In this article I examine how religious symbolism is enacted in movement underpinned by somatic awareness, but, of note, a matrifocal religious symbolism – certainly holistic symbols that pre-date patriarchal religion, such as the circle, water, spiral, serpent and womb. Although these symbols continue to live on, somewhat transformed in patriarchal religions, I observe it is symbols related to the re-emergence and reconstruction of the palaeolithic and neolithic Goddess, painstakingly and contentiously unearthed through critical feminist voices, that play a more creative role in the pedagogies of movement-based somatics. The first part of this article examines the palaeolithic and neolithic Goddess, where the female principle is positioned as the source and genesis of religious symbolism; the second part weaves together how prepatriarchal symbols are embedded in ontogenetic and phylogenetic somatic movement exploration. While there is much popular literature on polytheistic Goddess pantheons in neopagan, wiccan and new-age spiritual movements, I turn my attention in this article to the prehistoric Goddess, articulating key ideas from scholars working in archaeology, critical feminism and cultural history, such as Irwin Thompson, Marija Gimbutas, Sjöö and Mor, Merlin Stone, and Carol Christ. Here I explore how somatic movement dance education is not a direct expression of the prehistoric prepatriarchal Goddess (nor an appropriation), but does engage and enact some of the world’s most primordial religious symbolism, in turn reflecting the prehistoric Goddess and Her more-than-human cellular matrix.

In this article I describe some personal journeys, inwards through the deepest layers of the psyche, to discover embodied understanding of what I call the deep feminine, or the feminine ground of being. I explore some myths and ancient stories of the Goddess that reflect the journey of healing and transformation through psychological descent, and can guide us through such ordeals. As C. G. Jung discovered, myths and archetypes are rooted in the instinctual body; as a somatic movement practitioner and transpersonal and body-oriented psychotherapist, my own journeys led me to intuitive appreciations of the somatic sources of mythic journeys that have particular relevance to contemporary women seeking healing/wholeness and spiritual renewal. The myth of Inanna, the oldest known myth of the Goddess’s descent to the Underworld, affirms the truth that our healing and spiritual journey takes us through a process of ‘endarkenment’, in order to reach wholeness and discover the light of spirit within. The Goddess Lilith also represents the ‘dark’ side of the feminine, which we need to balance and reconcile with our upperworldly nature. La Loba, Wild Woman, shows us a path towards rebirth and revival of our soul and spirit. These ancient and timeless tales offer guidance and reflection for contemporary women, and also men exploring the feminine within their own psyches.

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