Boudicca’s Promise - Preface by Jaclyn Cherie

 

Kat Shaw Artist

“Nothing is safe from Roman pride and arrogance. They will deface the Sacred and will deflower our virgins. Win the battle or perish, that is what I, a Woman, will do.”

-Bouddica’s words of vengeance as recorded by Tacitus

I have had the honor of writing about some amazing Goddesses, and it is my hope with each Anthology released from the collective known as Girl God Books that the Divine Feminine will stir, awaken, and shine again, starting within the readers.

It is not often that these books tackle a Woman, an actual (once) living human being who embodies what it is to be a Goddess on Earth – defy the odds, topple the patriarchy, and lead a war that would quite literally go down in history while altering its course.

Boudicca (Boudica, Boadicea) was a Celtic Queen who led a revolt against the Roman Ninth Legion.

For 17 years Boudicca and her Husband, King Prasutagus of the Iceni tribe ruled (A.D 43–A.D. 60) until his death where he left no male heir behind; only Boudicca and her two daughters.

The occupying forces took this opportunity of there being no ruler to confiscate all the riches, properties, and belongings of the late King who was once favored by the Romans. Boudicca was publicly flogged, and her daughters were raped by soldiers.1

Enraged by Roman occupation, fueled by loss and pain, Boudicca led an uprising with her fellow Britons who were also opposed to foreign rule.

A slaughter ensued.

Boudicca and her army (comprised of Iceni and Trinovantes) defeated the Roman Ninth Legion in Camulodunum led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, after which she continued her massacre through London and Verulamium (modern day St. Albans).

Eventually, despite having more numbers and better odds, the Britons were defeated by the Roman Army. Boudicca and her daughters – facing certain torture and death – decided they would die how they lived: on their terms.

All 3 took poison and thus were not subjected to the fate that was scheduled to meet them.

They met death by their choice, and not that of any man.

Powerful as fuck.

This is not a Goddess by Divine birthright where we can analyze her archetype and/or worship across time and cultures then apply it to our lives or leave her story up to our own interpretation; this was a real Woman who lived, breathed, and bled just like you and me.

Though, I would personally argue that Boudicca is a Goddess; she earned that title by action, integrity, and the way she lived and died.

This story is important to tell because Women and Femmes all over the world are facing persecution, oppression and resistance from the systems meant to help us but built to work against us.

We are angry.

We are angry for ourselves.

We are angry for our Sisters.

We are angry for humanity.

The Divine Feminine is waking up and she is ready for war. We have passed the point where docile, meekness, batting our eyelashes, smiling, and nodding will get us anywhere. Did it ever really help us further the cause? Did Women’s rights come from being quiet?

Or did it come from being loud? Making waves? Creating chaos?

Femininity is a weapon 100% and it in fact has been weaponized to work against us – but Femininity doesn’t always look like receptive energy; it takes many forms and one of them, the most powerful, is justified rage.

We are SCREAMING, ROARING, HOWLING.

We are reclaiming our bodies, reclaiming ourselves.

We are reclaiming our history and our future.

We are reclaiming our narrative.

We are reclaiming our power.

We are RISING against oppression in all forms.

We may not be going to war with the Roman Ninth Fleet, but we are going to war.

We are raging a war for income and housing equality, access to healthcare, basic human rights, autonomy, sovereignty and so much more.

We are fighting against patriarchy, misogyny, an unfair justice system and racism.

We are fighting back against harassment, and the male gaze.

I am not here to look pretty for you.

Women in general are not here to look pretty for you.

While we are at it, Women are not a rehab for broken men.

I said what I said.

Boudicca led an uprising to fight back against Roman occupation because there was no one else willing or able to do it. She took that role upon herself, knowing the risk.

I see the Spirit and Essence of Boudicca all around, pounding in the hearts and Souls of the Women and Femmes called to take up arms.

We have the numbers just like she did, except this time we will win the war.

Preface from the upcoming Girl God Anthology In Defiance of Oppression -The Legacy of Boudicca - available for pre-order here.

Jaclyn Cherie has her roots in Upstate New York. She is an Author, Witch, Feminist and Luciferian. The Owner and Creatrix of The Nephilim Rising strives to tell raw, real stories of Magick, the human condition, Sacred Sex, Women’s Issues and her favorite topic, rebellion. Preferring the Shadows to the Light, her Magick and writing reflect this; it is in the Darkness that she found her true form. Her written works originate from the watery depths of her Cancerian Soul and chronicle her cyclical death and rebirth from the Womb of the Dragon.

Notes:

1Sarah Pruitt, History Channel