Extracts from THE POLITICS OF FEMINIST SPIRITUALITY edited by Charlene Spretnak. Anchor Books, New York.

BLESSED BE THY WOMB WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE

The symbolism of the Goddess is not a parallel structure to the symbolism of God the Father. The Goddess does not rule the world; She IS the world.

She does not exclude the male; she confirms him, as a pregnant woman contains a male child.

Many women are discovering the old religion, reclaiming the word WITCH and, with it, some of our lost culture.

The image of the Goddess inspires women to see ourselves as divine, our bodies as sacred, the changing phases of our lives as holy, our aggression as healthy, our anger as purifying, and our power to nurture and create (but also limit and destroy where necessary) as the very force that sustains all life.

The long sleep of Mother Goddess is ended. May She awaken in each of our hearts — Merry meet, merry part, and blessed be.

THE CIRCLE IS CAST — WE ARE BETWEEN THE WORLDS — BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF TIME — WHERE NIGHT AND DAY — BIRTH AND DEATH — JOY AND SORROW — MEET AS ONE!