Sophia: Goddess of Wisdom, Bride of God

463 Pages·2001·31.68 MB·English

by  Caitlin Matthews

GODDESS OF WISDOM.
BRIDE OF GOD

GODDESS OF WISDOM.
BRIDE OF GOD
Quest Books
Theosophical Publishing House
Wheaton, Illinois + Chennni (Madras), India
Learn more about Caitlín Matthews and her work at http://www.hallowquest.org.uk/ and
http://caitlin-matthews.blogspot.com/
Find more books like this at www.questbooks.net
Copyright © 2001 by Caitlín Matthews
First Quest Edition 2001
Third Printing 2009
Quest Books
Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270
Wheaton, IL 60187-0270
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher
of this book.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the
permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic
editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the
time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes
that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any
responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Cover and text design and typesetting by Beth Hansen-Winter
Cover image: Cosmic Woman, by Vijali Hamilton, 1989. Earth Mandala Project, Global Peace
through the Arts, Site 5 of the World Wheel, Tinos Island, Greece. An artistic forum for
spiritual/ecological issues and awareness of the interconnection of all life, the Earth Mandala
consists of twelve stone sculptures circling the globe. For more information on the World Wheel
and visionary artist Vijali Hamilton visit the website www.vijali.net.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Matthews, Caitlín.
[Sophia, goddess of wisdom]
Sophia, goddess of wisdom, bride of God / Caitlín Matthews.
p. cm.
Originally published: London: Mandala, an imprint of Harper Collins, 1991.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8356-0801-5
1. Femininity of God. 2. Wisdom (Gnosticism). 3. Goddesses. 4. Women and religion. I. Title.
BL215.5.M38 2001
291.2’114—dc21 2001025008
ISBN for electronic edition, PDF format: 978-0-8356-4084-8
](J;JtftJtll: ld ffJ ul/ell(l/
DEDICATION
FOR ALL LO\'ER~ OF \\15001\1
I will again pour out leaching like prophecy
and leave 11 to all future generatwm.
Observe that/ have not labored for myself alone,
but for all who seek instruction.
Sirach 24 33-34

CONTENTS
Dedication \'
Contents v11
Ust of Illustr atwns IX
Ac:lmow/cdgmcnts
XI
Authors \Jotc \Ill
Pre{aa to the Rcmcd Ed1twn xvii
Pro/ogtH' X.\\
'/)off 011r: 71tr 13fw,k j/liJinJJ
l ... The Black Goddess ... 1
2 ... The Sacred Marnage ... 23
3 ... The Sa\' lOr Goddess ... 4 7
1/)ur/ 7it•tl: 711f' 70/ti/r 'Oirqi11
4 ... Wisdom among the Philosophers ... 67
5 . \\ isdom Blllltb Her House . 89
6 .. The Cloud on the Sanctuary ... 103
7 .. . The Dt\'lne Androgyne ... 125
8 ... The Bnde of God . . 145
9 ... The Virgm of Ltght ... J7 5
l 0 ... The Black Virgm ... 189
11 ... The Grad Goddess ... 207
12 ... \'trgo \ mdnas ... 221
'f)uff 71trn. 7!tt f/..!rt! ()prNt
11 . The Vetlcd Goddess ... 249
14 ... The \\'oman Clothed wnh the Sun ... 273
15 . ~amt ')ophta .. 293
16 ... Apocalypuc Virgm ... 309
17. . The Sophtantc _:...1tllcnmum .. 327
18 ... Our Anctent Future ... 351
Glossary of Specialist Terms ... 381
Notes ... 385
Bibliography ... 405
Index ... 417