So who has read The Chalice and The Blade?

I think it should be required reading for all progressives; especially those interested in the patriarchal part of organized religion as it relates to gender equality throughout history. Before you jump; it does not attack Christianity's precepts as much as its influence. Nor does she spend the whole book kicking men in the balls.Give it a chance...
By Riane Eisler; BTW.

I read this book called 'The Woman with the Albaster Jar' about the Magdala - it's a more scholarly version of Davinci Code (which I like anyway). The Author, Starbird is her last name, talks about the Chalice and Blade - they were suits in the Old Tarot Deck (now Hearts (feminine)) and Spades (masculine)). She thought that the Tarot cards were a picture card version of the Grail Heresy, bounced around the nobility of Western Europe.

What's the premise of the one you mentioned?

It's at least 15-18 years old. I'll give you the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062502891/103-4293328-6848664?v=glance&n=283155

it's hard for me to describe; but it was life changing for me.

Eisler neither exalted matriarchy or patriarchy, but discussed a partnership society. One of the
first such books I read, along with Joseph Campbell and the rest.

In the forward to this book, she talks about how she felt like an alien in her own religion -- Judaism. I felt the same way in mine -- Roman Catholicism. From that point on, I felt like she was my spiritual sister.

I also support her alternative paradigm to patriarchy -- partnership. I'm working on integrating it into my fantasy adventure novel.

and now departed friend when the book first came out, 1989 as I remember.

Essentially Eisler fulfills a process of rediscovery and resurrection begun by Sir James Frazer (The Golden Bough), Robert Graves (The White Goddess), Erich Neumann (The Great Mother), then given powerful new life both by the Back-to-the-Land Movement's encounter (approximately 1968-1980) with the reality of earth-based spirituality and the ongoing pagan renaissance that followed, and feminism's concurrent discovery of its own spiritual dimension -- all of this dramatically expanded by Eisler's contemporary the late Marja Gimbutas. Graves and Gimbutas are especially fine companion-authors to Eisler.

Though these works are indispensable to artists, the OP is correct in that they are vital reading for progressives regardless of occupation or gender, essential to understanding the spirituality that -- whether metaphorically or metaphysically -- is not only the wellspring of art but the mother of eco-feminism and its own daughter eco-socialism.

...I even wrote a song about it.

A really fabulous book. It has the only explanation of the Adam and Eve story I've ever seen that made any sense.