Jun 25, 2011
Divine Feminine, Women’s Spirituality
I would rather not reinvent the wheel by trying to prove whether or not the Matriarchy ever in fact existed. I feel that authors such as Marija Gimbutas with her groundbreaking archaeological finds, Elizabeth Gould Davis’ First Sex, Jane Ellen Harrison, JJ Baccofen, Merlin Stone, Patricia Monaghan and a host of others have more than adequately proven that point.
In my own research for The Wise Woman’s Tarot, which is a serious work on the Tarot exploring the global nature of the Divine Feminine as well as the magic of Divination, I uncovered a multitude of resources showing that Matriarchy, like Patriarchy is and was a global phenomena.
Mythographers tell us of the Amazons, which actually existed prior to, during and after Matriarchy. At first glance though, one would have believed the Amazons to be “single-breasted” women who lived in Greece,Africa and parts of Asia Minor. However, just like Matriarchy and Patriarchy, Amazonism was also global.
Amazonism was a more primitive stage of Matriarchal culture during which time women were more nomadic. As Matriarchies developed so did cities and culture and families began to organize themselves along Matrilineal lines, i.e., power and property were dispensed through the line of the mother. During the patriarchal purge,Amazonism again took hold as women and children were chased from their homes becoming nomadic tribes again.
It is easy to see how primitive people would have the Mother as the centerpiece of their sacred mysteries for unlike fatherhood, motherhood was clearly provable. Everyone knew of their mother as she was the one who birthed them. There was no such thing as an illegitimate child as paternity had years to evolve and was unknown.
Some will call Matriarchy at best a myth and a supernatural one at that. However, spirituality that is Mother/Earth based is so much more natural[earthly] than the Sky Father concept which is a rather abstract and therefore a more modern construct.
Christianity even steals the Lunar trinity and gives it a radical mastectomy replacing it with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Many believe that Matriarchy is merely Patriarchy in reverse and nothing could be further from the truth.
Spiritually, Matriarchal views are tribal, communal, inclusive, non-hierarchical,circular, cyclical,sex and body positive, and heart oriented.
Patriarchy on the other hand is more separate, dominating, competitive, hierarchical,linear,
concise, sex and body negative,punitive,and head oriented.
One can not under-estimate the effect of controlling women’s bodies, a goal of Patriarchal religions. To control women’s bodies and sexuality was to control women which in turn controls the human race.
You may ask,”How the hell did the Matriarchs let such a thing happen?” Patriarchal domination did not occur overnight, nor did the women simply lie-down and become willing slaves and accomplices in their own oppression. All over the world myths metaphorically spell out these battles such as Perseus beheading Medusa, Rama, teaching Sita how to be a dutiful wife in the famed Ramayana, and even Pandora who got blamed for opening her own box of Women’s Mysteries which allegedly unleashed all the evils of the world.
Groups of men ostracized by the women’s communities began to gather together in the hinterlands. As one can see in frat houses and football games, groups of men may act in less “civilized” ways without the civilizing effect of women. The difference between most men and most women is heightened by the absence of either sex.
XI. Amazon - Image - Myrine (Aries)
Patriarchal culture and religions were spread predominantly by brute-force and violence and when that didn’t succeed, assimilation was used as well. In countries such as Italy.Mexico,and Ireland where the Goddess culture was so entrenched, Mary supplanted Jesus as these people were simply not going to accept a male god.
Matriarchy was not Utopian but one can see how the qualities of that culture would create a more supportive, life-sustaining environment. Patriarchal values have brought this planet to the brink of destruction.
Today we sit precariously on an edge, so badly needing a heroine to save the day; to bring back the cyclical reasoning of our “ansisters” who followed the path of the moon and understood her changing phases as keys for survival. Living the metaphor of ebb and flow rather than a manic race for the top of the heap, and understanding the concept of recycling rather than disposable resources can reclaim some of the wise values of the wise women of old.
Ten of Pentacles - Image - Sabulana
