the body a break once a year, kind of hard reboot, and it’s a nice test of the old willpower… Mine, I have to say, is pretty awesome.
Our favorite pub, Relish, is literally right downstairs across the courtyard from our building. We don’t have to cross the street to get there, and when we walk in, we’re greeted with hugs and warm welcomes from staff and patrons alike, any time of day or night.
My best friend tests me every few days by inviting me to happy hour and then “lol I forgot you’re not drinking” Yeah, thanks, babe, it’s totally fine. Ugh…
So, yeah, it sucks. I’m bored and cranky, and I miss my friends. Worst of all, one month is apparently just long enough to give your body a break, but not long enough to notice any real physical benefits, like weight loss (trust me, I’ve tested it every year!).
The only time I weigh myself anymore is at the beginning and end of February… and I’m always like, Really? No change at all?! Maybe it’s a good thing. If I stopped drinking for a month and promptly dropped 10 pounds, I might have to seriously reconsider my life choices.
February 14
But as of today, we’re officially halfway through the month. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Rodger will be working tonight, so we celebrated last weekend with a fabulous steak dinner at Elisa, and a selection of raw appetizers; smoked bison tartare, cured hamachi, and my favorite, yellowfin tuna and avocado drizzled with sesame oil. A few bottles of sparkling water took the place of red wine.
The Mythos of Intoxication
So I thought this would be the perfect time to do a roundup of badass goddesses associated with intoxication, of which there are many. Humans on every continent have had a long and storied relationship with fermented liquids, herbs, fungi, and chemical compounds that alter the mind, lower the inhibitions, and heighten the senses.
We’ve been compelled to imbibe in pursuit of the sacred, for divine recreation, to enhance social ties, make love connections, bolster our courage, forget our troubles, and a countless myriad of other reasons.
Mayahuel, Aztec Goddess of Agave
At the top of this post is Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of the agave plant, credited with first distilling the potent, hallucinogenic drink called pulque from its fermented sap. She’s also associated with fertility and sustenance, as the agave provided not only pulque but also food and fibers used in various aspects of life.
Pulque was not an intoxicant to be taken lightly. It was sacred, medicinal, and restricted to ritual use by elders. It was not meant as an escape from drudgery, but as a way to connect with the gods.
Sacred Sacrifice
Mayahuel was married to Patecatl, the god of healing and medicinal plants. The divine couple were the parents of the Centzon Tōtōchtin, meaning “Four Hundred Rabbits,” adorable deities associated with drunken revelry and the consumption of pulque. The Centzon Tōtōchtin were born from the remains of Mayahuel and Patecatl after their sacrifice, symbolizing the transformative and life-giving aspects of the agave plant.
Sekhmet, Egyptian Goddess of War
Sekhmet, whose name means “powerful one,” is the lion-headed Egyptian goddess of war. When Ra, her father, sent her to punish his enemies for conspiring against him, her thirst for blood, once unleashed, could not be quenched. She killed thousands before Ra tricked her by dying a river of beer the color of blood with red ochre.
She drank and drank until she was so intoxicated, she ceased her murderous rampage. Despite her association with destruction, Sekhmet is also considered a goddess of healing and protection, and she is often invoked to ward off disease and illnesses.
Saved by Beer
While not a traditional goddess of drunkenness, she deserves a mention here since the most famous story about her involves the use of alcohol to control the uncontrollable, a battle-crazed goddess bent on destruction. Beer has the power to tame the savage beast.
Maman Brigitte, Haitian Vodou Spirit
Maman Brigitte is a Vodou death spirit, brought to Haiti and Louisiana by Irish indentured servants. She and her husband Baron Samedi guard cemeteries and protect graves marked with crosses. They are irreverent tricksters, mocking authority and carousing, dancing, swearing and drinking hot pepper-infused rum.
Often depicted as a powerful and assertive woman, Maman Brigitte is a prominent figure in Haitian Vodou, representing the spirit of death and the afterlife.
Sacred Intoxication
This is the first of our intoxication goddesses who seems to imbibe for the sheer joy of it, using alcohol as a way to heighten the senses, rouse the dead, and get a little closer to god, even if only for the night. Long live Maman Brigitte and Baron Samedi!
Pomba Gira, Afro-Brazilian Spirit of Wine, Crossroads, and Taboo
Pomba Gira drinks wine or champagne, smokes, dances, laughs loudly, and refuses shame. She governs choice, desire, and consequences, and is a patroness of women claiming their own power in a patriarchal society. Intoxication here represents the permission to want, to act, to cross boundaries knowingly and on her own terms.
Honorable Mentions
I don’t have artwork of these goddesses (yet!), but they’re worthy of mention and one day I will get around to drawing them:
Gunnlöð, the Norse giantess and guardian of the mead of poetry
Hathor, Egyptian goddess of divine communion, joy, music, sex, and intoxication
Ninkasi, ancient Sumerian goddess of beer, brewing, and fertility
Maenads, female followers of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, madness, and liberation
That’s all for today, my lovelies! I hope you’re enjoying this dark, wet, and chilly month (in Vancouver anyway) a lot more than I am… Take a moment to honor the goddesses of intoxication in whatever way you see fit…
Raise a glass of whatever concoction you please, play music that gets your heart pumping and your feet moving, embrace your loved ones, and be thankful that we’re one of the earth’s many creatures smart enough to seek out ways to alter our senses, whether you choose to do so with drink, plant medicines, meditation, ecstatic dancing, physical exertion or all the above, in the appropriate time and place.
See you next week!