The Cosmic Shekinah - by Sorita D'Este & David Rankine (Paperback)

About the Book

In "The Cosmic Shekinah," the authors present a concise history of the different influences of earlier wisdom goddesses on the development of the Shekinah. They show that from these ancient sources, the unnamed Wisdom Goddess and wife of God portrayed in the Old Testament and early Jewish wisdom literature arose.

Book Synopsis

The Shekinah is the manifestation of the Wisdom Goddess of the Kabbalah, the Old Testament and Merkavah Mysticism. She encompasses the primordial light of creation, the wisdom of the serpent and the inspiration of the dove. She is the beauty of the lily and the embodiment of the Tree of Life. She is also the World Soul, heavenly glory, mother of angels, inspiration for prophecy, and source of souls, as well as being the Shabbat Bride and the wife of God.

In The Cosmic Shekinah the authors present a concise history of the different influences of earlier wisdom goddesses on the development of the Shekinah. These goddesses include the Sumerian Inanna, the Egyptian Ma'at, the Greco-Egyptian Isis, the Semitic Anat and Astarte and the Canaanite Asherah. They show that from these ancient sources arose the unnamed Wisdom Goddess and wife of God portrayed in the Old Testament and early Jewish wisdom literature. It is this unnamed Wisdom Goddess who would subsequently become the source for the development of the Shekinah as well as the Gnostic Sophia. The influence of the feminine divine as the Shekinah has continued to find expression, with the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit of Christianity and the Sakina of Islam all being shaped by the enduring influence of the Wisdom Goddess.

Through tracing her roles, myths and functions the authors show that in addition to her modern-day resurgence, the Wisdom Goddess has always been present throughout history, even when she has been suppressed and disguised by deliberate exclusion and mistranslation. Drawing on numerous sources including medieval Kabbalistic works, Hekhalot texts of Merkavah Mysticism, ancient literature such as the Egyptian, Sumerian and Ugaritic myths, the Old Testament, Gnostic texts and recent finds in Biblical archaeology, The Cosmic Shekinah draws attention back to the light of divine feminine wisdom.

Review Quotes

"This book is an excellent ground to explore what it's being called 'the female face of God' or the 'Hebrew Goddess', her role and qualities. It brings a lot of references from Kabbalistic and other texts, which can guide further exploration and it also completes the image of the Shekinah comparing her with other feminine divinities as Ashera and the Wisdom Goddess." Susana, Amazon Reviewer

"The book has excellent sources in their bibliography for further research.. Everything is well documented. They make comparison to other Goddesses and give great background and periphery information. This book get five stars out of five stars." S. Cranow, Amazon Reviewer

"This is a must get title along with Sophia, goddess of wisdom, Bride of Christ, On the Wings of Shekhnah. As a historian, one presumes we have no idea what the Shekinah glory as found in the Bible is. This show the lack of understanding of the modern man of the cloth when it comes to how the early church taught, what the early Jews believed." R.K. Sprau, Amazon Reviewer

" A book definitely worth reading! The vast knowledge of the authors of the material they discuss is brought in easy manner - but while reading you will not only get an understanding of the evolution of Sophia, but some interesting insights in kabalistic thinking as well." Lotus, Amazon Reviewer

"I have always been very devoted to Shekinah and it's great to see an author present the Hebraic/Kabballistic Goddess in such a "Glorious Light!"" Nancy Chandler Pittman, Amazon Reviewer

"All Christians should read this and discover that the Holy Spirit Dove has a very long life and history. It is a book I will keep to be used in thought when I am writing. It is very much worthwhile in my library." Sharon G. Miller, Amazon Reviewer