Karen Tate is founder of The Isis Ancient Cultures Society and priestess of Isis, Egyptian goddess of 10,000 names. Ms. Tate has made it her mission to bring awareness of the Sacred Feminine into the world in hopes of bringing into balance that which has been so skewed towards the masculine face of the divine. With her book, Walking an Ancient Path: Rebirthing Goddess on Planet Earth, she succeeds in creating sacred space from which the Goddess can be experienced in her many forms.

I believe a reviewer should be honest about their background, especially if it's relevant to the work being reviewed. My foray into Paganism began avidly in the early 1990's with Native American inspired and Goddess Spirituality groups.

I have fond memories of full moon ceremonies held in a tepee lead by a woman who walked her talk - a true inspiration for the Goddess movement. I also have not so fond memories of sexism, racism, proselytizing, and women presenting the stereotype of catty pettiness. This caused me to look elsewhere for spiritual fulfillment.

Even with my past experience, I can objectively say that Karen Tate presents a refreshing view into the modern Goddess Spirituality movement. The term she might use is Goddess Advocacy. I still consider myself one of the naysayers she speaks of regarding the history of matriarchal culture, but even in this she is forgiving.

She obviously embraces theories of ancient peaceful matriarchies but allows readers to decide what the Divine Feminine force is for them; an archetype, one creatrix goddess, or many goddesses. She does not espouse her way as the only way to experience the Sacred Feminine.

The book is a combination of memoir, travel guide, and introduction to the thealogy (feminine form of theology) behind the Goddess movement. Walking an Ancient Path is woven together using the five elements to guide the reader along a journey in experiencing different aspects of the Goddess.

In Understanding Spirit, the author begins by explaining her own awakening to the Goddess. It's always fascinating to me how different people come home to the spirituality that is right for them. Ms. Tate relates the story of her Catholic, Louisiana background, moving to California and the events which led her to seek out the Goddess.

Understanding Earth was one of the most enjoyable parts of the book for me. The author has traveled extensively to sacred sites of the Goddess around the world and also leads group tours to such sites. She does an excellent job of relating each experience right down to descriptions of each holy place as well as some of the history. I wanted to gaze into a well of Brigid and pray at the Temple of Isis in Pompeii. Through her writing, I could even feel some of the frustration she felt in Rome.

In Understanding Water, the emotional element, she delves into the importance of healing relationships, coping with loss and building communities to serve Goddess ideals. The description of the Festival of Isis near the Pacific Ocean including the preparation is an inspirational look at how we might bring the Goddess into our own community.

Understanding Fire takes the reader through the author's initiation as a priestess of Isis. Here she relates the ups and downs of her journey up to this point including her disillusionment with political power plays within the community. I could relate to her discussion of how cruel women can be to women. She recognizes that discrimination is something which needs to be addressed, whether the perpetrator wears a skirt or not.

In Understanding Air, the element of the mind, we are introduced to holy days and ways to honor the Goddess, examples of Goddess temples, and instructions for making a sistrum - sacred tool of Isis. She also makes the case for bringing together the Goddess and the God in sacred union.

There are rituals and meditations interspersed throughout the chapters to help you experience the Sacred Feminine. This is not a strict how-to manual however. Within this five-element paradigm, the author skillfully presents her story as an inspiration for others. She went through the initial spark of inspiration, encountered obstacles along the way and came through as an even stronger advocate for the Goddess.

I recommend this book as a healing tool for those who have had unpleasant prior experiences with the Goddess Movement. It will also introduce newcomers to the aims of Goddess Spirituality.

What I see as the main message of this work is that as we open ourselves to the Divine Feminine, we bring balance to our lives. In turn, we will inspire balance between the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine in the world around us.