4/21/10

Goddess of the Week: Laetitia

Comune di RomaImage via Wikipedia

Claire asks for a goddess of Joy. For her, I have Laetitia, Roman goddess of joy.

Laetitia was a patron of these once-in-a-lifetime games they used to have in Rome. They only occurred once-in-a-lifetime because they only occurred when things in Rome had really gone to hell. Literally. They were meant to appease pissed off underworld gods who, for whatever reason, deemed fit to shower Rome in plagues.

The games themselves were typical Roman excess. You had your Coliseum gladiator dudes. You had your bacchanalias. It was a wild scene -- not one's typical response to gloom and doom. But that's what you gotta love about Laetitia. In the face of disaster, Laetitia says, "There is still joy. There is still life. Embrace it while you can." Or, as that great philosopher Belinda Carlisle says, "Can't stop the world; Why let it stop you?"

None of this is to say that we should live in that happy place I like to frequent called Denial. No. Laetitia says just the opposite. She says that even in the face of heartbreak and fear -- especially in the face of heartbreak and fear -- one must not hide. One must don a short little gladiator skirt and go out like Russell Crowe! Alternatively, one can run drunk through the streets of Rome. Ah. But at least you'll have been to Rome.

Channel this goddess: When blessed with joy, when lacking joy. No need to go all Bacchanalian either. Just broaden your viewfinder. You'll see her.

Need a goddess: I got goddesses! Post a comment and tell me what you need or just want to know about. I'll see what I can do.

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18 comments:

Curly said...

Gaia or Letizia are names I would choose for my daughter if I had one! :-) lovely picture of the Colosseo!

TheChieftess said...

Can I don the little Gladiator skirt AND run drunkenly through the streets???

(At this point in my life, drunken is pretty much the only way I could get into the little Gladiator skirt!!!)

Little Messy Missy said...

If I put on a skirt I am not shaving my legs... no one can have it both ways!!! lol

Cafe Observer said...

A lovely foto of the Colosseo, if I may say so myself!

I also like your choice in philosophers.

Joanne said...

Hm, Belinda Carlisle. You're going contemporary on us Margaret. I guess part of finding joy is remembering that "we've got the beat." You know that song will be in my head all day now :)

Margaret said...

Daisy: It does sounds better as Colosseo, but everything sounds better in Italian.

Chieftess: You make me laugh. I think I might be in the same boat as you, actually.

Joanne: I actually saw the Go Gos in 1983 at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. I'd like to say that's contemporary, but it still feels like ancient history.

Petrea Burchard said...

"Broaden my viewfinder." That's good. I don't think I'll wait 'til I'm unhappy, I'll just do that now.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

~sigh~ Oh the JOY of the weekly goddess read... ;o)

Anonymous said...

I'm looking for that in between spot. Or goddess.

Desiree said...

Oh my god, of course Rome is joy!
and embrace heartbreak and fear?
How novel, how zen!
(Or should I say, how familiar to novelists?)
Love it--although I do my best embracing of terror with a martini in both hands--

Curly said...

Strange... I love the sound of English instead! :-D Have a super lovely day!!!

Watson said...

I think we should all meet in Rome and run through the streets - drunk - in little gladiator skirts! Wouldn't that be FUN! :-D

I just read a quote from Thomas Carlyle that I think Laetitia would like: "When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze."

Curly said...

Hey other Daisy! :-) Tell me when you're in Rome and I'll come!!! :-)The program sounds good!

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I'll be snagging those martinis out of Desiree's hands. Not to worry doll, I'll leave you with the olives.

btw: Belinda Carlisle looks like my dad

Lisa Page Rosenberg said...

No offense intended against Ms. Carlisle, but I think Laetitia could take her in a fight. Joyfully.

Margaret said...

Lisa: Yeah. I think you're right there. Too funny.

Anonymous said...

We want to see a picture of PA's protean father.

Shell Sherree said...

I'm in my happy place, I'm in my ... wait, is that denial or Laetitia I see. I get confused so easily.