The Magical Heart of Peoria
In a few hours the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure kicks off at the Metro Center in the magical heart of Peoria. Many people know about “ley lines” that link up prehistoric monuments and megaliths in Britain and the miles long Nazca lines in South America. Reputedly the points where ley lines cross resonate with psychic energy. I don’t know if anyone has ever searched for ley lines in Peoria, but I am willing to bet that there’s a big hot spot at the intersection of University and Glen. There’s a second node at the Water Tower in Peoria Heights and a node at University at Lake. I suspect there may be other points along the railroad line that comes out in Peoria Heights near Grayboy Motorsports.
Within this area are two libraries, two farmer’s markets, Lakeview Museum and the Planetarium, Peoria Players (where celebrants flock several times a year to that Modern Mystery Play, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), The Owen Center–home rink for figure ice skater Matt Savoie, the YWCA and the Peoria Regional Center for the Girl Scouts. And then there is the Race for the Cure.
Almost 18,000 walkers/runners and cheering supporters have signed up for the 24th Peoria Race for the Cure. That’s a huge outpouring of healing energy charging this small area of Peoria. Where does it go? Who does it benefit? Well, obviously it flows through the participants–the breast cancer survivors and their loved ones–who carry it home with them–but it also goes into the “spiritual aquifer” as it were of this special place within the Heart of Peoria. And a guess: it accumulates in the Lakeview Wilds, that patch of nature behind Lakeview Museum.
I heard there was a “Prayer for the Cure” event the other evening. I don’t remember hearing about a prayer service before, though I expect there usually is one. But I believe the race itself is a prayer, and that prayer goes to the Goddess Artemis, who may walk Lakeview Wilds. Artemis, a Greek Goddess, was the virgin huntress, Goddess of the Moon, protector of children, and the matron deity of women in childbirth. Women made offerings to her for a safe delivery, but Deities give and Deities take. Sometimes Artemis’s arrows took women during their “lying in.”
Goddesses evolve, Goddesses go out into the world. Not many western women die in childbirth these days, but they do die of breast cancer (and ovarian cancer and cervical cancer). Men die, too, from breast cancer. But the Goddess gives as well as takes. And she sends her blessings to all those–whether they know her or not–who run or walk or simply stand witness to the Race of the Cure.
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