what is
the sacred feminine?
The sacred feminine’s essence lies in restoring what should never have been divided: the unity of mind and body, the balance between power and vulnerability, the connection between self and others, the grounding in the present, and the exploration of the unknown. While not everyone may connect with the term "sacred," many of us seek a deeper, more meaningful existence. Through engaging with archetypes, nature, and rituals we honour and embody the cycles of life, death and rebirth.
The Maiden
The Maiden represents the beginning of a women’s adult life, illustrated symbolically by the waxing (growing bigger) of the moon. It is a time of firsts, along with the excitement of new experiences comes painful challenges, identity formation and heartbreak. Themes addressed may include differentiating and individuating from one's family of origin, self-discovery and identity formation, self-esteem, establishing personal boundaries, embracing authenticity, body image, navigating friendships, family relationships, sexuality and power dynamics.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”
The Mother
“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.”
The Mother represents fullness and is illustrated symbolically by the full moon. Rather than needing extensive definition, this archetype's scope can be broadened to encompass the various aspects of women’s creation. Its energy can be harnessed not only to nurture and raise children but also to cultivate and develop a career, business, or creative project.
Themes addressed may include integrating various roles into one's identity, parenting challenges, anxiety, postpartum depression, infidelity, shifts in relational dynamics, divorce, creating security, and a new family structure, supporting others' growth, and balancing different aspects of self.
The crone
The crone embodies wisdom, repose and endings and is symbolically represented by the waning (shrinking) moon.
Crones enter a new chapter with menopause, a time when the trials of life—illness, heartbreak, and loss— have shaped deep reservoirs of wisdom. Middle age becomes a season akin to autumn, where the mature beauty of life's later years is embraced. A life fully lived sheds the illusions and slowly unveils the true self. The crone's greatest gift is the newfound freedom and security in simply being herself.
Themes addressed may include embracing change, renegotiating relationships, caring for aging parents, divorce, empty nesting, career transitions, menopausal changes, creating a legacy, accepting life's cycles and letting go of what no longer serves.
“If you have yet to be called an incorrigible, defiant woman, don’t worry, there is still time.”
Ceremonies and Groups
In the heart of myth, folklore, and ancient stories, goddess archetypes whisper to the soul, bypassing the conscious mind to awaken profound self-awareness. These archetypes—the Great Mother, the Wise Woman, the Warrior Goddess—embody diverse aspects of feminine energy, offering powerful tools for healing, growth, and self-discovery. When women connect with their archetypes, something profound shifts. They no longer see themselves as broken or in need of fixing but as complex beings with strengths to activate and challenges to embrace with understanding.
Through rituals, meditations, and shared ceremonies, women rediscover the lost lineage of the Sacred Feminine. Archetypes transform life from a linear grind into a spiritual journey, reconnecting us to the cycles of descent, renewal, and rebirth that mirror the rhythms of nature. In these sacred spaces, modern psychology’s silence on the symbolic, intuitive, and cyclical truths of womanhood is replaced with a deep knowing—a return to the wisdom of intuition, the power of the body, and the magic of the feminine spirit.
Together, in community, women reclaim this mystery and recognize its essential role in personal and collective healing. These groups and ceremonies honor not only the individual journey but also the shared wisdom that culture desperately needs: a path back to intuition, reverence, and the sacred cycles of life.
Curated
Sacred Feminine
Reading List
This curated reading list invites you to delve into the sacred and transformative world of the feminine through myth, history, psychology, and spirituality. Each title has been selected to illuminate different aspects of the feminine experience—from reclaiming ancient wisdom and confronting societal structures, to embracing the body, creativity, and healing.
In the first section of the reading list, Sacred Feminine - Herstory, you will discover a blend of mythological tales, archetypes, and teachings that reconnect us to the wild, untamed aspects of womanhood. Books like Women Who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés and Magdalene Mysteries by Seren Bertrand open the doorway to understanding the wild woman archetype, the sacred feminine, and the mysteries of transformation.
The second section, Feminine-Focused Personal Growth, offers guides for nurturing the soul and embracing our authentic selves. From Untamed by Glennon Doyle to The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, these works inspire personal liberation and courage in navigating the complexities of modern womanhood.
As we journey deeper into self-exploration, Trauma, Patriarchy & Ancestral Healing addresses the profound impact of historical wounds and offers pathways to healing through works such as The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which explore how our bodies, minds, and ancestral histories intersect.
In the section on couples and our bodies, books like The Dance of Intimacy by Harriet Lerner and Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach provide insights into relationships, self-love, and the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit. These books encourage integration of the body’s wisdom and healing from within.
For those seeking a deeper understanding of the cycles of nature, the Magic, Ritual and Earth Holidays section offers teachings on the ancient rituals that honour the rhythms of the earth, with works such as The Spiral Dance by Starhawk and The Women’s Wheel of Life by Elizabeth Davis.
This list also touches on Ecofeminism, Parenting, and Working with the Moon and Stars, providing a holistic view of how we can integrate the sacred feminine into all aspects of our lives—from mothering and family life to embracing cosmic rhythms and environmental consciousness.
Finally, the list includes Fiction and Poetry to nourish the spirit and inspire creative expression, with works such as The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Devotions by Mary Oliver.
This collection offers a rich tapestry of wisdom and insight to support your journey of awakening, healing, and empowerment as you reconnect with the sacred feminine within and around you.
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Magdalene Mysteries: The Left-Hand Path of the Feminine Christ - by Seren Bertrand and Ezra Bertrand, M.D Women
Who Run with Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Women - by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation - by Silvia Federici
Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life - by Sharon Blackie
Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel and the Christianity we Haven’t Tried Yet - by Meggan Watterson
The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future - by Riane Eisler
When God was a Women - by Merlin Stone
Goddesses in Everywomen: Powerful Archetypes in Women’s Lives - by Jean Shinoda Bolen
Dancing in the Flames: The Dark Goddess in the Transformation of Consciousness - by Marion Woodman
You are a Goddess: Working with the Sacred Feminine to Awaken Heal and Transform - by Sophie Bashford
Goddesses: Mysteries of the Feminine Divine - by Joseph Campbell
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Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood - by Lucy Jones
Untamed- by Glennon Doyle
First, We Make the Beast Beautiful - by Sarah Wilson
Rise Sister Rise: A Guide to Unleashing the Wise, Wild Women Within- by Rebecca Campbell
Bad Feminist - by Roxane Gay
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear - by Elizabeth Gilbert
Coming Home to Myself: Reflections for Nurturing a Women’s Body and Soul - by Marion Woodman and Jill Mellick Lesser
Broken Open: How difficult times can help us grow - by Elizabeth Lesser
The Seeker’s Guide: Making your life and spiritual adventure - by Elizabeth Lesser
The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Suppose to Be and Embrace Who You Are - by Brené Brown Ph.D Cassandra
Speaks: When Women are Storytellers, the Human Story Changes - by Elizabeth Lesser
The Power of Myth - by Joseph Campbell
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times - by Pema Chödrön
Heart Minded: How to Hold Yourself and Others in Love - by Sarah Blondin
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The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma - by Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants - by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity - by Esther Perel
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence- by Esther Perez
The Dance of Intimacy: A Women’s Guide to Courageous Acts of Change in Key Relationships - by Harriet Lerner
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Wisdom of your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness and Connection through Embodied Living - by Hilary L. McBride PhD
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body - by Roxane Gay Radical
Acceptance: Embracing your Life with the Heart of a Buddha - by Tara Brach
The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love - by Sonya Renee Taylor
Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women can Transform their Relationship with Food through Myth, Metaphors and Storytelling - by Anita A.Johnston
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Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials box Set
The Spiral Dance: A rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess - by Starhawk
The Women’s Wheel of Life - by Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard
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This One Wild and Precious life: The Path Back to Connection in a Fractured World - by Sarah Wilson
If Women Rose Rooted: The Power of the Celtic Women - by Sharon Blackie
The Language of the Goddess - by Maria Gimbutas
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Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions - by Starhawk, Diane Baker, Anne Hill
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness - by Jonathan Haidt
Conscious Parenting and The Awakened Family - by Dr. Shefali Tsabary
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent girls - by Mary Pipher
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Lunar Abundance: Cultivating Joy, Peace and Purpose using the Phases of the Moon - by Ezzie Spencer Ph.D
The Shamanic Astrology Handbook - by Daniel Giamario
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Circe by Madeline Miller
The Mists of Avalon - by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Red Tent - by Anita Diamond
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart- by Holly Ringland
The Handmaid’s Tale - by Margaret Atwood
Devotions:The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver - by Mary Oliver
