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Aspecting the Goddess: Drawing Down the Divine Feminine
Aspecting the Goddess is a memoir, a workbook and an exploration of twelve different Goddess myths. Aspecting, or drawing down a Goddess, is an invitation to share our bodies and our experience with the divine feminine. Step by step, this book unfolds different levels of this practice.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2018
34 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Jane Meredith
25 books87 followersJane Meredith is an author and ritualist. Her books include Falling through the Tree of Life: Embodied Kabbalah, Journey to the Dark Goddess, Aspecting the Goddess and Circle of Eight: Creating Magic for Your Place on Earth. Jane's passions include magic, trees, rivers, dark chocolate and participative ritual.
Jane offers distance and in-person courses worldwide and her website is: www.janemeredith.com
Jane offers distance and in-person courses worldwide and her website is: www.janemeredith.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 15, 2018
Full disclosure - I know Jane Meredith and I am currently in one of her online distance classes.
As a goddess worshipping man I picked this book up with trepidation. I was unsure what I’d find in a book written by one woman’s experience and relationship with Goddesses. Even though I identify as a pagan Goddess worshipping man I have always felt as if there are components of the Goddess movement that I feel are off limits to me, that are not for me, for I a man would never be able to comprehend them. I thought that this book would be one of those components, incomprehensible to me.
How wrong I was.
This book is a delight. a glorious, beautiful exploration of Jane Meredith’s relationship with these 12 goddesses, that she has walked with, danced with, cried with and aspected. It is deeply personal and also practical, as Jane Meredith weave’s with expert penship personal memoir with ritual techniques to assist the reader to connect with the named Goddesses. Amongst these pages you’ll find experiences with Persephone, Blodeuwedd, Isis, Mary, Aphrodite, Ereshkigal - just to name but 5.
This book shows us how aspects of Goddesses, their myths, become apparent in our lives the more we interact with them, and how we can foster continued relationships in creative and personal ways. In so doing this book offers us the reader, perhaps a sense of reconciliation, a far greater understanding of our own lives and how our lives fit within the wider world, and within the Goddess.
I will no doubt return over and over again to this book, to walk, dance, cry and aspect the Goddess with Jane Meredith.
I highly recommend this book
As a goddess worshipping man I picked this book up with trepidation. I was unsure what I’d find in a book written by one woman’s experience and relationship with Goddesses. Even though I identify as a pagan Goddess worshipping man I have always felt as if there are components of the Goddess movement that I feel are off limits to me, that are not for me, for I a man would never be able to comprehend them. I thought that this book would be one of those components, incomprehensible to me.
How wrong I was.
This book is a delight. a glorious, beautiful exploration of Jane Meredith’s relationship with these 12 goddesses, that she has walked with, danced with, cried with and aspected. It is deeply personal and also practical, as Jane Meredith weave’s with expert penship personal memoir with ritual techniques to assist the reader to connect with the named Goddesses. Amongst these pages you’ll find experiences with Persephone, Blodeuwedd, Isis, Mary, Aphrodite, Ereshkigal - just to name but 5.
This book shows us how aspects of Goddesses, their myths, become apparent in our lives the more we interact with them, and how we can foster continued relationships in creative and personal ways. In so doing this book offers us the reader, perhaps a sense of reconciliation, a far greater understanding of our own lives and how our lives fit within the wider world, and within the Goddess.
I will no doubt return over and over again to this book, to walk, dance, cry and aspect the Goddess with Jane Meredith.
I highly recommend this book
August 18, 2021
How to contact a goddess and have her with you and influence you....this is a book you could well be looking for. I have read books before on trance work and have also read books on how to contact spiritual allies. These techniques are similar .
The first technique is walking with the goddess. Walking with a deity is sort of like having a conversation with a goddess as you are walking. It is reminiscent of a Jewish practice called “hisbodedut “ where in someone can our out there heart to a deity . This connection is more casual. The goddesses she uses to illustrate this technique are Bloodwould and Persephone. Bloodwould was a maiden created from flowers and Persephone was the Greek goddess abducted by Hades. The author renders her experience with each of the goddesses,. She illustrates two goddesses per technique. At the end of each section .
The second technique for connecting with deity is research. That is right you can read up on your deities through scholarly works and their mythology. The two goddesses she illustrates this with are Isis and Mary. After this section there is a creative exercise involving writing and creative expression.
The third technique is dedication. This method of connecting with deity means that you are dedicated to that deity for a specific time period. Usually it is for a year and a day. The goddesses that she uses this technique with are Ereshkigal and Aphrodite. There are ritual suggestions at the end of the section for dedicating oneself to deity.
Presencing is when you invite a deity into your ritual and/ or life and allow them to become part of things. The focus is on the relationship between you and deity. The goddesses she works with using this technique are Freya and Nephthys. At the end of the section there is a chapter on creating your altar and another chapter on developing aspects of the deity within yourself.
Enacting a myth during ritual is when you sort of make a play out of the myth and everyone acts out there part. Gives new perspective into the old mythology. The Goddesses that works with using this technique are Inanna and Ariadne. At the end of the section on enacting a myth and another chapter on finding your own story within the myth. The process is rather creative
Aspecting is when you let the deity take partial or full control of your body. One can give the deities various amounts of control and that is something to be negotiated. The goddesses she uses this technique with are the Star Goddess and Eve from the Bible.
The end of the book discusses grounding, invocation and entering and leaving trance states. The chapter on grounding talks about the importance of grounding but I wish there was more information on grounding techniques . The section on invocation taught abut the different flavors and invocation may have for a certain goddess. The invocation focused on an aspect of the deity. Entering and leaving trance states was excellent and the role of the person tending the person going into a trance.
A word to thee wise, you can use these techniques for gods as well as goddesses and if you are into Chaos magic then you can use these techniques for imaginary deities and servitors.
The first technique is walking with the goddess. Walking with a deity is sort of like having a conversation with a goddess as you are walking. It is reminiscent of a Jewish practice called “hisbodedut “ where in someone can our out there heart to a deity . This connection is more casual. The goddesses she uses to illustrate this technique are Bloodwould and Persephone. Bloodwould was a maiden created from flowers and Persephone was the Greek goddess abducted by Hades. The author renders her experience with each of the goddesses,. She illustrates two goddesses per technique. At the end of each section .
The second technique for connecting with deity is research. That is right you can read up on your deities through scholarly works and their mythology. The two goddesses she illustrates this with are Isis and Mary. After this section there is a creative exercise involving writing and creative expression.
The third technique is dedication. This method of connecting with deity means that you are dedicated to that deity for a specific time period. Usually it is for a year and a day. The goddesses that she uses this technique with are Ereshkigal and Aphrodite. There are ritual suggestions at the end of the section for dedicating oneself to deity.
Presencing is when you invite a deity into your ritual and/ or life and allow them to become part of things. The focus is on the relationship between you and deity. The goddesses she works with using this technique are Freya and Nephthys. At the end of the section there is a chapter on creating your altar and another chapter on developing aspects of the deity within yourself.
Enacting a myth during ritual is when you sort of make a play out of the myth and everyone acts out there part. Gives new perspective into the old mythology. The Goddesses that works with using this technique are Inanna and Ariadne. At the end of the section on enacting a myth and another chapter on finding your own story within the myth. The process is rather creative
Aspecting is when you let the deity take partial or full control of your body. One can give the deities various amounts of control and that is something to be negotiated. The goddesses she uses this technique with are the Star Goddess and Eve from the Bible.
The end of the book discusses grounding, invocation and entering and leaving trance states. The chapter on grounding talks about the importance of grounding but I wish there was more information on grounding techniques . The section on invocation taught abut the different flavors and invocation may have for a certain goddess. The invocation focused on an aspect of the deity. Entering and leaving trance states was excellent and the role of the person tending the person going into a trance.
A word to thee wise, you can use these techniques for gods as well as goddesses and if you are into Chaos magic then you can use these techniques for imaginary deities and servitors.
February 28, 2020
I am a big fan of Jane Meredith's writing, so as soon as I spotted this book I bought it without hesitation. For some reason I expected for it to be instructional on a structured process to aspect and embody Goddess in life and in ritual, but this is just my academic brain working. What Jane does is better, and more appropriate I feel for Goddess worship.
She writes in a way that is creative, beautiful, artistic and feels like she is speaking directly to the reader. It is a pleasure to read and leaves you in a 'Goddess space' after you've put the book down. The book goes through a choice of Goddesses that Jane has experienced within her aspecting work, and illustrates how one can find their relevance and power, and manifestation in our human lives today. This aspecting can be ceremonial, with wonderful examples of how to recreate mythic stories, and it can also be an embedded part of life.
I loved this book and am sure I'll re-read it for pleasure in future.
She writes in a way that is creative, beautiful, artistic and feels like she is speaking directly to the reader. It is a pleasure to read and leaves you in a 'Goddess space' after you've put the book down. The book goes through a choice of Goddesses that Jane has experienced within her aspecting work, and illustrates how one can find their relevance and power, and manifestation in our human lives today. This aspecting can be ceremonial, with wonderful examples of how to recreate mythic stories, and it can also be an embedded part of life.
I loved this book and am sure I'll re-read it for pleasure in future.
July 14, 2019
I feel much more connected to the different faces of the divine and to the different ways people can connect to it after reading this book. I liked her writing, I enjoyed reading about her experience of goddesses I've never heard of before, and I liked the practical "how-to" sections which grounded her perspective of the rituals she was working. I recommend this book to beginners and more advanced new-age, pagan, witch people.
July 3, 2020
I'm a bit conflicted about a rating for this book. Part memoir, part guide to deity work, but at times it felt like an ad for the WitchCamps that she runs/attends and there was a fair amount of privilege built in to some of the memoir aspects that didn't feel like it was acknowledged or even considered at all. As I haven't done much invoking/aspeciting, I can't speak to how accurate or good the rituals presented are.
April 8, 2020
Another beautiful book from Jane Meredith. One thing that did bug me was how she wrote about her experiences in Egypt, and the people that exist there. They, and Egypt, were seen as exotic in a way that to me felt...gross. Other chapters were wonderful, which maybe made this Egypt chapter more jarring.
October 6, 2021
This is my third time reading this book, so I’m surprised it isn’t on my shelf already! I re-read it in great depth this time for an ongoing group discussion over the course of about six months. Jane’s experiences and descriptions are deep and evocative and powerful.
December 4, 2019
This book is extremely inspiring for me.
I have been a practicing Witch for nearly 30 years but I have lately felt less connected to the divine. I was inspired to pick this up after reading another book about bringing Goddess energy (focusing on 13 specific Goddesses) into your life and finding the activities to be too superficial for my practice. This book filled that need perfectly.
Jane Meredith presents 6 different practices for connecting with Goddess, which one can use for any deity. They are presented as two sets of three each, going from more casual and superficial to deeply living with (dedicating oneself to) and embodying (or aspecting) Goddess. I read the chapters from superficial to deep instead of reading straight through.
She gives great instructions for delving into relationship with Goddess and presents cautions without coming across as preachy or fearmongering like some authors can. Each chapter is augmented by her experience with 2 different Goddesses, which are inspiring and beautifully written.
If I could, I would buy this book for each of my coven mates and, if I ever teach, will require my students to read it. I think it can make that much of a difference in a religious Witch's spiritual practice.
I have been a practicing Witch for nearly 30 years but I have lately felt less connected to the divine. I was inspired to pick this up after reading another book about bringing Goddess energy (focusing on 13 specific Goddesses) into your life and finding the activities to be too superficial for my practice. This book filled that need perfectly.
Jane Meredith presents 6 different practices for connecting with Goddess, which one can use for any deity. They are presented as two sets of three each, going from more casual and superficial to deeply living with (dedicating oneself to) and embodying (or aspecting) Goddess. I read the chapters from superficial to deep instead of reading straight through.
She gives great instructions for delving into relationship with Goddess and presents cautions without coming across as preachy or fearmongering like some authors can. Each chapter is augmented by her experience with 2 different Goddesses, which are inspiring and beautifully written.
If I could, I would buy this book for each of my coven mates and, if I ever teach, will require my students to read it. I think it can make that much of a difference in a religious Witch's spiritual practice.
November 5, 2022
This is a fantastic book about connecting to the divine. There are six sections, each with a couple of potent exercises to develop your own connection with a deity, plus an introduction that manages to somehow express the ineffable quality of working with the Godds.
The bulk of the text is made up of personal essays about the author's experiences with a dozen different goddesses, exploring themes of motherhood, grief, love, and self-discovery. Jane Meredith's writing is so beautiful it brought me to tears many times. I recommend this book to my students and friends and anyone wishing for a deeper connection to the Mysterious Ones.
The bulk of the text is made up of personal essays about the author's experiences with a dozen different goddesses, exploring themes of motherhood, grief, love, and self-discovery. Jane Meredith's writing is so beautiful it brought me to tears many times. I recommend this book to my students and friends and anyone wishing for a deeper connection to the Mysterious Ones.
June 9, 2020
This book despite the title is not about aspecting in the traditional sense. Rather it is a personal exploration into the myths of various goddesses of civilization. In reading this book, I feel like I am walking side by side with the author as she tells the myth and then becomes that goddess in relating the myth to her story. She then invites you to do the same. This is one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and thought provoking spiritual books that I have read. I highly recommend it!
February 1, 2020
Not just a how to, this book gives breathtaking insight into the personal experience of the author. Part memoir, part spiritual travel guide.
This book left me wanting to read everything else written by the author.
This book left me wanting to read everything else written by the author.
July 18, 2023
Love the focus on personal narrative in this book. Thin on how-to, its focus is on the intuitive journey and inspiration through example. I liked Meredith's writing style, and I got a lot out of her story.
December 28, 2019
This is beautifully written and gives another perspective to working with the Goddess. This is a book I’ll dip into often, I’m grateful to have read it.
May 16, 2020
Good Good Good
So much really good info in this book. Highly recommend for those wanting to follow a path of ritual and deity work.
So much really good info in this book. Highly recommend for those wanting to follow a path of ritual and deity work.
July 29, 2020
It was okay. Not as great as Journey to the Dark Goddess.
June 28, 2025
A truly brave, beautiful book. Really wish it had been edited better. The run-on / incomplete sentences and misused or altogether absent punctuation often made it hard to follow.
May 16, 2019
I have loved reading this book so much, it has been a beautiful way to spend my mornings. Jane shares the myriad of Goddesses that have wrapped around her life in a way that created space for me to know them more too. This book contains instructions and mythologies but feels less about that and more about encouraging us to truly drop into relationship with the goddesses, finding our selves in their myths and therefore walk through life with greater depth and magik.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews