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Reknowned psychologist, Carl Jung, categorized mother archetypes into 3 groups: personal mothers (mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, and mothers-in-law), any woman with whom a relationship exists (a nurse, teacher, or a distant relative), and then a third group of figurative mothers, to which the Goddess belongs.
Mythology gives us various mother archetypes to work with. In Four Archetypes, Jung writes, “Many things arousing devotion or feelings of awe, as for instance the Church, university, city or country, heaven, earth, the woods, the sea or any still waters, matter even, the underworld and the moon, can be mother-symbols.”
The archetype is closely associated with things or places that represent fertility and fruitfulness, protection, hollowness, helpfulness, and nurturing. Many of the great mother figures in religion also have a dark side, such as Kali, India’s “loving and terrible mother.” The goddesses of Fate can be seen as ambivalent mothers in Greek mythology. Traditionally, “evil” mother-symbols can include the witch, the dragon or serpent, the grave, deep water, and nightmares.
Positive qualities include any helpful impulse, anything that is benign, all that sustains, nourishes, and cherishes. On the other hand, negative qualities are secrecy and darkness, anything that devours, seduces, and poisons, and anything terrifying and inescapable, like fate.
While the mother archetype in mythology is more or less universal, our own experiences with it will be unique to the individual. Around Mother’s Day, many of us celebrate the “personal” mothers in our lives, our own mothers or our family and friends who are mothers. For some of us, however, Mother’s Day may bring mixed feelings, either because we do not have a maternal figure in our lives, or because we have had to part ways with our biological family due to any number of reasons. In this case, we may seek to celebrate those figurative mothers, divine parents of our spiritual self.
In Greek Mythology, the Chthonic Mother is a term for goddesses associated with the Earth and the Underworld, who rule over life-giving and death-dealing aspects of nature. Such goddesses would include Demeter and her daughter Persephone, Gaia, Hekate, and the Anatolian nature goddess Cybele.
All of us can take part in connecting with and celebrating these ancient mother archetypes. Whether you already work with a Great Mother in your practice or want to invite one into your craft, use this Mother’s Day as a dedicated time to pay special tribute to them. Meditate on how maternal energy has functioned in your life: how has it nurtured and protected you spiritually and physically? How has it guided your intuition and led you to truth and enlightenment? How has it demonstrated the balance of light and darkness in your life? Where can you call upon this maternal energy if it is lacking?
If you are practicing the craft around this time, be sure to include one of these great archetypes in your work, or make a place on your altar to commune with them. You can offer wine, cheese, or bread to show gratitude to the Great Mother. Celebrate with us this Mother’s Day, whatever that may look like for you. As always, our shop offers all the supplies and guidance you may need on your journey.
