The words Goddess Movement send shivers down the spines of some. Others imagine scenes of broomstick-skirt clad, hippie types dancing in circles chanting to some imaginary female casting spells on people. Once you get past the stereotypes however, you find that this movement runs much deeper in the hearts and minds of those who belong to it.

Modern witchcraft began to trickle over to the US from England after the repeal of the anti-witchcraft laws in 1951 when Gerald Gardner started to publish such works as Witchcraft Today and High Magic's Aid. While the goddess was revered in the Wiccan tradition he inspired (some say created), it wasn't until later in the 1960's and 70's when the goddess met head on with eco-feminism that the Goddess Movement exploded on to the scene. Two authors that stepped up to help lead this movement were Starhawk and Zsuzsanna Budapest (known as Z).

The time was ripe for goddess worship. One of the bedrock ideas of this movement is that the disregard for our planet over the last 2000 years is inexorably linked to the degradation and subjugation of women. The sixties started to bring an awareness of the harm that was happening to our planet at our own hands. It is only logical that women's issues such as equality and power over our own bodies became linked with goddess worship.

Starhawk's landmark book, The Spiral Dance, A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess inspired people to combine feminism, political activism, and spirituality. She founded the Reclaiming tradition, which aims to continue the joining of politics and spirituality to create change.

Z. Budapest founded the first feminist witchcraft coven in California in 1971 and wrote such books as The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries, which helped to inspire others to create groups based on her work. This brought goddess worship out of the shadows.

Before this, there was a divide between feminists and goddess worshippers. It was thought that bringing religion to the forefront would cause feminism not to be taken seriously and damage the fight for equality. Starhawk's and Z's tireless efforts helped to prove this untrue. They have inspired people worldwide to take power over their own lives and fight for the survival of the planet.

Goddess spirituality sees the earth as a living, breathing entity that sustains us. Therefore, we are responsible for her stewardship and must protect her. The politics in this movement tend to be very liberal and encourage activism for environmental and civil causes.

The idea that there was a worldwide, peaceful matriarchy in place before patriarchy took over was prevalent in the beginning of eco-feminist goddess worship. This is still hotly debated. Many of the leaders of this movement have softened their stance on that concept. The main focus is to empower people who have generally been disempowered in the past such as women, racial and sexual minorities, and the disabled. This is one reason hierarchy is frowned upon in many goddess oriented groups. Everyone is seen as the leader of their own spirit. They believe each person is sacred. This tradition seeks to empower that idea within us so we may heal ourselves and the planet.

Goddess spirituality has helped women feel pride in who they are by honoring every stage of a woman's life. This is embodied in the trinity of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Menstruation is seen as sacred as well as childbirth and aging. No woman is left out in the cold in this beautiful tradition which is expressed in as many ways as there are people who practice it. Women gather to perform magic at the full moon, the sabbats, in drumming circles, coming of age ceremonies, and cronings.

Of course, they do not forget the men whose hearts have been opened by the Goddess. While the movement started out as women-only groups and some still are, many have coed rituals that include men who support the cause and feel Her calling.

People involved in this movement encourage us to embrace the beauty in ourselves, which is seen as the most powerful political act. For when we do this, we can no longer accept abuse of the earth and her children. Realizing that we are all children of the Goddess worthy of respect forces us to act on that knowledge politically and magically. The popularity of this tradition has proven what Z. Budapest loves to remind us, "The Goddess is Alive, Magic is Afoot!"



Sources:
Starhawk. The Spiral Dance, A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. (20th anniversary edition). HarperCollins, 1999.
Zsuzsanna E. Budapest. The Grandmother of Time. HarperCollins 1989.
Ronald Hutton. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford University Press, 1999.