Embracing the Divine Feminine

Rami Shapiro, a renowned teacher of spirituality across faith traditions, is an award-winning storyteller, poet and essayist. He is author of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice and The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained (all SkyLight Paths), among other books.Rami Shapiro is available to speak on the following topics:Writing—The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual PracticeStop Playing God: 12 Steps as Spiritual PracticeBiblical Wisdom for Post-biblical Times: An Exploration of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and JobThe Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Cultivating Compassion in Daily LifeHasidic Wisdom: An Exploration of Hasidic Storytelling, Theology and Contemplative PracticeSaints and Sages: Biblical Prophets, Ancient Rabbis and the Building of a Just WorldRev. Cynthia Bourgeault, PhD, is an Episcopal priest and retreat leader focusing in Christian Spirituality. She is principal teacher for the Contemplative Society in Victoria, British Columbia, and founding director of the Aspen Wisdom School in Aspen, Colorado. Her books include Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Encountering the Wisdom Jesus, Mystical Hope and Love Is Stronger than Death. She serves on the core faculty for the Spiritual Paths Foundation whose mission is to promote curiosity, respect and acceptance between people of diverse spiritual traditions.

Shir HaShirim, the Song of Songs by King Solomon, has been interpreted as an allegory of God's lovefor the Jewish people (and Jesus' love for the church). Rabbi Shapiro asserts that "the Song of Songsis about the realization of Wisdom through the unification of the spiritual (feminine) and the physical(masculine). The woman in the Song isn’t Israel or the church but Lady Wisdom, and the man in theSong isn’t God but you, the seeker of Wisdom." After several introductory chapters that discuss theorigins of the text (which may have been authored by someone who ascribed the Song to King Solomon),the feminine in Biblical texts, and love poems from ancient India, Shapiro provides his translation linedup next to his interpretation of the text. For example, although the Hebrew word tapuach translates to"apple," Shapiro deems “apricot” a better fit for fruit native to Israel and representative of the poet’sintent. In a chapter after the text, “The Path of Ecstasy: How to Use theSong of Songs,” the author outlinesways to unify the spiritual and the physical. Notes and a bibliography are included in the back matter.A prolific author, Rabbi Shapiro received ordination from Hebrew Union College and is also initiatedinto the Ramakrishna Order of Vedanta Hinduism. With a Foreword by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, anEpiscopal Priest, numerous references to the Divine Feminine in Eastern practices, and comparisonsto Christian ideas with quotes from the New Testament, the author embraces the publisher’s mottosof “Walking Together, Finding the Way” and “For People of All Faiths, All Backgrounds.” With Rabbi Shapiro’s bold disagreement with Rashi’s allegorical interpretation and suggestions for “a fullerecstasy” practice with a partner, this book is not for traditional Jews. It will have a place in librariesthat collect feminist-oriented literature and novel interpretations of Judaic texts, and whose patrons areinterested in comparative religion and creating their own rituals.

• Foreword by Cynthia Bourgeault ixAcknowledgments xiiiIntroductionThe Song of Songs as the Holy of Holies 1God's DaughterWisdom as the Divine Feminine 17Back to the GardenFrom Eve to the Shulamite 29Through My Flesh I See GodThe Song of Songs as Jewish Maithuna 41Chapter One 57Chapter Two 67Chapter Three 79Chapter Four 87Chapter Five 95Chapter Six 103Chapter Seven 109Chapter Eight 117The Path of EcstasyHow to Use the Song of Songs 131Notes to Front and Back Matter 143Bibliography 147