The Storyteller's Goddess Tales of the Goddess and Her Wisdom from Around the World

by Edwards, Carolyn McVickar

• ISBN13: 9781569246481
• ISBN10: 1569246483
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

The Storyteller's Goddess is a collection of more than 30 stories from 20 cultures that celebrate the goddess. They are organized around seven healing goddess principles and are inspired by traditional goddess lore and ancient artifacts. Each one is introduced by placing it in its cultural and historical context, telling the story's origins, and describing props that can be used to invoke that story's goddess--from Kali and Hecate to Shekina, Kuan Yin, Athena, Mary, and Lilith.

Author Biography

Carolyn McVickar Edwards, a teacher and storyteller in Oakland, California, is the author of The Storyteller's Goddess and In the Light of the Moon. She is interested in the literacies and languages of earth, myths, books, folk songs and stories, and conversation. More information about her and her work is available at www.carolynmcvickaredwards.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction: Seven Goddess Principles---Truths Inside of Truths	xiii
All in All: Healing the Split	1	(36)
Pele, Volcano Woman (Hawaii)	5	(5)
The Romance of Volcano and Ocean	7	(3)
Amaterasu Omikami, She Who Possesses Noon (Japan)	10	(6)
The Mirror Dance of Life	12	(4)
Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld, and Inanna, Queen of Heaven (Sumer)	16	(10)
To Die, Be Reborn, and Rise Again	19	(7)
Hecate, Queen of the Crossroads (Anatolia)	26	(5)
The Woman Behind the Door of the Moon	28	(3)
Devi, Queen of All (Hindu)	31	(6)
Devi and the Battle with Durga the Evil One	33	(4)
Constant Change: The Everlasting Cycle	37	(44)
Danu, the Earth (Ireland)	42	(9)
The Gilf of Rhythm and Blood	45	(6)
Kali, Dancer on Gravestones (Hindu)	51	(5)
The Story of Death	53	(3)
Changing Woman (Navajo)	56	(5)
Between Things That Are Different	58	(3)
Isis, Queen of the World (Egypt)	61	(4)
The Story of Life	63	(2)
The Three Zoryas, Keepers of Dawn, Day, and Night (Slavs)	65	(6)
The House of Heat for the Beloved Visitor	67	(4)
Shapash, Mother of Radiance (The Levant)	71	(10)
How Shapash the Sun Rescued the Prince of Fertility	73	(8)
Spirit Incarnate: Goddess As Earth and Body	81	(32)
Nu Kua, Great Snail Woman (China)	85	(4)
In the Beginning	87	(2)
Freya, Mother of All (Scandinavia)	89	(7)
The Story of Who Owns the Land	91	(5)
Shekina, Keeper of Wisdom (Hebrew)	96	(6)
The Door to the Soul	98	(4)
Kuan Yin, Mother of Mercy (China)	102	(5)
In the Land of the Dead	104	(3)
Sedna, the Great Woman at the Bottom of the Sea (Inuit)	107	(6)
How the People Came to Eat in Wintertime	109	(4)
The Force of Life: Sexuality and Creativity	113	(40)
Huitaca, Queen of Pleasure (Chibcha)	118	(7)
The Clock That Was Really an Egg	120	(5)
Athena, Mother of Invention (Greece)	125	(6)
The Weaving of the Streets and Plaumbing	127	(4)
Bridget, Inventor of Writing (Ireland)	131	(5)
Queen of the Four Fires	133	(3)
Shakti, Queen of the Cosmos (Hindu)	136	(6)
The Shakti and the Shiva at the Center of the Human Heart	138	(4)
Mary, Queen of Heaven (Europe)	142	(5)
Mary and the Birth of Light	144	(3)
Baubo, Ancient Face of Demeter and Persephone (Greece)	147	(6)
Baubo's Dance	148	(5)
Surrender	153	(30)
Sun Woman (Arunta)	157	(5)
The Tasks for Each Day	159	(3)
Carridwen, Queen of Wisdom (Wales)	162	(9)
The Cauldron of Magic and Regeneration	165	(6)
Maya, Masked Woman of the Primordial Void (India)	171	(5)
The Goddess Behind the God	173	(3)
Mother Sun (Cherokee)	176	(7)
The Dance of the Grandchildren	178	(5)
Goddess as Archetype	183	(30)
Mbaba Mwana Waresa, Great Rain Mother of All (Zulu)	186	(5)
The Choice of the Wise Husband	188	(3)
Juno, Mother of the World (Rome)	191	(4)
In the Temple of Her Lap	193	(2)
Demeter and Persephone, Keepers of the Mystery of the Planted Seed (Greece)	195	(6)
The Beginning of the Four Seasons	197	(4)
Mayahuel, Endlessly Milking One (Central America)	201	(6)
The Story That Never Ends	203	(4)
Spider Grandmother (Kiowa)	207	(6)
Spider Grandmother Finds Light for Her People	209	(4)
Recovery of Herstory	213	(38)
Lilith, Lady of the Air (Middle East)	217	(5)
The First Woman and the Gift of the Moon	219	(3)
Astarte, the Guiding Star (Middle East)	222	(8)
The Burning of the Lady's People	225	(5)
Lamia, Snake Woman (Libya)	230	(8)
How the People of Today Have Two Stories	232	(6)
Saule, Mother and Daughter Sun (Balts)	238	(7)
The Sun, the Stars, the Tower, and the Hammer	240	(5)
Yemaya and Iamanja, She Who Continues (Yoruba and Brazil)	245	(6)
The Journey to the New Land	248	(3)
Book List	251