Archetype of the Eternal Feminine
The renowned psychologist Carl Jung often talked about the archetypes that appear in the collective unconscious. Some have applied his “archetype of the eternal feminine” to the Virgin Mary in light of the psychological parallels between her role within Christianity and the role goddesses played in other religious contexts.
The Virgin Mary brought a female face to the Christian discussion of the divine. Although she was not a goddess, her exalted role within Christianity may have helped those who worked closely with the earth or worshipped goddesses to feel more at home within Christianity.
Another connection between Christianity and paganism is related to the dating of the great Christian feasts — Christmas and Easter. These holy days were set on days that had a universal cosmological significance and would have held a special meaning for the ancient pagans.
Christmas is commemorated just after the winter solstice, which is the darkest day of the year. As the hours of daylight begin to increase again, so also the light that comes into the world in Jesus begins our shift out of darkness. Similarly, the ancient formula for determining the time of Easter is to celebrate it on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal (spring) equinox. At this time, spring is in full bloom, and life comes to reign again upon the earth.
symbolism
These lines from an ancient Celtic folk prayer offer a glimpse into how Christian symbols are mingled with the natural world through Mary: “The Virgin most excellent of face, Jesus more surpassing white than the snow, She like the moon rising over the hills, He like the sun on the peaks of the mountains.”
These Christian feasts follow the natural rhythms of the earth. They suggest an earthly element in Christianity that is often obscured in the modern, post-industrial world. This earthly element of spirituality also offers a hint of why the worship of feminine goddesses might have held such an appeal in the ancient world and in the modern world as well, as many begin to hunger for a closer connection to the earth.
Because women were able to give birth and their menstrual patterns followed the cycles of the moon, ancient cultures naturally drew connections between motherhood and the earth. The soil, especially, was often equated with fertility. Just as women were able to weather seasons and bring life into the world, the soil was valued because of its ability to nurture seeds and bring life to fruition.
