Everywhere you look these days, the Goddess is there. Long forsaken in favor of more "practical" modes to get through daily life, if we nourish her but a little, all will be forgiven and she will gladly restore us to our full potential.

"You Shall Hear me" by Kathleen Anderson Finally, back to the field of Yarrow Where you shall hear me whisper in the night, You shall see me reach my dreams.

Make no mistake, though, the Goddess can be a very scary concept. Modern beliefs have put her somewhere among the myth and folklore of earlier ages. The true status of women has been buried there as well. To reclaim her is to recall the power of our gender. The truth is that the Goddess continues within, waiting patiently for us to realize how empty we are without her. Even in her diminished state, she is what gives us — women — our animation. She is the very thing about us that fascinates men. Our laughter is her song. Our intelligence, her wisdom. Our love of ourselves, our families, the earth, our lives — her gratification. Our passion returns as we acknowledge the many gifts she brings to us.

The Goddess is many things at once — wild and calm; old and young; foolhardy and wise; clumsy and sensual; bitchy and sweet. Once we come to know all of these sides of our inner self she leads us also to the realization that the "good" sides and the shadow sides are not actually opposites at all. They are simply part of the nature of being a woman. No matter where you are at any given time, it is OK! It is natural, normal, glorious you! In this season of the new moon, what better time to reexamine ourselves and learn more about these shadows?

Getting back in touch takes different forms for different people. The personal rituals associated with the Goddess can be uncomfortable for those of Judeo-Christian belief, just as the more solemn, less "radical" approach can be a letdown for others. One must choose what feels right and go along with it, wherever it may lead you. Here are a few suggestions to help generate ideas. Many of these activities are great stress relievers, too.

1. Begin a journal: It is a good idea to begin a journal when you embark on an inner journey so that you can look back and see how you have changed — for better or for worse. Some people make an entry every day. Others make entries once a week or even less frequently. Just do what feels most comfortable for you.



2. Take a walk: As you take each step, imagine you are going within to meet your own inner Goddess. See and feel her presence all around you in nature, in the earth, in the sky. When you get home, enjoy your favorite hot drink and allow the deep feeling to stay with you as you go on with the rest of your day.



3. Take a bath: Light your favorite candle or some incense, ease into a warm, bubbly bathtub and pamper yourself. Scrub away the rough spots. Let all the tension soak away. When you get out, cover your whole body slowly and reverently with skin moisturizer. Honoring the physical body in this way honors the inner Goddess as well.



4. Build a nook: Assembling a small "nook" with some favorite things — candles, incense, photos of loved ones — provides a place to focus your attention on nourishing your Goddess-self. The objects you put there are symbols of that quality within that allows you to feel deeply and live fully.



5. Meditate/Pray: Take time each day to quiet your thoughts and be still. It seems hard, but if you can manage to do it, the peace of this practice will stay with you through even the toughest days. You could begin by imagining yourself meeting your inner Goddess beside a clear pool and having a conversation. Where your meditation or prayer goes from there is entirely up to you.



6. Design a ritual: Personal ritual can be a very powerful thing. Unfortunately, modern thinking has associated the practice with superstition and witchcraft. Nothing could be further from the truth. Don't be afraid to take some time to design a ritual for yourself. You could use such things as candles, incense, food, drink, rocks -- or any of the activities in the list above. Carry out your ritual consciously and with attention. If you stop thinking about what you are doing, you have only allowed yourself to fall into another mundane routine. Have some fun with it, if you like; it need not be serious to be meaningful. Ritual only needs to be meaningful to be effective.



7. Read a book: Learning about how to be in touch with the Goddess is easy. Women who walk the Goddess path every day have written several informative books. Here are two suggestions:

• The Book of Goddesses, by Kris Waldherr: A great introduction to many Goddesses of old, from many different cultures. The artwork is beautiful, and the book is suited to both adults and children.



• Women Who Run With The Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes: This amazing compilation will help a beginning Goddess-seeker come back into contact with what it means to be a woman. This is a very enlightening book for men, too.

Bio:
Jenna Logan was born in small-town Canada. She began writing poetry and short stories at a very young age, winning several awards through junior high and high school. After settling down in her hometown, she continued to write for local publications and now hopes to branch out with further submissions on the Internet and elsewhere. She is a happily married mother of one.

On her inspiration, she writes: "I have endeavored to develop spiritually for many years. Actually, it has been more of a compulsion — I am driven by an insatiable curiosity. My study of the many facets that make up human spirituality has taken me through organized religion, Native Indian concepts, a course in Miracles, Herbology, Alchemy, new age, eastern and Goddess philosophies. My journey continues . . . "

Jenna can be reached at: mphill@monarch.net