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Barbara G. Walker

January 07, 2023

Barbara G. Walker (born July 2, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American author and feminist. She is a knitting expert and the author of over ten encyclopedic knitting references, despite "not taking to it at all" when she first learned in college.[1][2] Other topics she has written about are religion, New Age, the occult, spirituality, and mythology.

Books

Knitting

In the 1960s and 1970s, Walker authored several volumes of knitting references which have become landmarks for their comprehensiveness and clarity.[3] 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. Most of Walker's best-known knitting books have been reprinted, and starting in the mid-1990s, she has published new knitting books.

Feminism and skepticism

Walker writes about the problems with mainstream religion and how these problems have contributed to patriarchal societies and sexism.[4][2] In The Skeptical Feminist: Discovering the Virgin, Mother, and Crone, she writes about her belief that there is no god. However, she believes that people, and women in particular, can use the image of the goddess in their day-to-day lives. Walker often uses the imagery of the Mother Goddess to discuss neolithic matriarchies. 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 who wish to do the same.

Criticism

The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets has been criticized for being based on the idea of the "Great Mother" by writers like Robert Graves and Erich Neumann, and for rewriting myths so they would support the theory of a "Great Goddess".[a]

Personal life

Walker studied journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, then worked for the Washington Star in Washington, D.C. While serving on a local hotline helping battered women and pregnant teens in the mid-1970s, she became interested in feminism. Walker continued a personal study of comparative religions and feminist issues after she graduated[2] which led to her writing The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets (1983).[4]

Walker describes herself as an atheist.

She is an advocate of the Christ Myth theory.[5]

Awards and recognition

The American Humanist Association named her "Humanist Heroine" in 1993, and in 1995, she received the "Women Making Herstory" award from the New Jersey NOW.[4]

Bibliography

Knitting books

  • A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (1968) ISBN 0-942018-16-8 (reprint edition 1998)
  • A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (1970)
  • The Craft of Lace Knitting (1971) ISBN 0-684-12503-X
  • The Craft of Cable-Stitch Knitting (1971) ISBN 0-684-12500-5
  • Knitting from the Top (1972) ISBN 0-942018-09-5 (reprint edition)
  • The Craft of Multicolor Knitting (1973) ISBN 0-684-13405-5
  • Sampler Knitting (1973) ISBN 0-684-13263-X (reprinted in A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns (2000))
  • Barbara Walker's Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book (1974) ISBN 0-942018-13-3 (reprint edition 1997)
  • Mosaic Knitting (1976) ISBN 0-684-14243-0 (revised in 1997)
  • A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (1985) ISBN 0-942018-17-6 (reprint edition 1998)
  • Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns (1986) ISBN 0-942018-18-4 (reprint edition 1998)
  • A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns (2000) ISBN 0-942018-20-6 (includes Sampler Knitting (1973))
  • Mosaic Knitting, Revised (2006) ISBN 0-942018-15-X

Neo-pagan feminist works

Novels and short stories

Other works

  • Barbara Walker Tarot Deck (Misc. Supplies) (1986) ISBN 1-931412-72-3
  • I Ching of the Goddess: Divination Kit (Boxed Set with Cards) (2001) ISBN 1-931412-72-3
  • - Freethought Today, January/February 1998.
  • Walker, Barbara G. (2021). "Jesus Christ". In Loftus, John W.; Price, Robert M. (eds.). Varieties of Jesus Mythicism: Did He Even Exist?. Hypatia Press. ISBN 978-1839191589.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Diane Purkiss, "Women's Rewriting of Myth", in Carolyne Larrington (ed), The Feminist Companion to Mythology, London, 1992, p. 444: "Given these constraints, it's surprising at first to discover that twentieth-century women writers and artists constantly strive to engage with and re-figure women's representation in classical myth, and that a particular group of them have found inspiration in Graves and Neumann for their efforts (Sjöö, 1990; Orenstein, 1982; Stein, 1989; Walker, 1985, 1986; Daly, 1978; ...) ... If the projects of Graves and Neumann are in thrall to a masculinist representation of woman, why have so many women appropriated their theories? Perhaps certain feminist 'misread' or re-read these texts productively to formulate a position from which to write and speak, by taking the Jungians' essentialist propositions for truths about the repression of woman's nature by patriarchy. They could cast themselves as the bearers of secret feminine knowledge actually unavailable to male writers. However, this means that radical feminist claims of utter separatism are invalid, since their theories are predicated not on stories produced thousands of years ago by women, but on a masculine discourse of myth. In Donna Haraway's influential terms, these women may wish to be goddesses, but they are cyborgs all the same (Haraway, 1989)."

References

  1. ^ Malcolm, T (Fall 2007). "Knitting's old guard speaks out". Vogue Knitting. 25 (2): 68–84.
  2. ^ a b c Druchunas, Donna (January 11, 2009). "Barbara G. Walker, The Skeptical Feminist". skepchic.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. ^ Gardner, Kay; Shayne, Ann (2006). Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter's Guide. Potter Craft. p. 115. ISBN 0-307-23605-6.
  4. ^ a b c . NOW NJ. National Organization for Women of New Jersey (NOW-NJ). January 16, 2005. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. ^ Walker, Barbara G. (1983). Jesus Christ. In The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. Harper & Row. 464-465. ISBN 0-06-250926-8
  6. ^ "Restoring the Goddess by Barbara G. Walker". Publishers Weekly.
  7. ^ "Amazon by Barbara G. Walker" Kirkus Reviews.

External links

  • NOW-NJ 2016-10-10 at the Wayback Machine National Organization of Women - New Jersey short biography
  • short biography
  • Walker Treasury Project online community of Walker fans
  • The Barbara Walker Knitting Project A community-sourced artist book project by the Tatter Library to knit each entry of Barbara Walker's treasury

January 07, 2023
barbara, walker, born, july, 1930, philadelphia, pennsylvania, american, author, feminist, knitting, expert, author, over, encyclopedic, knitting, references, despite, taking, when, first, learned, college, other, topics, written, about, religion, occult, spir. Barbara G Walker born July 2 1930 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania is an American author and feminist She is a knitting expert and the author of over ten encyclopedic knitting references despite not taking to it at all when she first learned in college 1 2 Other topics she has written about are religion New Age the occult spirituality and mythology Contents 1 Books 1 1 Knitting 1 2 Feminism and skepticism 1 2 1 Criticism 2 Personal life 3 Awards and recognition 4 Bibliography 4 1 Knitting books 4 2 Neo pagan feminist works 4 3 Novels and short stories 5 Other works 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksBooks EditKnitting Edit In the 1960s and 1970s Walker authored several volumes of knitting references which have become landmarks for their comprehensiveness and clarity 3 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 Most of Walker s best known knitting books have been reprinted and starting in the mid 1990s she has published new knitting books Feminism and skepticism Edit Walker writes about the problems with mainstream religion and how these problems have contributed to patriarchal societies and sexism 4 2 In The Skeptical Feminist Discovering the Virgin Mother and Crone she writes about her belief that there is no god However she believes that people and women in particular can use the image of the goddess in their day to day lives Walker often uses the imagery of the Mother Goddess to discuss neolithic matriarchies 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 who wish to do the same Criticism Edit The Woman s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets has been criticized for being based on the idea of the Great Mother by writers like Robert Graves and Erich Neumann and for rewriting myths so they would support the theory of a Great Goddess a Personal life EditWalker studied journalism at the University of Pennsylvania then worked for the Washington Star in Washington D C While serving on a local hotline helping battered women and pregnant teens in the mid 1970s she became interested in feminism Walker continued a personal study of comparative religions and feminist issues after she graduated 2 which led to her writing The Woman s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets 1983 4 Walker describes herself as an atheist She is an advocate of the Christ Myth theory 5 Awards and recognition EditThe American Humanist Association named her Humanist Heroine in 1993 and in 1995 she received the Women Making Herstory award from the New Jersey NOW 4 Bibliography EditKnitting books Edit A Treasury of Knitting Patterns 1968 ISBN 0 942018 16 8 reprint edition 1998 A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns 1970 The Craft of Lace Knitting 1971 ISBN 0 684 12503 X The Craft of Cable Stitch Knitting 1971 ISBN 0 684 12500 5 Knitting from the Top 1972 ISBN 0 942018 09 5 reprint edition The Craft of Multicolor Knitting 1973 ISBN 0 684 13405 5 Sampler Knitting 1973 ISBN 0 684 13263 X reprinted in A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns 2000 Barbara Walker s Learn to Knit Afghan Book 1974 ISBN 0 942018 13 3 reprint edition 1997 Mosaic Knitting 1976 ISBN 0 684 14243 0 revised in 1997 A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns 1985 ISBN 0 942018 17 6 reprint edition 1998 Charted Knitting Designs A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns 1986 ISBN 0 942018 18 4 reprint edition 1998 A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns 2000 ISBN 0 942018 20 6 includes Sampler Knitting 1973 Mosaic Knitting Revised 2006 ISBN 0 942018 15 XNeo pagan feminist works Edit The Woman s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets 1983 ISBN 0 06 250925 X The Secrets of the Tarot Origins History and Symbolism 1984 ISBN 0 06 250927 6 The I Ching of the Goddess 1986 ISBN 0 06 250924 1 The Skeptical Feminist Discovering the Virgin Mother and Crone 1987 ISBN 0 06 250932 2 The Woman s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects 1988 Castle Books ISBN 0 06 250923 3 The Crone Woman of Age Wisdom and Power 1988 ISBN 0 06 250934 9 The Book of Sacred Stones Fact and Fallacy in the Crystal World 1989 with Werner P Brodde ISBN 0 06 250921 7 Women s Rituals A Sourcebook 1990 ISBN 0 06 250939 X 6 Restoring the Goddess Equal Rites for Modern Women 2000 ISBN 1 57392 786 4 The Essential Handbook of Women s Spirituality and Ritual 2001 ISBN 1 931412 64 2 Man Made God A Collection of Essays 2010 ISBN 0 9799631 4 1 Belief and Unbelief 2014 ISBN 9780931779565Novels and short stories Edit Amazon A Novel 1992 ISBN 0 06 250975 6 7 Feminist Fairy Tales 1996 ISBN 0 06 251320 6Other works EditBarbara Walker Tarot Deck Misc Supplies 1986 ISBN 1 931412 72 3 I Ching of the Goddess Divination Kit Boxed Set with Cards 2001 ISBN 1 931412 72 3 Women And Religion Sexism In The Christian Tradition 1997 Freethought Today January February 1998 Walker Barbara G 2021 Jesus Christ In Loftus John W Price Robert M eds Varieties of Jesus Mythicism Did He Even Exist Hypatia Press ISBN 978 1839191589 See also EditFeminism Knitting Prehistoric religion SkepticismNotes Edit Diane Purkiss Women s Rewriting of Myth in Carolyne Larrington ed The Feminist Companion to Mythology London 1992 p 444 Given these constraints it s surprising at first to discover that twentieth century women writers and artists constantly strive to engage with and re figure women s representation in classical myth and that a particular group of them have found inspiration in Graves and Neumann for their efforts Sjoo 1990 Orenstein 1982 Stein 1989 Walker 1985 1986 Daly 1978 If the projects of Graves and Neumann are in thrall to a masculinist representation of woman why have so many women appropriated their theories Perhaps certain feminist misread or re read these texts productively to formulate a position from which to write and speak by taking the Jungians essentialist propositions for truths about the repression of woman s nature by patriarchy They could cast themselves as the bearers of secret feminine knowledge actually unavailable to male writers However this means that radical feminist claims of utter separatism are invalid since their theories are predicated not on stories produced thousands of years ago by women but on a masculine discourse of myth In Donna Haraway s influential terms these women may wish to be goddesses but they are cyborgs all the same Haraway 1989 References Edit Malcolm T Fall 2007 Knitting s old guard speaks out Vogue Knitting 25 2 68 84 a b c Druchunas Donna January 11 2009 Barbara G Walker The Skeptical Feminist skepchic org Retrieved 29 April 2015 Gardner Kay Shayne Ann 2006 Mason Dixon Knitting The Curious Knitter s Guide Potter Craft p 115 ISBN 0 307 23605 6 a b c Humanist Profile Barbara G Walker NOW NJ National Organization for Women of New Jersey NOW NJ January 16 2005 Archived from the original on 10 October 2016 Retrieved 29 April 2015 Walker Barbara G 1983 Jesus Christ In The Woman s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets Harper amp Row 464 465 ISBN 0 06 250926 8 Restoring the Goddess by Barbara G Walker Publishers Weekly Amazon by Barbara G Walker Kirkus Reviews External links EditNOW NJ Archived 2016 10 10 at the Wayback Machine National Organization of Women New Jersey short biography Freedom from Religion Foundation short biography Walker Treasury Project online community of Walker fans The Barbara Walker Knitting Project A community sourced artist book project by the Tatter Library to knit each entry of Barbara Walker s treasury Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barbara G Walker amp oldid 1114499395, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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