Once upon a time, God was a woman. Since there have been people around to imagine, they have imagined a powerful feminine energy, a mysterious force that gave birth to the universe. The earliest evidence of human culture shows cave drawings and figurines that clearly honor the magic and miracle of the divine feminine and the unique power that is giving birth. These early cultures were likely matriarchal, and some of them were almost certainly peaceful, showing no evidence of weapons or war until another culture invaded, bringing in the concept of battle. There's no way to know for sure what life was like in these cultures, but we do know that they imagined a Goddess. Sometimes she was sweet and beautiful, bringing in the joy of spring and summer as Maiden. Sometimes she was a fighter, ready to protect the land and the people as Warrior. Sometimes she was the creatrix of the Universe, giving birth to all as Mother.

And sometimes she was Death and Endings, completing the cycle as Crone. Today, in many parts of the world, a male god prevails. But we haven't forgotten about the divine feminine, no matter how often her name has changed. We may call her Inanna, Mary, the Cailleach, Universe, Cosmos, Great Mystery, Love, Energy, or any of the names you find in this book and beyond. A lot has changed since the early days when the Goddess was supreme. But the Goddess still lives.