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The author compares his vision of Lilith to the fictional goddess Dawn created by Joseph Michael Linsner.
The song starts with a heavy, saddened sigh. Then a single acoustic guitar plays that singular back melody. The singer begins as you know you’ve felt the same way as him, too many times. He sings the truth:
"We both lie silently still in the dead of the night.
Though we both lie close together, we feel miles apart inside.
Was it something I said or something I did?
Did my words not come out right?
Though I tried not to hurt you,
Though I tried.
But I guess that’s why they say
Every rose has its thorn.
Just like every night has its dawn."
Those lyrics always play in my head whenever my wife and I have an argument. But I heard them last night in a dream. As today’s events played out before me, they did not trigger déjà vu, at least, the events didn’t. But the song played in my head again, and then I focused on the first two lines of the chorus:
"Every rose has its thorn.
Just like every night has its dawn."
I could not help but think of Joseph Michael Linsner’s vision of the goddess in white, the one he calls Dawn. It then finally clicked. Dawn is neutral because she IS both the rose and thorns of Temptation AND the cold steel chains of Love. It is too simple to classify these symbols as Evil and Good.
That was when it hit me. I used to think that this goddess haunted Linsner and that he called her Dawn for lack of a name. I used to think I called my muse Lilith for lack of a name. They are one and the same. Perhaps we see only one side, and think she is only one aspect. But she is both. Black and White. Yin and Yang. Even Male and Female. Every Night has its Dawn. Lilith is the Queen of the Night. They are not twins, or opposites, but two sides of the same coin.
So why is it that while, yes, I agree that the depictions of Lilith in lore and art rightfully show the darker side of her, I find myself seeing her more like Linsner does as Dawn? Why is it that I find myself drawing parallels to Lilith and her soul mate Azrael, to Dawn and her husband Cernunnos? Why should they both be connected to Death? Is it that they both are connected to Life, that they should be the opposite of Death?
The concept of the goddess itself is one truly connected to the cycles of life and to the one gift they share with all women: the ability to give birth. The cycle of life, that is birth, death and rebirth, is also seen in the moon and the lunar cycles. The moon, most often seen as a nocturnal celestial is therefore the perfect symbol for Lilith. But we all know, the moon can be seen during the light of day; could this be Dawn?
All goddesses (and gods for that matter) have both light and dark sides. They are both loving and vengeful. They give us life and death. Show us order and chaos. Present for us destruction and salvation. Demonstrate for us laws and the temptation to break them. Demand worship and faith but challenge us with logic and curiosity.
Maybe Lilith is used to only showing her dark side to us. She is Temptation and Freedom personified. But every rose has its thorn. The dangerous thorn is not the negative side to the beautiful flower. It is part and parcel of it. You cannot breed a rose without thorns. Why should something be so beautiful to see and intoxicating to smell, only to beckon you to grab it and bleed painfully? That is the nature of temptation – to want what you cannot, or perhaps should not, have.
By the same token, how ironic is it that Freedom should have a Price? We are learning that lesson now, as humanity seems to always be reminded, that Freedom has to be fought for. When freedoms and liberties are taken for granted, they are taken away. That is the Price of Freedom. Freedom is bought with blood, sweat and tears. It comes from much sacrifice, including sacrificing Love.
That brings me to the chains that symbolize Love on Dawn’s wrist opposite the roses. To be loved is often like being kept chained. Marriage is referred in jest to a "ball-and-chain". Certain laws and rules must be obeyed in order to stay in your lover’s graces. These rules are set aside for the protection of everyone. This is much like the Love of the Light one associates with a God or Goddess. If you avoid the temptation to be free, you will always be protected and safe with their love.
My point is Dawn is depicted as wearing both the roses and the chains. I have known Lilith’s Love, so I believe she, too, wears the roses and chains. Perhaps Lilith is the darkness needed to balance the light of Dawn. I have seen the light and the dark they both share.
I have seen Linsner paint a couple pictures of Lilith. It would seem he prefers to paint his goddess of light. I know I too enjoy seeing her that way. But the dark side is returning, and perhaps Linsner knows this and is why he will soon be releasing a new comic called "Dark Ivory", featuring a black-haired, bat-winged vampiress. She is still a heroine – imagine that. Even the name suggests black & white, darkness & light. Perhaps they can coexist after all.
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The underlined links in the article that I wrote above link directly Joseph Linsner's site featuring artwork of Dawn. Each link will display for you a piece of artwork. As I have much respect for JML and his artwork, I will not provide copies of the atrwork here. Again, the links take you directly to his own website and refer to the picture I described. Forgive me if that was not obvious.
Dan Shaurette
Dan.ShauretteNet.com