Sophia

THE GODDESS PROJECT: Made in Her Image

Biblical Series #1

“Happy are those who find wisdom. . . . She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. . . Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy” (Proverbs 3: 13, 15, 17-18).

Sophia is DIVINE WISDOM, Her name comes from the feminine Greek word meaning Holy Wisdom. She is found all over the Bible (Proverbs, Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon..) and in the Gnostic Gospels (unearthed at Nag Hammadi in 1947.) She has been called the MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE, Mother of Yahweh and HOLY SPIRIT. The words: “Philosophy, theosophy and sophiology” all come from Sophia. The Bible links her to Christ: “Christ is the Wisdom (Sophia)” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). There is some evidence that Mary Magdalene was also called “Mary Sophia.”

Because She did not help advance the patriarchal scheme, Sophia was all but DELETED FROM HISTORY. Hidden throughout the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls, knowledge of the DIVINE FEMININE all but WENT UP IN FLAMES. Even a great cathedral build in Her honor in Constantinopole, Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), was burned to the ground twice. It’s newest rebuild was a mosque and is now a museum. NOTRE DAME (Our Lady) has survived but they eventually claimed it was named after the Virgin Mary. (The famous Notre Dame rose windows are a common symbol of the Divine Feminine!) http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_219853/Auguste-Christian-Fleischmann/Celebration-of-the-Goddess-of-Reason-at-Notre-Dame-cathedral-in-Paris. Some say there are secret societies that still exist to keep knowledge of Her alive.

But no matter how hard they tried to hide or forget Her, She is always here with us. For every hardship you survive, you’ve gained and are CLOSER TO WISDOM.

“Get wisdom; get insight…Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown” (Proverbs 4:5a, 6, 8-9).

Many say that SOPHIA IS RETURNING NOW to restore PEACE on Earth. I also don’t think it’s any accident that the name “Sophia” has been one of the TOP 3 most popular BABY GIRLS’ NAMES since 2010. Even the newest Disney princess is named “Sofia” (the 1st!); she has a regular TV show series and she is loving and kind toward all including animals.

In her book In Search of Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians, Jann Aldredge-Clanton writes about “the ancient belief that MALE AND FEMALE MUST BE BALANCED in order for there to be harmony in the world and that the LOSS OF THE SACRED FEMININE CREATES CHAOS.”

Jann Aldredge-Clanton has written numerous books (including hymnals!), and given countless talks and lectures on the subject of liberating the Divine Feminine. She is an ordained minister, author, professor and chaplain. Early in her career as a Baptist minister she saw much inequality and has since made it her mission, much through inclusive language, to EMPOWER ALL. From her hymnal, Inclusive Hymns for Liberation, Peace, and Justice, the hymn “Celebrate Sophia’s Birth” is set to the holiday tune “Gloria.” Jann’s lyrics include: “Celebrate Sophia’s birth, bringing healing to the earth; HOLY WISDOM OPENS HEARTS, PEACE AND FREEDOM SHE IMPARTS. Gloria, blessed be Sophia!” To learn more about Jann, her books and music, go to jannaldredgeclanton.com. Many of the songs are found on YouTube videos, angelically sung by the all-female band Devi Vanni, from Ebenezer herchurch in San Francisco, devivaani.org.

Photography and photo enhancement of “Sophia” by David Clanton, http://davidclanton.com.

“And I, Wisdom, will come to you

a second time, and this time

in the form of woman. And I will

speak with you then, instructing you

about the coming times, about

the end of things and the beginning of things

which are the same, which occur

at the same time. I will tell you then

about the new time coming

when all will be changeless and good:

thus I, Wisdom, will tell you.”

-Gnostic text, The Prophecy of Sophia

For other Goddess Project: Made in Her Image Goddesses go to our FREE SOPHIA blog: at freesophia.com to the Free Sophia Facebook page.