The site I am referencing actually believes what the pastor says. But I included it because it explains the origin of Asherah.
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/asherahasherim-bible
Asherah, along with Astarte and Anath, was one of the three great goddesses of the Canaanite pantheon. In Canaanite religion her primary role was that of mother goddess. Canaanites associated Asherah with sacred trees.
And later Artemis of the Ephesians, whom the Romans called Diana, and the Brits called Cynthia.