Journey to the Dark Goddess: How to Return to Your Soul

by Jane Meredith

MP3 CD Format Journey to the Dark Goddess will lead you on a powerful, healing path. In the stories of ancient Goddesses you will hear your own soul, calling out to you. The Dark Goddess is the creatrix of healing, change, and renewal. She offers connection with the core of yourself. If you have been unable to shake off depression, or fear its return; if you have inexplicable "blank patches" in your life, if you know that something is missing, or something is calling to you, if you seek the source of women's power—it's time to journey to the Dark Goddess. The inspiration for this journey to the Dark Goddess exists in ancient myth. Weaving the stories of Inanna, Persephone, and Psyche with self-inquiry and sacred ritual, we learn to journey internally, creating maps in our darkest places and return enriched, integrating our deepest understandings. Meeting the Dark Goddess we see a mirror of our own soul.

Genres: Spirituality, Paganism, Nonfiction, Mythology, Witchcraft, Goddess, Self Help

1 pages, Audio CD

First published May 16, 2012

About the author

Jane Meredith is an author and ritualist. Her books include Falling through the Tree of Life: Embodied Kabbalah, Journey to the Dark Goddess, Aspecting the Goddess and Circle of Eight: Creating Magic for Your Place on Earth. Jane's passions include magic, trees, rivers, dark chocolate and participative ritual.

Jane offers distance and in-person courses worldwide and her website is: www.janemeredith.com

Reviews

[Nimue Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most helpful spiritual book I have ever read. You don't need to be a goddess worshipper to find this text enormously helpful - but if you are it will likely have extra resonances for you. This is a book about turning crisis into an art form, taking control of your experiences so that you can learn and change and progress rather than being stuck in a dark place. It's a handbook for entering (because sometimes you really have to) and getting out of the underworld - not in the usual sense of back to business as usual so we can helplessly repeat all the things that put us down in the first place, but in the sense of making real change and taking control of what you can in your life. Jane suggests that if we were not so averse to the underworld in the first place and learned to go there gracefully, we would not have such a tough time when we fall.

It's also beautifully written, with a good mix of stories drawn from personal experience, myth, and practical action. Reading the book is a powerful journey, doing all that it suggests will probably bring radical change. I wholeheartedly recommend reading it.

[Arietta Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book which is long overdue, being one which takes the sometimes scary concepts of looking within oneself, of the long dark night of the soul and of the Dark Goddess herself and puts them in an accessible but beautifully written book.

I could not put it down and devoured it in a couple of days. I then went back and read it again in a more piecemeal fashion, dipping in and out of gloriously enveloping and descriptive stories of ancient Goddesses and Jane Meredith's easy to follow rituals. Rituals which I felt had a strong grounding in reality whilst still being wonderfully mysterious and magical.

I enjoyed the layout of the book too, it being split into four sections each dealing with a different stage of the journey

I really don't want to say too much more as the authors words speak to the reader of a deeply personal amd individual level... but I highly recommend you grab a copy for yourself...The author bares all and dares the reader to do the same!

[Livia Arundel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent guide for self-exploration and facing your inner demons. I only gave this book four stars because the author inserts some concerning (to me) comments throughout; I interpreted her statements as implying that treating mental illness (which is a chemical imbalance at its core) with medication is either inferior or a cop-out. I was able to discard these assertions and use the rest to my advantage. I committed to the steps laid out here and it was simultaneously the hardest and most liberating thing I've ever done.

This book turned my life around. I know people sometimes say that and you're like "Sure, Jan." But for real. My own journey had been self-postponed for too long, trapped in misery, and this book and its urgent call for self-care and self-responsibility gave me the courage to quit a toxic job, embark on a new Master's degree, and restore confidence in myself. Some of the changes have been painful and difficult, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Jane Meredith is a hero for writing this and my appreciation cannot be appropriately conveyed in words.

[Rachel Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been drawn to the Dark Goddesses so knew that this book would be perfect for me and my intuition wasn't wrong. This is a wonderful book that will have you nodding in agreement to the introduction and making connections with all that Jane Meredith describes. The book contains a journey, laid out in four sections with all the information and directions that you need to take that journey...to reclaim your soul. It is powerful and emotional but will bring you wonderful and amazing results.

[TS · Rating 2 out of 5]

The biggest flaw of this book is that it is a womb-centric approach to Dark Goddess work -- if you are anything besides a cis, childbearing, heterosexual woman, you will need to do some work (possibly quite a lot) to adapt this to your needs. The second biggest flaw is the author's use of punctuation. Entire sentences frequently need to be reread and reconsidered because of how punctuation has been repurposed outside its conventional use, especially with regard to semicolons. It is easier and less confusing to skim a significant part of the text for intent than to peruse.

The substance of the book is very New Age, without a lot of older occultism; for all the research into multi-thousand year old myths, there is a clear dearth of knowledge from the intervening centuries. If your interests go beyond Wicca, you will find this account reductive. Entire pages wax poetic on trivial details. Thoughts worth embellishment or consideration are given throwaway paragraphs or even single lines. This book is less a work of research and more an account of someone else's personal process with suggestions on how other (like-minded, like-bodied) people can do the same.

That said: the concept and the ritual ideas are interesting. Feminine ascension to power has been a difficult subject to find resources for, and frequently focus on the light aspect of growth without attention to how struggle forges strength. The author acknowledges survivors of various forms of abuse as people who seem to derive a lot of benefit from doing this series of rituals -- if that's you, this may be a worthwhile endeavor. If that's you, but you aren't straight, XX-chromosomed, or able/willing to give birth, you may want to research the myths presented (Innana, Persephone, and Psyche) in combination with this book to better personalize and internalize the ritual process.

Two and a half stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I thought - as someone who is open to spirituality and paganism - that this book is too woo-woo for me. Then I realised it is based on the common (American?) preconception that all women were raised to be lovely little girls, who are should be pleasing everybody, hate their bodies and should just wait for the right prince to come along. The kind who think sex and nudity is shameful and being confrontational is shameful and that we should always have a smile on your face. If this is the way you have been raised, you will enjoy this book, even if you are not into spiritual and pagan stuff. If you come from a different kind of background (like me, Northern Europe where most people under 70 now are open about things and are not all pink prom dresses and frilly pleasantries), you will find a nice exploration of a few ancient myths and a lot of woo-woo bullshit supposed to make you "a stronger woman".

[Keair Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this is a journey you are thinking of making, this book will be an invaluable tool for it. I recommend it to anyone who is feeling pulled to do this or anyone who wants to deeply understand the purpose of the darkest moments of life.

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I stumbled across this book, I already had that feeling that something was wrong in my life. I wasnt happy and the things I enjoyed doing I didnt care about anymore or had to force myself to do just to stay in routine. I was just existing and that was it. I ultimately felt the Dark Goddess breathing on my neck and was scared because I knew the walls of illusion that is my life were getting ready to crumble, and I knew there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I started reading this book on a thursday, I believe. That following sunday morning, when I got up to get ready for work, my relationship of two years (best friend for 6 years) ended with him saying he didnt want to be in a relationship anymore. I was entering into the underworld and questioning everything I believed to be real.

This book is/was just what I need/needed during this time because the Dark Goddess and I have met several times, and I have always been dragged into the underworld kicking and screaming, not wanting to face my reality. This book explains why we need these moments of darkness in our lives to learn and grow and if we accept this time and work through it, we will come back into the light more balanced and happier individuals. The exercises and rituals are great, and I am currently working through them right now. Along with explaining in detail her understanding of the myths of Inanna, Psyche and Persephone, Jane Meredith also adds her own personal experiences showing that we all go through this period of darkness and its a part of the normal cycle of life. It should not be considered a bad thing to experience depression because it is at this time that we grow stronger and learn compassion so that we may understand and help others who maybe facing their own Underworld Journey as well.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone. Those who are going through a tough time and those who are completely happy with life. Change is inevitable, and you never know what tomorrow will bring.

[Baroness · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a pity my naughty little kitties. Dnf!
After listening to this audiobook for 1 hour and 19 minutes, my ears said no more.
This book and I just didn’t vibe...

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The timing for the opportunity to review this couldn't have been more perfect. Even better, it truly is all that it claims to be. As soon as you start to read, you feel as though you are getting ready for a true adventure. She prepares you with tips, amazing insights, and hands you a few ways this journey may happen. I very much appreciated the stories from different Goddess perspectives.

One of the most important statements within this book is "in entering the Underworld at all, some part of us has to die." So true. That gets to the heart of the matter. This book is a manual for how to let that which no longer serves to die so that the reader may emerge reborn. So often in books of this nature there are silly little rituals that seem to be in a book more to make it appear more professional than for any actual assistance to the reader. Here I found exceptions. The rituals to prepare yourself are exercises in looking within to figure out why you are at this point and where your journey needs to go. I have a tendency to skip them, but this is a rare occasion where I did not. It was a wise decision as those rituals helped me to gain insight that I truly needed, even if I wasn't willing to go all the way through this yet. They are of such value I even intend to use them in my Women's Spirituality group.

In truth, this book is a map. It is a literary guide to the descent. It does not paint it as a pretty little picture. The author makes sure you understand this is something that will strip you down to your very core. She also makes sure you understand that the pain and fear is worth it. Pick up this guide. Take those first steps. Just understand this is not something you will skim. It is the beginning of living a new life of authenticity. All it takes is a moment of courage and a one word answer....

"Yes"

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what I thought this book would be about… inner transformation, yes. But this was a really long snd in-depth description of sone goddesses and their stories, and a ceremony to descend and ascend… and it really threw me off. I’m not looking for a pagan ceremony with items to create and then discard, and pick back up to personify another goddesses journey to work through my own inner stuff.

While it sounds beautiful, and I honestly hope the idea works for others, it was just too much for me to ever fathom trying.

[Emily Lonsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

[arkia wynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars for me.

I really love the Dark Goddess (I really connect with persephone) concept and I think more people should, but I don't think this is the book for that.

To scattered, too many personal stories that aren't needed. She does some yoga to get these mythical tales to fit with her beliefs (ie. where did you get Persephone being pregnant from? Psyche committing suicide to escape from going into the underworld for the final task? Are we just going to ignore the part that mortals didn't know how to enter the world of death without dying????). You're doing a lot of stretching that I don't think would be necessary if you had a good understanding of these Goddess, which I don't believe she does, hence the repetition.

The Journaling and rituals that are within this book might be helpful to some people, and if it does great, but I doubt it.

Idk I had high hopes at the beginning and they crashed down as it kept going.

[Nightshade · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways this book reminds me of "If Women Rose Rooted" by Sharon Blackie, and has been quite relevant to my current journey and the decisions I have had to make. This book is not an occult text- nor even an academic one, it is more along the lines of "self-help" and personal journey than anything else. It will entirely depend on your journey and what you are actually looking for whether or not this book will be for you. It reads a lot like a Jungian archetypal analysis, and for me at this moment, that is what I welcomed and needed as it has helped me to reflect on my own journey to the underworld.

[Ren Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simultaneously wish I had had this book in undergrad, grateful that I am reading it as this precise moment, and feel like I need to read it a couple of more times to really absorb it.

I read this book at the tail-end of reading a chapter from Women Who Run With Wolves, Motherhood, and other related books on fairytales and labyrinths. And I honestly don't know if it would have made as much sense to me outside of the context of these other books as it did within them. But within the frame of the other non-fiction and fictional works, it fits like like last missing piece.

What Meredith seeks to normalize with this volume is that "existential crises" are actually "existential descents" into the underworld of our psyches or to the source of our souls. That there is 7 gates through which ones descends, and it is vulnerable and necessary. We actually need these descents in order to be mentally healthy. She begins the book by saying that we ought to have learned of this process and had rituals built around it to make it less scary around the time of our first menses, and that we would have seen older women in our community undergo such descents. I keep coming back to this idea- how much easier would high school and underground have been if I had know this was supposed to happen? If there had been a map? If I saw other women emerge okay? Perhaps the depression wouldn't have seemed so debilitating. In fact, Meredith posits much like Clarissa Pinokola Estes that depression simply means we have been away from our soul-source for too long.

The books, while a short volume, offers many ritual ideas as well as diving into the mythology around Inanna, Psyche, and Persephone. Once of the most intriguing rituals she suggests is making a map of your descents. I tried it one night, combing back through journals and correspondence, to discover that true to myth I do actually make my descents for 6 months of the year and by ascends for the other 6 months. Little did I know that I was undergoing Persephone's journey all along.

So much of this narrative completely reframed my approach to my own mental health that I find myself reeling from the reorientation. One of the aspects that I loved most was the reframing of the purpose and support that dark goddesses offer. Hekate, Hel, Erishrigol, Persephone, and all the others from your tradition. They exist for a reason, to teach us things we cannot know with our conscious minds. But truths we can only feel in our bodies, our souls, our dreams.

I want to buy this book to make rituals around my own cyclical descents, especially now that I know when they will most likely occur. And I want to make a map of those descents- talk about them openly with my friends, with my childrens as they grow.

Highly recommend as a menarche gift, if you suffer from depression, and if you have or are experiencing a series of existential "crises." Please know, they aren't a crisis at all. It's all meant to bring you back to yourself.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Never really done a review (I think) on a book on spiritual awareness so sorry if it's not good!)

A journey to the Dark Goddess is a sacred endeavor to visit the depths of your soul, and arise reborn.

Jane Meredith's novel on the Dark Goddess is very informative and empowering. Meredith takes you on a journey for redevelopment and self-growth. She adds in the myths and stories of Inanna, Psyche and of course Persephone. Her take on the journey for Psyche really intriqued me and it felt invigorating to find more on other stories, myths and legends behind certain divine being and deities. Journey to the Dark Goddess: How to Return to Your Soul takes you through the various stages in the Transformation process from Descent to Rebirth. She talks about the importance of understanding the Dark Goddess as her original derivation which is being compassionate, wise, offers tough love, and offers the right judgement.

It's great that she is able to break down the stages of Journeying to the Dark Goddess which makes it easy to read and interpret, regardless of whether you are a beginner practitioner and just researching, if you are a fully emerged practitioner or someone looking to take that step because you need to let go of things that may not make you happy or things that you have been pushing aside. I especially like that she has included mapping out each phase of your journey - this may be for reflection purposes, especially after the first initial journey.

Meredith does say that it's good to venture back into the Underworld, your own shadows, when you feel the need to as each passing does make the journey easier but each time you visit the Underworld, it will always be different. As someone who is looking into working with various Dark Goddesses, and finding this book was great because it allowed me to do my research first before just diving in headfirst. This brings me to the first stage that Meredith says which is Descent Preparation - this means to give yourself time to figure out what you are wanting to do, wanting to achieve and needing to remove so you can move forward. This stage provides you with the necessary time to maybe do some research on the Dark Goddess and her many names from various cultures (which is what I have been doing).

I would definitely recommend this book to anymore looking for a way to break the proverbial ice on finally taking that necessary step towards healing and rebirth. As someone who is taking that journey and has been wanting to heal from past pain and has been on this journey for a while, I will admit that it has become easier to venture into the Shadows and I have also been working with the Dark Goddesses from various cultures, I do appreciate this book being around for those who are looking to take that journey as hard as it may be.

[Kai Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: Really insightful writing abut the concept of the dark goddess and the role that she plays in our ever evolving womanhood. Merideth clearly points out and gives meaning to the hard times that inevitably befall us in our journey. The dark goddess as described by Merideth, characterizes and embodies all of the fear,sorrow,tragedy and pain we feel and experience. We unwillingly are plunged into the underworld sometimes with ignored warnings other times abruptly. Our former self is killed off, never to return the same if ever. Ultimately we begin our rise from the dark once we accept the ways of the underworld i.e our dark feelings about the despair of groping through and being lost in it. Acceptance of the shadow side of ourselves and the underworld yields deeper and more meaningful lessons so when we do begin our ascent back to the light, we are brought back or "reborn" with the learned principles of the dark .

Cons: I understand Merideths use of rituals in helping to make the descent into the underworld a tangible experience whereby we can "visit" and become familiar with the underworld before disaster strikes. The visits are meant to soften the blow of the dark goddess when she arrives so we are "familiar" when we descend. However, I found the rituals peppered throughout each chapter to be distracting to the flow of reading. The rituals called for stopping, journaling, finding quiet spaces and objects to make the experience. I just wanted to read the principles so and I skipped them. I would've loved for the rituals to be a separate chapter in the back of the book to so the reader could attempt them at a later date.

[Chante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Meredith’s Journey to the Dark Goddess is a profound and transformative exploration of the Dark Goddess archetype and her role in guiding us through the shadowy underworld of our own lives. This book is both a guidebook and an invitation for readers to consciously descend into their inner depths, confront their shadow selves, and emerge with newfound wisdom and empowerment.

Meredith draws on myths like Persephone’s journey into the underworld, weaving them with her personal experiences and practical exercises. Her writing is accessible and evocative, making complex spiritual concepts feel deeply personal and actionable. She encourages readers to embrace the difficult emotions and experiences often avoided, reminding us that the dark spaces of our lives are fertile grounds for transformation.

Reading this book was a deeply personal and transformative experience for me, as I chose to embark on this journey while reading. Consciously seeking out my shadows, using Meredith’s guidance and exercises, opened doors to self-awareness and healing I hadn’t anticipated. It was an intense process of uncovering hidden parts of myself, sitting with them, and finding beauty in the darkness. The rituals and journaling prompts helped me stay grounded while navigating this journey, ensuring I felt supported every step of the way.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its practical structure. Meredith includes rituals, meditations, and journaling prompts, which not only provide guidance but also ensure readers feel held as they embark on their descent. This practical approach bridges the gap between the mythical and the mundane, allowing readers to integrate these teachings into their daily lives.

The book is unflinchingly honest, yet it carries a gentle tone that respects the vulnerability of its readers. Meredith reminds us that the Dark Goddess is not to be feared but revered, as she is the keeper of truth, healing, and rebirth.

Journey to the Dark Goddess is ideal for those seeking personal growth, healing, or a deeper connection with divine feminine archetypes. It’s a must-read for spiritual seekers, shadow workers, or anyone who feels called to explore their inner underworld. This book doesn’t promise an easy path, but it delivers a richly rewarding one.

Rating: ★★★★★

[Nadya Booyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea around exploring our dark and shadow selves, and although this book seemed to be that, it was not. At least not in the general and practical sense. I think it might reach and speak to a very particular niche (people who have dealt with trauma and are struggling to get past it, as well as wiccans). Perhaps. Personally, I found it all much too dramatic and unnecessary.
The writing became extremely repetitive, to the extent that I started skipping pages, and ideas and examples simply weren't complete. The writing and punctuation was confusing at times, several times there were personal recounts that just left me wondering what and why, and even the rituals were largely the same thing over and over.
This is a theme we need to explore more, but this is not the book that will give us that exploration in a practically applicable way.
Having said that, I gave it 3 stars because there is value in it, and the first couple of pages were good enough to get the idea across.

[Raven Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for deep inner work. It does have a heavy focus on female anatomy (womb/birth analogies left and right). For me, it was easy to get over in this particular book but others may struggle with it a bit more. This really is focused only on three “dark” goddess stories (Persephone, Psyche, and Inanna). While this is interesting, I kept wondering why in the world the author didn’t bother to include Hel from the Norse mythology when discussing this topic. Throughout the book she talks about the duality, half life, half death, half growth, half decay… which is literally Hel (half a beautiful living woman, the other half a decaying corpse which even unsettled the Gods). Other than that, it’s a great option for some inner work. She does warn against it if you’re struggling mentally which I’m glad she included and encourages the reader often to talk to counselors and seek out help outside of yourself especially as you get into the middle of the book.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a book that reinterprets myth and analyzes archetypes to an inch of their life. I liked her reinterpretation of Persephone's motives especially. I even enjoy the poetic waxing as she described her experience despite it rambling on occasion.

I don't appreciate some of the very troubling wording regarding prescription medications. Sure, I can move beyond her assertion that birth control blocked a deeper spiritual connection for her. But she holds it as an absolute universal truth. Or when she describes other prescription drugs as a way to phone in the work of mental health. So if this is you, you can have both a connection with the divine and medication.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book on my wishlist for quite some time before I decided to buy it and I must say it came exactly at the right time. It wasn't what I was expecting at first, but so much better. It is very insightful, inspiring, and valuable for any woman, who feels there is something "off" in their lives. Just by reading the book I already changed my perception. It is not the last time I will be reading this book since I definitely want to do the rituals. I am glad I read through the whole book first because only during the last few chapters all started to make sense a little more. I am actually looking forward to a deliberate descent to the Underworld.

[Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was terrified but excited to maybe go on a journey to the dark goddess, only to find that my antidepressants would interfere. Which is fine, I'm not about to go off my antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds to face the dark G!d/dess when I've not been able to cope without them for the past few months. So it will probably be years before I can purposefully tread into the dark and uncover what's waiting there. I hope the dark G!d/dess will wait for me until then.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was difficult to get through. I was not prepared for the level of intensity that this book brings because when I heard others talk about it they made it seem easy, and maybe it was for them. The realisation that I have been in the underworld for most of my life was a hard pill to swallow. I would recommend this book only to people who are ready to do the work. I would also recommend to read the entire book before doing the descent.

[Jennifer James · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book! It outlines an in-depth ritual to bring oneself to the underworld and then to ascend again, following the myth of Inanna, the goddess of heaven and earth. I plan to do the ritual soon, and actually feel called to it. I think I have been in the underworld for years and didn't realize it. I'm so happy to have found a way to bring myself out.

[Kholiswa Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful and practical spiritual books out there. This should be a required reading. This is a first of what I already know will be many reads. Haunting, enlightening and empowering.

[Sarah Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing.

I already ordered copies to my goddess sisters and will continue to do so in order for this soul wisdom to carry onward. Absolutely beautiful book.

[Elena Rego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming

[Jenevive Desroches · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and approachable guidebook for developing and experiencing rituals that help us uncover our greatest depths and truest selves.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this inspiring, thought provoking and beautifully written..