Voices of the Sacred Feminine

Book Review: Voices of the Sacred Feminine – Conversations to Re-Shape Our World, Edited by Rev Dr Karen Tate, Published by Changemaker Books. 400 pages 
This is an anthology of specially chosen articles about the Divine Feminine, each between approx. 400 – 1,000 words in length. All articles cover some aspect of the goddess and are derived from many cultures, for instance, sacred activism, social change, planetary welfare, healing, empowerment and mutual support, in addition to challenges to major patriarchal religious thought. 


Worship of the Divine Feminine fills many a gap in general religions that fail to promote women to positions of power and influence or to recognise the difference between ancient patriarchy and the many benefits which could be received from honouring matriarchal spirituality. This book includes several interviews which have been aired on the radio broadcast by the presenter Karen Tate. Several of the contributions are written from a US perspective but where-ever one is in the world, one can gain something from each and every contribution provided. A short biography of the contributor follows their article. Contributions by Amy Peck (balance, equality, reverence, wisdom, compassion, unconditional love); Selena Fox (female deities of freedom from restraint, independence, rights, hope, justice, piety, courage); Jean Shinoda Bolen (antidote to terrorism, domination of women); Gus diZorega (US oppression of women, fundamentalism in religion and politics); Laura Flanders (radio interview on US politics and the Tea Party); Charles Eisenstein (finance and patriarchy, consumerism, consciousness, culture); Genevieve Vaughan (issues of justice, ethics, caring, gift economy, egalitarian iussues, consumerism); Gloria Feldt (radio interview on power issues, value of women, questions accepted male culture); Fr Roy Bourgeois (decorated war vet and ex-catholic priest and nominee for Nobel Peace Prize 2010 on support for the ordination of women priests); Jeanette Blonige-Clancy (raising awareness of sexism in religious language); Matthew Fox (The ‘Dark Night of Society’ how to create a new humanity and the restoration of sacredness); Carl P Ruck (connecting to the ancient mysteries); Prof Andrew Gurevich (consumerism trumps cooperation, rethinking social institutions, interconnectivity, cave art); Starhawk (radio interview, climate change, reclaiming rituals, value and principles);  Cristina Biaggi (early societies) Riane Eisler (women’s issues in good business practice, wellbeing, caring, stable employment, safe work environment, respect, flexibility); Rev Shirley Ann Ranck (Persephone and Demeter,  Lydia Rayle (sacred images of goddess, banners, spiritual journeys); Rev Sandra Spencer (Kali Ma); Candace C Kant (female strength myths with a Sekhmet Charge); |Joan Norton (a personal encounter with Mary Magdalene, channelled mysteries); Charlene Spretnak (radio interview, Virgin Mary and Dark Madonna of Guadalupe); Joan Marler (radio interview, restoration of European Kali, Medusa); Barbara G Walker (Motherhood and power, what has been stolen from women); Tim Ward (personal healing through devotion to the female deity); Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost and Alisa Starkweather (The Red Tent Movement, dealing with oppression in female gatherings); Dr David C A Hillman (drugs in pagan times, teenage girls); Ar Noble (goddess honouring from a personal male perspective); Nicki Scully (healing through visualisation); Noam Chomsky (radio interview sacred feminine values, social change political alternatives); Donna Henes (the Queen); Judy Gratin (menstruation); Normandi Ellis (dream temples, plant medicine, trance, vision questing); Elizabeth Fisher (Multicultural perspecitves, Earth centred values); Jann Aldridge-Clanton (healing, sacred feminine within Christianity); James D Rietveld (equality through love, short story about a child’s view); Phyllis Chesler (female control through jealousy, aggression, competition); Vajra Ma (female authority); Ven Rev Patrick McCollum (Kazakstan and India, in memory of Layne Redmond, the frame drum); wrapping it all together by Karen Tate.
  

Also by Karen Tate: Goddess Calling, Walking an Ancient Path and Sacred Path of the Goddess.  Review by Wendy Stokes Review by Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk