The concept of an Earth Mother, Mother Nature, or Mother Goddess has its roots in many ancient cultures. The Greek referred to the "deep-breasted" Earth as "Gaia" and dedicated several altars and sanctuaries to Earth, the "Nursing Mother". The Romans referred to the Earth as "Tellus", and described it as "Mother Earth" or the "Great Mother", stating that "she alone is called Great Mother of the gods, and Mother of the wild beasts, and maker of our bodies."

Because of the feminine prominence in pagan beliefs and worship, it was largely suppressed during the patriarchal Christian period, but emerges again in the 18^th century when references to the Earth as feminine, or "Mother Goddess," begin to reappear. Interest in the Earth Mother and the Great Mother increased significantly in the 19th century. Besides the classical sources attesting to her worship, the 19th century became more educated and aware of the many contemporary tribal peoples throughout the world who continued to refer to the Earth in feminine terms, including the Native People of North America.

It was against this backdrop of contradicting old and new ideologies that archaeologists working at the beginning of the 20th century saw the newly discovered "Venus" figurines excavated from a Paleolithic site in Willendorf Australia, which gave way to the interpretation that they must be the representations of the Mother Goddess. Although lacking in any evidence to either support or refute the claims, the paradigm of the Venus of Willendorf as "Mother Goddess" still persists. In recent years the figurine has also been interpreted as possibly once functioning as a fertility charm or talisman of some kind for women. While the mystery remains, the Goddess symbol has become increasingly more popular among contemporary women and jewelry designers. Representing and celebrating the feminine energy, it’s contribution and importance to the world, and its reemergence from the Dark Ages of suppression.