New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Much has been expressed in New Age and esoteric teachings about letting go of things that no longer serve us: people, material things, a job, our beliefs, etc. But as a creative being, you will manifest, collect, and attract people, things, and ideas worth holding on to, keeping precious, safe, and secure. There is much to value and protect in life, and times will present themselves when you need to stand by who you are. Creating your own emotional fortress to stand your ground is a brilliant way to do this. But building or becoming a fortress is not about locking yourself up in an emotionally impenetrable tower; rather, it is about having the knowledge, the voice, and the practical tools ...
Society has long venerated the "goddess" ideal as the life-giving, loving, nurturing, and saintly form of the mother figure, most often personified in western culture by various depictions of the Virgin Mary. An unsullied, gentle figure, softly spoken and glowing in heavenly blue light, she appears quite detached from the earthly realm we inhabit. But this version of goddess energy strikes me as being far from unsullied; instead, it has the hands of many upon her to create something very much of human design, of fitting a specific mould. So when I think of a mother figure, of an energy that is nurturing and powerful, it is Nature that inspires me rather than any doctrine. And the mother ...
Do you ever doubt yourself? Wonder whether you're worthy? Think about how you are accepted by family and friends? Do you see your friends doing the same and wonder why? I have had those doubts myself throughout my entire life. To be honest, society planted some of those insecurities within me. I couldn't light the candles on our church's altar because I was a girl. Every man I knew, from the janitor at my grammar school to a contractor who's currently doing work on my house, has called me dear/honey/sweetie and thought me dumb because of the color of my hair. I believed that I was inferior and dumb, and I believed the strong parts of my personality—my tendency to speak my mind about ...
As we approach the Spring Equinox, we feel the warming air and are inspired by the natural beauty of rebirth after winter. The story of Demeter and Persephone powerfully captures the unfolding of the seasons, welcoming in new light. This myth is a tale of the deep connection between mother and daughter and also the story of maidenhood and innocence and its passage into maturity and fullness. The cult of Demeter and this particular myth was so important that it formed the crux of the Eleusinian Mysteries, a famous and secret religious rite of initiation practiced in ancient Greece between 1600- 1100 BCE. Although lost to history and forever shrouded in mystery, it is thought these sacred ...
