sacred marriage
Ritual conjugal rite
Sacred marriage refers to a ritual union between a god and goddess, or their human representatives, symbolizing cosmic fertility and renewal.
In ancient Mesopotamia, the king would ceremonially wed a priestess representing the goddess Inanna.
The term also appears in Jungian psychology for the integration of masculine and feminine aspects of the psyche.
More loosely, any union treated as spiritually transformative: Their partnership felt like a sacred marriage of art and commerce.
- yin-yangChinese duality symbol
- Greek pantheonHellenic divine hierarchy
- fertility ritesCeremonies promoting reproduction
- animaInner personality essence
- Jungian psychologyDepth therapy emphasizing archetypes
divine feminine · conjunction · holy matrimony · mystical union · cosmic balance · occult rituals · seasonal festivals · initiation rites · priestess · bridal chamber · Norse sagas · wholeness · king and queen · consummation · Celtic traditions · spiritual ascension · goddess · alchemy
- ancient ritesritual sacrifice, human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, blood sacrifice, burnt offering
- fertility ritesfertility idol, phallic symbols, mother goddess, great mother, Baal
- Greek ritualslibation, libations, animal sacrifice, blood sacrifice, votive offerings
- Mesopotamian mythologyAnu, Marduk, Ishtar, Tiamat, Gilgamesh
- mystery cultsmystery cults, mystery cult, mysteries, initiates, initiation
- ancient sexualityfertility rites, fertility cults, sex magic, erotic art, phallic symbols
sacred marriagecivil marriage
Government-sanctioned spousal union
civil union · courthouse wedding · civil ceremony · legal marriage · common-law marriage
sacred marriageforbidden union
sacred marriageone-night stand
Casual sexual encounter
living in sin · fling · hookup · friends with benefits · cohabitation