The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets

by Barbara G. Walker

Book Overview

Do You Know...

where the legend of a cat's nine lives comes from?

why mama is a word understood in nearly all languages?

how the custom of kissing began?

whether there really was a female pope?

why Cinderella's glass slipper was so important to the Prince?

The answers to these and countless other intriguing questions are given in this compulsively readable, feminist encyclopedia. Twenty-five years in preparation, this unique, comprehensive...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006250925X
• ISBN13: 9780062509253
• Release Date: November 1983
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 1136 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The most important book ever!

I keep one copy by my chair and one by the bed. There is simply NO book more important than this book! None! It is patently and truly brilliant. It can only make ANY life better! Read it!!!

Absolutely Essential Reading!

I'm on my second copy of this book. I literally wore the first one out. This is an absolute must in any library. Naturally, it's of interest for Feminists and students of Women's Spirituality, but it is relevant to everyone in Western Culture. It gives a new perspective on the origins of many of our popular myths, customs, symbols and beliefs that would give any reader a more balanced perspective of these topics.Highly recommended for everyone; an absolute requirement for Feminists, Witches and other Pagans, as well as any student of Thealogy or Theology.Keep in mind that books on Women's Religion often go out of print for long periods of time - buy this while you can!

Of Once And Future Goddesses

As a recently-published author, I would like to express my admiration for the work of Barbara G. Walker. Of all the sources that I quoted from my bibliography, Walker was by far the most significant. The Woman's Encyclopedia is the most valuable book in my collection, and it represents a superhuman piece of research. The suppression of the Feminine and the patriarchal re-writing of history can be traced through innumerable references - from Christianity's assimilation of pagan rituals and festivals to the creation of the mythology of feminine evil. Walker, like Jungian analyst June Singer, believes that patriarchal religion is the basis for the suppression of women. The case she builds is frankly unassailable. After reading this classic study, one cannot fail to see the transforming power of the Mother Goddess in everything from A Midsummer Night's Dream and Finnegans Wake to Mary Poppins and The Matrix. Barbara Walker is a modern-day Wisewoman, and we can never have enough of those. In a sterile, left-brain, hunter-killer psytocracy, Walker's books shine like a beacon for those who still have the strength to dream.Steven Cain (Author of Sirius Moonlight: The Origins Of The Suppression Of The Feminine.)

reclaiming history

This encyclopedia documents the subversion of global matriarchal cultures. It is immaculately well-referenced, much more so than the contrived versions of history that have been force-fed to us. There are relatively few works of scholarship that have the power to elicit such emotional reactions and defensiveness from the most privileged among us. You'll never look at fingers, menstrual blood, or religion the same way again.

Fantastic, Eye-Opening Scholarship

As a classically educated archaeologist, historian, mythologist and linguist, I can attest that Barbara Walker is an impeccable scholar who obviously put an enormous amount of time into thoroughly researching and understanding her subject matter. She has reached far back into time and, through painstaking analysis, recovered lost and suppressed information that is invaluable to the enlightenment of the human species and the recovery of the role of women. She makes very few mistakes and is abundant in her references.The criticisms of her work found on this "review" page are unfounded and specious. The "critics" themselves are obviously not scholars or academics, nor are they mythologists. Most likely they are religionists who are defending their faith. Walker's work, in the meantime, needs no faith but is based on sound reasoning and science, including the historical and archaeological record, which bears out her assertions quite abundantly.I highly recommend this book to any and all who wish to know the hidden truth behind "modern" religions, which have their "pagan" roots in the hoary mists of time. Indeed, this book reveals the unity of human culture, reminding us that we are one planet.Acharya S Author of "The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold" Member, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece

Fascinating and useful!

This encyclopedia is so absorbing I got utterly lost in it for hours and hours. Finally someone has seen through the patriarchal smokescreen and exposed the hypocrisy and lies. Many times I found myself laughing out loud at some of her caustically humorous observations. I'm sure this must be on the Pope's list of books forbidden from the eyes of all good Catholics...Blessed Be!