Lessons from Eve, the Goddess of Exile

The biblical tale of Eve, the first woman, can teach us meaningful lessons about exile, shame, and the quest for knowledge.

According to biblical mythology, Eve is the first woman (that is, if we don’t mention Lilith, Adam’s first wife from Jewish mythology). Eve was born of Adam’s rib, meant to be his partner and helper in the Garden of Eden. This was a perfect place presided over by God where everything they could possibly need was provided for them without effort. God’s only rule was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Sure enough, the serpent (whom some say was actually Lilith, who had left the garden voluntarily, refusing to be subservient to Adam or anyone) convinced Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. Eve did and shared some with Adam. Part of the tree’s gifts included the knowledge of shame, pain, and evil, which is hard enough, but God was also furious. He punished them with exile from the Garden of Eden and a life of toil that would eventually end in death. Adam and Eve went on to create the human race, never returning to that place of ease and perfection. Keep reading…