For centuries, many have viewed God through a single lens—male, paternal, kingly. But what if we’ve only been seeing half the image?
In this powerful episode of Your Radical Truth podcast, host Margaret Mary O’Connor sits down with spiritual director and author Catherine Cowell to explore the often-overlooked feminine side of God. From hidden biblical metaphors to personal awakenings, this conversation invites us all to re-examine the divine with fresh eyes.
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Meet Catherine Cowell: A Guide for Spiritual Exploration
Catherine Cowell is no stranger to deep reflection and meaningful mentorship. As an adoptive parent, she works closely with families of children with additional needs, helping them weave together parenting and spirituality—a focus that also shapes her current PhD research.
In addition to her coaching and spiritual direction, Catherine is the host of the Loved, Called, Gifted podcast, where she unpacks themes of identity, purpose, and faith. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Catherine brings both scholarly insight and lived experience to her work.
The Question That Opened a Door
Catherine recalls the pivotal moment that set her on this journey. Over lunch, a friend casually remarked, “If men and women are both made in God’s image, then
God must be just as feminine as masculine.”
That simple statement stirred something unexpected within her. “I felt both agreement and discomfort,” she shares. “It was like my inner ‘good Christian’ voice told me not to go there. But I couldn’t ignore the nudge.”
That nudge eventually led to Finding God’s Feminine Side, a book that challenges traditional paradigms and invites readers to explore the feminine within the divine.
Uncovering the Feminine Imagery in Scripture
As Catherine dove deeper, she discovered something startling: the Bible is rich with feminine depictions of God that are often overlooked or minimized.
Consider these examples:
- The name El Shaddai points to a nurturing, motherly image of God, with roots in the Hebrew word for “breasts.”
- The Hebrew word for compassion, rachamim, comes from the word for womb.
- The Holy Spirit, often grammatically feminine in Hebrew, is portrayed as a mother bird protecting her young.
- The personification of Wisdom (Sophia) in Proverbs is unapologetically feminine.
“We’ve been conditioned to see God as male,” Catherine says, “but these metaphors were always there—just hiding in plain sight.”
The Patriarchal Filter We’ve All Inherited
Catherine acknowledges the tension: discovering the feminine divine is uplifting, but it also casts a critical light on the patriarchal structures embedded in scripture.
“The Bible was written in patriarchal cultures, where women were often treated as property,” she says. “That lens has shaped how we’ve understood God for generations.”
Margaret Mary agrees, noting how women’s roles in scripture and the Church have been historically sidelined, contributing to a sense of spiritual loss.
Feminism in the Church: Why Justice is Not a Threat
The conversation touches on the Church’s resistance to feminist ideas and the ordination of women. Catherine challenges the notion that feminism is incompatible with faith.
“Feminism is about justice,” she explains. “It’s about affirming the dignity and full humanity of women—which aligns with Christian values. Yet the Church often dismisses it as something radical or dangerous.”
Reclaiming What Was Always Ours
Catherine’s message is clear: embracing the feminine side of God is not about replacing tradition—it’s about restoring balance and reclaiming something that
was always part of the faith.
“For me, connecting with the feminine in God has been deeply affirming,” she says. “It allows women to see themselves reflected in the divine, not as an afterthought or lesser image, but as integral to who God is.”
An Invitation to Explore and Heal
Catherine encourages listeners to step into this journey, however challenging it may feel at first. “Our inner landscapes have been so shaped by patriarchy that this work can feel awkward,” she admits. “But it’s also a beautiful, liberating path.”
About Catherine Cowell
Catherine Cowell is a spiritual director, life coach, and facilitator of gatherings and retreats, dedicated to creating welcoming spaces where individuals can freely express themselves and explore diverse perspectives. With a deep passion for accompanying those whose spiritual journeys have taken unexpected turns, she provides a supportive environment for honest reflection, allowing individuals to navigate their doubts, questions, and personal growth.
As an adoptive parent, Catherine mentors and supports parents of children with additional needs, helping them integrate their parenting with their spirituality—a focus that also forms the basis of her current PhD research.
In addition to her work in spiritual direction and coaching, Catherine is the host of the Loved Called Gifted podcast, where she explores themes of spirituality, identity, and purpose. She lives in Stoke-on-Trent, England, with her husband and their two adopted sons.
About Margaret Mary O’Connor
Margaret Mary O’Connor, as a member of the Catholic Laity, thought she knew everything about the Catholic Church, at least until she came upon a centuries-old Scandal of lies and cover-up by the Hierarchy of that Church. Frankly, she was fed up being lied to by her own Church, about its own past Church’s History on Women priests. With that realization, she truly felt in that moment, the monumental feeling of betrayal by her own Church.
Follow Margaret, as she travels down this Highway of Radical Truth where lies and outright coverup will be disclosed. Millions of Catholics are unaware of that
past presence of Women Bishop’s, Women Deacons, as well as Women Priests, all there hiding in plain sight, in Early Church History.
As the complicity of this centuries-old Scandal continues, Margaret wants her fellow Catholics to learn the actual truth of this matter for themselves. She strongly believes, at minimal, any Catholic deserves the actual truth of this matter. To say that change is needed is hardly an understatement. She doesn’t let the Church’s betrayal stop her from uncovering some very fascinating Church Skeleton’s – one which very well might help solve our current priest shortage issue today.
Margaret Mary O’Connor has been called, “The Modern Day David” on many occasions. On a mission to reveal carefully guarded secrets of the Catholic Church, she unveils the truth through her well-researched writings.
Author of Scandal in the Shadows and Journey of a Celiac’s Soul, Margaret Mary is a force to be reckoned with.
