The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler

[Ayinde]

The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future by Riane Eisler

Here is a review I found on the Internet that is close to my own views about this book.

Leslie from Mobile, Alabama, 10/10/97

Based on the work of the remarkable archaeologist Marija Gimbutas and many other scientists and scholars, Riane Eisler discusses Truth after Truth of our world's wonderful Prehistory in which, rather than the caveman Lie, our ancestors were peaceful, highly artistic, compassionate people who loved and celebrated all Life and worshipped the Goddess. The remains of their cities prove that they lived communally with no slaves and no signs of war for 2000 years until the cruel, bloody invasions of the peripheral, nomadic Indo-Europeans. Our "civilization" has ever after been based on the Dominator model: a history filled with wars, slavery, murder, rape, violence; men dominating women, children, and other men; in which values of compassion and peace are set aside or suppressed.

I was continually amazed that in each chapter, Eisler brings up new points for discussion, speaking directly to the Soul about our history and the Present. And from the Truth of our Prehistoric past, when people were developing a truly peaceful and egalitarian society, we definitely can make this a reality for our future. This can be a world in which every Person is truly Free and Equal, a world without war or violence, in which the Arts flourish, creativity has no bounds, and we live at peace with all of Nature and ourselves: "the power of creativity and love - symbolized by the sacred Chalice, the holy vessel of life - is the governing principle."

[Kebo]

The Chalice and the Blade, by Riane Eisler

Through the Chalice and the Blade Eisler is a migty voice for women, and also for humanity. Her case is a matter-of-fact case for the survival of the human race.

In her view, and by her research, our chances for survival are essentially rooted in the relationship between the male and female. She builds up a case using history that up until the ‘detour’ towards male domination world cultures worshipped the Goddess as the supreme deity and praised women on earth. And during these millennia in history world cultures were more peaceful, creative and advancing.

These nurturing times for cultures and humanity lasted up until the nomadic invasions from the periphery of civilization which came in the form of men carrying the Blade and wielding destruction. The lasting effect was that these invasions caused cultures to turn from worshipping the Goddess/female symbolized by the nurturing, life-giving chalice to bowing before the almighty destructive male/blade. And from that change male values and the Blade began to be standardized, worshipped and institutionalized in world cultures. In Eisler’s words, reality got stood on its head.

For thousands of years now the male blade has been the authority in the world, designing what Eisler refers to as androcratic systems, or male-dominated social systems. Its from androcratic models she says that come such beliefs as hierarchy, ranking, and totalitarianism. She demonstrates that the androcratic system has destructive, growth-stunting effects both on women worldwide and on humanity. And so hope for humanity in her view will come from women rising to an equalitarian position in society alongside men and forming partnership social models, what she refers to as gylanic models.

The Chalice and the Blade is lucid, informative and intelligent, and Eisler’s case is more than a feminist call for women’s equal rights. It’s a cry for a humanity which is caged in an androcratic system. Given her extensive research and historical data that she uses to back up her views, it would be difficult to deny this case for a partnership model of society, which could put an end to the destructive forces and threats of the blade and unleash the other half of humanity, the life-giving powers of the chalice. By this development of gender roles the creativity of human cultures as a whole could be given freedom to evolve.

This work in my view should be placed in any collection of essential reading for those who seek the solution to the world problematique. It guides to another root of the suffering of races and peoples worldwide, and presents an informed, sober solution.  

Kebo

[Rootsie]

Good review Kebo.

The criticism I have of Eisler's book is that she talks about the Minoan Civilization without connecting it to its roots in Egypt. She doesn't mention Africa at all, and she doesn't take up the race issue. Those Indo-Aryan invaders with their blade were white, and the civilizations they disrupted and uprooted all had their recent roots in Africa.