“The ancient land of Canaan was home to a pantheon of gods and goddesses worshiped by the Israelites and the Canaanites. Among them stood Asherah, whose name was uttered in hymns and prayers within the walls of the Jerusalem temple and in the ancient city of Bethel (Ackerman 1993). Consort to the chief Canaanite god, El, later, Yahweh, Asherah held a prominent place in the hearts of the people. In the Bronze and Iron age Asherah was worshipped as the primordial mother goddess or “creatress of the gods,” and revered as the mother of 70 gods (Martin-Gardner 2020). She was considered the matriarch (Creatress) and El was the Patriarch (Creator). Asherah's historical importance as a powerful divine figure has been concealed, causing her influence and legacy to fade into obscurity over time. While Hellenic and Celtic goddesses are receiving increasing recognition, Canaanite goddesses like Asherah are just beginning to regain popularity, allowing for her prominence to be restored as a deity in the modern world. Archaeological evidence recovered Ugaritic texts (before 1200 BCE), and the King James version of the Bible reveal that Asherah was widely regarded and worshiped. “Goddess Asherah, Queen of Heaven, Creatress of Gods” - Featured in Asherah: Roots of the Mother Tree.” Asherah Author:Deanna Marie Riddick PhD
“Given that Asherah (Athirat) was an ancient goddess, widely worshipped, and at times, officially sanctioned, how did she disappear entirely into the sands of time? How did the wife of Yahweh disappear? Even a cursory review of the Old Testament reveals how Asherah was perceived as a monster, an abominable figure whose worship would later become prohibited. She was consciously eradicated from worship by religious authority figures. Excerpt from “Goddess Asherah, Queen of Heaven, Creatress of Gods” - Featured in Asherah: Roots of the Mother Tree.” Asherah Author:Deanna Marie Riddick PhD
“The suppression of Asherah as a powerful supreme deity compels us to question prevailing narratives of the divine. In the modern world the divine consists of a male dominated perspective, that being God the father, with the maternal aspect being deliberately erased. Modern religion often leads us to believe that creation is a solitary endeavor, despite the reality that it is a result of the union between male and female. In contemporary society, the divine feminine remains largely unrecognized, yet women are working to make the divine more inclusive by reintroducing goddesses like Asherah and reclaiming their ancestral power. By unearthing Asherah’s history, we have the opportunity to restore her rightful place amongst the powerful goddesses of the past. excerpt from “Goddess Asherah, Queen of Heaven, Creatress of Gods” - Featured in Asherah: Roots of the Mother Tree.” Asherah Author:Deanna Marie Riddick PhD