Acknowledgements

The concept of the Metro'on was made possible by courageous ``Gallae'' fighting for human rights; Christine Jorgensen, Jan Morris, and Leslie Feinberg, come immediately to mind. There are countless others who are trail blazers. I also wish to acknowledge the contribution of knowledgeable authors; The Zuni Man-Woman by Will Roscoe, The Spirit and the Flesh by Walter L. Williams, Cybele and Attis: The Myth and the Cult by M. J. Vermaseren, Chrysalis Quarterly by Dallas Denny of Aegis, and a special thanks to TransSisters, the Journal of Transsexual Feminism for producing a magazine where mythic heroines from our community share their experiences. TransSisters was (now out of production) produced by Davina Anne Gabriel, a fierce activist. Also Margaret Deirdre O'Hartigan and Rachel Pollack deserve special mention for their scholarly research on the Gallae. It's not our intention to slight any members of our community who, through living their lives openly and fearlessly, have made this present work possible. Thank you, one and all. Finally, acknowledging immense contributions from Julia Cybele Cachia and Joan Lansberry, I am eternally grateful to the Great Mystery which brought us together to form a magical triad of love and beauty.

THE PURPOSE OF THE METRO'ON

Laura's Viewpoint

he concept of the Metro'on began when I was on the threshold of death. Believing I had unfinished obligations and responsibilities I contended with the Mystery (I'm a skeptic, so be gentle with me on this point) to grant me extra time. I vowed to forge, not an organization, not a religion, not some bureaucratic association, but a community, a family of warm hearted people living close to one another and helping each other without any dogma or common doctrine holding them together.

Julia joined us shortly after that and, with Joan my soulmate, we became The Triad. Joan is a lesbian who is more than a little enamored with the magic of males who, within their hearts, contain the spirit of a woman. Her artistic talent and poetic nature express an innocence and love of nature that transcends the mundane. Her work on our Metro'on site and our personal pages, particularly her journal entries, reveal a spiritual woman filled with hope. Julia, on the other hand, is immensely knowledgeable and meticulous in her presentations. Time and again I have turned to her to add depth, detail, and authenticity to our efforts. Her bibliography of books concerning ancient spirituality and gender variant issues is, in my opinion, the finest resource on these subjects ever compiled. As for myself, I am a maker and a shaper. It has been my privlege to have brought us together.

My youngest son Anton joined us next, moving into a home nearby with his fiance. And then my second son, James, moved here as well. With my sons and their loved ones we are a community, rather like the tribal concept of the plains indians. However, we are structured without rules, no shared beliefs, no common dogma other than a common love and respect for each other, and a sincere desire to be there for each other when we are needed.

Then there are the people of Casa Grande ... people not of our household, but still very much part of our lives. They are our friends in the Incipient Shire of Granholme (the Casa Grande group of the Society for Creative Anachronism) with whom we share interests in archery, rapier, ancient art and science; even feasting together. We have a deep intellectual curiosity concerning the mideval period. With these fascinating people we exchange services and friendship creating a common bond.

It is our conviction that good people should care for one another, and, if possible, join together, making life easier. For my part, when I discovered that gender variants played a role in bringing people together in the distant past, I wondered, "Why not now? Why not begin with us?"

We have chosen the word Gallae to represent gender variant people, an umbrella under which we can all come together, no matter what our diversity. We hope the diviseness in our community will soon end. We are all simply people, each different in our own way, and we would do well to embrace one another, soothe the wounds of the past, and do something about making this a better world, not only for ourselves but for everyone.

Joan's Viewpoint

he purpose of the Metro'on is two-fold. It is for dissemination of vital truths that have long been suppressed. With this knowledge comes power. All of us who have at times felt shut out of conventional spirituality can know that this was not always the case. It can give us the courage to be a beacon to others in a dark and dreary world needing hope. And this is the second part of the purpose. It is true spirituality, that feeling of connectedness to others and to Divine Source (however we perceive It ), that empowers us.

We have found the Internet to be a useful medium in creating a deeper sense of connectedness. For in the world of cyberspace, there is no distance. Someone with a computer and a modem in the remotest reaches can find anyone else with a computer and a modem. And so we hope to be a small part of this renaissance. It is a great joy when someone e-mails us to tell us that now she knows she's not alone anymore, that she's not a weird deluded freak, and that there is a sense of Divine purpose to all of this. That we, gay, lesbian, and transgendered, have an important role to play in the evolution of the world is a message that needs to reach each and every one of us.

Julia's Viewpoint

n the world of antiquity, the Greek term mEtrO'on described any sacred focus of the Mother mEter megalE, anything from a grand temple to a secluded grotto, to a small household altar or lararium. Consider the "high places" of Asherah, sacred groves of an even earlier time ... the original Academia! This is the meaning of Metro'on, as a special physical and philosophical place which is set aside ... the heart of a community based on transcendent love.

Before the old world was overrun by the militant crusaders of an absolutist god, our gender-variant sisters were often esteemed for remarkable gifts of the spirit, as shamans, guides, artists, and poets. We were as adopted daughters of the Great Mother. Gender-variant priestesses of Cybele were known as Gallae. The word may have its origin in the rite of baptism in the river Gallos of Phrygia in Asia Minor. The pre-Christian baptae of Kotys were disparaged by some writers for their "aberrant" behavior in adopting the ways of women. "Galla" may also be etymologically related to the English word, "gelding". In Sumerian mythology, "gala" described a magical companion of Inanna on her descent through the seven gates of the underworld, notably Asushunamir of the "radiant countenance."

Today, what we are about is the revival of an inspiring idea, recalling the mythos of our gender-variant heritage. As scholar Mircea Eliade points out, myth is about realities, about our purpose and meaning in the cosmos. Our family has a certain wariness of organization-building! Religious organizations, obsessed with control in the temporal world, have been the main persecutors of those who differ in gender identity or sexual preference.

Christianity actually reflects a great continuation of the ancient mythos of Tammuz/Attis/Orpheus, the sacrificed and resurrected god. The religion in its earliest days sought the allegiance of Gallae and women, but matters changed as new voices came to the helm. Not Jesus, but Polycarp and other patrist theologians saw fit to denigrate us as the church increasingly purged the feminine traces of older traditions.

Of organizations, there are plenty. We have no wish to build another, feeling that such a path leads away from attunement with that veiled, liminal Mystery. She is for the artist and the poet and the storyteller. Theologians disparage her as they do us. It is with a reverent irreverence, a thoughtful skepticism, a joyful love of life and living, that we honor the Ancient Mother of the gods and feel her presence among us.

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