A Center for the Study of Sacred Text, Myth and Ritual

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Welcome...

 


to the online home of  The Lilith Institute, a center for learning which seeks to transmit many types of knowledge -- oral, written, iconographic, spiritual, emotional, and embodied.  In schools or online, in private homes or community centers, we work  to connect women with each other and to themselves. 

 

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BACKGROUND ON THE LILITH INSTITUTE ...

Founded in 1997, among the Institute's goals are to:

- continue planting seeds for spiritual change, social action and greater cross-cultural understanding;

- critically examine existing patterns of thought, behavior and language through new lenses, acting as a catalyst for personal and  cultural transformation;

- facilitate an ongoing exchange of ideas across diverse spiritual traditions; and

- encourage women to recognize their potential to be change agents in their own communities and the world.

In Spring 1999, I founded Voice of the Spirit, a women's spirituality conceptual framework within which circles of women came together to examine and re-vision ancient sacred texts and contemporary issues, as we explored spiritual practices and practical solutions relevant to our daily lives. 

My deepest appreciation goes to:

    - Kris Brandenburger, Ph.D., author, "THE REDDEST ROSE UNFOLDS: a girl's own fish stories", for her feminist consciousness, patient encouragement and wisdom

    - Judy Grahn, Ph.D., co-director of the Women's Spirituality MA Program at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, for giving us a new origin story, and for her extraordinary vision and insight into human behavior.  Judy, a renowned lesbian feminist activist, poet and author (The Common Woman poems; She Who; Another Mother Tongue; Blood, Bread and Roses) created The Institute of Metaformic Consciousness and is editor of Metaformia: A Journal of Menstruation and Culture (http://www.metaformia.org,)

    -  Dianne E. Jenett, Ph.D., co-director of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology's Women's Spirituality MA Program, for her leadership, compassion and courage, and for co-founding, with Judy Grahn, Serpentina, Women-Centered Research for Everybody (www.serpentina.com), a container big enough to hold us all

I also thank Yoruba chief, storyteller and author Iya Fajembola Fatunmise Luisah Teish (www.luisahteish.org and www.ileorunmilaoshun.orgfor providing women with tireless spiritual and political leadership over the past 35 years; personally I say modupe for her spiritual teachings and generosity of heart and spirit.   Gratitude and appreciation also to feminist peace activist and visionary Starhawk ( www.starhawk.org and www.reclaiming.org ).    All these women--and many other cutting-edge scholars, priestesses, spiritual leaders and role models from many fields--have  taught me how women can work collaboratively, and how true leadership and management are possible without hierarchy.

The Lilith Institute offers:

  • classes and workshops on women's and human rights issues including violence against women; and identifying and correcting power imbalances in personal and professional relationships
  • creation of rites of passage and lifecycle rituals
  • consultation on altar building and creating a spiritual practice; leadership skills
  • drumming and meditation circles

 

Deborah J. Grenn, Ph.D.  is founder and director of The Lilith Institute and Voice of the Spirit (Kol Ha-Ruach), co-director of the Women's Spirituality MA Program at Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (starting in September 2008 pending WASC approval) and founding priestess of Mishkan Shekhinah (www.mishkanshekhinah.org,)  a sanctuary and temple honoring the Sacred Feminine in all spiritual traditions.  This project has been led together with two other priestesses--D'vorah Kelilah of Shuv Tamid and chantmistress Cyrise Beatty, who have my eternal gratitude for supporting and sharing the vision.

Deborah’s  dissertation ,“For She Is A Tree of Life: Shared Roots Connecting Women to Deity,” is on identities, beliefs & practices among the Lemba of South Africa & European-American Jewish women; she also wrote Lilith’s Fire:  Reclaiming Our Sacred Lifeforce (Grenn-Scott, Universal Publishers, 2000) , available through www.upublish.com  or through www.amazon.com and Talking to Goddess, a collection of women's sacred writings (2007) available by writing to orders@lilithinstitute.com.

 

 

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Contact Information

Electronic mail
General Information: deborah@lilithinstitute.com
Webmaster: dragonhart

  

 

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Last modified: May 29, 2008