Content area

Abstract

Despite the contemporary flourishing of goddess spirituality and the proliferation of information available on female deities from many ancient and modern cultures, there is a dearth of information from Mesoamerica that accesses the goddesses from this region. Researching primary sources, archaeological discoveries and goddess myths of the Central Highlands of Mexico, this dissertation project addresses the findings of the past in terms of the contemporary search for female wisdom and power rooted in the divine. The project is comprised of two parts: a video, "Through the Goddess GATE: A Spiritual Pilgrimage," formatted as a piece to foster discussion and reflection, complemented by the scholarly contextual essay, "The Goddesses of Central Mexico, Contemporary Feminist Reflections" which grounds the artistic work in archaeological research and feminist thought. "Through the Goddess GATE", the video, presents a women's pilgrimage in Central Mexico to ancient ceremonial centers located within diverse archaeological sites. It captures the group process as the women learn from their Mexican counterparts and from each other. The essay, "The Goddesses of Central Mexico: Contemporary Feminist Reflections," drawing on primary and secondary sources, as well as synthesizing current research by Mexicologists, archaeologists and art historians, reconstructs the goddess myths of the Central Highlands of Mexico through the eyes of feminist spirituality. The essay follows the four parts of the video presentation by providing a context for the experience captured visually. It includes an appendix which presents a teachers' guide for the video. These materials, taken together or separately, offer a fresh, provocative reading of sources which can serve in a teaching context where spirituality, culture, gender issues, or holistic health is the focus.

Details

1010268
Title
Through the Goddess GATE: A spiritual pilgrimage in search of the female divine in Central Mexico
Number of pages
130
Degree date
1998
School code
1033
Source
DAI-A 59/10, Dissertation Abstracts International
ISBN
978-0-599-06671-7
University/institution
The Union Institute
University location
United States -- Ohio
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
9908542
ProQuest document ID
304477735
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/through-goddess-gate-spiritual-pilgrimage-search/docview/304477735/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Database
ProQuest One Academic