Awakening the Holy Feminine

This is the holiday season. Some celebrate Christmas, some celebrate Hanukkah, some celebrate Kwanzaa, and some simply celebrate the harmony of good will. For me, this phase of year is the time to celebrate the winter solstice. A time to recognize the longest night of the year and commemorate the return of the light. The solstice marks the point of the year when the Sun will grow stronger and stronger each day, until we reach the time of the longest day at the Summer Solstice. It is darkest – a time of cold and scarcity when the sun gives brief light and little warmth. The abundance of life has retreated. The trees stand stripped and naked of their summer leaves, and the water is imprisoned in ice. The ground is hard and frozen. But underneath it all, life is still present. Life waiting to be reborn when the world thaws. The long nights are a perfect time to reflect on what needs germination in my life. Is there a wish I desire? Is there something I nee...

That first sip of coffee in the morning A daily walk around the neighborhood at lunchtime Reading in bed before you turn out the lights There is comfort in the predictability of day-to-day activities. Even though most people may not consciously focus on them, ritual is present in everyone’s lives. Thanksgiving dinner each year at your parent’s house Apple-picking in the autumn The annual BBQ’s with friends and family Looking forward to seeing people who you may not see every day is exciting. It feels great to chill in the company of good friends. These regular rituals not only bring joy to our hearts, but they are an important part of us, too. Predictability is reassuring. A daily routine is not only comforting, but it also helps me to get to work on time. Spiritual ritual is just as important as the daily or yearly common rituals. For many people, spiritual ritual can be as simple as going to church regularly or daily prayer or morn...

How can myths of gods and goddesses have any influence in our day to day lives? How can images from ancient times even be relevant in today’s world? Every deity possesses an energy or strength or powers – ones that are also useful as inspiration or examples from which we humans can draw. These god and goddess archetypes can be used as tools for self-knowledge and empowerment. But, how? Every day we make choices. Think about it. From what to eat, how to react, what to say, and when to remain quiet, life is all about how we respond to situations. And the answers are not always clear. Our state of mind is not always clear. The correct response can vary vastly based on circumstance. It is in these challenging situations when we feel weak or unsure or conflicted that these archetypes are useful. Perhaps Artemis, goddess of the hunt with her independent spirit, can provide an example of the courage you need to approach your boss for a raise. May...

Legends of goddesses and gods are simply stories. They are myths that some believe to be true and some see as metaphor. So why is this folklore important to me? Why have I taken so much time researching? Why have I expended so much energy on this? Why does it matter? It matters because words and representation matter. If you never see examples of doctors or scientists or plumbers or athletes that look like you, then it’s nearly impossible to imagine yourself as one. The same can be said for religious symbols. Gods are often considered omniscient rulers – as ultimate authority figures – who command the laws of all existence. How can females feel as valued as males within society or even their own home when they have almost no positive representation in religions? So … it matters. It matters because of respect . All people are worthy of respect, regardless of their gender. It matters because of inclusion . All people should be included, regardless...

Think of a pendulum. via GIPHY Its movement is to extremes. It swings as far as it can to one direction so that is can gather the energy to swing back to the opposite direction. This extreme opposition of movement creates complete balance in the pendulum’s swing. However, in order to have that perfection of balance, the pendulum must go to the furthest on each side in order to have the momentum to return to the opposite side. I see this as a metaphor for my reclamation of the feminine divine. In order to have a balance of both the masculine and feminine, first I needed to immerse myself in and reclaim the goddess. Only then could I also embrace the god and their balance with each other. I am drawn to a spirituality that is balanced. Rather than a faith that only worships an omniscient father-god who sits in judgement – as easily ready to punish as to praise – I choose an equilibrium of both mother and father energies from which to draw inspiration, knowled...

I’ve been thinking about the word “mother” lately. Although it is generally considered a noun (as in “I need to call my mother this weekend”), it can also be a verb. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the verb form of mother as:   To care for and protect like a mother And the Cambridge dictionary defines it in this way:   To treat a person with great kindness and love and  to try to protect them from anything dangerous or difficult. The word mother is also used as a formal address for a religious woman – specifically within a convent (Mother Superior). Traditionally, humans have also referred to our planet as Mother Earth. When you consider the definitions of the word mother, it makes sense that the earth is the universal mother. Our earth provides humans and all living beings with all we need to survive like mothers do for their children:   the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat. The earth’s atmosphere...

Holidays are a big deal for most people. It’s a time to get together with family and friends. It’s a time for revelry and feasting and comradery. Some holidays commemorate national events, and some have religious roots. For me, holidays acknowledge the cycles of the seasons.             Prior to industrialization, humans were an agricultural people. Their lives were driven by planting and caring for crops and harvesting and storing foods for the cold days. Although we no longer have to grow all our own, we still rely on farmers to supply us with our food, and farmers still follow the cycle of the seasons.             My spirituality is also still focused on the changing of the seasons, the turning of the wheel of the year. Even though my day-to-day life is not driven by actual planting and harvesting, my spiritual life is driven by it. When I live without conscious co...

Women magazine describes daily spiritual practice as “any ritual that we perform each day to nur­ture our deep inner being.” Spiritual practice does not need to happen daily in order to be beneficial to your well-being. However, I do think that spiritual practice needs to happen consistently – a regular and reliable time to find balance, peace, and wisdom, in order to be effective. Spiritual practice is about intent. It is the opportunity to focus on specific aspects of your life that need attention. A worry that is affecting your sleep A hope for success at something A concern for a loved one A desire to achieve a goal Spiritual practice is the ability to focus all your energy – targeted, amplified, compressed – into a single point, so that you can … Alter your thoughts Direct your energy Adjust your attitude … to purposefully work toward and manifest your objective. Different faiths have different versions of spiritual practice. Meditation, dancing, pr...