Hey, friends!
Hope you have all had a wonderful Independence Day! Praying for future healing and unity in our world, that all people can experience a sense of freedom and privilege that many of us experience. Let's make an effort to improve within our circles and aim to create Zion in our societies.
It was a beautiful day for me, as my birthday falls on that week. I always have fireworks on my birthday. My parents say I came out with a bang to fireworks on the day of my birth. This holiday holds a lot of meaning for me. I hope that we can make further strides for equality within our nation.
In light of Independence Day, I wanted to discuss a topic that is a bit separate from our recent topics of conversation. Today, I wanted to discuss Lady Liberty, better known as the Statue of Liberty. I'll provide references for my research below.
MISS UNITED STATES
But first, in order to give background for my passion on this subject, I have to go out on this tangent. When I think about liberty, one line always comes to mind from the movie Miss Congeniality. The bus scene, in which the contestants of the pageant sing, "From sea to shining sea, like Lady Liberty. She reigns over all she sees. She's beauty and she's grace. She's Miss United States." Funny enough, the Miss United States pageant doesn't even have a theme song, and I can vouch for that. Very few people in my encounters now know that - shameless plug - I actually held the honorific title of Miss Idaho United States in 2012. I was able to compete at Nationals in Washington D.C amongst 50+ women, including Puerto Rico and American Samoa.
Alas, we did not get the privilege of singing alongside Sandra Bullock in that elegant bus scene, but I still treasure this movie and have fond memories of my experience in D.C.
One thing the pageant system instilled in me was the love for my country. That, and the ability to use my voice in defense of the common good of the people - whether or not I held a title. We can symbolically take on that role of Lady Liberty as we go about striving to serve our country as every day citizens, trying to make a difference in the lives of those around us. And I echo the inspired words of Gracie Lou Freebush (and all the other contestants) in saying... "I really do want world peace!"
LADY LIBERTY
Now, without further adieu, let's move from the pop cultural references and on to my first true exposure to Lady Liberty!
Back when I was 17, I got to ferry out to Ellis Island - the first stop many immigrants made when traveling to the states. From there, we traveled to Liberty Island, which contains the statue of Liberty. I remember sailing up to the island, the statue growing as we neared. Stepping out onto the grass was like stepping into another cosmic sphere. Wandering over, as close as I could get. I stood beneath the statue of the Lady in awe, as it towered above me. It was larger than life - greater in size than I could have ever imagined. She was stunning - standing erect, in full-fledged glory.
Liberty held the torch with great seriousness, but with an element of peace. Books were placed in her other hand, the significance of which was unbeknownst to me. She wore a pointed crown that showed a true sense of authority. She held an inward and outward strength that I did not possess. Her dignity and determination were simply matchless. Everything about her countenance screamed ultimate serenity and power, a fascinating form of duality.
I knew that there was significance behind the Lady. Of course, the history of the statue was introduced to me in early grade school. I had a basic understanding of sense of patriotism it stood for. But, my inner senses told me that there was more to her grandeur than I could possibly fathom. Little did I know, there was much more to be discovered about the Queen's origins and what drove the sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, to design such a grand woman to oversee the country.
LIBERTAS
As it turns out, the Roman goddess Libertas highly influenced the sculptor's creation of our Lady Liberty. The name speaks for itself, as the goddess was worshipped as one granting freedom in social, cultural, spiritual, and political realms. For this reason, she was particularly worshipped by slaves. The Romans recognized Libertas as one of the chief Virtues in their worship. In Italy, she was celebrated in her ability to provide all people with autonomy- the citizens being proclaimed as "freedwomen and freedmen".
Libertas wore long, flowing robes and a crown of laurel leaves. In place of the crown, she is at times depicted with what is called the Liberty Cap. The cap is likened to the use of a veil to symbolize the covering of one's bare head before deity- or rather, esteeming one to the exalted position of deity. A Liberty Pole was held in her hand, as well as a flowering branch upheld in the other - much like we see the torch in Lady Liberty's upheld right hand. (Total side note: anyone's mind cross to the asherah pole?)
As described by Selena Fox, "over the centuries and across cultures, [Libertas] has continued to signify Freedom in Her appearances in paintings, sculptures, songs, stories, poems, and other literature." Traces of Libertas influence are imbedded within the far stretches of ancient histories. The knitting of the roots of human lines, like the innerworkings of a spiders web, all point back to feminine divinity in various archetypes.
THE STATUE'S SYMBOLS
With this context, we can dive in further to Lady Liberty's symbols. Long after my trip to Liberty Isle, I later learned that the torch stood as a sign of enlightenment to the world. It was a beacon of light to all America's passerby.
The torch was made to light "the pathway to liberty" for all of the "huddled masses." As such, Liberty is known as the "Keeper of the Flame." It is by Her light that others find their way to the safe haven. At night, the statue is lit, in order to provide illumination in the darkness - signifying that Lady Liberty is always on watch and that Her liberty is accessible, even in the most dire circumstances.
Remember the books in her left arm? Those are actually tablets. The tablets are inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence on its stone pages. They symbolize the "concept of law", providing a sense of structure and security. Turns out, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was hired by Edouard Rene de Laboulaye to sculpt the statue in time for the United States centenial of the Declaration of Independence, in 1876.
Broken chains lie beneath her feet, to symbolize the
rescue of the captives, finding liberation. Libertas stands upon a large pedestal; the world as Her footstool.
And of course, she is enthroned with a glorious crown upon her head, with seven spikes spanning out onto every direction. Seven is a significant number in ancient history, especially in regards to spirituality. Think seven seals, seven levels of heaven, seven canopies of the Tree of Life, the seven wonders.
Each of these bear the concept of ascension and communing with the divine. According to Gabrielle Hammond, who placed an interview with the museum, the "seven rays form a halo representing the sun, the seven seas and the seven continents." In other words, the symbolic seven outreaches to the very ends of the earth; no one is exempt from the freedom Liberty grants.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we can see that the symbolism behind Lady Liberty is not simple. It's intricate ways expand far beyond our comprehension. Lady Liberty stands to enlighten minds, to guide souls to safety. She stands for power, independence, and serenity. She reigns in power and dignity for the betterment of Her people. Lastly, her symbols stem anciently, pointing us from archetypes of the ages toward the Divine Feminine.
Once again, I hope you had a marvelous Independence Day! I hope things are able to shift in our society in a way that brings about Zion, equality, and love to all people. Feel free to check out the resources below. See you next time to dive more into the Divine Feminine realm.
RESOURCES and image credits
All other photos were retrieved from shutterstock and getty images.
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