Hello beautiful Souls,
Today I am sharing my story of my past life in the ancient city of Ari, and thrilled to have now completed six of my past life narratives, which make up my Personal Mythos in this lifetime.
The following is a new extended narrative and timeline that I have crafted into my past life as a young girl who became a Mother’s Blessing practitioner in ancient Armenia. The story is also aligned with the archetype of the Sacred Mother. – I share this with you, as it provides a clear example of what’s possible when creating an extended story for a past life that needs some tender loving care and a new timeline.
In my past life as Pardi, living in the heart of ancient Armenia, I walked a path delicately woven from the threads of ancient traditions and the rapidly growing story of the Christian faith—my role as a Mother’s Blessing practitioner for our community needed to bridge these worlds. I lived between the divine whispers of Anahit, the once-revered and plentiful Goddess of fertility, healing, and wisdom, and Christianity, which had spread its roots deep into the Armenian soil.
Faith-filled Symbols
The pomegranate, a fruit as rich in flavour as it was in symbolism, was central to our lives. It was more than just sustenance; it was a sacred emblem, a direct link to the essence of Anahit. Its crown-like calyx and the abundance of seeds within spoke of sovereignty, fertility, and the continuation of life. These seeds, each encased in its jewel-like ruby chamber, were like the many facets of Anahit herself—protector, healer, and nurturer.
As Armenia embraced Christianity, the cherished symbols of our old beliefs found new expressions. We didn’t embrace The Cross as a cruxification but instead imbued it with the essence of the Tree of Life, which evolved it beyond its initial religious significance. It was a symbol that bridged beliefs, merging the Christian promise of eternal life with the pomegranate’s cyclical nature of birth, death, and rebirth. This convergence of symbols was not a mere coincidence but a testament to the enduring strength of our cultural identity, seamlessly integrating the old with the new.
Collaboration and Craftsmanship
Intertwined with these sacred symbols, my life was filled with joy and sorrow, victories and losses. My relationship with Tiran, a craftsman of unparalleled skill, was a source of deep love and companionship. He understood, as I did, the importance of keeping our ancient traditions alive within the framework of our new Christian faith. Together, we created objects of beauty and significance—crosses adorned with pomegranate motifs and vessels that carried the essence of Anahit within their Christian designs. Our work was a declaration of our heritage, a resistance against the removal of our rich past.
The pomegranate’s presence was felt everywhere, from the sacred rituals that still whispered of Anahit’s power to the Christian ceremonies that celebrated life’s miraculous renewal. It adorned our tables, art, and sacred spaces, a constant reminder of the continuity that ran through our lives. Its seeds, bursting with life, mirrored the community’s hope for a future where our traditions could coexist with our faith.
Challenges Build Faith-filled Resilence
However, my journey was not without its challenges. The struggle to preserve our heritage against the tide of a changing world was daunting. There were moments when the weight of my role as a Mother’s Blessing practitioner felt overwhelming, as if the essence of our culture and its ancient deities rested upon my shoulders. The loss of traditions, the fading memory of Anahit’s once towering golden presence, and the struggle to keep her spirit alive in the face of Christian dominance cast shadows over my longing heart.
Yet, I found my greatest strength in these moments of doubt and fear. I discovered that the true power of our traditions lay not only in the rituals or symbols themselves but in the unbreakable spirit of our people. Our resilience and unwavering commitment to honour our past while embracing our future became my guiding light.
My triumphant moment came not as a singular victory but as a realisation of the impact of our endeavours. Through our creations and love, Tiran and I had sown the seeds of memory and identity into the fabric of our community. We had shown that the esssence of our beloved Mother Goddess could live on through the symbols of our faith. And that the pomegranate and the Cross, merging as the Tree of Life, could stand together as symbols of our enduring heritage.
My time in Ari, the city of 1001 churches, came to an endearing closure—and my holy pomegranate, with its deep red seeds and the Tree of Life, each embodying the plentiful energy of my Mother Goddess, now symbolised my life. I had gracefully learnt about blending the old and the new and found a sacred beauty in unity and diversity.
My story, as Pardi, is a testament to the power of belonging, community, and tradition. It is a message that transcends time, weaving the past and the present into a story rich with the colours of humanity’s shared divinity.
Heart to Heart, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Ellames 