Women in Spiritual Traditions: Recognising Their Enduring Influence

Across spiritual traditions, women have played a vital yet often unrecognised role in shaping faith and community. From preachers and prophets to healers and mystics, their contributions have been essential in preserving and evolving spiritual traditions, even in the face of historical efforts to silence or erase them.

Many traditions honour the sacred feminine, recognising women as carriers of wisdom, transformation, and divine connection:

• Bahá’í Faith — Táhirih, a 19th-century poet and theologian, was a fierce advocate for gender equality and is remembered as one of the faith’s early martyrs.
• Buddhism — Kuan Yin (Guanyin in China, Kannon in Japan) is the bodhisattva of compassion, a revered figure in East Asian Buddhism often depicted in female form.
• Christianity — In Christian mysticism, Sophia represents divine wisdom, often understood as the feminine aspect of God’s knowledge and presence, particularly in Eastern Orthodox theology and mystical traditions.
• Hinduism — Kali embodies fierce compassion and the destruction of injustice, while Saraswati symbolises wisdom, learning, and the arts. These goddesses play a central role in Hindu spiritual life.
• Indigenous and Earth-based Traditions — Across many Indigenous and nature-based spiritualities, women have long been the keepers of stories, medicine, and ceremony. Figures such as White Buffalo Calf Woman in Lakota traditions, Grandmother Spider in Cherokee cosmology, and various moon goddesses in Celtic, African, and Mesoamerican traditions highlight the deep reverence for women as life-givers, healers, and wisdom-keepers.
• Islam — Fatima Zahra, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, is a deeply revered figure in both Sunni and Shia traditions, embodying spiritual wisdom, strength, and maternal care. Rabi’a al-Adawiyya, an 8th-century Sufi mystic, transformed Islamic thought by emphasising love and devotion to God over fear of divine punishment.
• Judaism — Shekhinah represents the divine feminine presence, particularly in Kabbalah, where she is seen as the nurturing and indwelling aspect of God.
• Sikhism — Mata Khivi played a crucial role in early Sikh community-building, overseeing the langar (free kitchen), which remains a fundamental practice of Sikh equality and service today. Mai Bhago, a warrior-saint, led Sikh soldiers into battle, exemplifying both spiritual and physical courage.
• Taoism — Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West) and the Jade Woman are symbols of immortality, wisdom, and the balance of yin and yang energy.
• Zoroastrianism — Spenta Armaiti, one of the Amesha Spentas (divine entities), is associated with wisdom, devotion, and the nurturing of the earth. Zoroastrian women have historically played key roles in preserving sacred texts and traditions.

Women as Spiritual Leaders and Reformers

While many religious institutions have historically limited women’s leadership, history is full of trailblazing women who defied barriers to become spiritual leaders, mystics, and reformers:

• Christianity — Julian of Norwich (1342–1416, UK) — A medieval anchoress whose writings on divine love (Revelations of Divine Love) remain some of the most influential in Christian theology.
• Christianity — St Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582, Spain) — A Carmelite nun, mystic, and reformer who reshaped contemplative spirituality through her teachings on prayer and inner transformation.
• Buddhism — Dipa Ma (1911–1989, India/Myanmar) — A revered Buddhist teacher who played a significant role in bringing mindfulness meditation practices to the West.
• Islam/Sufism — Shaykha Fariha Fatima al-Jerrahi (b. 1947, USA) — A contemporary Sufi teacher, guiding people in spiritual transformation and interfaith dialogue.
• Judaism — Etty Hillesum (1914–1943, Netherlands) — A Jewish writer and spiritual thinker who chronicled her faith and resilience during the Holocaust.
• Methodism — Jarena Lee (1783–1864, USA) — The first African American woman to be recognised as a preacher in the AME Church, defying racial and gender norms of the time.
• Paganism/Wicca — Phyllis Curott (b. 1954, USA) — A leading voice in contemporary Paganism and feminist spirituality, advocating for religious freedom and equality.
• Spiritual activism — Harriet Tubman (1822–1913, USA) — Not only a leader of the Underground Railroad but also a deeply spiritual woman who believed she was guided by visions from God.

Reclaiming Women’s Spiritual Voices

Despite centuries of exclusion from formal religious leadership, many religious and spiritual movements today are working to correct this imbalance:

• Anglican Christianity — The Church of England now ordains women as bishops. The Rt Rev Libby Lane became its first female bishop in 2015, though women had already been ordained as bishops in other parts of the Anglican Communion since the 1980s.
• Buddhism — Women continue to push for full ordination in Theravāda traditions, with nuns like Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo advocating for gender equality in monastic life. While progress has been made in some regions (Sri Lanka, Thailand), full recognition remains a challenge.
• Hinduism — Female priestesses in regions such as Maharashtra, India, are reclaiming roles traditionally restricted to men, leading rituals and ceremonies once deemed inaccessible to women.
• Indigenous traditions — Indigenous matriarchs and elders continue to reclaim traditional knowledge and leadership roles, revitalising spiritual and ecological traditions that were suppressed by colonisation.
• Islam — Muslim women scholars and activists, such as Amina Wadud, have challenged patriarchal interpretations of Islamic texts, leading prayers and calling for gender justice in Islam.
• Judaism — Reform and Progressive Jewish communities have embraced female rabbis and leaders, such as Rabbi Julia Neuberger, a British rabbi known for her advocacy on ethics and social justice.

Women have always been at the heart of spiritual traditions , whether through wisdom, leadership, or acts of quiet defiance against systems of exclusion. Today, their voices continue to shape faith communities and inspire change, ensuring that spiritual traditions remain vibrant, inclusive, and deeply connected to the human experience.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honour the resilience and wisdom of those who came before us. Our ancestors have faced challenges, fought for justice, and navigated uncertain times, just as we do today.

Their stories remind us that we are not alone; we walk paths they have already cleared, carrying their strength and courage with us. In looking to their example, we find the guidance and perseverance we need to meet the moment before us.