Asherah: Ancient Hebrew Goddess Of Trees

In this meditation, you'll meet Asherah, an ancient Canaanite goddess who was once the consort of Yahweh, the god of the Hebrew people. She was a mother goddess who presided over wisdom and trees, and traces of her were actively erased from the Bible itself. Keep in mind that this meditation is not about the Jewish faith in any way, it's something of a prehistory of that culture and religion. If you'd like to learn more, see When God Had a Wife by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince.

Transcript

Welcome to this meditation to get to know Asherah, The ancient Canaanite mother goddess who was once the goddess of the Hebrew people. Before we get into the meditation, I'll give you a little context, A little story, As you may not know Asherah too well already. The correct pronunciation of her name is not completely clear, As it might be Asherah, Or Asherah, So we're just going to go with Asherah today. For many generations, Asherah was worshipped alongside the god El, And later the god Yahweh, As the divine feminine counterpart to the energy of the masculine storm god. Over the course of time and history, She was exiled, Even erased from the Bible, Even for a time being translated out of the Latin and Greek Bibles, With her name being written instead as wood or grove. Some believed she needed to be exiled, Turned away from, The masculine god worshipped alone. But many others did not want to let her go. Now, With fascinating biblical scholarship, Archaeology, And access to the original Hebrew Bibles, We can discover Asherah, Once the divine feminine aspect of the Hebrew people. And I want to make clear that I'm not making any comment or judgment about Judaism or Jewish people in general. This is ancient history of the Bible, Essentially, And the people who eventually became the Jewish faith. So what I'm speaking to here has nothing to do with the Jewish faith, It's really the prehistory of that. So Asherah was once the consort of the great god El, And she may have been a part of the original creation of everything. She and El gave birth to many gods and goddesses, And she was beloved by the people for generations, Who would bake cakes to her and pour out libations for her. She was represented in the Asherah pole, A simple stylized tree in the shape of a pole, Like a totem pole. She was a goddess of trees, The great date palm that would provide shade, Nourishment, And sweetness in this dry desert region. She would be felt in a sacred grove of trees, As well as honored in the temples alongside the god that was known eventually as Yahweh. Let's take some time to feel into the energy of Asherah, Ancient mother goddess of trees. So if you haven't already, Get settled for your meditation. I recommend seated here, With your sit bones rooted comfortably into a chair or cushion, But you're welcome to take any shape that works for you. I invite you to take a moment to consider the land that you're on and your relationship with this land. Consider the season, The trees you know, And this region, And whatever they might be doing at this time of year. Now consider Asherah's land, Ancient Canaan, And the trees sacred to this region. The date palm, The olive, The mighty oak, And the terebinth known as the oracle tree. Take a few deep breaths if you'd like, Feeling into your relationship with the land, The dirt beneath you. Imagine that you are breathing roots into the earth itself, Growing from your body, Settling you into the ground, Interacting with the plants and animals that live on this land. Feel your roots communicating with the land, Connecting with it, Exploring it. Feel the information that rises up through these roots into your body. And now imagine that from these strong, Powerful roots, You are growing branches, Reaching up to the sun and the sky, Breathing the air, Metabolizing the warmth and sunshine. Feel your breath moving up and down your body as a tree, Connecting to the sacred wisdom of Asherah herself. We don't really know what Asherah might have looked like, So see what happens when you imagine her in your mind's eye. We do know that she is a mother goddess, Loving and wise. She was known for counseling El, Her consort, And all her children, The other gods and goddesses, Aiding them in their journeys with her deep knowing. She is connected to the wisdom, Nourishment, And ultimate love of the trees that provide food and shelter for her people. Notice what arises when you imagine her. You may see an image, Hear words, Or simply feel something in your body or your breath. There's no wrong thing here. Simply notice what arises for you as you sit with the concept and maybe image of the beautiful mother goddess Asherah. And spend a little time with Asherah here as you like. Listen for her wisdom and her counsel. Perhaps simply tell her hello, Offer her a bow or a thank you. Allow her to teach you if she's willing. When this feels complete for you, Thank Asherah deeply for being with you. Thank your tree aspect, Your tree self, For allowing you to be in this tree space. Thank the dirt, The land, The air, The sunshine, The water that nourishes you. Allow your roots and branches to gently draw back into your body in the present moment. Feel yourself in this room, In this space, In your human form. If you'd like, Place your hands together and gently bow in gratitude. Your meditation with the goddess Asherah is complete. Thank you for practicing with me.

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