Blood Sister, clay sculpture by Tammy Vitale (gifted to her Blood Sister, Linda)
Bitch: “This became a naughty word in Christian Europe because it was one of the most sacred titles of the Goddess, Artemis-Diana, leader of the Scythian alani or ‘hunting dogs.’ The Bitch-goddess of antiquity was known in all Indo-European cultures, beginning with the Great Bitch Sarama who led the Vedic dogs of death. The Old English word for a hunting dog, bawd, also became a naughty word because it applied to the divine Huntress’s promiscuous priestesses as well as her dogs.
“Harlots and ‘bitches’ were identified in the ancient Roman cult of the Goddess Lupa, the Wolf Bitch, whose priestesses the lupae gave their name to prostitutes in general. Earthly representatives of the Wolf Bitch ruled the Roman town of Ira Flavia in Spain, as a queen or series of queens named Lupa.
“In Christian terms, ‘son of a bitch’ was considered insulting not because it meant a dog, but because it meant a devil – that is, a spiritual son of the pagan Goddess.” Barbara G. Walker The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets
Oh, my, the things they don’t teach you in school.
This is all by way of saying that should someone honor your with the title “Bitch” you should smile and say: “Why, thank you for acknowledging my divinity and power!” then sashay on down the road.
And don’t forget, as Clarissa Pinkola-Estes recommends for those living the way of the wolf: “Howl, often!”
I always thought “son of a bitch” came from the middle east, where dogs are considered filthy animals. The person using it was actually insulting your mother, which is a killing offense in that area. Since I love dogs, I personally never considered it an insult!
By the way, I have my own problems with Barbara Walker’s research. I’ve caught her in some inaccuracies or encompassing claims which seem to come from her tendency to see everything in history in terms of goddess worship, pro or con. Sometimes it is simpler than that!