• Home
  • Originals
  • Labyrinth Art
  • Womancentric
    • NEW! Iconic Goddess Embroidery
    • Viva La Frida!
    • Goddesses of Celtic Spirit and Tradition
    • Goddesses of Modernity
    • Goddesses of the Wheel of Life
    • Goddesses of Bright Energy
    • Goddesses of the Imagination
    • Goddesses of the Lens
    • Goddesses of the Sacred Vulva
    • Ancient Clan Mothers
    • Artes del Paraiso/Honduran Women
  • Turtle Book Arts
    • Original Artist's Books
    • Ancient Spirit Modern Voice
    • Spiral Symbol Handbound Journals
    • Earth Goddess
    • Buggy Books
  • Raves
  • Blog
  • Commissions
  Lyssanda Designs

The Chalice and The Blade

10/6/2011

2 Comments

 
PEGI EYERS
Picture
I was inspired by a recent re-reading of Riane Eisler's classic "The Chalice and the Blade" to compile a chart comparing matriarchal and patriarchal values. By delving into archaeology and feminist scholarship, Eisler documents the global shift from egalitarian to patriarchal societies.  She examines how social cooperation within Goddess-worshipping cultures was overcome  by the patriarchal  reliance on violence, hierarchy and authoritarianism. The challenge in our time is to create  images and stories of the Sacred more in sync with a partnership model than that of a dominator model. 


This book truly has the ability to transform us and initiate fundamental change in the world, and as a powerful treatise on  matriarchal values, proves that the dream of peace is not an impossible utopia.



Picture


Female ~ The Chalice ~ Matriarchy

Picture



Male ~ The Blade ~ Patriarchy

Picture

Partnership Model of Social Organization. 
Gynocentric.
Gylany (Eisler’s Terminology).




Picture

Dominator Model of Social Organization.
Phallocentric.
Androcracy (Eisler’s Terminology).



Picture

Actualization Instead of Power.
Peaceful and Egalitarian Society.
Identification with the Mother
.


Picture

Male Supremacy.
Hierarchic and Authoritarian Rule.
Identification with the Father.

Picture

Venerate the Feminine ~ Worship The Goddess.
Highest Value on the Life-Generating and Nurturing Powers of the Female
.


Picture
Venerate the Masculine ~Worship the God.
Highest Value on the Power
to Take rather than Give Life, Aligned with Destruction.


Picture

Focus on Linking and Love.
Leadership Inspired by Responsibility to Society.
Wisdom of the Mother Honored Above All.



Picture

Focus on Hierarchy and Rank.
Power is Equated with "Dominance Over".
Dictatorial, Autocratic, Rule by Warlord.


Picture

Focus on the Sacredness and Unity of All Life.
Values of Compassion, Non-Violence.
Sexually Equalitarian.


Picture

High Degree of Male Violence and Warfare.
Values of Brutality, Oppression.
Sexually Repressive.



Picture

No Separation between Sacred and Secular.
Lands Held and Worked Communally.
Both Men & Women are Children of the Goddess.


Picture

Separation of Sacred and Secular.
Social Stratification Based on Private Property
with Dominance Over Women.


Picture

Focus on Nurturing and Sharing.
Gift Economy not Conquest or Hoarding.


Picture

Acquire Material Wealth by using more effective Technologies of Destruction.


Picture

Worship the Sacred Chalice or Grail ~ Symbol
of the Womb & Feminine Generative Powers of the Universe in Birth, Nurture, Death and Rebirth.


Picture

Worship the Power of the Blade ~ Symbol of Masculine Power, Competition, Dominance, Control and Destruction.


Picture

“The whole of life is pervaded by an ardent faith in the Goddess Nature, the source of all creation and harmony.”  Riane Eisler


Picture

Rigid roles for Men in Patriarchal Society.
Man the Warrior ~ Man the Hunter.
Maladaptive, Massive Regression.





Picture
Pegi Eyers is the author of  "Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community," a new book that explores strategies for intercultural competency, healing our relationships with Turtle Island First Nations, decolonization, recovering an ecocentric worldview, rewilding, creating a sustainable future and reclaiming peaceful co-existence in Earth Community. 
Amazon.com 
Stone Circle Press
 
2 Comments
Lynn Gehl link
10/26/2011 11:57:22 pm

Lyssanda,
This book is truly a gift and must read for all. I must say I have waited years to read a book like this. Your at-a-glance organization and guide offered has been very useful in my own thinking process. The time you have taken to construct this comparison of the essential features of these two models of society - matriarchal and patriarchal - will serve well to give the knowledge found in the "Chalice and the Blade" more currency. In this way you offer a valuable contribution to the much needed paradigm shift.
Thank you for your dedication and hard work to the 'goddess cause.'
Lynn Gehl

Reply
wipe new restorer link
7/14/2013 08:18:44 pm

I have to tell that you have done a tiresome but informative and long-lasting research. I was aware of Goddess worshiping and female dominion in the earlier civilization. But your comparison has made a great impression on me and given me many new facts to ponder upon.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    BLOG

    Pegi Eyers

    Musings on the ethos of the Divine Feminine as
    I delve into Goddess Spirituality & Matriarchal Studies with reviews, poetry, discourse,
    visual art and cross-connections.
    The Goddess is everywhere! 

    Picture

    RSS Feed