1. In these most critical of times, in which the
survival of the entire globe is at stake, the "feminine" impulse is
indispensable. For more than 3000 years patriarchy has had its chance to create "A
New Heaven and A New Earth". The result is the possible destruction of the entire
globe. Religious dualism - Spirit vs Matter, God vs the World, Ratio vs the Body, Light vs
Darkness, Man vs Woman, Technology vs Nature - are typically products of the male mind. As
paradigms of patriarchy they are largely responsible for the current decay. Every society
is a reflection of its underlying "God concept". If God is a patriarchal male,
then authoritarianism, (technological) oppression, exploitation, violence, injustice and
the destruction of nature will continue to be the dominant forces of society*. As we all
know now, this will be suicidal. Hence, the necessity of a great turning. Religions are
urged to go on a search for the "feminine" aspects of their particular faith
i.e. those aspects of the Divine that emphasize holistic e.g. life-confirming and
enhancing values. In order to save the earth we all have to move toward inclusivity,
though. Inclusivity is "feminine". It consists of love, respect, peace,
wholeness, reconciliation, justice, courage, cooperation and sustainablity. It reflects
the Mother e.g. the "Maternal Aspect of God", the One Who is all-embracing.
Every religion has to go on its own search. Each of them has the
responsibility to bring more balance in their theories and practices. Their driving force
should be compassion with the earth. The miserable "state of the world", isn't
it also the effect of their doings during the centuries?
* Reconciliation of religions will
be one of the key issues of the 21st century. See in my website: "Letter
to Spiritual and Religious Leaders"
2. The UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL unites people from within and without
all religions who want to emphasize the "Maternal Dimension of God". Against the
background of global crisis, they increasingly acknowledge, that our perception of
"God" is incomplete. For some 3000 years mankind identified itself with
"God" as a male person*. The consequence was (is) a religion that stressed law,
dogma's, punishments, threats, guilt, revenge and obedience. It is the reason why more and
more people abandon religious organizations. They feel unsatisfied, unhappy and confused.
Others may still attend religious meetings, but realize, that despite their commitment,
religion increasingly becomes self-centered, exclusive and fundamentalist. They don't want
to become part of a "clash of civilizations", though. Hence, large groups of
people are re-orienting themselves, hoping that they will find a more complete
"image" of God.
* While MotherWorship is already 40.000
years old or beyond....
3. Especially women have critisized the one-sidedness of "God as a
male person". They went on a quest to find "feminine" aspects of the
Divine. This has resulted in countless publications e.g. initiatives, such as "God as
a Mother", "the heroic women of the bible", "women religious
rituals", "the ordination of women priests", the founding of new religions
(Goddess/Wicca) and many more. Despite this, the peak of the activities has subsided
somewhat. It seems as if the effort had been too superficial. They all got stuck in ideas,
interpretations and concepts, rather than having touched the living Reality of the Divine.
Their longing for a new spirituality has been frustrated. However, one thing helped us a
lot. It is the global crisis, in which the survival of the entire earth is at stake.
Suddenly, we understand that Transformation has to start with the Origin. So, yes, our
discoveries of the "Maternal Dimension of God" prove to be crucial.
4. The re-appearence of the Great Mother on earth doesn't seem to be
accidental. Aren't we stuck, altogether? Society as a whole is rapidly disintegrating. We
desperately need a turning point. All known options prove to be powerless. A renewal is
needed, to start with our roots. "Something" TOTALLY NEW (ORIGINAL!) has to
touch the heart of people, gender, nations, cultures and societies. Can you think of
anything else, but the Great Mother? Her impact affects all areas of life. Imagine, the
world turns to the Mother as its Savioress. What unimaginable energies will be freed by
Her! People will resurrect from their hypnotic sleep. A new enthusiasm will take
possession of the souls of many. The Mother will add a totally new dimension to peace
("feminine values"), interreligious reconciliation (pacifying Her quarrelling
"Sons"), to the position of women, children and families ("women
empowerment"), the restoration of the communities (Her "web of life"),
upgrading democracy ("community democracy"), the revival of tradition
("Western and Non-Western cultures"), optimizing health (natural, holistic
health), to justice (eliminating exploitation, poverty, hunger), balancing the economy
(reflecting cosmic balance), while saving the earth (Her material Body: "Mother
Earth"). Being All-Embracing isn't an empty word. It is the umbrella under which
everything, without exception, will be healed.
Hence, the UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL should become acknowledged by
International Bodies, to start with the United Nations. We will do every effort to reach
that goal! Who is going to join us?
5. The UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL includes all those individuals,
groups, organizations, centres, churches, religions, sangha's, temples, mosques and
synagoges, that acknowledge the necessity of emphasizing the "Maternal Dimension of
God". Our mission is to support those groups, congregations, who seek to deepen their
religious life, aiming at strengthening the feminine dimension of religion and
spirituality. Our function is to inspire, coordinate and encourage. We do so, because we
ourselves are deeply convinced of the value of a "Mother-oriented" society. As
coordinator we will not impose our insights on others, though, but facilitate faiths to
develop their own inherent values. F.i. in Islam, Allah the Merciful will be emphasized;
in Christianity, the "Maternal Aspect of God" or the position of the Mother of
God will be further elaborated; in Judaism Asherah will be revered as the consort (nay,
the Mother) of Jaweh; Hinduism, the unifying potentiality of the Original MatriDevi will
be stressed; in Buddhism, the position of the Eternal Mother e.g. Kuan Yin will be
upgraded; Taoism, the Tao as a (Maternal) Valley is something to pay attention to, etc.
etc.
6. The result will be the birth of a New Community of independent and
autonomous members, having in common a "feminine" World View. It will be a
platform on which "unity in diversity" is promoted, experienced and celebrated,
everything to the benefit of all "sentient and non-sentient" beings. A Community
based on feminine e.g. maternal values, is emphasizing cooperation rather than
competiveness, love rather than hate, tolerance rather than exclusion, justice rather than
exploitation, peace rather than war, sustainability rather than destruction. Its highest
aim is to serve life in all its aspects. It is open to all people regardless gender,
nationality, status or position. All over the world networks will be sprouting.
"Ordinary" mothers will welcome it.* Too long their roles have been
"undervalued". Visualize this new global Community. Doesn't give it a vibrant
feeling, joyful, fresh, renewing and full of promise? Yes, we agree. It is nothing less
than the beginning of A New Era.
* See my website: "Mother for
Mothers"
7. Although having a clear spiritual/religious foundation, it should be
emphasized , that the UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL itself is not a religion. Rather, it is a
coordinating body, an umbrella community, consisting of members of a variety of religious
and spiritual organizations. The unique thing about is that it lays the foundation for
cross-religious re-organization. "Normally", Mother (Madonna, Kuan Yin,
MatriDevi etc.) oriented groups are exclusively incorporated in their own corresponding
religious settings. These settings are almost always patriarchal. The Father rules over
the Mother. Reason, why the Latter is often unable to develop Her full potential. We want
to re-balance this situation by giving Mother-groups a second orientation e.g, source of
inspiration. It is the raison d'être of the UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL. It serves as a home
for those who confess themselves to the Mother as the Ultimate on the one hand, while
being a supplement to those who still maintain ties with their traditional organizations,
on the other. Our aim is to bring all these people together.
8. People of various religious backgrounds who revere the Mother often
have more in common with each other than with the patriarchal tradition of which they are
a part. The UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL is providing a platform to all of them,
whole-heartedly welcoming everyone, without exception. This
"cross-fertilization" could cause a "landslide!" Suddenly,
experiences, insights and ideas which until then were locked up are spreading their wings.
There is "One Ultimate", but the ways to it are manifold. No one is superior to
the other. Hence, peace, tolerance, respect and reconciliation are its main principles. It
is inviting both organizations and individual members. These people maybe mothers,
fathers, singles, youth, theologians, religious leaders, feminists, priests, nuns,
shamans, therapists, workers, unemployed, teachers, writers....all are welcome. The
UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL - as a Community of all Mother-oriented people - is taking the
lead here. We will support you through coordination, (regular/ annual) meetings,
conferences, healings, trainings, celebrations and actions. We will selflessly share all
our expertise with everybody involved, regardless background, belief, conviction or
denomination.
9. The UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL's organization is non-hierarchical. On
the contrary, it is a loose worldwide organization, exclusively based on horizontal
networks e.g. local autonomous groups, frequently initiated by local people themselves,
with free affiliations, based on a fruitful cooperation between men and women (with women
often having a leading role), held together by a coordinating group. It is a unique
interfaith initiative, giving the religious landschape new colors. It beholds the promise
of turning the "wasteland" into a flowering and fruitful earth, once again, to
the benefit of all its inhabitants. We actively promote "unity in diversity",
respecting roots, wisdom, differences and convictions of all participants involved. We
cherish a bottom-up organization with active participation of everyone, the latter
subscribing to the principles described above. On the other hand, we - the UNIVERSAL
MOTHER COUNCIL Coordination Group - are free to taking any initiative that promotes the
Wholeness of Life. Are you interested? Ask for more details.
10. The meetings of the UNIVERSAL MOTHER COUNCIL are an annual
highlight. Here, everybody comes together from all corners of the world to share what has
been bestowed upon you in your daily situation. Through talks, workshops, teachings,
seminars, informal encounters, celebrations and action, the participants have the
opportunity to share inspiration, support, exchange, learning, networking and models for
action. It is a worldwide demonstration of the will to fundamental change. All our
individual sources of inspiration flow into one Big Ocean of Maternal Compassion,
spreading itself to all directions. People will be moved by the idea of a Cosmic Womb,
including the whole of existence, nothing excluded. The Mother will be irresistable:
"Come all ye unto Me, I am the All-Embracing One". This is where we have been
searching for, for 2000 years. Healing the wounds, the pain, the fear and the anger is a
first priority. Motherly Love will then lead you further. She will teach you to become
like Her: all-embracing. It is the ultimate fulfillment of personal longing, running into
a collective effort to Healing the Planet.
Praise the Cosmic Mother!
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