The divine female figure representing the natural elements is often seen in various mythologies and religious traditions. She is a powerful and primal force that embodies the beauty, strength, and power of nature. This figure is often associated with various elements such as water, earth, fire, and air. The divine female figure representing water is often depicted as a mermaid or a water nymph. She symbolizes the fluidity and life-giving properties of water. She is seen as a nurturing and healing force, representing the emotions and the subconscious.
Green Tara’s right hand rests on her knee, palm up, expressing her compassionate, open-hearted generosity, which flows freely to all beings without exception. Her left hand forms a gesture that welcomes us to take refuge in her. That is, she presses the tips of her ring finger and thumb together, while her other three fingers point to the sky. Green Tara’s joined thumb and finger represent her realization of the union of wisdom and compassion, while her other three fingers represent her confidence in the three jewels: the Buddha, dharma, and sangha. She holds this gesture at her heart, communicating that she’s never separated from awakened mind. Between the thumb and ring finger of her left hand is the stem of a rare blue lotus that blossoms at her left ear. The lotus symbolizes the capacity of the dharma to manifest in and liberate us from the “mud” of cyclic existence.
While in the West we focus primarily on anatomy when discussing gender, the Buddhist understanding of feminine and masculine energy brings more subtlety to an issue that s often viewed strictly as binary. Through Green Tara practice, we gradually lift the veils that keep us from recognizing that our body, speech, and mind are inseparable from her awakened body, speech, and mind.
She is seen as a nurturing and healing force, representing the emotions and the subconscious. The divine female figure representing earth is often portrayed as a goddess or a mother figure. She symbolizes the fertility, stability, and grounding qualities of the earth.
Fertile Goddess
Many societies have worshipped the Fertile Goddess as the supreme site of fertility, motherhood, and the creation of life. The earliest proof comes from archaeological finds—paintings and figurines of women with exaggerated secondary sexual characteristics, which emphasize fertility. Famous pieces, such as the Venus of Lespugue and the Venus of Willendorf are Upper Paleolithic (30,000–10,000 B.C.E.) examples that may have been worshipped as goddesses. Scholars have suggested that they may have been sculpted by women looking down at their own bodies. These figures are assumed to be pregnant because Paleolithic and Neolithic (around 10,000 B.C.E.) people did not have enough fatty foods in their diet to be able to attain that weight. These types of female votive figures were widely produced and worshipped by very early civilizations such as the Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan Civilization (2500-1500 B.C.E. in modern day Pakistan and Northern India), and ancient Sumer (3500-2025 B.C.E. present-day southeastern Iraq) at a time when men were only depicted as infants or children.
Marija Gimbutas, a leading scholar in the study of early goddess worship, has linked the prehistoric goddess figures to water, having found early female figures incised with symbols denoting water in its various forms, as well as imagery linking rain and streams with breast milk and amniotic fluid. In The Language of the Goddess, considered a significant work in the field, she suggests that these figurines and their associated symbols, found throughout the Neolithic period as well and into the Bronze Age (2000–1400 B.C.E.) in Crete, could represent a goddess religion that was passed down through time.
One of the most important archaeological sites for scholars of early goddess worship is the Neolithic town Çatal Hüyük in Anatolia (present day Turkey). Çatal Hüyük was perhaps the first urban center, an agricultural society that subsisted on trade and was wealthy enough for its citizens to own luxuries such as mirrors. It was also a city of shrines, with a shrine for every four or five houses. Most of these shrines were dedicated to the goddess, usually depicted as either pregnant or in the process of giving birth. Many early fertility goddess images have been found at Çatal Hüyük, both painted on the walls and as sculpted figurines. Many scholars and archaeologists have used the excavated site to theorize about an early matriarchal society in which the primary divine being was the Fertile Goddess, a model for subsequent goddess worship traditions.
She is connected to the cycles of life, growth, and abundance. The divine female figure representing fire is often depicted as a warrior or a powerful sorceress. She symbolizes the transformative and destructive power of fire. She represents passion, creativity, and the ability to overcome challenges. The divine female figure representing air is often portrayed as a winged goddess or a celestial being. She symbolizes the freedom, intellect, and communication associated with the element of air. She is associated with inspiration, ideas, and the power of the mind. Overall, the divine female figure representing the natural elements embodies the interconnectedness and reverence for nature. She reminds us of the importance of honoring and respecting the natural world, and the role it plays in our lives. She is a reminder of our own power to create, nurture, transform, and connect with the world around us..
Reviews for "Goddesses of the Elements: Discovering the Divine Feminine in Different Cultures"
- John - 1 star
I found the "Divine female figure representing the natural elements" to be underwhelming and unimpressive. The sculpture lacked creativity and originality, with its generic portrayal of a woman holding a plant and surrounded by water. The artistic technique was also subpar, with clunky and awkward proportions that made the figure look more like a caricature than a divine representation of nature. Overall, I was greatly disappointed by this piece and would not recommend it to others.
- Sarah - 2 stars
Although the concept behind the "Divine female figure representing the natural elements" may have been interesting, I felt that the execution fell short. The sculpture lacked detail and depth, making it appear shallow and unengaging. Additionally, the choice of materials gave the artwork a cheap and mass-produced look, which further detracted from its supposed divine nature. I was left unimpressed and unsatisfied with this piece, and I don't believe it lived up to its potential.
- Michael - 2 stars
The "Divine female figure representing the natural elements" failed to elicit any emotional response from me. The sculpture felt cold and impersonal, lacking the captivating aura that one would expect from artwork invoking the natural elements. The overall composition seemed imbalanced, with the figure appearing awkwardly posed and disconnected from its surroundings. Ultimately, I found this piece to be uninspiring and forgettable.