And yet, and yet, in these our ghostly lives, Half night, half day, half sleeping, half awake, How if our waking life, like that of sleep, Be all a dream in that eternal life To which we wake not till we sleep in death
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
For people raised and programmed on the patriarchal religions of today, religions that affect even the most secular aspects of our society, perhaps there remains a lingering, almost innate memory of sacred shrines and temples tended by priestesses who served in the religion of the original supreme deity. In the beginning, people prayed to the Creatress of Life, the Mistress of Heaven. At the very dawn of religion, God was a woman. Do you remember?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the historical significance of feminine divine representation in early religions and questions modern patriarchal influences.
Merlin Stone's quote reflects on the origins of religious belief systems, suggesting that early forms of worship venerating a female deity have been overshadowed by patriarchal religions. It invites readers to reconsider traditional narratives that often place male divinity at the center, urging a recognition of the historical 'Creatress of Life' and the priestesses associated with her worship, who once played a crucial role in spirituality and societal structure.
Themes
PatriarchyReligionDivine FeminineGoddessHistory
In practice
Example use cases
During a women's empowerment seminar to highlight the importance of recognizing feminine figures in history.
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