The Temple of Love

Imagine an abandoned woman.

Bondaged with scarves tied around her ankles and wrists and knees Her whole body covered with scarves. A band made of roses with thorns wrapped around her head, her temple.

The black scarves are undone by a Light Lady figure.

The Temple of Love is based on Eleanor of Aquitaine’s courtly temple of love. She was reputed to have started it in Aquitaine France where she was born and brought up. When she was separated from Henry 2nd she would return to her temple to be with her courtly women. Female Troubadours and female poets poured in with their stories of chivalry, and songs of love. Courtly etiquette was “de rigueur”. Women were prominent in sitting on the regal panel.

Men were encouraged to come forth with their questions concerning women and the whole Shangri la world of women’s emotions.

The women listened to these questions about unrequited love from the knights and gave them advice about love. Coaching them in courtly manners they would need to tackle love’s never-ending entanglements with women. The joy, the trauma, and never-ending desires.

We propose to encourage women to create their own commandments……the ten commandments of women shall be……. what-ever each woman wishes to voice about men, relationships, what they want, what they hate and what they can’t reconcile.

The turbulence, depression, pain and fears of all those intimate corners….. sex, love, life, identity childbirth, orgasms …… and then invite the men to ask questions. This is an inclusive vision, so we also envisage men who love men to ask questions…….. women who love women to ask questions………… and indeed everyone to come in and have a voice, to encourage our desires to be heard and not ignored.