One Spirit/Book of the Month Club top ten bestselling book. An American Library Association Pick-of-the-List.

Features one hundred goddesses. With over 130 illustrations. The Book of Goddesses is a celebration of the Divine Feminine. This lavishly illustrated expanded anniversary edition of Kris Waldherr’s beloved classic presents one hundred goddesses from traditions and cultures all over the world, along with their stories and symbolic significance. The expanded anniversary edition is structured around the important feminine rites of passage: beginnings, love, motherhood, creativity, strength, and transformations. As beautiful as it is inspiring, The Book of Goddesses is a testament to the power, passion, wisdom, and beauty of women everywhere, in all stages of life.

Goddesses featured include: Athena, Aine, Amaterasu, Anuket, Arianrhod, Astarte, Athena, Baba Yaga, Benzai Ten, Brigit, Changing Woman, Chango, Cybele, Danu, Demeter, Diana, Erda, Erzulie, Fortuna, Freyja, Gaia, Gwenhwyfar, Hathor, Hekate, Hera, Iduna, Inanna, Isis, Juno, Kali Ma, Kuan Yin, Lalita, Maia, The Muses, Nut, Oya, Pele, Persephone, Psyche, Rati, Rhiannon, Sarasvati, Sedna, Sophia, Tara, Ukemochi, Venus, Xochiquetzal, Yemaya, The Zorya

Book excerpt:

Chapter One: Beginnings

What—or who—could have created the infinite complexity of connectivity we call the universe? How did it all begin once upon a time? In this section, our exploration centers on some of the goddesses credited with creating the earth and universe. It also presents other divine women associated with creation. It is here that the Divine Feminine is perhaps at her most powerful and all-encompassing.

Like the creation goddesses acknowledged within these pages, as women we are all creatresses. As such, we reflect the universe within ourselves and our bodies. With our bodies, we can give birth to life. With our hearts and minds, we can give birth to works that can change the world. Using this equation, is it any wonder so many goddesses are honored as the Great Mother?

Many cultures around the world believe that all of the world’s creatures are connected by a strong, but delicately woven, web. The Pueblo Indians credit the spinning of this web of life to a creation goddess so potent that her true name is never spoken aloud. Some call this goddess Spider Woman. She is also honored as Thought Woman, because everything was created from her thoughts.

Spider Woman existed before the world existed. By spinning and chanting, she was able to create the four directions of the universe—north, south, east, and west. Within this sacred space, she produced her daughters, Ut Set and Nau Ut Set. Following their mother’s directions carefully, Ut Set and Nau Ut Set made the sun, moon, and stars to banish darkness from the universe; they created these heavenly bodies from shells, turquoise, red rock, yellow stone, and clear crystal.

As she spun her web and thought, Spider Woman made all of life— the mountains, lakes, oceans, and deserts. She created the different races of people from colored clays. Finally, using a last thread, Spider Woman connected each human being to her always.

Other Native American traditions acknowledge Spider Woman. She is a creatress to the Pima and Zia Indians. The Navajo believe she taught them how to weave. Among the Hopi Indians, who settled in what is now known as Arizona, she was one of the deities who created Poquanghoya and Palongawhoya; these powerful twins created the earth, with its bountiful fields, seas, and mountains….