The mythical figure of Lilith was Adam’s first wife and Eve’s predecessor, according to Jewish legend. A symbol of our independent, rebellious, sensual, courageous, passionate, rageful potential, this ancient archetype can serve as a role model and source of inspiration to us today.
In the most commonly told version of Her origin story, Lilith is made from the earth, as is Adam. For this reason, She refuses to submit to Adam, and when he insists, She mutters G’d’s secret name, leaves the Garden of Eden, and flies off to the Reed Sea [today called the Red Sea] to live Her own life. After Adam complains to G’d about being alone and Eve comes into the picture, we learn—in traditional patriarchal recountings—that she is warned against the “evil” Lilith. In a contemporary feminist midrash, however, theologian Judith Plaskow reinterprets this story, and we see Lilith painted as Eve’s counterpart, confidante and friend (Womanspirit Rising, 1979).
In this class, we will talk about how this powerful, mysterious, ever-elusive figure has been viewed over 4,000 years as both goddess and demon. Through our discussion and some writing, we will start a dialogue--with Lilith, and with ourselves—to explore how Her energy can serve as a catalyst to unleash the transformative power of hearing and claiming our own voice.
Please bring a journal or notebook with your name written, drawn, emblazoned, painted or collaged ! on the cover, and a couple of pens, to both classes.
Kohenet Ruach D'vorah J. Grenn, Ph.D., educator, writer and spiritual mentor, is Founding Director of The Lilith Institute (1997), a center for learning and ceremony, and was Founding Kohenet of Mishkan Shekhinah, a movable sanctuary honoring the Sacred Feminine (2007). Former Co-Director and later Chair of the Women's Spirituality MA Program at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University), she continues to be Adjunct Faculty in Humanities / Philosophy at Napa Valley College.
Dr. Grenn's dissertation, “For She Is A Tree of Life: Shared Roots Connecting Women to Deity” studied Jewish women's identities, beliefs and ritual practices among South African Lemba and U.S. women. Other publications include her Talking To Goddess prayer/blessing anthology with works from 72 women in 25 spiritual traditions; Lilith's Fire: Reclaiming our Sacred Lifeforce;The Kohanot: Keepers of the Flame on claiming the title “kohenet” in Stepping into Ourselves: An Anthology of Writing on Priestesses (Key and Cant), and entries on the Jewish priestess and Lilith for the Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions. Part One of her interview on dominant world religions and women’s spiritual leadership was published in the November 2020 issue of FEMSPEC, an interdisciplinary feminist journal.
For some advance reading, please check out these writings on Kohenet Ruach D’vora’s website:
For the first class: A Brief History of Lilith (scroll halfway down the Home page) at: http://www.lilithinstitute.com/lilithwp/
For anyone who missed or wants to review my ‘drash on B’reishit and Lilit, it’s at: http://www.lilithinstitute.com/lilithwp/conversations-2/
For the second class:
Please read "Revisioning Lilith: Contemporary Thinkers Redefine Sin and Re-vision the Erotic” at
http://www.lilithinstitute.com/lilithwp/creations-2/revisioning/