VISIONS OF THE GODDESS
Introduction by Sherrill Miller
From the book Visions of the Goddess by Courtney Milne and Sherrill Miller
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Muzzu-Kummik-Quae Composite of moon, forest and petroform, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba, 1993. Muzzu-Kummik-Quae is the mother of all creation.
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Our primary goal in Visions of the Goddess is to present the Earth Mother not just as a symbol, but as she was seen throughout antiquity - a vital energy manifested in the landscape. There was no separation between creation and the creative source, and this link between spirit and nature brought harmony and balance. In the West we have lost this union, and as a result we often feel detached from the world around us, left with a sense of anomie, or loss of spirit. This separation leads to a consolidation of control in the hands of the elite, to competition and inappropriate use of power, and to wars between people and nations. It can also be seen in the degradation of our environment and the astounding rate of species loss around the world.
While many books focus on the goddesses of classical and Old Europe, this book is designed to show the feminine in the global perspective. In our travels and readings, we found that almost every culture has at least one story of a goddess portrayed in the life-giving and death-wielding power of nature. With hundreds of goddesses to learn about, we felt a powerful affirmation that the sacred feminine is present everywhere, although subtly hidden in the mythologies of some cultures. Many pagan and animistic traditions acknowledge the primeval power of the goddess on a daily, seasonal and cyclical basis. Some places of worship embody her danger in volcanoes, her fecundity in the harvest or her renewability in sacred waters. Others symbolize her link to the unseen divine on mountains or express her spontaneity in the movement of the cosmos. These portrayals of natural earth temples and shrines within the landscape reinforce the connection between the sacred and the profane.
Feminist movements have clearly benefited from the rediscovery of the feminine spiritual voice. But the awakening of interest in historical goddesses has a much broader cultural significance, especially in the Western world. It is not just the feminine as embodied in women that benefits from this knowledge, but the feminine in all of us. The energy that is usually portrayed in qualities of gentleness, emotional expression, loving, caring and nurturing is as important to men as it is to women. It is the sprightly virgin energy that explodes with the joy of being young and curious. It is the spirit of the mother who protects, nurtures and sustains us. It is the wild woman who enlivens us, forcing us to experience the earthy depths of our darkest feelings, our physical urges and our mortality. It is the fierce energy and wisdom of the crone who brings us to our authentic power. In Western culture there is no feminine dimension in the collective image of the divine, no sacred entity that typifies a powerful feminine archetype capable of providing identity and sustenance to both women and men.
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!Urisis - African Sun Goddess Sand dunes and acacia tree, Namib-Naklift Park, Namibia, 1994. The sun goddess assists the hunter to stay in balance with his world.
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Our journey in quest of the Goddess has taken us to many unexpected places. One sojourn led to a small farmhouse in the backcountry of southwestern Saskatchewan. There, a man named Ted Douglas told us to "walk on uneven ground every day." The practice of walking on the earth, reminiscent of the Navajo ritual of Walking in Beauty, takes us back to the beginning of civilization, when humans first walked in the upright position. This integrates our spine, muscles and body organs, and keeps us in physiological balance. Perhaps this is the most ancient body memory we have and is a way of bonding with the most primitive part of ourselves. If we believe in the collective unconscious, then our goal is to link ourselves to the experience and wisdom of all our ancestors. We need to "remember" this experience - to reconnect in our bodies, in our minds and in our hearts. It is a true reminder to be present in everything we do.
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Our Mother Iguassu Falls at the junction of Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, 1995. Our Mother lives in Iva Mara Ei, land of eternal water.
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The earth vibrates at a frequency of 8 hertz. When we walk in natural areas, our bodies resonate with and absorb this vibrational energy, which provides a feeling of harmony and relaxation. The asphalt of cities prevents us from walking directly on the land, and blocks the healing power of the earth. As a result, our bodies are subjected to tension that manifests itself in physical and emotional stress. It is no surprise that we often feel rejuvenated after walking by the sea, meandering in the forest or climbing a mountain.
The images in this book are meant to reconnect us to the vital world around us, and particularly to the feminine energy that sustains and nourishes. Each chapter is designed to portray the goddess energy that can transform one aspect of a symbolic life journey. Naming the goddesses and telling their stories brings them to life, allowing us to integrate their meaning into our lives. It is our hope that you will invite these images and stories to inspire you and that you will rejoice in the feeling of wholeness that comes from a reunion with our Earth Mother. May we all learn to walk again on uneven ground.