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Ashera is very ancient, probably far older than the surviving texts indicate. Her symbols and connections point to an ancient Great Goddess who shepherded Her people through times both difficult and joyous. Importantly, She was invoked in child births which connects Her to fertility, renewal and the all-important rituals of life that are the foundations of human civilization.
Hand in hand with these recognitions is the violence with which Ashera was torn from our conscious awareness. The void this left and the resultant longing for Her is palpable.”
-Janet Rudolph, from the introduction to our upcoming anthology, Asherah: Roots of the Mother Tree
“In many cultures, trees were considered to be the ancestors of humanity. We all have a family tree with its various roots and branches. In Hebrew ets means tree. When we add the universal breath syllable ah, we get ets-ah meaning spine. Adding eem (plural), to ets, becomes ets-eem meaning bones. These words point to the deep embodied connection we once had with trees and the Goddesses who inhabited them. One of the most potent ways of destroying a population’s culture is to sever them from their roots – literally.”
from the introduction of Asherah: Roots of the Mother Tree
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