Priestess: Ancient Spiritual Wisdom for Modern Sacred Women

Praise For Priestess

"Julie’s book is so important for now.

Julie is a modern-day priestess, a dear Sister of the ‘Clan of Encouragement’ and a welcome role model for feminine leadership. Julie ‘walks her talk’. Her book serves as an informative educational work to enable the necessary reclaiming of women’s spirituality. It is both a calling and a call to action. Julie weaves her personal story, with the stories of priestesses from many different cultures and a ‘how to guide’ to connect with one’s priestess self/nature. She offers suggestions for practices including reconnection to the cycles—seasons, moon and menstrual cycle—which form a guide for the necessary inner work required by us all to be, as a lineage holder of the School of Shamanic Womancraft would say – the Women the Earth needs now. I hope everyone recognises themselves through Julie’s encouraging offering and reclaims themselves through one of the many different ways to priestess that she presents."

— Jane Hardwicke Collings, midwife, teacher of the Women's Mysteries and founder of The School of Shamanic Womancraft

"What a gift Julie Parker has given us with her divine book, Priestess. It is a rare book filled with ancient wisdom and modern teachings, that is so needed in the world today. A guidebook for spiritual leaders and those wishing to evolve into one, Priestess teaches us to not only find the sacred path for ourselves, but to light that path in an inclusive way for everyone, as our sacred duty. This book is essential reading for everyone who identifies with the path of the priestess, with the Goddess, with new paths of leadership and activism, with a life of sacred spiritual practice. May Priestess reach the hearts and souls of everyone who needs Her magic."

—Megan Dalla-Camina, author of Simple Soulful Sacred: A Woman’s Guide to Clarity, Comfort and Coming Home to Herself (Hay House)

In this extraordinary chronicling of the priestesses of then, now and always, Julie Parker says there is no road map. And yet … this book guides us straight into the centre of it all. All that is, all that there was and all that is to come. With strong hand, supple heart and all-seeing eyes, she takes us beyond the over-trodden land of love and light into the dark and cool labyrinthian land of power, sisterhood, justice, reverence. This book is a reclamation and a reckoning. With grit and grace and humour and beauty and poetry and righteous anger and loving kindness, Julie takes us there. 'I am here. And ready to be counted'.

—Tanya Geisler, leadership coach

"I have not been genuinely excited by a book in the spiritual genre until Julie's book came my way. I have been a solitary priestess for a decade, and it was Julie's work that brought me to commune with other priestesses. I am forever grateful. The priestess in me did heart leaps as I dove into the pages of Priestess. This is a must-read book for every womxn alive today. Julie has woven every part of herself through these pages and brought topics to the table that cannot be overlooked in priestess awakening. Priestess brought forth tears, joy, strength, boldness, compassion and most of all, so much love. Julie embodies Priestess in all that she does and this book is one which will leave a meaningful legacy for every generation of womxn to come."

—Sharyn Holmes, founder of Gutsy Girl and Formidable Voices

"Priestess is so much more than a guide. It's an inner igniting, it's an activation. It's an invitation to meet and connect with your true priestess self that has always lived within you. It's a calling up – into your truth, your deep knowing, your feminine power. It's a journey of coming home. Priestess is a potent and important companion for the modern spiritual leader who is ready to deepen into all that is divine within her and around her. It's rich in reverence, insights and is a deep remembering of our truth as spiritual leaders, bursting with ancient teachings presented in a modern and grounded way for the spiritual leaders of our times. This is a book you'll keep coming back to and one to gift every woman you know who's on her spiritual path."

—Sammie Fleming, life coach and sacred circle facilitator

"Women around the world are feeling a pull to be of greater service as Mother Earth awakens the dormant part of ourselves that lifetimes ago was deeply connected to her rhythms. The memories of being a healer, ceremonialist, warrior, wayshower, and so much more come to us like a vague dream and disrupts the way we have lived life. A powerful handmaiden who has already removed her veil has arrived to help ground us to our history, help us claim ourselves in this present time while encouraging us to change our future. This is the sovereign Priestess, Julie Parker. I cannot express my deepest gratitude for Julie and the sacred book Priestess. This object that you have in your hand is more than words written on paper. This is a palimpsest where underneath the words is a sacred manuscript that has energetically been weaved in to help you remember who you are. Allow Priestess to help you track the history of others that have come before you. Allow Priestess to be the portal into your temple space where you become the Modern Priestess owning your medicine and mastering your craft. The time is now."

— Sora Surya No, business coach, co-founder of priestess temple school, sacred business collective and host of Sora TV

"Priestess is the transformational book you didn’t know you needed – until now! With Priestess, you receive the trifecta of a dear sister, motivational speaker and performance coach all alchemised into one. It’s like she’s right there sitting next to you in circle, or coaching you as her client, or standing on a large stage being of service to her audience. Reading Julie’s words feels like she is in conversation with just you, supporting you in practical and beautiful ways as you go about navigating modern life. I can see my future self, reaching into my bookshelf for Priestess whenever I need guidance, clarity, or a loving (and fairly firm!) nudge to just hurry up and take action already! Julie’s words are delightfully personable, encouragingly practical and of course, all gorgeously curated to make this the go-to book for all modern-day priestesses."

—Michaela Rosandich, cycle superpowers coach at Empress Crow and Rabbit

"Finally! A loving reference book, personal priestess journey activator, call to action for humankind and irresistible invitation to live beyond fear combined, Priestess: Ancient Spiritual Wisdom for Modern Sacred Women is without doubt the modern-day companion for all heart-centered leaders and connection seekers. With unparalleled clarity and accessibility, Julie Parker has held open the door to a more powerful way of being, reflecting, living and serving while honouring deep remembrance and the individuality of the woman and priestess within. It is crucial reading and I will be thumbing its pages again and again."

—Johanna Parker, founder of Heart Sparks

"I came to know myself as I never had before. If these words cause a stirring in your soul, then Julie Parker’s Priestess: Ancient Spiritual Wisdom for Modern Sacred Women will delight and uplift you. Not only will you learn all about priestesses past and present, but a desire will likely be awakened within to deepen the journey along your spiritual path towards a place of sovereignty, integrity and personal power. This is a wonderful book to challenge, inform and lovingly hold space for you to ignite your inner priestess."

—Melissa Jeffcott, certified life coach and sacred space holder

"Never have I read a book that makes me feel so validated, seen and understood as a modern-day priestess. Julie Parker's Priestess is not only a practical guide, it's also a balm for the soul. On every page, she has taken care to acknowledge the complexity of the priestess path, from the shadow and the light, the love and the rage, the service and the stillness. Much more than crystals and flower crowns, being a priestess is about radical self-acceptance, wild liberation, and a daily commitment to a calling that comes from deep within. I will treasure this book and its invaluable wisdom for years to come."

—Jolinda Johnson, women’s health coach

"Where do I begin? Priestess is a must-read for all women! I love, love, loved it. It’s one of those books that I know I will come back to time and time again. Julie Parker has a unique gift of making you feel truly seen, heard and loved in her presence, and that’s exactly how it feels reading this book. Priestess is more than a book, it’s a call to action. To reclaim and embrace all parts of ourselves. To be of service, to speak up and take action for the betterment of ourselves and others. To explore our innate gifts and talents. To commune and create a deeper connection with Mama Earth, Goddess and most importantly ourselves. To witness our greatness and sovereignty within. To remember our divine purpose in this lifetime is to simply be our whole, true selves. What a gift. Thank you, Julie, for writing this book and so much more."

—Jade Head, priestess and holistic health and life coach

"Julie's Priestess is a gentle initiation into a world of sovereignty, homecoming, leadership, sacred living and inner wisdom. Julie effortlessly weaves together the modern and the ancient, the practical and the magical, bringing us closer to who we really are and illuminating what the word priestess might mean to each of us. Julie offers practices and mythology coupled with her own story, as a springboard to create or continue to evolve our own understandings of what it means to be a modern sacred leader.

Julie dives far beyond an exploration of spirituality that revolves around flower crowns, crystals and Instagram-worthy circles. From the ongoing impacts of patriarchal culture, reclaiming our power as cyclic beings, working with the goddess, abandoning the notion of perfection, people-pleasing and judgment, living with fear, embracing the dark and calling out racism and exclusion in our own spiritual communities. What emerges is the overarching sense that we are not alone on this journey and that a vital part of the priestess journey is an acknowledgement and active commitment to dismantling the external structural forces that serve to oppress, harm and maintain inequalities that cannot be loved and lighted away."

—Bronwyn Stange, founder of Bopo Women

"Priestess is a coming home, an embodiment, a deep remembering of sovereign feminine within. Julie's words, deep study and inclusive understanding of the priestess invites us all to look both inward and towards one another to see the strong, wild, fierce, gentle, feminine leader wanting to emerge. The words and spirit of Priestess will evoke you to remember, embody, celebrate and be in service of the Great Mother – her spirit and soul that resides within each of us. Thank you, Julie, for saying YES to bringing the sacred work of Priestess to the world. We needed her. I needed her."

—Madison Morrigan, life coach

"I devoured Julie's Priestess book, soaking in all the ancient wisdom gathered together with such reverence. These pages are glorious, brimming with sacred feminine GOLD! Thank you, Julie, this is truly magnificent."

—Loren Honey, intuitive life coach, sacred circle facilitator and energy worker

Spirituality with substance! Rich in research this book is sure to resonate with those lucky enough to be drawn to all things Priestess.

— Emma Mildon, bestselling author of The Soul Searcher's Handbook and Evolution of Goddess

Traversing ancient priestess her-stories, weaving in everyday rituals and modern-day archetypes, and culminating with the powerful call to strap on your boots! to make a purposeful contribution with your gifts, this is THE sacred leadership guidebook for the modern priestess!

—Dr. Ezzie Spencer, bestselling author of the book and journal Lunar Abundance, and creator of re.love

"A deep dive into the world of the Priestess. Julie’s empowering way of weaving words into such an expansive read of all things priestess and the Goddess will infuse your whole being with a richness of simply ‘knowing’, a stepping back into a deeper sense of self as She will awaken something from within. The personal knowledge shared, researched history of and the modern-day actions you are guided to journey with through Priestess will expand your heart, mind, body and soul in ways you’ve never explored before. The pages of Priestess will captivate you from the moment you open the book, and Julie’s delicious storytelling will hold you in a loving embrace the whole way through – you can literally hear Her speak it to you - and you’ll find it hard NOT to put down. Priestess is an honouring of the sacred that lies within us all. I bow down in such deep gratitude, again, to Julie’s devotion in keeping the wisdom of the priestess alive on Mother Earth."

—Tracey Pattison, priestess to Mother Earth, intuitive food consultant, coach for womxn and recipe creatrix for bestselling cookbooks

"Priestess is both a remembrance and a revelation. Julie’s wisdom serves as a potent invitation to women everywhere to turn their gaze inward, activate their innate feminine power, and fully live the truth of who they are. In honouring the vast lineage of sacred leaders that came before, Priestess will guide you home to the understanding of what it truly means to live and lead from your soul, as a modern-day priestess. This is a divine book you won’t want to put down, and a must-have companion for your spiritual journey."

—Rachel MacDonald, business coach and writer

"Priestess is a must read for awakening women everywhere. This book is like a homecoming to your true feminine nature, the part of you that you always felt was there, but it was never given the space to truly soar. You will have tears of remembrance and delight in knowing that everything you have once felt is real and so beautifully powerful. When I think of someone who embodies the energy and the true commitment to living with courage and compassion as a modern-day priestess and sacred leader, I think of Julie Parker."

—Tracey Spencer, founder of Lightworkers Academy, author of Rock Your Light: Lessons for Lightworkers and Spiritual Straight Talk to Make Shit Happen

What a deeply empowering guide to ancient wisdom! Julie Parker has gifted us with a highly personal and intuitive book that does more than teach us about women spiritual guides of the past and their wisdom, divinity, and heart opening experiences. It also can inspire us to connect with our own power and to the truth of who we are by remembering that our true calling can ignite our spiritual growth and allow us to reclaim our feminine healing gifts.

—Myriam Llano, founder of Divine Renewal

"I deeply loved Priestess. Beginning with a little history, context and inspiration, Julie sets the scene for what it means to be a powerful, inclusive, sovereign priestess in a world crying out for grounded, loving and aware spiritual leadership. This book is a call to action, a torch to our shadows, permission to be, and an illumination of why this work is so important. It is also a celebration of all that it is to identify as a Woman, in all our divine and complex diversity. I sincerely hope Priestess finds her way into the hands of all who identify with or are curious about this courageous, fierce, graceful and humbling journey of the modern-day priestess."

—Rebecca Coldicutt, founder of Rebel Starseeds

Julie walks the priestess path with shining integrity and devotion. Her words are both affirming and rousing. This work is the warmest of invitations to Remember the sacred leader you are and the sacred gifts you embody every day, for which the world hungers.

—Grace Funk, founder of Priestess Your Life

Copyright © 2020 Julie Parker

First published by the kind press, 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author and publisher.

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, the material in this book is of the nature of general comment only. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical advice or any other kind of personal professional service in the book. In the event that you use any of the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

ISBN 978-0-6485917-8-8 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-0-6485917-9-5 (Ebook)

For the two before and the one after,

Nana, Mum, Sinéad.

For all that you were and are.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT PRIESTESS

PART I

HER LIVING, HER RETREATING, HER RISING

MAMA KNOWS EVERYTHING

GODDESSES, GODDESSES, EVERYWHERE

HER HANDMAIDENS

THEY CAME ON HORSES

SHE'S BACK

BUT AM I ACTUALLY ONE

THEY'LL THINK I'VE LOST IT

THE REAL WORK

RUBBER STAMP ME STAT!

DO WE NEED A SMOKE MACHINE?

IS SHE YOU?

PART II

PRIESTESSES PAST TO PRESENT

MESOPOTAMIAN AND SUMERIAN PRIESTESSES

PRIESTESSES OF ÇATAL HÜYÜK

HEMET-NETJER

GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN

THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERY PRIESTESSES

PRIESTESSES OF ARTEMIS

THE MELISSAI

PRIESTESSES OF ATHENA

THE PYTHIA

THE VESTAL PRIESTESSES

CELTIC PRIESTESSES

VÖLUR

MAYAN PRIESTESSES

MOCHE PRIESTESSES

MAMBOS

SANTERAS

PART III

POWER PRIESTESSES

ENHEDUANNA

ENNIGALDI-NANNA

HATSHEPSUT

ONOMARIS

CHRYSIS

BOUDICCA

VELEDA

FIDELM

MARY MAGDALENE

QUEEN HIMIKO

ACONIA FABIA PAULINA

BRIGID

DAHIA AL-KAHINA

MARIE LAVEAU

NEHANDA CHARWE NYAKASIKANA

FERMINA GÓMEZ PASTRANA

PART IV

THE INNER CALLING AND BEING

GUIDE ME, GODDESS

THE GREAT WORK

LEARNING FROM THE MONKEY

BEING PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

YOUR JUDGY PANTS DON’T FIT ANYMORE

ARE YOU REALLY STRAIGHT?

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

BEYOND LOVE AND LIGHT

THE FEAR OF FEAR

OUR STORIES OF LONELINESS

THE GODDESS SEES ALL

WHO STOLE MY FLOWER CROWN?

I’M SO SORRY

ALIGNMENT

YOU FIRST, PRIESTESS

HER FREQUENCY, YOUR POWER

TINGLY TRINKETS

THERE IS NO ROAD MAP

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO

PART V

LIVING EMBODIED

SACREDNESS EVERY DAY

GOING BACK

TAKE ME TO THE ALTAR

PASSIONATE PRAYING

INTUITION IGNITION

MUM’S CALLING

THE WHEELS OF THE YEAR GO ROUND AND ROUND

LUNA LOVE

LIVING ILLUMINATED

A BLEEDING SHAME

YOUR BLOOD IS BEAUTIFUL

BLOODY RITES

IT’S INEVITABLE

DEATH BECOMES YOU

CELEBRATING YOU

YOU’RE A WILD ONE

SISTER HEALING

BEING IN BODY

ANAM CARA

PART VI

YOUR PRIESTESS GIFTS

THE RITUAL PRIESTESS

THE CEREMONIAL PRIESTESS

THE BEAUTIFIER PRIESTESS

THE VEIL-LIFTER PRIESTESS

THE GATHERER AND SPACE-HOLDER PRIESTESS

THE PERFORMER AND ARTIST PRIESTESS

THE DIVINER PRIESTESS

THE HEALER PRIESTESS

THE