For many of us, the word ‘history’ is a turnoff. A big yawn. After all, who cares about the past?

I was one of ‘those’ , until I was introduced to insights about women in ancient times, before the rise of patriarchal religions. My discoveries changed my life. I learned things about the events and old-world cultures that were never taught in school.  I learned about goddess-revering cultures and the ways in which women operated equally in their societies.

I learned that in most of these prehistoric and ancient cultures, women played an equal role in the evolution of humanity and made astounding contributions that improved life; women are believed to have invented weaving, ceramics, crop cultivation, animal husbandry, writing, medicinal arts, the first calendar, and so much more.

And as humans became more sophisticated, women held important roles in their cultures: queens, priestesses, businesswomen, healers, midwives, advisors, warriors and more. Women were considered superior because of their ability to birth new life and the reason that the Supreme Universal force was believed to be female.

When I learned this, I felt a surge of self-esteem and personal power. And I was confused; why hadn’t I heard about this before?

That’s because women’s power, gifts and reverence for goddess had been destroyed by patriarchal forces and replaced by male-focused ideologies that said women were inferior. And this is where our patriarchal culture has remained.  

In the 1970s and ‘80s, archaeologists, historians, and other scholars discovered artifacts of the past that speak to women’s high status in the world and their contributions to humanity.

Today this information is available for all women.

Learning your history is critical for feminine power. Knowing our history will help us understand our true magnificence and equal place in the world - no matter what our religious, social and political systems attempt to dictate.  

Reading the classic texts of ancient women’s history and spirituality is the best way to get started. Following are books that clearly introduce discoveries of our ancient sisters. We must take this information to heart and allow it to bolster our power. Every day women’s power and rights are challenged in our world. By embracing our true magnificence, we can rise to our power and help bring balance to the planet.

BOOKS TO READ

• When God Was a Woman, Merlin Stone

• The Great Cosmic Mother, Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor

• The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe, Marija Gimbutas

• The Chalice and the Blade, Riane Eisler

• Shakti Woman: Feeling Our Fire, Healing Our World, Vicki Noble

• Wence the Goddess, Miriam Robbins Dexter

• Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years, Elizabeth Wayland Barber

• The Creation Patriarchy, Gerda Lerner

• The Rule of Mars: Readings on the Origins, History and Impact of Patriarchy, edited by Christina Biaggi

ORGANIZATIONS FOR ANCIENT WOMEN’S HISTORY

Association for the Study of Women and Mythology 
https://womenandmyth.org/