Books

Non-fiction.

Bonheim, Jalaja . Aphrodite’s Daughters: Women’s Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul, pub. Fireside, 1997. A beautiful book exploring women’s sexual lives with a mythical backdrop.

Davis, Elizabeth and Leonard, Carol. The Women’s Wheel of Life: Thirteen Archetypes of Woman at Her Fullest Power, pub. Viking, 1995. An effective, user-friendly overlay of psychological archetypes onto modern women’s lives.

Ellis, Normandi (Trans.) Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead, pub. Phanes Press 1988. Stunningly beautiful poetic rendition of The Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Ferguson, Diana. The Magickal Year: A Pagan Perspective on the Natural World, pub. Labyrinth, 1996. One of my favourite books detailing the origins and associations of the eight festivals.

Harding, Esther. Woman’s Mysteries, pub. Rider, 1989. Jungian interpretation of the centrality to women of goddess myth and archetypes.

George, Demetra. Mysteries of the Dark Moon, pub. Harper San Francisco, 1992. Powerful interpretation of the place of the Dark Goddess in our world.

Leeming, David and Page, Jake. Goddess: Myths of the Female Divine, pub. Oxford University Press, 1994. Clear, concise retelling of Goddess myths, from ancient to modern.

Meador, Betty De Shong. Uncursing the Dark: Treasures from the Underworld, pub. Chiron, 1992. Different translation of some of the Inanna texts, with commentaries and background.

Perera, Sylvia Brinton. Descent to the Goddess: A way of Initiation for Women, pub. Inner City Books, 1981. A dense, compact (Jungian) interpretation of Inanna’s descent as a commentary on women’s initiation.

Roderick, Timothy. Dark Moon Mysteries: Wisdom, Power and Magic of the Shadow World, pub. Llewellyn, 1996. Exciting, detailed guidelines of how to explore many aspects of the shadow.

Sjöö, Monica and Mor, Barbara. The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth, pub. Harper and Row, 1987. Extensive study and interpretation of past goddess cultures.

Starhawk. The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, pub. Harper San Francisco,1989. A now classic how-to of goddess centred ritual and magic.

Wolkstein, Diane and Samuel, Noah Kramer. Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer, pub. Harper and Row, 1983. A translation of Inanna’s myths that were recorded on clay tablets approx. 4000 years ago.

 

Fiction .

Antieau, Kim. The Jigsaw Woman, pub. Roc,1996. An amazing novel of meeting and integrating the dark goddess.

Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent, pub. Allen & Unwin, 1998. A modern classic, retelling of the biblical story of Dinah from a feminine and goddess-oriented perspective.

Fallingstar, Cerridwen. The Heart of the Fire , pub. Cauldron Publications, 1990. Excruciating retelling of one girl caught up in the witch-hunts, with a background of wicca.f

Lawrence, Louise. The Earth Witch , pub. Ace Fantasy/Harper & Row, 1981. Brilliant retelling of Welsh myth, concerning the triple goddess coming alive in a supposedly children’s book.

MacDonald, George. At the Back of the North Wind , pub. Puffin Books (reprint) 1984. A passionate evocation of the goddess entering the life of one child.

Roberts, Michele. The Wild Girl, pub. Methuan, 1984. The poetic, visionary gospel of Mary Magdelene.

Scott, Manda. Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle , pub. Bantam Press. Powerful telling of ancient Celtic life and spirit at the time of Boudicea.

Slonczewski, Joan. A Door into Ocean , pub. The Women’s Press, 1987. Fantasy novel exploring the outer limits of eco-feminism and non-violence.

Starhawk. The Fifth Sacred Thing , pub. Bantam, 1993. Powerful, comprehensive novel detailing possible futures for magical/spiritual activists.

Yolen, Jane. Sister Light, Sister Dark , pub. Tor, 1988. Eccentric fantasy rendition of the myths of light and dark goddesses and working with the shadow self.