Valentine's Day is tomorrow, so in addition to commemorating the complexities of Darwin Week, the Blingdom of God will go on a sacred pilgrimage to holy shrines of love.

We begin our travels at the heart of European civilization:  the pagan Roman Empire.  The week of love actually began yesterday, February 12, with an ancient Roman holiday dedicated to the goddess Diana. 

Like the Norse god Ullr, Diana was a divinity associated with hunting, but she also was also something more:  an eternal virgin.

Goddess of chastity, Diana was immune to Cupid's arrows. Nonetheless, she was a protector of women in all aspects of their lives, from warding off undesirable suitors to enduring childbirth.

What does an ancient holiday for the goddess Diana have to do with the present celebration of Valentine's Day?  Ask your local Wiccan!  Diana is a central figure in the growing Wicca movement, especially in the younger generation.  While Venus may rule over love, Diana the Huntress provides a model of a woman who will not let her loves rule over her.