Voices of the Sacred Feminine

In a rare guest interview, I speak to Gary Mazeffa, of Q2 Films, who has written and produced an upcoming film about the Divine Feminine for our world. Learn about it here first as Asherah: A Love Odyssey makes the festival circuit, including the Cannes Film Festival. Gary and I discuss his inspiration for the film, how he sees the Divine Feminine as "completion" and the conversation he hopes the film inspires.  As my long-time audience might know, I've been waiting for such a film, introducing the Divine Feminine to the world, and we might soon have the opportunity to see it on the big screen.  Please check out my website at www.karentate.net and please order my new book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal by clicking here -- https://www.karentate.net/post/pagan-portals-the-divine-feminine-deity-archetype-and-ideal   And for more on Q2Films and the Ashera film, click here:  https://q2films.com/category/odyssey-journal/

Its important to know symbols and their origins. Symbols have power in the collective consciousness. They're not accidents. Ancient people, unable to read and write, communicated complex ideas using symbols of which the sacred pubic triangle is one. The triangles were on statues, in caves and temples to signify the genitals and life giving female body. Red ochre represented the sacred blood. Tune in to hear more and discover more about Goddess and the Divine Feminine via Karen's books, website and newsletter. Go to www.karentate.net for free information.  To pre-order Karen's new book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal go here:  https://www.karentate.net/post/pagan-portals-the-divine-feminine-deity-archetype-and-ideal

The ancient female carvings called Sheela Na Gigs or Sheelas are enigmatic indeed. Theories are they're protection or fertility symbols, that their magic helps women in childbirth or if you're within a building on which a Sheela is carved, you are considered within the protective embrace of the Goddess. This and other aspects of the Sheelas are discussed in this short series about women reclaiming their agency via the power of female genitalia and sacred life giving. Check out my Sacred Places of Goddess book herehttps://www.karentate.net/post/sacred-places-of-goddess  for more information about Sheelas and other sacred places of Goddess around the world or to drive your own domestic or international sacred tour.  

We continue to delve into what's been lost in society as women are denied their power and agency. This episode discusses the origin of the "C-word", holy yonis, the 2005 study of the clitoris, Satan's teat and how Gen Z refers to cuntipotence.  Check out my website and the free stuff there at www.karentate.com and pre-order my newest book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal at https://www.karentate.net/post/pagan-portals-the-divine-feminine-deity-archetype-and-ideal

"Stop swallowing glass and calling your bleeding mouth grace" was the profoud statement in our Storytelling with Goddess circle this month. We discuss how patriarchy has robbed women of this emotion, telling her that her anger was hysteria, bitterness, irrationality. Many became terrified to be called a feminist, bitch, c*nt or other demonized word which reflected our boundaries, our consent was probably being violated. We shouldered the shame instead of the abuser. For more, give this episode a listen or go to my website for the article at www.karentate.net. Please also order my newest book in pre-order now from Amazon or Simon and Schuster titled Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal.Here are the links:  Book - https://www.karentate.net/post/pagan-portals-the-divine-feminine-deity-archetype-and-ideal   Article - https://www.karentate.net/post/do-you-swallow-glass-call-it-grace-reclaiming-healthy-female-anger-for-your-emotional-toolkit   Website - https://www.karentate.net/PLEASE REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE SHOW AND SHARE THE LINK WITH FRIENDS!

Whether you dream of traveling to her sacred sites with feet on the ground or you're an armchair traveler, this over-view of traveling to sacred sites of Goddess will entice you. These many travels culminated in the book, Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations mentioned in this episode. From Greece, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to France, England, Ireland and Malta - and many more destinations, a standing in places where Goddess was at the center of society, culture and religion for thousands of years is awe-inspiring. Dip your toe in the waters and let yourself dream.... Check out my website www.karentate and my new book available for pre-order, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal from Amazon or Simon and Schuster.

I started organizing and leading sacred tours to Goddess sites around the world so people could experience the spiritual bliss I found at these sacred sites. In this, Part One, I introduce listeners to the beginning of these sacred journeys and next episode, in Part Two, detail more about the experiences detailed in my books that followed.  Books named in the telling are Sacred Places of Goddess 108 Destinations and Walking An Ancient Path. Both detail either personally or academically much about these important places around the world. Check out my website for more about my work at www.karentate.net and you can pre-order my newest book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal now from Amazon or Simon and Schuster.

Part Two of my telling of the magic and mystery associated with an experience with Isis while in the dentist chair for a root canal. I don't want to give it all away here in the description. Please listen. I promise you won't be disappointed. Perhaps replay the previous Part 1 and listen to Part 2 for continuity. And please do go to Amazon or Simon and Schuster and pre-order my newest book Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal and while you're there, pick up Walking An Ancient Path where I detail this story and other personal experiences I've had as a priestess of Isis. Check out www.karentate.net for lots of free stuff: meditations, interviews and more.

Over the years I've been asked by students, peers and the curious how I define deity. Does god create mankind or mankind create god? Did Isis walk the earth or does Goddess care about us and intercede in our lives? Do I think it's anti-intellectual to believe in a deity residing in the heavens that hears our prayers and cares or helps us? In this episode, I set up the story of my experience with Isis during a root canal. And in Part 2 you'll hear the conclusion of what happened that very potent and thought provoking experience.  Don't miss the mystery and the magic. Thank you for listening. Check out my website at www.karentate.net and please pre-order my new book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal from Amazon or Simon and Schuster.

Can humans face reality anymore? I'll admit we're probably all a bit touchy and worn down and we've been through a lot this past decade but it seems the passive-aggressive toxic niceness might be doing us all a disservice. It prevents us from solving problems & keeps the status quo in power when we are under pressre to maintain an agreeable facade when justice, truth and courage are really what's called for. Check this out. Are you experiencing toxic niceness or expected to put on that nice face when something more serious is in order?   And go to my website at www.karentate.net to pre-order my new book, Divine Feminine: Deity, Archetype and Ideal.

Inspired by the movie Malificient, this is Part 2 of our trilogy, celebrating Feminist Fairy Tale & Goddess Mythology. Tonight our guest is with Foremother Barbara Walker. No doubt Barbara's books are in your personal library.  We'll discuss the importance of feminist fairy tales and Goddess Mythology and how so many have lost sight of what they teach us and how they're an alternative to the values of our patriarchal world. Barbara also has her new book coming out soon, Belief and Unbelief, and she'll give us some clues as to what that's all about. Next week I'll be chatting with Lenny Schneir, the partner of the late and beloved Foremother, Merlin Stone, author of the famous book inspiring so many of us -  When God Was a Woman.  Don't miss Week 1, when I interviewed Charlene Spretnak discussing pre-patriarchal Goddess Mythology.

Tune in tonight as I chat with Noam Chomsky, noted philosopher, political critic, activist and long-time professor at MIT.  Noam has written extensively on politics, war, corporatism and the mass media.  Prof. Chomsky has been described as a prominent cultural fiture and he was voted the "world's top  public intellectual in 2005."  Topics might include:  His views on the role of feminism in today's society, government repression and our loss of civil liberties, including Obama's continuation of the Patriot Act.  What he thinks of the Affordable Health Care Act, his views on the distinction, if any, between Democrats vs Republicans. I'll inquire if  thinks Americans are being primed for a new war and what we as citizens can do to stem the tide of losing worker rights, voting rights, women's rights and the dumbing down of America. Crossing the threshold into the second half of the show, Layne Redmond, beloved drummer and author of the book, When the Drummers Were Women, returns to tell us about her new project  - the Sacred Path of the Bee and the awakening of Bee Priestesses in contemporary times.

The noted Foremother and Pagan Elder, Margot Adler, author of "Drawing Down the Moon" considered a watershed in American Neopagan circles, as it provided the first comprehensive look at modern nature-based religions in the US. A journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess, radio journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio will discuss her work in the world and her insights into what's ahead for Goddess Advocates and Pagans, how things have changed in the last 15 years, the good and bad of the movement going more mainstream, feminist spirituality and closing of feminist bookstores and the passing of Pagan elders. We'll also go off-topic and discuss the spirit of the times, the interest in vampires. What do powerful Bill Compton and Stefan in the Vampire Diaries have in common and the feminist the environmental thrust in the vampire phenomena.

At the top of the hour Ken Worthy, lecturer and research associate at the University of California in Santa Cruz and Berkeley and St. Mary's College of CA will discuss Finding the Human Place in Nature.  We'll discuss the invisibility of Nature, our disconnection from Nature which leads to our being unethical and how clean technology are major sources of environmental degradation.  On the positive side, Ken gives insight as to how we can have a better relationship with nature, make it more visible in their lives and how eco-feminism informs his life's work.  Then crossing the threshold into the second half of the show, feminist, teacher, founder of the Feminist Collective. Sylvia Federici, discusses Women, Witch-Hunting and the Development of Capitalism, Past and Present.  We'll delve into the relationship between witch-hunting and the development of capitalism as argued in Caliban and the Witch.  Role of the church in witch-hunting, how it relates to the surge in violence against women today and more on the old religion and if anyone has apologized for the gendercide.      

Elder Priestess and Foundress of Circle Sanctuary, Prs. Selena Fox, make her annual seasonal return to the show to discuss old and new ways to celebrate Yuletide and the pagan Winter Solstice roots of Christmas and New Year's traditions. In the second half of the show, Pastor Stacy Boorn from Herchurch and the annual feminist conference in San Francisco returns to the show.