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The Spiritual ChicksSM Guest Article
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by Author of "A Goddess Is A Girl's Best Friend: A Divine Guide To Finding Love, Success and Happiness" (Perigee Books, December 2002) |
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Goddess History dates back to the earliest civilizations. It's well documented that ancient societies worshiped feminine forms of God -- typically as mother, earth, nature, and the Holy Spirit, or as deities who personified feminine attributes. Our ancestors saw the Divine Feminine as the source of all that is and they depended on her to sustain their very lives. Her power was expressed in the image and stories of literally thousands of Goddesses from cultures around the world. For example, just a bit more than 2000 years ago, Cleopatra actively worshipped the Goddess Isis in Egypt and Julius Caesar erected temples to the Goddess Venus in Rome -- less than 40 years before Jesus Christ was born! Ancient Goddesses were treated with the reverence modern religious culture now offers to Jesus, God, The Father, Allah, Krishna, and Buddha. And they were called upon for everything from ensuring fertile crops and easy childbirth to attaining wealth, health or, even, a peaceful death. Many of the world's cultures continue to worship, honor and pray to female deities. The Hindu, Buddhist, Tibetan, Native American, South American and African cultures are among those that always have, and continue to, commune with the Divine Feminine. Like the Hindu Goddess of Fortune, Lakshmi, or the Chinese Goddess of Compassion Kuan Yin, many of these Divine Females represent specific abilities and powers. Today, they are still lending a hand --- or four! Contemporary women need support in modern ways: Getting that job...finding that fabulous boyfriend...nabbing that great apartment...tapping into their own abilities and powers...discovering the true Goddess spirit within! The Goddess and her many forms, and faces, is accessible to modern women for divine inspiration and guidance, yet she can also be appreciated for her archetypical meaning and the metaphor of female prowess she represents. A Goddess Is A Girl's Best Friend: A Divine Guide To Finding Love, Success and Happiness (Perigee Books, December 2002), introduce 31 awesome archetypes who can enhance our spirituality as they assist with all aspects of our lives. Each spiritual heroine and goddess featured in the book appears in Her own chapter. All are all noted for the special place they hold in the world's traditions, yet they are also presented in the context of specific situations and challenges to which they can bring their special skills and loving guidance to contemporary women. The book is brimming with insight, history, mythology, prayers, invocations, meditations, affirmations, exercises, rituals and modern interpretations of ancient wisdom to help women connect with each individual goddess. On a global level, we really need the Feminine Divine to balance our world. On a very practical level, it's time for women of today to develop 'Goddess Consciousness" that will help elevate self-esteem and empower personal and professional growth. Meet The Goddesses featured in A Goddess Is A Girl's Best Friend:
RECLAIMING
EVE
Eve,
Considered the mother of us all, she is our first link to the Divine
Feminine in human form. Reclaiming Eve is the first step toward getting to
know the Goddess within.
GODDESSES
OF SELF
Hathor,
Egyptian
goddess of love, beauty and pleasure, helps you to your inner light and
shows you how truly beautiful you are.
Lilith,
Hebrew
Goddess, said to be Adam’s first wife, was demonized in the Bible but is
an empowered woman in Kabbalah and Feminine spiritually. She helps you
discover your dark and wild side.
Oya,
Yoruban
goddess of wind, hurricane and wild weather, helps you welcome the winds
of change. Nike, Greek goddess of Victory and herald of success, helps you claim your victories in life.
Mary,
mother
of Jesus, is not considered a goddess in the Catholic Faith yet has
all the powers of a divine female and is the primary representation of the
feminine divine for 2000 years, making her the Spiritual Mother for us
all. She helps you connect to your healing power.
Sophia,
goddess of wisdom in Gnostic Christianity, is also referred to in Hebrew
texts and the books of Solomon. She helps you tap into, and trust, your
own intuition.
Kuan
Yin,
Chinese goddess of healing and compassion, helps you find compassion for
yourself, and others.
Green
Tara,
Tibetan
Buddhist goddess of protection, helps you feel safe and shows you how to
stay calm and centered in a crisis.
GODDESSES
OF LOVE AND ROMANCE
Venus,
quintessential Roman goddess of love and beauty, shows you that self-love
and appreciation is the first step to embracing your own divinity and
empowering your sense of self-worth.
Oshun,
Macumban
Goddess of sensuality, beauty and womanhood. Helps you tap into your more
sensual side and express your sensual self.
Freya,
Norse
goddess of sexual prowess and war, guides you on how to be a man magnate
and enjoy every minute of sizzling sexual energy in your life.
Persephone,
Greek
goddess of springtime who was abducted by the god of the underworld, shows
you how to liberate yourself from bad relationships and set forth a new
path in your love life.
Gauri,
Hindu
goddess of love and marriage shows you how to get yourself ready for a
serious relationship, and how to gently encourage your true love toward
the altar.
Isis,
famous
Egyptian mother goddess is hailed for her healing, magic and resurrection
powers. She helps you rescue troubled relationships and get them back on
track.
GODDESSES
OF FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY LIFE
The
Great Goddess
is
the divine female energy of all there is. She represents life its self,
death and regeneration and can help transform your relationship with your
own mom by connecting with the power of your female ancestry.
Pele,
the
Hawaiian fire goddess who dwells in the volcano on the Big Island of
Hawaii, shows you how to channel and express anger and heal hostility in a
healthy way.
St.
Lucy/Lucina,
the cherished Catholic saint who originated as the Roman Goddess of a
newborn's first light, Lucina, can help you open your spiritual eyes, see
family in a new light and bring light to the shadow side of family life.
The
Muses,
the nine Greek
deities who joyfully presided over the arts,
are among the most familiar mythical woman and Goddesses. They help you
Celebrate creativity and connections with sisters, and friends. Mary Magdalene, the spiritual heroine who is closely linked as soul companion to Jesus, helps you survive the loss of a loved one.
Vesta,
the Roman Goddess of the Hearth, assists you in creating a true home. GODDESSES
OF WORK AND FINANCES
Artemis,
Greek goddess of the hunt, helps you pursue your career goals with passion
and focus.
Brigid,
Celtic Irish goddess of inspiration, poetry, birth and blacksmithing,
helps you find your inspiration and creative flow.
Lakshmi,
Hindu goddess of fortune, gives you a hand, or four, increasing your
income, your financial potential and your ability to plan for your future.
Nemesis,
Greek goddess of retribution, helps you handle office politics and
troublemakers while helping you see ways you sabotage yourself.
Durga,
Hindu Mother goddess of protection and war, helps you drawn your
boundaries and protect yourself from negative energies.
St.
Térèse,
beloved Catholic Saint known as The Little Flower is a spiritual heroine
for women of all faiths. She helps you get even the most menial jobs done
by showing you the relevance, power and sacredness in life’s little
chores.
GODDESSES
OF PLAY AND LIGHTHEARTEDNESS
Bast,
Egyptian
goddess of play, felines and females, shows you how to be playful as a
pussycat.
Iris,
Roman
goddess of the rainbow helps you add color and zest to your life. Butterfly Maiden, Native American spirit woman, takes you from cocoon to butterfly and helps you transform your life. |
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Copyright 2002, Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway. Reprinted with permission from the author. Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is an ordained interfaith minister who educates about the divine feminine from an interfaith and all-inclusive perspective. An inspiring speaker, teacher and writer on Goddess Spirituality, she is well known for her popular "Goddess Nights," where she brings women together to share their stories and dreams in a sacred circle. She is author of "A Goddess is a Girl's Best Friend: A Divine Guide To Finding Love, Success and Happiness" (Perigee Books, December 2002). Reach Rev. Laurie Sue at www.goddessfriends.com. |