Goddess Worship in Modern Day
Theories of a matriarchal system dominating the social structure of ancient civilisations and that life was peaceful and egalitarian under this system began with some archaeological findings of Goddess worship. These theories started to inspire many feminists. During the late 1960s, second-wave feminism began. It was characterised largely by encouragement of women to step out of their domestic roles and realise their full potential in the workplace. This signified the beginning of the shifting of the social roles of men and women and a tilt in the power balance.
Therefore, the feminists largely are supportive of the theory that matriarchies existed during the beginnings of civilisation and that males eventually turned the tide and suppressed the females. This led to the mindset that females are subservient to males and the struggle for females to gain equal rights, as opposed to the matriarchies previously which are said to be characterised with peace and harmonious lifestyles. The feminist assertion of how such theories are correct justifies the aims of second-wave feminism.
The Goddess movement occurred mainly in North America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Feminism used the Goddess phenomena to claim how males suppress females by tacit subordination through a male God. It extended from second-wave feminism as the concept of a female equivalent to God grew popular.
Sometimes known as Wicca, the Goddess movement as a religion is growing rapidly even until now. This Goddess spirituality is very much related to nature and the Great Mother Goddess. Worshippers celebrate the four seasons as seen to be the cycle of birth, life, death and regeneration. Many refer to the Goddess as the maiden, mother and crone, the Triple Goddess. This religion regards and respects women not only as maidens, lovers and mothers but also sees the value in old women, the crone.
However, this Goddess movement is not a fixed religion as worshippers differ in their beliefs. For instance, some of them worship a single Goddess while others believe in polytheism. As Kathy Jones, a British researcher in ancient Goddesses traditions, says, 'I think there is one Goddess, and she has a thousand faces'. Also, the Goddess spirituality encompasses all kinds of worship, conservative, radical, feminist or simply one that recognises nature and relates it to the Mother Goddess.
All in all, the Goddess movement, or Goddess worship in modern day, seeks to restore the feminine divine power and remind civilisation that with a male God that we are all familiar with, we should have an accompanying Goddess too. This Neopaganism has helped many females to recognise their prowess and have helped them realise that they can rise up to be on the same status as their male counterparts.