The magical, mythological and feminine ways of dealing with existence left behind thousands of years ago must now be reclaimed by consciousness.
—Edward Whitmont, Return of the Goddess
The good news implicit in the collapse of the paradigm of industrial civilization is the dissolution of the patriarchal imperative, which has attempted to extinguish the feminine principle from human consciousness. The late Jungian analyst Edward Whitmont tells us that it must now be reclaimed in consciousness.
Another Jungian analyst, June Singer, elaborates on this notion: “Our feminine wisdom values truth more than information, permanence more than change. It is she in us who desires to see things whole, to see into things, to be able to anticipate and then to wait. When we are in touch with her, we take the long view and are not seduced by expediency.”
Through the descent into collapse and chaos, humanity will be offered the opportunity to reclaim the magical, mythological, sacred feminine. The reclamation of this principle may be the watershed process that determines what kind of culture will arise from the ashes of industrial civilization. I emphasize the word process, not only because collapse and whatever evolves from it will be a protracted process, but also because process is an essential aspect of the feminine principle. Collapse may entail many events, but—taking the long view—it will be a process fraught with adversity, horror, destruction, uncertainty, opportunity, adventure, joy, creativity, connection, and profound transformation. It will compel us to “see things whole” and to “see into things” and to “be able to anticipate and then to wait.”
The sacred feminine principle must be reclaimed. It will not foist itself on humanity; it requires our personal transformation and commitment to restore it to its rightful place in human consciousness. This is the fundamental task of all awake and aware women and men on this planet.