“Reclaiming the Goddess has led many women to feel that we are experiencing and observing the birth and childhood of a spiritual philosophy and a worldview that could transform life on this planet.” Merlin Stone, Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood, p. xii
In present times, one of the counterbalancing forces to the patriarchal religious mindset is the burgeoning force of Women’s Spirituality Movement. Its roots are related in some ways to a previous source of resistance, Gnosticism, which contained more of the feminine principle. That connection will be explored more fully in a forthcoming blog post.
Reclamation of the Goddess came out of the 2nd Wave Feminist Movement. Prior to that, feminist writers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others, in The Women’s Bible for example, wrote commentary on what the Bible said and how it was anti-women. They critiqued what existed. Second Wave feminists, while recognizing Stanton’s work as an important part of raising consciousness, have begun creating their own structure, spiritual philosophy, ritual and literature. These creations virtually ignore the Bible which was identified by first wave feminists as a purely patriarchal document, i.e. unsupportive, unresponsive and demeaning of The Feminine Principle and women.
Personally, I have found a book, Return of the Divine Sophia by Tricia McCannon to be an introduction to Women’s Spirituality 101. I wish I had read it when I was 12! Instead I stumble-bumbled along trying to put together something I believed would be spiritually satisfying. It took me only about 30 years of seeking, but I’ve learned a lot and am still in process…..
In essence, Women’s Spirituality can be described, defined and expressed in a myriad of ways and yet a group of values and perceptions are now taking shape, creating a philosophy of spirit that is earth-preservation based. Most proponents do not consider it a religion since there is no dogma, no proscriptions, no rules and laws that all must follow. Women’s Spirituality has evolved organically overtime, contributed to by diverse personalities, with differing backgrounds, and yet it is a “calling” for all. No longer do women want to just critique what others have done. Whether it is for one person or one thousand they wish to create it for themselves, a feminine principle-based spirituality that is meaningful to women’s experience of the sacred. It is the ultimate manifestation of doing one’s own “naming”.
Diversity is celebrated. Susan Griffin, Starhawk and Margo Adler emphasize the idea of “the Goddess within all life.” which leads to the inclusion of the entire birth, life, death cycles as sacred. Margaret Starbird (Goddess in the Gospels) works to “restore the Sacred Feminine in Christianity” by reclaiming the repressed ‘story’ of Mary Magdalene in partnership with Jesus.
She seeks to restore a model of M/F partnership and wholeness in Western culture. Selena Fox and others draw on ancient Wiccan beliefs, rituals and teachings as another spiritual practice under the larger umbrella of Women’s Spirituality.
One can be a participant within a group or create a spiritual practice for oneself. It is always a choice. Does anyone reading this have a story of their spiritual journey to tell? So far I have identified a few banners:
- Question Authority.
- What Feeds Your Soul?
- Know Thyself.
- What is enough?
- In the scheme of things, how important is this?
- What am I supposed to learn from this? (situation, relationship, etc.)
- What is my part in this? (situation, relationship, etc.)
Merlin Stone from her historical perspective has assembled a list of characteristics that help define what is meant by Women’s Spirituality. Below are some of the qualities identified by Merlin Stone with my additions from discussions with friends.
Goddess reclamation or embracing the sacred feminine is a feminist concern.
Women’s spirituality nourishes one’s sense of self and our inner strength as Patricia O’Reilly
reminds us with her book title, God Who Looks Like Me
3. Goddess spirituality is immanent rather than transcendent—i.e. within each person, within
all of nature.
4. Feminine Principle spirituality is a process, a “flow of life energy” or as theologian Mary
Daly says, “God is a verb.”
5. Women’s Spirituality is inclusive rather than exclusive with many representatives of the
energy acknowledged rather than just one. Nature is a representative of that energy!
6. A global view that all nature is sacred, resulting in a “deep concern for the natural
environment.” Gaia is earth’s representative. Natural cycles of the sun and moon and
The cycle of birth, life and death are all recognized as sacred, organic forces of change
and transformation to be celebrated.
7. An honoring of the intuitive and metaphysical as data supporting life choices. This
Includes acknowledgement of synchronicities, dreams and other “intangible means of
accessing useful information.”
8. A gnostic approach that believes that revelations and divine guidance come from inner
knowing as a continual, readily accessible, process in life. Self-interpretation versus
accepting an external authority is key.
9. Creativity and innovation in creating ritual and teachings is welcomed and shared with
others, often in a circle with no obvious leader. Each person participating has a ‘direct
line’ to the Sacred Feminine.
10. Access to spirit is communal, cooperative and inclusive with non-judgement and
encouragement for all to contribute.
“This creativity has poured out from women’s spirituality in so many forms that one might say that we have created a new culture. Along with the philosophical, historical and theological concepts mentioned above, the Goddess has emerged in contemporary drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, tapestries, jewelry, novels, short stories, poetry, storytelling, drama, dance, film video, architecture, nearly all forms of music and diverse combinations of these.” p. xv. Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood by Merlin Stone.
And finally one of Merlin Stone’s particular concerns was that women’s spirituality embrace the recognition of racism and the effort to help dissolve it. Merlin’s parting thought was, “Sometimes I feel that is not us who have reclaimed the Goddess, but the Goddess who has reclaimed us.” Women’s Spirituality, in essence, is a co-creative process, with the belief, “As above so below.” In Women’s Spirituality, self-awareness and “Wholeness” are key.
In a circle of friends we identified some additional characteristics and attitudes that are contained within Feminine Principle Spirituality.
Body and Earth centered.
Acknowledgment of inner authority as primary.
Multiplicity, acceptance, non-judgement and discernment are present.
Both/And and inclusivity prominent.
No permanent structure or hierarchy, but a dynamic, circular, generative, cooperative form is paramount.
The challenge of Women’s Spirituality is to be responsible, as a seeker of one’s own path and accepting that of others. Humans have a natural spirituality; we are walking spirit. This quest to find out who we really are is not for the faint of heart, but highly expansive, joyous and rewarding.
Any thoughts on this subject you would wish to share? What has been your self-discovering spiritual process?
Here is a list of just a few authors of books who have shared their journey. Do you have others
Anderson, Sherry Ruth, and Patricia Hopkins, The Feminine Face of God.
Flinders, Carol Lee, The Root of this Longing.
Kidd, Sue Monk, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter.
McCannon, Tricia, Return of the Divine Sophia.
Reilly, Patricia Lynn, A God Who Looks Like Me.
Reis, Patricia, Through the Goddess.