Oh woman, born long out of time, have we lost our way?
Earth woman, daughter of the universe, we have lost our moon.
Forgotten now the wisdom, revered and honored once
of woman in her fullness, female attribute of God.
Sophia, God’s beloved, created first before the earth and
through whom creation came, was hypostasis of His very self.
Full moon, our woman sign, was worshipped once,
symbolic circle, no beginning and no end,
reminded all of mysteries of cycles all around –
life within and life without, moon phases, seasons,
birth, death and rebirth and all that renews itself.
Round we were then and natural, connected to the earth,
soft and curved and bountiful, reservoir of life.
Patriarchs suppressed the moon, this Yin of all that is,
dismissed the spirit of the feminine, creative life force of the earth,
our intuition now the “weaker” side, subservient to the Yang.
Soft roundedness resculpted, or shamefully disguised,
for men decided to disdain it and value in its place
more angular and masculine lines as the ideal of what is beauty.
Now we mock ourselves for what all have contained within,
the feminine in all of us – that sense of life in cycles,
connections with no end, emotions, tenderness, creativity,
conceded instinct and intuitive knowledge to more linear, logical men.
Oh woman free your spirit from chains of patriarchal norms,
Earth woman, once moon goddess, trust your wisdom now again -
restore to all of us our balance, yin and yang in sync,
for the world indeed is darker now, without the moon’s soft glow.
© Lianne Schneider July 2008
Earth Woman
In praise of the feminine in all of us –
The Old Testament Book of Proverbs (Chapter 8) personifies an attribute of God as a woman, as the wisdom of God (Sophia in the Greek)
“The Lord begot me, the first born of His ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;
From of old I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth…
When He established the heavens I was there…
Then I was beside Him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day…” Prov. 8:22-31
Throughout all the “wisdom literature” of the Old Testament, wisdom is referred to as feminine, and in ancient times in most cultures, this spirit was worshipped as the path, the way to God Himself.
butchart, 2 months ago
wow.. powerful call to return to the purer feminine spirit…......... indeed it has been hacked and diced into hard lines… forged by men in fear and greed of power…........... great writing lianne…. you should get pissed more often…...................love you…....b
aspectsoftmk, 2 months ago
yes in the softness of the light we see …thank you lianne…words for always my friend…i love that..
saleire, 2 months ago
for the world indeed is darker now, without the moon’s soft glow
A great piece Lianne…...gives me a feeling of power and sense of pride to be WOMAN. Love it.
So true my dear friend…...there was a saying years ago….behind every good man there was a good woman and it was true…...a good woman, in the sense that she was a beacon of light for her family could make the world a better place just by being the woman who knew how to be womanly, motherly and the intuitive being she was born to be.
You know what pops into my mind…...once upon a time men didn’t really know the birth process….they thought is was magical, mystical and did not make the connection to the making love….they just figured that women were god-like because they could produce children…...then…...they figured it out and all the female goddesses were changed over to the statues of male gods…....and the world changed too…....aw…..if only they hadn’t figured it out :o)
hilarydougill, 2 months ago
wonderful sweetheart, so very well written, everyone of us has anima and animus, feminine, and masculine . Most women use their animus as well as the anima they were born with, but few men use their anima. The ones who do are such sweet souls , they are the ones who have moved forward a step on this earthly evolution, there is a thought that to be incarnated as a female is the ultimate soul progression. Your writing is powerful and so very true. hugs xxxx
lianne in reply to butchart’s comment, 2 months ago
Lol – who said I was pissed? Well I was a little bit but for odd reasons and mostly with myself. As one of the most wonderful, open, creative and amazing men I know, I’m so thrilled that you appreciated the point, my dearest Butch. Love you!
lianne in reply to aspectsoftmk’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you Terri, my friend – I honor your instinctive connection to the earth and all its beauty and the way you revere the whole cycle of life in all you do!
lianne in reply to saleire’s comment, 2 months ago
once upon a time men didn’t really know the birth process….they thought is was magical, mystical and did not make the connection to the making love….they just figured that women were god-like because they could produce children…
That’s exactly the right of it my dearest Sal – and unfortunately too many women buy into our own “disenfranchisement” by accepting linear, logical thinking as superior and we have tried to fit into their molds while sacrificing our own “wisdom.” I do it myself – lol! I’m so glad you found this empowering – that was my hope.
lianne in reply to hilarydougill’s comment, 2 months ago
I knew you’d be able to express this even better than I my dear friend. I’m so glad you like it, Hilary – that means a lot to me.
TeriLee, 2 months ago
The magic of being a woman!! This is beautiful and uplifting Lianne….I couldn’t agree more…woman should feel MORE powerful simply for being a woman….in today’s society so many girls are taught that it is something to “over-come”.... the feminine mystique is something to be proud of …a glorious gift that should be shared….these words tell me just that….something many woman and girls either never knew, or have forgotten…Fantastic Lianne!! xoxo :)
lianne in reply to TeriLee’s comment, 2 months ago
Oh TeriLee I’m so glad it reminds you of what you already know in your heart and that your creativity expresses so beautifully! Thank you so much my friend!
Joan1970, 2 months ago
This is a brilliant piece of writing. Filled with knowledge, hope, spirituality, and life. One of your best, Lianne.
lianne in reply to Joan1970’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you so much Joan – I’m so glad you like it – what a lovely compliment! I appreciate that very much!
jpryce, 2 months ago
A little ‘pissed’ now and then is good for the soul…you are such a wonderful writer and this is a great example of your understanding of woman. Thank you for this Lianne.
lianne in reply to jpryce’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks Susie – I didn’t really write it out of anger at all – it’s been on my mind and a work in progress for several weeks. But I’m very glad you liked it!
devotee1, 2 months ago
Beautiful Lianne! Father/Mother God—Woman the sacred vessel through which God brought forth humanity. Man the fiery Will to create. Woman, the refining of creation (emotions) through unconditional love. Man’s love is often very conditional.
lianne in reply to devotee1’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you so much Joe – But God knew best and gave us both aspects to draw upon as He himself encompasses both. How blessed we are when we can see that! I always appreciate the thoughtfulness of your comments my dear friend!
Jen Whyte, 2 months ago
Oh Lianne my dearest friend … I recognise a call from the heart and join with this song before it is too late for us … us moongoddesses, because we are locked away and afraid to show the power of the moon and the power of unconditional love … let it all flow again as it should!
Sensational writing … truly the power of the pen!!!
lianne in reply to Jen Whyte’s comment, 2 months ago
Ahhh Jen my dearest, I so agree with you! I’m glad this spoke to our “common soul” – I think that’s where our connections come from don’t you? I’m so very glad you liked it my dear friend!
Tina Hogg, 2 months ago
Powerful, wonderful words! Have you read “The mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley?
Nancy Fischer, 2 months ago
I knew it!
——- Lianne, this is pure magic. Printed and posted on my Lianne wall. Thank for this.lianne in reply to Tina Hogg’s comment, 2 months ago
I don’t think I have Tina – though the title sounds familiar! So glad you liked this my friend – I’ll look for the book for sure!
lianne in reply to Nancy Fischer’s comment, 2 months ago
LOL Nancy – well I’m thrilled that you like it – and that it merits a spot! Thanks so very much, my friend!
Summayyah Sadi..., 2 months ago
Wow! This is so inspiring!, touches the core of your spirit! Definitely a fav for me!
lianne in reply to Summayyah Sadiq-Ojibara’s comment, 2 months ago
Why thank you you wonderful woman – speaking of spirit! I’m so very glad you liked it Summayyah – that always means so very much to me!
LindaR, 2 months ago
wow ~ rich, full of well rounded wisdom, woman~!! Excellent embodiment of our true nature in the culture and times we live in doesn’t allow or revere or divine the essence your describe in body, mind, heart and spirit. This is so strange as I had this conversation recently about this ~ it’s a whisper in my tired mind at the moment ~ but its thread is felt in your writing and the reading ~ far far more whole than mine. I love you Lianne ~ for being who you are and writing about this ~ gift so rich for the end of such a long and busy day ~ you’ve sparked my spirit again xxx
lianne in reply to LindaR’s comment, 2 months ago
Oh I’m so very glad if it did that my dearest friend! It’s been simmering for weeks now and I’ve struggled to say it right and hope I did.I sensed you have been just inundated dear Linda – and I love you too! Thank you my sweet friend!
adgray, 2 months ago
This Moon Goddess has whopping great holes in her, she is ragged round the edges and her orbit is very skew whiff! But every time that gloating great sun explodes a bit and sends a meteorite her way that she cant quite dodge in time and it hits her; she thinks of it as just a bit of polishing on the surface and with determined effort she shines all the more!
I can only love unconditionally ~ how can you put conditions on love?
I can’t think in linear logical monetary fashion ~ I think in circles spirals and loops!
I can’t hate intensely ~ only dislike to the degree of avoidance and uncaring
I can only give give and give again ~ to take [not receive] is to create blackness in your soul
I know how you work hard on all your pieces and i see in this you have created perfection of thought.
Every line gives rise to philosophical thought that if debated will win over the doubts
It answers the questions of why is life so hard ~ and when you think of it where the maternal value is the highest and the paternal values of providing the lowest that is where there is most social poverty and yet most individual happiness; and where the values are in reverse that is where there is most social affluence and most individual depression. Therefore it stands to reason that if the two values are even there would be the right amount of social and individual good for all. But water finds its own level and is rarely still…. so the middle will always be waving towards the sides and back again.
Thank you for these words of wisdom, I truely am having a very positive bubble session today that I dearly need.
Keep Happy! :O) ..... I am shouting this at myself!
“Just keep swimming swimming swimming!” [gotta love Dorey!]
Chookas! ♥
lianne in reply to adgray’s comment, 2 months ago
Dear Alyssa – I’m so glad you feel so positively about this piece – I have wrestled with it for weeks actually – lol. And as always, dear friend, your comments give so much additional food for thought. Makes me smile to think that you are smiling! Thank you so much!!
linaji, 2 months ago
Wow.. I am late! so much work and so little time to view.. this is wonderful journey.. I often wonder what the world would be like if we could move towards the more all encompassing feeling/thinking of women.. to become a more Goddess society.. would there be more peace? Powerful work.
lianne in reply to linaji’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you Lina – I think we just don’t give ourselves enough credit, we’re not empowered to feel and connect but rather to “think and be logical.” I don’t see logic has gotten the world out of too many wars! I’m glad you enjoyed it my friend.
Helene Kippert, 2 months ago
Beautiful empowering words!
lianne in reply to Helene Kippert’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you so much Helene – I’m very glad you think so! I appreciate your comment so much!