Created in Her Image

In my mind, God would not have created this fabulous personality of mine if he intended for me to squash it. As I was reading the book The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd, I realized that this view of the ideal woman was causing my own feminine wound to fester. Since most of the scriptures were written by men, it was obvious what kind of woman they would rather have around. This is especially true in the patriarchal religions. The more submissive, quiet, unassuming, patient, dutiful, and ever supportive a woman is, the more she is revered. The more dominant, strong, independent, and passionate, the more she is frowned upon.

It was only as I began to see God as both man and woman, that I would come to love the woman I was. Praying to the feminine side of God allowed me to see that I was indeed created in Her image. I am not subject to a masculine ideal for my life. I am a giver of life. I am strong and complete in and of myself. The powerful aspects of who I am should be nourished and cheered on. Not repressed as something undesirable. God made me the was SHE intended. The Sacred Feminine wants me to be all that I am. All that She created me to be. All I choose to be.

In discovering that I am indeed a child of God, I have learned to love myself in a way I never have. I have put off the old ideals. I have shed the chains that bound me to old traditions and old ways of thinking. I have never been so free—or more at peace.