04/25/2026
Ah the Breast, the Divine Breast of Cosmic Oneness
Deathless are those who have fed at the breast of the Mother of the Universe
Ta***ic saying (Walker, 1988. p. 303)
Over thousands of years the Divine Mother archetype has developed within the human psyche. This archetype has a strong a strong physical and symbolic relationship to the breast. She is represented variously, for example, as the Ancient Egyptian sky/moon goddess known as Nut, Isis, Mut, and others. The oval or oblong cartouche within which are written a number of hieroglyphs identifying her typically includes the hieroglyph mena, which represents the ‘breast’ or ‘moon’. Mena symbolizes the divine feminine connection to the cosmic waters of life thought by Ancient Egyptians to originate in the Milky Way.
Neumann contends that an infant’s first relationship to the breast is archetypal. The baby experiences the breast as the Great Mother itself, a divine source of life, comfort, and unity. At this stage, the infant does not distinguish the woman from the breast. Losing access to it feels like losing connection to life itself, which makes the bond urgent and essential for survival.
In adulthood, this early connection doesn’t disappear, it just changes form. We seek people, passions, and beauty that echo that original sense of comfort. If that early bond was lacking, a deep, persistent hunger can follow us. We chase substitutes until we recognize what we’re really seeking, a return to that original source, where we can finally feel held and at peace.
References: 1) Neumann, E. (1974). The Great Mother: An analysis of the archetype (R. Manheim, Trans. 2nd ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 2) Walker, B. G. (1988). The woman's dictionary of symbols and sacred objects. New York: HarperCollins.
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