Lilith's Spirit
Lilith still reigns as a symbol of independent, life-loving, justice-seeking women who have been depicted in art, history and literature as sexual predators, demons, evil spirits and harlots. She may have been considered both warrior and seductress; I view neither of these as negatives. If she is shown as one who tricked men, I believe it was to teach them lessons; if she was blamed for inciting their lust, so have all women taken the blame for male desire in a world where sexuality is held sinful.
If we are to believe she kills mortals, can we not view her as we do the male god, as one who ‘giveth and taketh away’, who ends human life as He, divine ruler, deems necessary, or simply to maintain the balance of the Universe? Why do the qualities we admire in a male god make so little sense to us when embodied by a female deity that we demonize her? Why are they so threatening?
Written by Deborah Grenn-Scott, M.A., Women’s Spirituality, is founder and director of The Lilith Institute.
Painting using acrylics, pigment and gold leaf
100×42 cm
Music
Metamorphosis One – Philip Glass
13th September 2008
Lilith's Spirit belongs to the following groups:
British Painters, Contemporary Professional Painters and Sculptors and Corporate Art/Themes Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Maria Mann
Wonderful, Sophie, a new minimalism for you, it suits you very well and gives me infinite pleasure this Sunday. bests, m
Sophie Shapiro replied
Maria, thank you for your wonderful comment! Hope you’re well and happy? Thinking of you!Sx
Paul (Quixote)...
Great movement, I love the warm tines. Well composed.
Sophie Shapiro replied
Paul thank you for your wonderful comment! I really appreciate it!Sx
coppertrees
Well said Sophie, she is a victim of bad sexualism. A mighty warrior ,as all others, willing to take life if it so lays down in front of her. A strong Power of protection for women.
Sophie Shapiro replied
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate your support and understanding Vickie! Thinking of you!Sx
tkrosevear
Amazing Sophie ;)
humans are fond of rankings, judgments and status, although illusionary competition will never create true peace. FEAR controls the need to demonize, blame and elude responsibility.
So happy that Paul opened this “wavelength”, it is generating awesome results…
Sophie Shapiro replied
TK, thank you for your wonderful words and inspiration! I hope you have a wonderful week! Thinking of you!Sx
atj1958
Great colors
Sophie Shapiro replied
Thank you for your wonderful comment! Kind regards, Sx
Lior Goldenberg
This is beautiful!
Sophie Shapiro replied
Lior! Thank you for your wonderful comment! I really appreciate it and hope you have a wonderful week! Thinking of you!Sx
Arletta
Uhmm…. what? I say in regards to the writing. God, that one who giveth and taketh away,etc. is not a male in the same sense that Lilith would have been a female.
Unless, of course, someone has come up with a new Lilith. Have they?
Because the only Lilith I know of is the rumored Lilith that was alleged, by some, to be the first woman created – and she was, in fact, created by a group of women hating men who wanted to more firmly establish the fact that women were imperfect and evil from the get go and making them twice didn’t seem to help the process much. Can’t remember the group of men, but it was an alleged offshoot of alleged Christianity, which actually taught very little of anything the Christ said or did.
Also, I never heard of that Lilith killing anyone – only of her being the succubis and the screech owl in the desert and the one who gets sent goats. Which is silly, as Azazel is the one who the goats were sent out to and it says it quite plainly in the Holy Scriptures.
So, the “uhm .. what?” is me asking for information. Who is this Lilith you are talking about, why would anyone accuse her of being a murderer, and how could she possibly rate as compared to someone who can give life because lithe energy of life actually stems from him, and whom can take it away for the same reason?
And, yes, I do realize I just called him a him – I said he is not a male in the same sense. The Lilith that I heard of would have been created by him, given the breath of life by him, and had been fashioned with flesh, including genitalia and set into the position of being a woman: helper of man. Whereas the God in question, is not made out of flesh and blood and creates in other ways rather than physical acts requiring genitalia.
That Lilith, if she existed, well, she would not and could not ever be a demon- because demons are fallen angels, not fallen humans. So, hmm .. yes, this whole concept of which you speak, which must surely be about a different Lility indeed, is all very new and strange to me.. I’d be interested in hearing more about it. Not because I’ll believe, but because it would be interesting to understand where you are coming from, is all.
Sophie Shapiro replied
Arletta, all this work was inspired by Paul’s depiction of Lilith.
Here I was very moved by the whole concept and watching the U Tube clip. I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Why was this woman responsible for all the atrocities in life. Whether fictitious or not, I felt compelled to paint from the early hours of this morning and this is the result. We must make our own choices, as you well know. I just wanted to represent her the way I felt her and not be weighed down by the enormity of the problem, which was put into place centuries ago. There are many references about Lilith on the internet, which you may enjoy reading at your own convenience. Thank you for your interest Arletta, I hope you have a wonderful week! Thinking of you!Sx
Arletta
Huh! Weirdly, it is the same Lilith. Wow! That girl gets around! The story of Lilith is yet another mythological case involving too much ego – mostly male- and a grand desire to get along with the neighbors, marry the good looking person with differeing beliefs, etc. and thereby allowing thigns to get all jumbled up on many sides. I studied up on her a long long time ago (but not in a galaxy far far away). It’s an interesting story, to be sure. Thanks for the information.
pryere
melodious
love this!! brilliant work Sophie!
John Fish
I think this is just beautiful. the simplicity gives it a focus and depth. I love the sensitive white lines. very interesting writing and I think it is an inspiration to write a creative piece with this theme. I agree completely in that I think God is both male and female which makes the balance of nature and regeneration of life.
robyn nuttall
love thus Sophie(oops nearly addressed you as Lilith!) The colour is glorious—really glows!
MattTworkowski
Just beautiful Soph,amazing work as usual
Kathie Nichols
Absolutely gorgeous artwork Sophie…...I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about Lilith, thankyou so much for sharing.
Deborah Milligan
Wonderful sophie. I love the obscured simplicity of this. For me it speaks volumes about the cultural veils that both hide and reveal our views on our past, our present and our future – mythological or otherwise. This painting gives glimpses of a person interpreted, re-interpreted, understood, misunderstood, shifting according to our viewpoint. The simplicity enables me to interpret it more readily and more personally than a more complex painting. It gives me room to move and allows me to fall gently under its spell.
Antanas
Great work, well doen
Joyce Dickens,...
Sophie, this is awesome; both soothing and awakening to the spirit…......incredibly beautiful color and even with the minimalization, there is superb depth and a very real feel of dynamic spacesousness! This is just incredible….I love the information which you have provided from Deborah Grenn-Scott….....beautiful work my friend!!!!
Paul Stephen ...
Love the painting Sophie, I see Lilith and the shrouds of mystery surrounding her, love the way you have depicted her colouring and treatment of the whole.
Never in my wildest dreams , when I put up my piece did I expect, so many reactions amd to inspire so many people to paint ,their own versions.It only fo to emphasise the mant stories depiction this mythological character. I love your painting and description. tk has also made a painting on this theme and her description is such a lovely and comprehensive one, I add a link hereLilith by tk
Paul light and peace to you all :)))))))))))))))