Barbara G. Walker (born July 2, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an U.S. author and feminist. She writes about religion, cultural anthropology, spirituality, and mythology from a Neopagan standpoint, believing in the existence of Pre-Indo-European neolithic matriarchies. She often uses the imagery of the Mother Goddess to discuss the belief of these Neolithic Matriarchies. Her most important book is The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (1983). She also is an influential knitting expert and the author of several encyclopedic knitting references. July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates , Government Country  State   County United States  Pennsylvania   Philadelphia Founded Incorporated October 27, 1682 October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 369. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article or the like. ... Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... Cultural anthropology, also called social anthropology or socio-cultural anthropology, forms one of four commonly-recognized fields of anthropology, the holistic study of humanity. ... Spirituality is, in a narrow sense, a concern with matters of the spirit. ... // The word mythology (Greek: μυθολογία, from μυθος mythos, a story or legend, and λογος logos, an account or speech) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism [1] is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... The Pre-Indo-European population of Europe included an unknown number of ethnic groups that dwelt on the continent before the coming of the speakers of Indo-European languages (though some scholars dispute the Indo-European invasion theory: see Paleolithic Continuity Theory). ... An array of Neolithic artefacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Scotland, Europes most complete Neolithic village. ... Matriarchy is a form of society in which power is with the women and especially with the mothers of a community. ... It has been suggested that Mother (neopaganism) be merged into this article or section. ...

Barbara G. Walker describes herself as an atheist. In the book, The Skeptical Feminist: Discovering the Virgin, Mother, and Crone, she writes about her belief that there is no deity. However, she believes that people, and woman in particular, can use the image of the Goddess in their day-to-day lives. Her book Woman's Rituals: A Sourcebook is an attempt to show how she puts her "meditation techniques" into practice, and is meant as a guide for other women to do the same thing. For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ...

Barbara G. Walker studied journalism at the University of Pennsylvania and began working for the Washington Star in Washington, D.C. While serving on a local hotline in the mid 1970s, helping battered women and pregnant teens, she became interested in feminism. The University of Pennsylvania (Penn is the moniker used by the university itself [2]) is a private, nonsectarian research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1982. ...

In the 1960s and 1970s, she authored several volumes of knitting references which have become landmarks for their comprehensiveness and clarity. Her knitting treasury series documents over a thousand different knitting stitches. Other books considered mosaic knitting, for producing multicolored designs while knitting only one color per row, and constructing knitted garments from the top-down rather than the usual bottom-up method used in western knitting tradition. Her legacy continues with the reprinting of most of her knitting books, starting in the mid-1990s, as well as the publication of new contributions to the knitting literature.

Bibliography

• A treasury of knitting patterns (1968) ISBN 0942018168 (reprint edition 1998)
• A second treasury of knitting patterns ISBN 0942018176 (reprint edition 1998)
• The craft of lace knitting (1971) ISBN 068412503X
• The craft of cable-stitch knitting (1971) ISBN 0684125005
• Knitting from the top (1972) ISBN 0942018095 (reprint edition)
• The craft of multicolor knitting (1973) ISBN 0684134055
• Sampler knitting (1973) ISBN 068413263X (reprinted in A fourth treasury (2000))
• Mosaic knitting (1976) (revised in 2006)
• Learn-to-knit-afghan book ISBN 0942018133 (reprint edition 1997)
• The woman's encyclopedia of myths and secrets (1983) ISBN 006250925X
• The secrets of the tarot: origins, history, and symbolism (1984) ISBN 0062509276
• Charted knitting designs: a third treasury of knitting patterns (1986) ISBN 0942018184 (reprint edition 1998)
• Barbara Walker Tarot Deck (Misc. Supplies) (1986) ISBN 1931412723
• The skeptical feminist: discovering the virgin, mother, and crone (1987) ISBN 0062509322
• The woman's dictionary of symbols and sacred objects (1988) ISBN 0062509233
• The crone: woman of age, wisdom, and power (1988) ISBN 0062509349
• The book of sacred stones: fact and fallacy in the crystal world (1989, with Werner P. Brodde) ISBN 0062509217
• Women's rituals: a sourcebook (1990) ISBN 006250939X
• Amazon: a novel (1992) ISBN 0062509756
• Feminist fairy tales (1996) ISBN 0062513206
• Restoring the goddess: equal rites for modern women (2000) ISBN 1573927864
• A fourth treasury of knitting patterns (2000) ISBN 0942018206 (includes Sampler knitting (1973))
• The essential handbook of women's spirituality and ritual (2001) ISBN 1931412642
• I Ching of the Goddess: Divination Kit (Boxed Set with Cards) (2001) ISBN 1931412723
• Mosaic knitting, revised (2006) ISBN 094201815X

See also

• Religion
• New Age
• Neopaganism
• Knitting

New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ... Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism [1] is any of a heterogeneous group of new religious movements, particularly those influenced by ancient, primarily pre-Christian and sometimes pre-Judaic religions. ... Knit hat, yarn, and knitting needles. ...

External links

• Short biography
• [1]