Digging Marija Gimbutas |
If you are not familiar with Marija Gimbutas then its time you became acquainted. Marija was an archeologist who dedicated her life to archaeological digs of Neolithic Europe. Marija brought many of her innate skills to the process, including her own cultural connection and knowledge of Lithuanian folklore and tales. She sought to find a deeper meaning to her work than simply record data, gaining a deep understanding of the culture that existed in 'Old Europe' between 6500 BCE and 3500 BCE.
A powerhouse of intelligence, Marija is said to have spoken up to 16 languages and on discovering many feminine figurines, creatively decorated clay pots, sculpture and other wares, all decorated with a significant and creative symbolic language, the meaning of which was completely in tune with nature and the Earth itself, she discovered a woman-centred culture, where woman as giver of life was revered and sacred. A culture that understood the cyclical nature of the birth-life-death cycle and one that lived peacefully and in harmony with nature and the Earth.
A powerhouse of intelligence, Marija is said to have spoken up to 16 languages and on discovering many feminine figurines, creatively decorated clay pots, sculpture and other wares, all decorated with a significant and creative symbolic language, the meaning of which was completely in tune with nature and the Earth itself, she discovered a woman-centred culture, where woman as giver of life was revered and sacred. A culture that understood the cyclical nature of the birth-life-death cycle and one that lived peacefully and in harmony with nature and the Earth.
"This was a long lasting period of remarkable creativity and stability, an age free of strife.
Their culture was a culture of art" ~ Marija Gimbutas
Their culture was a culture of art" ~ Marija Gimbutas
It is not surprising that Marija's work was picked up by the feminist movement of the 1960's and 70's and regarded as proof that an egalitarian society did once exist, and out of this the Goddess movement was also born.
Her work continues to be relevant to new feminism especially as we face a worsening ecological crisis, and women's health crisis. Marija stood in her full power, she brought her whole self to her work and did not conform to the pressures of keeping the status quo within the archaeological hierarchy; the types who'll have us believe every archaeological site is a burial ground or 'tomb' with no other spiritual context whatsoever. She brought her knowledge, wisdom, and intuition to her work and wouldn't be silenced and because of that we get a glimpse of a time before fear took hold, and when peace did exist. Through her discoveries we can connect with the importance of creativity, inspiration and our own connections with our Earth.
Most importantly, she makes us question, and anything that makes us question is a good thing, for instance is it not possible that as a living planet the Earth actually has her own language? And that this language was something the women of that time were intuitively in tune with, because they were connected to the Earth in a way we no longer comprehend, a rhythmic and cyclical connection. Connected to their intuition and a deeper level of consciousness. Perhaps the symbols and the symbolic language is in fact the Earth's own - simple, beautiful, life giving and creative.
Most importantly, she makes us question, and anything that makes us question is a good thing, for instance is it not possible that as a living planet the Earth actually has her own language? And that this language was something the women of that time were intuitively in tune with, because they were connected to the Earth in a way we no longer comprehend, a rhythmic and cyclical connection. Connected to their intuition and a deeper level of consciousness. Perhaps the symbols and the symbolic language is in fact the Earth's own - simple, beautiful, life giving and creative.
Acknowledgments to Belili.org and Starhawk for information about Marija Gimbutas.
© 2022 Own The Crone. All rights reserved
© 2022 Own The Crone. All rights reserved