Monday, May 30, 2011

Woman Warrior: Joan of Arc - A Hero's Tribute

Monday, May 30th is celebrated as the Feast of Joan of Arc.  In truth, this is the day in 1431 that she was burned at the stake for witchcraft.  At the age of 17, she believed that she heard the voice of God call upon her to act.  And act she did.  She raised an army and overcame the British invasion of France in 15 months time.  Instead of celebrating her as a hero, the French bishops labelled her a "heretic, apostate, idolater" and they burned her.  But, Pope Benedict XV canonized her a saint nearly 500 years later on May 16, 1920 so it's all good.  No harm done, right?


Joan of Arc Chain Maille Millais Art Necklace by Mermaiden Creations



Joan of Arc is a shield maiden in it's truest form, a warrior woman, a battle maiden, and perhaps one of the strongest women in history.  She put on her armor and picked up her sword not for glory, but in defense and for love of her country, her people, and her God.  She was a 17 year old girl in 1431.  If you ask common society, she should have been wearing a dress, sewing, cooking, making babies, or any other "women's work" that they deemed fit.  Joan had plans of her own.  She listened to her intuition, was brave, and never wavered from what she knew she had to do to save her country.  She was questioned and tortured and yet remained fearless in her belief.

May 30th, the day Joan was burned at the stake, was the day that she was condemned for being a strong, fearless woman.  Take today to honor her as a hero, not just to her country but to womankind.  Decide today to be fearless, to be courageous, to stand up for what you believe in.  Listen to the voice (for Joan, it was God; for you it might be intuition) inside you to do what you you know is right, what you believe in, what your passion tells you to do.  Believe in yourself and your convictions.  Be a Hero.

9 comments:

Kate said...

She was a true Wicked Girl. Thank you for reminding us all to be who we are.

mermaiden said...

Jehanne was one of the most amazing human beings to ever have walked this earth. "It was for this I was born" she is recorded having said, which defines her path and her faith and her doom. Blessed be your legacy, Joan.

good sense in daily life said...

Well put. Joan is one of many women of history who have inspired & paved the road for us to be courageous!

Kristin Aquariann said...

Lovely tribute to such an amazing woman!

Athena's Armoury said...

Kate, thanks for sharing that Wicked Girl Poem! Have you read any of her books?

mermie: We raise our swords together in her honor.

good sense: I need to start it up again, but Woman Warrior blog series was full of groundbreaking, inspiring women like Joan. =)

Kate said...

I've read the Toby ones, but haven't gotten around to Feed -- I'm kind've a wuss when it comes to horror.

Also, Wicked Girls is a song, too, it's on her new album and you can find it on YouTube. It's one of the things that's kept be going recently.

Athena's Armoury said...

Kristin: Thank you! The more I find out about her, the more fascination she is to me.

Kate: Awesome, thanks! I'm glad to hear that you made such a connection with an anthem like song. It's amazing the difference something like that can make sometimes.

Miss Malaprop said...

I agree - she is such an inspiration to women. I think hers is an especially great story to inspire young girls with.

Athena's Armoury said...

Absolutely! Wouldn't it be great if there were a book of herstory for young girls?