Mary Daly
a triple goddess
poet, philosopher, theologian
She was a big sinner
matriarchal anti-pope
She didn’t allow men to take
one of her classes
wanted to nurture women
and authentic discussion
I was one of her students
whom she anointed as woman divine
gave me a lavender collar
my own small congregation
lavender prayer beads
She said they would foster
visionary imagination
She taught me about female prayer:
put your palms together
and curve your hands and fingers
to form the shape of a womb
She said every inch of a woman’s body is clean
especially there
I had never heard that before
felt a heavy red cloud lift from below
*I met Mary Daly briefly in Boston during a conference on feminist philosophy. The poem should be taken on a metaphorical level. I wasn’t literally her student, and she never literally taught me about female prayer. Her books touched me deeply on a personal level, and directed me to mentor and help empower other women.
Read Meet Mago Contributor Andrea Nicki.