A Remembering That Stirs The Heart

Aug 12 / Chelsea Whipple

"At the very dawn of religion, God was a woman. Do you remember?"

This thought-provoking quote from Merlin Stone's book, When God Was A Woman, beckons us to delve deeper. As a perpetual questioner and seeker, I've pondered these two sentences. I ask myself, for months that have turned into years, do I truly remember?

This question is not a question. At least not one that can be answered. So what is it? It is an invitation. An invitation to a longing that opens space in the heart to sit with yourself and ask, do you remember? Do you remember when the qualities of the blessed Creator were graced with feminine imagery, with Her womb as Earth and Her hands gently cradling Her creation? Her breasts are like the sun and the moon, and her hair flows like the leaves. Do you remember Her as Wisdom whispering to seek Her as a hidden treasure?

Do you remember Her spirit rising over the firmament as She commanded all into being? It is a knowing of equality, harmony, and balance.

I feel as if Stone is knocking at my heart, asking me to search the depths of my inner knowing. Stone's simple line unfolds an invitation to us all: "Do you remember?"
The invitation excites me. It's as if I'm allowed or given permission to explore, to put away my head and invite my heart to rest in this image. I want to explore how the Creator reveals herself to me, to feel the bosom of Her love and life, to be nourished by the life-giving essence.

The invitation to 'remember' is not a passive act of recollection but an active engagement of the soul, reaching into its depths to acknowledge The Divine Feminine's presence. It is a stance of active participation in the narrative of life, a remembering that stirs the heart.

Once we embark on this journey of remembrance, the Divine Feminine emerges like a spring, rejuvenating us with new life and understanding.

Her effervescent waters remind me of the well during the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. In this scene, meeting together is provocative, a chance meeting between two cultures and genders. The vulnerability between the two silences the audience as we watch the scene unfold. The drama rises as the two interact, countering each other with words, his desire for water to quench his physical thirst and her wondering why their statuses in life are unequal. The woman asks Christ to remember—the remembering of longing, vulnerability, and unfolding.
In the story, the offering of water becomes not a physical quench with a satisfying drink that quickly evaporates in the heat but a spiritual longing that has been satisfied. The interaction between these two characters again quenches that long-sought-after thirst for remembering.

It is remembering our spiritual history of the Divine as all parts of ourselves, male, female, and none. To place images of the Divine as the moon, the sun, the mountains, and all that were created into being.

So what is that thirst of remembering for you?

How are the waters of life quenching your thirst?

Sitting in an open stance, allowing the Divine to brush over you and open that longing to remember, what desire flows into your heart to remember?

This deep soul or heart-knowing for me rises to the surface as the Sacred feminine. Her reflection is back as myself, as others, as the whole of creation. Her mothering bears the caring for each bird who comes to feed, each snail who desires to be, and each flower slowly awakening to the new dawn.

I hear her voice whisper,

Awaken, Awaken each child, be one with me and each other. Arise and awaken.
So, as I sit here in my longing stance, with my eyes closed, my breath slowing, and my body relaxed, I do not ask if I remember, but I simply remember. I allow my heart to gaze upon the Divine and watch as it opens and awakens to the Sacred Feminine. In this shared opening stance, I feel connected with all creation, those who remember, and those who are yet to remember. Here in this place, a prayer flows forth from my lips for us all to remember.

Chelsea is offering a couple of opportunities to engage in learning more about the Sacred Feminine:
 - Sept 28 Retreat Workshop: Introduction to the Sacred Feminine
 - October Five-week Course: Awaken to the Sacred Feminine
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  Merlin Stone, When God Was A Woman (New York: Dial Press, 1976), 1.
  Proverbs 2:4
  John 4:6-15

Chelsea Whipple

Chelsea Whipple is a spiritual director, teacher, and retreat leader. She holds a Master of Arts from Bangor Theological Seminary and finishing her DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Her research project explores the Sacred Feminine and holistic healing. Her passion lies in fostering connections, exploring the Sacred feminine, and guiding others on the path towards wholeness.

Chelsea is known for her expertise in creation-centered theology and her commitment to spiritual growth and transformation. With a deep reverence for the journey of self-discovery, Chelsea's work is centered on cultivating a holistic approach to spirituality and personal development.

Follow Chelsea on social media or explore her website.
Instagram: @chelsea.whipple
website: www.chelseawhipple.com