About

 Cerva Madriana is a Reformed Madrianism. 

Madrianism is a religion began in the late 1970s as a tradition that seeks to worship God in Her three parts, Solar Mother, Lunar Daughter, and Dark Mother.

Divinity is seen as immanent and transcendent; we revere both life in the present here and now, and also look beyond to what lies beyond material life. We view Deity as wholly feminine, but unlike similar groups (Wicca, Paganism, etc), our focus isn't on an Earth Mother as Deity, but both this and beyond, with Deity as helping us on earth, guiding us in our dark phases with gentle light, and brightly radiating wisdom to us as our own solar intelligence strengthens. God (or Goddess) is the sole Source of life and grand Creatrix, both the ground of being and what creates life endlessly until the end of time.

There also is a set of seven great beings that are seen to be directly from God Herself, representing the seven great virtues of our faith. They have differing names depending on the sect of Madrianism (or Filianism), but represent the same virtues. Some have described these as goddesses, some as angels; since Cerva Madriana is a henotheistic view, they can be described in these manners but ultimately, they come from the same source, the one great Goddess/God.

We have our own set of scriptures, festivals, and 13 month lunar calendar. We have also a creed and belief structure, and thealogy.

The term Reformed Madrianism refers to reformation to bring Madrianism into the foray of the current worldview; since its inception, Madrianism has undergone many iterations and society has also adapted and grown. As such, some views and beliefs of original Madrians (if one reads their articles and writings) are out of date, and can leave some groups feeling negated and/or unwelcome in the faith. As we are all of Her children, myself and others have worked to build our own versions of the faith that are compatible with life currently, without creating a completely new religion. 

I have sought to reach back to the foundations of Madrianism, prior to schisms in the faith that have occurred, and recreate it with the goal of inclusivity and belonging. Cerva Madriana is a result of this work, and while not exactly an orthodox version, still hearkens to the foundation of what our foremothers laid out years ago; a deeply contemplative path up the mountain to Our Mother, and shifting the focus of worship onto Her and feminine values from the more common patriarchal styles of worship and values.

This site hopes to introduce people new to Reformed Madrianism, and those independent Filianists without a tradition to come together and grow, learn, and worship as a community. 

The name Cerva Madriana is a call back to original groups, such as Rosa Madriana. Rosa Madriana was the group under the priestess Madria Olga, and was seen as the 'Rose of the Mother'. I've chosen Cerva Madriana to be 'Deer of the Mother', as this is a reference to one of the writings of our scripture, where we are taught that our souls are to be as simple as running deer (Teachings of the Daughter, The Way of Simplicity).

Cerva Madriana is, at its essence, a way of simplicity; our souls are wild and free, wandering the wilderness of Her great love and learning to grow our on our spiritual path.