In this thread I will reveal what Arratu is and how it came to be. I will attempt to show the similarities and the differences between what the practices of the Sumerians were, what they became and what we practice in Arratu. Arratu is not a reconstruction of an ancient practice, rather it is an evolution of that ancient faith into a modern resemblance.
In the southern area of what came to be called Mesopotamia (the land between the rivers) there were, in about 3500BCE, a series of city-states in a land called Sumer.
These city-states were quite remarkable in that their populations were very large. Some larger than 50000 people. They had progressed from grass huts to living in homes that were made of mud bricks. The homes had several rooms and the larger homes were two stories with a ritual courtyard in the middle of the ring of rooms. The largest constructions by far were the city temples. Called Ziggurats these temples were between four and seven stories high, made of the same mud bricks, and dedicated to the city's patron deity. Each family had a patron deity and every conceivable trade and talent had a patron deity. By 2500 BCE Sumer had changed from what it was in the beginning due to the invention of a written language.
In the beginning Sumer was a matrilineal society. Women owned all durable goods and men competed for women. (some things never change) Without written records or any concept of marriage a man could not be sure of who his children were. This meant that any durable goods and wealth was held by women and handed down to the first female child. Thereby securing a families wealth over many generations. Their image of the universe was a deep fresh water lake (larger than the oceans of today) upon which the land floated. The heavens were a large zinc dome with holes in it that showed the light of the spirit realm when the sun set. It all make sense when you consider that these were desert people living in a valley between two large and unruly rivers. The civilization invented the wheel, carts to carry goods and roads to travel upon. They are suspected to be one of, if not the, first "international" traders. They had farms and ranches, dams and irrigation, boats, an education system (actual schools), libraries, and made beer and Mead (a wine made from honey). They had enough leisure time to invent board games. They had a rich spirituality that was an everyday part of life. The top seven deities were in charge of the fate of the people, If you were having a bad week you would begin the day with lamentations to your patron deity to intercede on your behalf to the seven to make your life better. When writing their songs and poems people would identify themselves by name, by their parentage, by their patron deity and by their family deity. With over fifty major deities there were enough to choose from. Every invention was thought to be a gift from a deity and so as you can imagine the list of deities got quite long.
The most important change in the culture and spirituality of Sumer came shortly after the written word. With written records women lost their place of power. Marriage was installed and records of a man's sons could be kept. Men assumed a pivotal role in society and it changed from matrilineal to patriarchal. Many of the goddesses were lost and the names were changed in gender to be gods. Inanna was one goddess that survived because she was so popular. The goddess of the moon Inanna was almost displaced but the replacement became her brother Nanna. It is the male version of Inanna but she was never deposed. Ki, the mother of all the gods, was not deposed either. Ki and her mate, An, remained the head of the pantheon for at least 1500 years before the couple was replaced by a single God, Enlil. As the culture of Sumer changed to patriarchal so did the religion. Women and goddesses lost their importance and men and gods gained importance. Before the written word men and women were of equal importance and even a slave had the right to work for himself to buy his freedom. After the written word women became just slightly better than slaves and slaves were no longer allowed to buy their freedom. Children, especially female children were at the bottom of society. If they were disobedient they could be sold into slavery, beaten and even stoned to death.
Watching the evolution of this society over the thousands of years that it lasted one can get a feel for the "idealistic" society that might have been. Arratu is based in that ideal. The myths are kept because of the rich lessons they provide. The lamentations were discarded and a partnership with deity replaced it. We have the number 4 embedded in our tradition just as it was in ancient Sumer and the number 7 is another sacred number. Four seasons in the year, four winds that blow and for directions of travel. The four phases of the moon are each 7 days long. we identify ourselves in the four-fold pattern with our name, the names of our parents, the name of our patron deity, and the patron deity of our temple. we celebrate the four phases of the moon and the four seasons of the year. What really separates Arratu from most other neo-pagan paths is that we have an open canon and evolutionary dogma. The only "secrets" are the names of our members and the answers to the tests in the four-fold initiatory system. Anyone can get the rituals we use and use them freely. The names of deity, and all parts of our path can be examined to allow someone to know in advance what is required from the dedicate all the way to the fourth step in the process. The processes and skills that I teach in my open classes are the same classes I teach on those subjects to initiates.
More to follow
In the southern area of what came to be called Mesopotamia (the land between the rivers) there were, in about 3500BCE, a series of city-states in a land called Sumer.
These city-states were quite remarkable in that their populations were very large. Some larger than 50000 people. They had progressed from grass huts to living in homes that were made of mud bricks. The homes had several rooms and the larger homes were two stories with a ritual courtyard in the middle of the ring of rooms. The largest constructions by far were the city temples. Called Ziggurats these temples were between four and seven stories high, made of the same mud bricks, and dedicated to the city's patron deity. Each family had a patron deity and every conceivable trade and talent had a patron deity. By 2500 BCE Sumer had changed from what it was in the beginning due to the invention of a written language.
In the beginning Sumer was a matrilineal society. Women owned all durable goods and men competed for women. (some things never change) Without written records or any concept of marriage a man could not be sure of who his children were. This meant that any durable goods and wealth was held by women and handed down to the first female child. Thereby securing a families wealth over many generations. Their image of the universe was a deep fresh water lake (larger than the oceans of today) upon which the land floated. The heavens were a large zinc dome with holes in it that showed the light of the spirit realm when the sun set. It all make sense when you consider that these were desert people living in a valley between two large and unruly rivers. The civilization invented the wheel, carts to carry goods and roads to travel upon. They are suspected to be one of, if not the, first "international" traders. They had farms and ranches, dams and irrigation, boats, an education system (actual schools), libraries, and made beer and Mead (a wine made from honey). They had enough leisure time to invent board games. They had a rich spirituality that was an everyday part of life. The top seven deities were in charge of the fate of the people, If you were having a bad week you would begin the day with lamentations to your patron deity to intercede on your behalf to the seven to make your life better. When writing their songs and poems people would identify themselves by name, by their parentage, by their patron deity and by their family deity. With over fifty major deities there were enough to choose from. Every invention was thought to be a gift from a deity and so as you can imagine the list of deities got quite long.
The most important change in the culture and spirituality of Sumer came shortly after the written word. With written records women lost their place of power. Marriage was installed and records of a man's sons could be kept. Men assumed a pivotal role in society and it changed from matrilineal to patriarchal. Many of the goddesses were lost and the names were changed in gender to be gods. Inanna was one goddess that survived because she was so popular. The goddess of the moon Inanna was almost displaced but the replacement became her brother Nanna. It is the male version of Inanna but she was never deposed. Ki, the mother of all the gods, was not deposed either. Ki and her mate, An, remained the head of the pantheon for at least 1500 years before the couple was replaced by a single God, Enlil. As the culture of Sumer changed to patriarchal so did the religion. Women and goddesses lost their importance and men and gods gained importance. Before the written word men and women were of equal importance and even a slave had the right to work for himself to buy his freedom. After the written word women became just slightly better than slaves and slaves were no longer allowed to buy their freedom. Children, especially female children were at the bottom of society. If they were disobedient they could be sold into slavery, beaten and even stoned to death.
Watching the evolution of this society over the thousands of years that it lasted one can get a feel for the "idealistic" society that might have been. Arratu is based in that ideal. The myths are kept because of the rich lessons they provide. The lamentations were discarded and a partnership with deity replaced it. We have the number 4 embedded in our tradition just as it was in ancient Sumer and the number 7 is another sacred number. Four seasons in the year, four winds that blow and for directions of travel. The four phases of the moon are each 7 days long. we identify ourselves in the four-fold pattern with our name, the names of our parents, the name of our patron deity, and the patron deity of our temple. we celebrate the four phases of the moon and the four seasons of the year. What really separates Arratu from most other neo-pagan paths is that we have an open canon and evolutionary dogma. The only "secrets" are the names of our members and the answers to the tests in the four-fold initiatory system. Anyone can get the rituals we use and use them freely. The names of deity, and all parts of our path can be examined to allow someone to know in advance what is required from the dedicate all the way to the fourth step in the process. The processes and skills that I teach in my open classes are the same classes I teach on those subjects to initiates.
More to follow
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