In ancient cultures we respected the feminine as divine wisdom carriers, as embodiments of the goddess. Women often held central roles in spiritual and social life, however, this shifted over time due to various historical, political, and religious factors.
Worship of the goddess Venus was present in Prehistoric and Neolithic Cultures. Women were associated with fertility and life-giving power and matriarchal or matrilineal societies likely existed where lineage and property were passed through the mother.
In Ancient Egypt, Isis, Hathor, Ma’at were honoured. Women in ancient Egypt often held significant roles in religious life and sometimes even led or were central to cults dedicated to deities. Women served as dancers, singers and musicians in temples. Women performed rituals, managed temple estates, and wielded both spiritual and economic power.
In Mesopotamian cultures, Inanna/Ishar was worshipped. Women held powerful roles, such as priestesses and leaders, often linked to goddess worship.
In Hindu civilization Saraswati (wisdom), Durga (protection), Kali (transformation), Lakshmi (prosperity) were revered. Women were venerated in religious texts as manifestations of Shakti, the divine feminine energy.
In Ancient Greece, Athena (wisdom), Demeter (agriculture), Aphrodite (love) were honoured. While women’s social status was limited, female deities played central roles in mythology, symbolizing knowledge, justice, and creativity.
In Celtic cultures, Morrigan (war and sovereignty), Brigid (poetry, healing, and smithcraft) were respected. Women were leaders, warriors, and druids, representing wisdom and spiritual power.
In Indigenous Cultures Worldwide, women were often considered wise leaders, spiritual healers, and life-givers.
What Changed?
I see the rise of patriarchal societies as a profound shift in human consciousness, beginning around 3000 BCE, when societies moved from matrilineal systems to male-dominated structures. This change was driven by the rise of agriculture, wealth accumulation, and the need to control lineage and inheritance. Male-centric monarchies and priesthoods replaced the egalitarian and female-centric systems of earlier times. The emergence of monotheistic religions further deepened this shift, as singular male deities became central, and goddesses were marginalized or transformed into saints, demons, or forgotten entirely.
Wars and conquests by patriarchal societies often targeted goddess-worshipping cultures, suppressing female leadership to solidify male dominance. The institutionalization of religion, particularly through structures like the Catholic Church, codified male authority while diminishing women’s spiritual roles and demonizing their knowledge in healing and midwifery. Economic changes, such as the transition from communal living to private ownership, confined women to domestic spaces and stripped them of public and spiritual authority.
These changes were rooted in the consolidation of power, as controlling women’s reproduction and sexuality became central to sustaining patriarchal systems. Dominant cultures absorbed or suppressed matriarchal and goddess traditions, often transforming powerful female figures into submissive ones. At the heart of this shift was a deep fear of female power—women’s profound connection to life, healing, and sexuality, once revered, was increasingly seen as a threat, leading to the suppression of their autonomy and spiritual authority. This historical narrative invites us to reflect on the importance of reclaiming balance and honouring the sacred feminine in our collective consciousness.
How Can Women Reclaim Feminine Power?
If you’ve been suffering trying to stuff yourself into the Capitalist Patriarchal system and feel lost, burnt-out and disconnected from your inner wisdom, here is what you can do to realign with your ancient wisdom:
I invite you to honour the divine feminine by returning to the sacred wisdom that resides within you. Trust your inner knowing, the quiet voice of intuition, and nurture it through meditation, journalling, and stillness. Embrace the boundless creativity that flows through you—paint, dance, sing, and weave rituals that celebrate your unique essence and the magic of the sacred feminine. Deepen your connection with the earth by honouring her rhythms: the cycles of the moon, the turning of the seasons, and the grounding energy of her embrace. Live harmoniously with nature, and let her teach you the beauty of flow and renewal.
Celebrate yourself with love and compassion. Care for your body as the temple it is, honouring its beauty and strength. Allow your emotions to flow freely, knowing that vulnerability is a gift that heals and connects. Reclaim the sacredness of your cycles and their connection to the divine rhythms of creation. Move your body with joy, adorn yourself in ways that ignite pleasure, and immerse yourself in the beauty that awakens your senses.
Invoke the presence of the goddesses who walk with you—those ancient archetypes of love, wisdom, and power—and let their stories remind you of your own sacred strength. Gather with sisters in circles of trust and celebration, weaving bonds of unity and support. Heal the wounds of the past by honouring the women who came before you, releasing what no longer serves, and embracing the wisdom of your lineage.
In this sacred reclamation, balance the divine feminine and masculine within you, allowing yourself to both receive and create, rest and act, nurture and lead. Walk in empathy, compassion, and collaboration, for this is the way of the priestess and the divine feminine. Through this path, you reclaim your sacred power and awaken the timeless wisdom that has always been yours.
Recognize deeply that you are a sacred channel for spirit. You are naturally tapped into divine energies. When you choose to stand in this remembrance, magical things occur. You become highly magnetic, and instead of having to chase or send energy out like a man, you draw what you desire to you. Memories of your past lives arise and with the greater awareness of who you truly are, no one can touch you.
Collectively, if we choose to stand in this power as women, the world will shift to meet us.
Men: What are you doing to hold space for the women in your life? What responsibilities are taking on to become strong enough to provide for a woman? Are you honouring the women in your life for their wisdom and healing abilities?
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Love Christina