About the Movie
"Herstory: The Visionary Life of Lydia Ruyle and the Banners of the Divine Feminine," is a new 1-hour documentary film by Dr. Isadora that shows the colorful and heartwarming story of Lydia Ruyle, a scholar, author, professor, political activist, matriarch, and iconic artist. At age 60, she began creating her Goddess Banners, which are visionary images of the Sacred Feminine drawn from all cultures. The collection grew from 18 banners to over 300, which she used to inspire, empower, teach, and share their herstories all over the world. The film also documents the incredible story of how her worldwide community came together, with less than 2 weeks notice, to celebrate her, say goodbye, and how they honored the passing of a matriarch.
Lydia Ruyle, also known as Ya-Ya was an 81-year old crone and matriarch who passed away in March 2016. She was an artist and scholar who had been pursuing Goddess research for decades. Her Goddess Banners depict sacred images of the Divine Feminine from the many cultures of the world. Since 1995, the icons have become spirit banners, which flew around the globe weaving the sacred energies of the Divine Feminine. Her research into sacred images of women took her around the globe. She created and exhibited her art, did workshops and lead women’s journeys throughout the U.S. and internationally. Lydia was the author or two books, Goddesses of the Americas was published in 2016 and Goddess Icons was published in 2002.
About Lydia Ruyle
How did Lydia find the Goddess? She called her and she listened. The Goddess asked her to listen, see, touch, learn, laugh, cry and share with art, stories and sacred places of Mother Earth.
Over 30 years ago, she began collecting images of women from art history, which she taught at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. In 2010, the university created the Lydia Ruyle Room of Women’s Art to continue Lydia’s mission to teach. In March 1987, an art exhibition at the Loveland Museum and Gallery in Loveland, Colorado called “Better Homes & Goddesses” was the first display of Goddess icons, born for National Women’s History Month. In 1993, Lydia invited other women to travel to sacred places with Goddess tours in England, Wales, and Cornwall. Since then, over 300 women have joined her to travel in 14 countries.
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Lydia made her first Goddess Banners in the series for an exhibition in 1995 at the Celsus Library in Ephesus, Turkey where they flew and spread their energies throughout the month of July. Since then the banner collection has grown from 18 to over 300. She has used them to empower, teach, and share their stories at sacred sites in 38 countries.
Dr. Isadora is a highly sought after creative talent. She is a PBS filmmaker, TV producer, public speaker, author, designer, and all-around creative businesswoman and visionary entrepreneur. Her award-winning, internationally known Red Tent movie “Things We Don’t Talk About" has been seen by over 1 million people, is subtitled in six languages and has been screened over 1,000 times in three years in 75 countries.
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Dr. Isadora is trained as both a filmmaker, a textile historian, and a feminist folklorist.Her mission is to create multi-media to empower women. She is also the author of two eBooks and one Audiobook.
About Dr. Isadora
Dr. Isadora holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to her educational experiences, Dr. Isadora has owned and operated Soulful Media, her film production company since 2002 and has produced 13 films since she began. Dr. Isadora continues to be inspired by international travel and many of her films have led her to live in and travel in more than 18 countries.
Film Credits
Director & Editor
Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost, PhD
Producers
Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost, PhD
Lydia Ruyle
Doreen Bryant
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Fiscal Sponsor
House of the Goddess
Narrator
Amy Larson
Music Producer and Composer
Donald Quan
Music Composing
Donald Quan Piano & Programming
Bob Cohen Guitar and Mandolin
Jim Gelcer Percussion
Yvette Tollar Vocals
Gary Honess Recording Engineer
Kul Muzik Recording Studio
Jamie Browning Music Assistant
Audio Restoration and Mastering
Marisa T. Dery at Tamar Forensics
Celebration of Life Ritual
Thank you to the House of the Goddess for designing and facilitating the Celebration of Life Ritual.
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Laura Krajewski, Delphine DeMore, PhD, Ellen Jolley-Dotson, Letecia Layson, with ALisa Starkweather, Vicki Noble, Rev. Sheila Dierks, Katherine Skaggs, Marilyn Christenson, and Leeden Rukstalis.
Additional Footage
Lydia Ruyle
Balca Ergemer
Katie Phelan Player
Rev. Christian Ortiz, PhD
Mike Chenery
Advisors and Consultants
Bradley P. McCabe, PhD
Doreen Bryant
Katie Hoffner
Teresa Moorehouse
Shelli Mullins
Susan Mendenhall
Delphine DeMore, PhD
Laura Krajewski
Vicki Noble
Anne Key
Amy Larson
Donald Quan
Interviews
Alle Struve
ALisa Starkweather
Anique Duc
Ann Filemyr, PhD
Anne Key
Annette Williams, PhD
Arisika Razak, PhD
Apela Colorado, PhD
Ava Park
Bonnie Dean
Carol Burkhart
Cristina Biaggi, PhD
Colette Pitcher
Constance Tippett
Frances Santiago
Kathy Jones
Jackie Johnson
Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD
Joan Cichon, PhD
Joan Marler
Julie Felix
Katie Hoffner
Katie Struve
Keith Struve
Laura Fragua-Cota
Leeden Rukstalis
Lisa Levart
Louise Keirnes
Lucia Burnbaum
Lydia Ruyle
Maria Veronica Islesias
Max Dashu
Pat Alles
Paulett Weaver
Phyllis Eaton
Phyllis Curott
Resit Ergener
Rev. Sheila Dierks
Robin Struve
Ruth Savig
Sandra Román
Susan Anderson
Sid Reger
Susun Weed
Vicki Noble
Photo Licenses
Ann Cook
Amalya Peck
Celia Jorgensen
Doug Keirnes
Hannah Swick
Heide Gottner Abendroth
Joan Cichon
Katie Phelan Player
Marion Brigantia
Lisa Levart
Lydia Ruyle
Resit Ergener
Robin Struve
Sandra Román
Susan Anderson
Union Colony Civic Center
Music Licenses
"This Little Light of Mine" performed by Arborea Music. 2018, Buck Curran and Shanti Deschaine. Publisher, Arborea Music.
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"Joy in Our Hearts" (Joy in Our Hearts album)- Words and Music by Karen Drucker and JD Martin. "Power of Women" (Beloved Album) - Words and Music by Karen Drucker. "We Are the One's" (Shine Album) - Words and Music by Karen Drucker. http://www.karendrucker.com/
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"This Little Light of Min" performed by Anique Duc.
Production Assistance
Robert A. Ruyle
Katie Hoffner
Sandra Roman
Amy Larson
Patricia Alles
Zoe's Cafe
Anne Key
Goddess Ink
House of the Goddess
Sue Faria
Jason Evenson
Skyline Studios
Jason Loeback, J.D.
Donna Connolly
Union Colony Civic Center
The Parliament of the World's Religions
Goddess Spirit Rising Conference
Association for the Study of Women and Mythology
Marketing and Development
Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost, PhD
House of the Goddess
Robert A. Ruyle
Doreen Bryant
Laura Krajewski
Delphine Demore, PhD
Donald Quon
Teresa Moorehouse
Katie Hoffner
Bradley McCabe, PhD
