A comprehensive cross-cultural study of the nature of the sacred feminine and an examination of the position and roles of women within various religious and spiritual traditions. The functions of ritual and mythology and women's use of various symbol systems will also be explored.

Course Content:

1) Archetypes and mythologies of the sacred feminine; the nature of symbolic thinking

2) Women's participation in the evolution of the human spirit; definitions of religion and spirituality; immanence vs. transcendence and the sacred feminine

3) Women's roles as religious and spiritual leaders and participants

4) Deity as female: Great Mother, Triple Goddess, Cosmic Creator and Regenerator, Sky and Lunar Goddesses

5) The ritual and ceremonial imagination in female-oriented religions

6) The value of images and role models of the sacred feminine; expressions of sacred power in ancient religious artifacts

7) The many facets of women's religious and spiritual experiences

Special guest lecturers include:

• Jean Mountaingrove, Founder of WomanSpirit Magazine
• Michelle Berditschevsky PhD, Ecopoet and director of the Mt. Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center
• Ra-el Corsini, director of the Flying Lotus Movement Center
• Women Buddhist Monks from the Shasta Abby
• Sherry Ackerman, PhD, Instructor of Philosophy, College of the Siskiyous
• Native American Elders, grandmothers from local Mt. Shasta tribes

Featured Films include:

In the Light of Reverence, Kinaalda: A Navajo Rite of Passage; Women of Tibet: The Great Mother; In the Presence of the Goddess; The Goddess Remembered; Full Circle; and Tuva: Shamans and Circles.

Grading Policy

• 100 - 90 score is an A
• 90 - 80 score is a B
• 80 - 70 score is a C
• 70 - 60 score is a D
• below 60 is a failing grade

80% of your score is essay. The Writing Lab on campus is an excellent resource and is available to help you with your papers. 20% of your grade is active and informed participation, based on how well prepared you are to discuss the assigned reading and in discuss ideas in the group.

Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is inappropriate behavior in a college course. All source materials whether paraphrased or quoted directly must be given credit and appropriately footnoted in your papers. A plagiarized paper will receive a failing grade.

Makeup Policy
All midterm and final papers are due on their scheduled dates. A late paper will receive a lower grade than an on-time paper. Please, no late papers.

Students with Disabilities
If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disabled Students Services (DSS). If you qualify for services through DSS, bring your official notification of your accommodation needs to me.

What is mythology?
What modern day myths are prevalent in our culture? List examples on the board.
What are the themes inherent in these stories?
How are women portrayed in them?
Is there anything missing in these modern myths?

Webster's dictionary defines mythology as: a traditional story of unknown authorship, ostensibly with a historical basis, but serving usually to explain some phenomenon of nature, the origins of man, or the customs, institutions, religious rites of a people; myths usually involve the exploits of gods and heroes.

The ancient Greeks defined mythology as - mythos = word, story, legend and logos = to speak.

Christine Downing says:
The discovery of a mythical pattern that in some way one feels is connected to one's own life deepens one's self understanding. At the same time, the discovery of the personal significance of a mythic pattern enhances our understanding of the myth and its variations. Appreciation of the connection between a myth and my life seems simultaneously to make me more attuned to the myth's unity and to help me understand how moments in my life which otherwise might seem accidental or fragmentary belong to the whole. Indeed, we may come to recognize the mythos, the plot, the connecting thread, the story of our life. — from The Goddess: Mythological Images of the Feminine

If you begin to consider that your life may be connected to a mythic pattern, what meaning or significance could this have? What hints, if any, do you have about this mythic pattern?

Choose a partner and discuss the idea of mythic patterns in women's lives.

Group discussion to follow.

We are starved for images which recognize the sacredness of the feminine and the complexity, richness and nurturing power of female energy.
— Christine Downing

The earliest human intuition of the sacred was that the earth was the source of all life and ground of being.
— Elinor Gadon, PhD

The reemergence of the feminine is the force that can rescue our planet.
— Tsultrim Allione, Tibetan Buddist Nun

Proceed from the dream onwards.
Anais Nin

Ask what is sacred.
Ask who keeps the wind.
— Margaret Atwood

For more information contact:

COS Weed Campus at (530) 938-5206 or toll-free (888) 397-4339.

Beth Beurkens at (541) 708-0473, or by email beth@shamanicuniverse.com

Registration: www.siskiyous.edu/online

Instructor: Beth Beurkens has a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has taught Women's Studies courses for the past 26 years at College of the Siskiyous, Cabrillo College, Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College, University of San Francisco, and the School of Women and Earth, in Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. She is a published poet, author and travel writer, and is currently teaching the Women's Writing Program in Mt. Shasta along with sharing her skills as a Writing Coach. She is a faculty at the Foundation for Shamanic Studies as well.