Moving the Feminine into the New Sensual~Sexual Story

There appears to be a variety of ways that we are living our lives in 2013. I received a newsletter from a spiritual teacher a few weeks ago that really spelled it out for me. Some of us are busily living the old story, some of us are busy finishing up writing the old story, some are in the Sacred Pause, some of us have begun to catch & ride the Co-Creative Wave, and some of us are actually writing the New Story.

When it comes to women and our body images, our sensuality, our ability & willingness  to receive pleasure in our bodies, and our sexuality, the New Story is directly connected to the Divine Feminine within us. If we can relate to the Great Mother, to Gaia, the Goddess in any way, shape or form, we may have a better chance at getting to the New Story. The old stories are really old, ancient in fact. We have been victims of violence, war, poverty and discrimination for 5,000 years. The V-day “One Billion Rising” to mitigate violence against women and girls that happened worldwide on February 14^th, 2013 was probably the largest event of its kind ever.

This global campaign mobilized over a billion people worldwide, inspiring women and men in 207 countries to come together to express their support. They shared with singing, poetry readings, art and flash mob dances, and the gatherings also included speeches by state legislators. Various groups joined in the call of action, including marginalized communities of the poor, domestic workers, and the disabled. This event received support from the Dalai Lama, United Nations, as well as many famous people and social media.

Some of the victories were the creation of solidarity and a safe and free space for violated women to tell their sexual stories, dance in public, and commune in open spaces. It inspired millions of men to become our allies, deconstructing patriarchy. It helped to increase funds and supportive educational programs to end violence. The event brought much awareness to make violence against women impossible to ignore. It reminded the world that women united will not be defeated.
Consciousness is rising, and so are women, again. This time we will not be shamed into silence by being called bitches and radical feminists, because those words don’t matter anymore in the great scheme of things. I am fondly remembering a Seattle Shamanic Priestess circle in 2007 that calls themselves “Witches, Bitches and Whores”. I asked them if they wanted to put the wordsacred in front of that, and they politely declined! I love the many younger women who don’t care about labels and laugh in the face of established power structures. I guess they remind me of myself as a young feminist in the 70’s.

The end result of the old story is internalized shame that directly affects how we feel about our bodies, and then bleeds into a distorted and disconnected perspective on sexuality. It is disconnected from the juicy, vibrant goddess that lies with each of us, who knows she is whole and has a divine purpose to bless and heal the earth and all beings with her love, sensual, erotic, passionate and compassionate nature. The bigger picture of the New Story is this Divine Goddess within.

Many women will never seek healing, choosing instead to feel powerless and stay unconscious in the old story. Their souls may offer them the opportunity to wake up through dis-ease, or depression, and they will wonder why they are being punished or why they cannot seem to climb out of their misery. Little do they know that they are carrying the wounds of countless generations of women, and are being asked in this lifetime to let them go.

Some women are waking up and discovering that their old story is falling away, and they can let it go more easily than ever before. They can no longer relate to it as who they are, and they recognize the signs and omens that are telling them to release it and heal.

Some women have done the work of releasing the old story and find themselves undefined, in the Sacred Pause~Paws of a Great Void,  pregnant with possibilities unborn, or maybe not yet conceived. They are needing rest, renewal, and a nurturing of their life-force energies and a reconnection to the sensual.

Some women have caught and are beginning to ride the Wave of Co-Creation.  The impulse and vibration of change is in the air for them, and they are ready to find a new way to be in their bodies. Practicing, or desiring to practice a freedom of movement that allows desire to rise up into power, they are feeling the exuberance of feminine flow in harmony with Gaia and the Goddess within.
And some lucky women are in the forefront, writing the New Story for the Feminine because they have been living it all along, those tantrikas and teachers that are truly walking their talk in all areas of their lives.

While many have sufficiently reclaimed their power, others have done little or only some of the work required to release their full potential in this time of the Turning of the Ages. Often we’re left with being able to do only so much on our own, and then require assistance from an experienced and innovative feminine source to complete our miraculous transformation.

For many women, the greatest challenge resides in the 2^nd Chakra, which is the empowerment center for the feminine. It is here where a woman isn’t complete and whole until she heals the energetic-deficiencies within her (Sacral/Spleen area). Typically, what holds her back is due to some sort of sexual wounding… be it abuse, frigidity, neglect, or some type of fear or judgment.
There are many aspects to the 2^nd Chakra which include our sexuality, sensuality, motivation, creativity, life-force energy, self-esteem, self-worth, life purpose, and being comfortable in one’s skin with a positive body image. It is the summation of our feminine power, and the doorway is our onnection to the sacred sexual/sensual experience.

It helps to work with an archetype to assist us in relating to what we wish to embody. One of our favorites for this work is Mary Magdalene ~ the Sacred-Sexual Healer. Connecting to this archetype serves to help in the healing of one’s sexuality and spirituality, then linking these two forces together.

Even though there may be some resistance to explore this sacred place in our bodies, the rewards make it a worthwhile pursuit. Self-esteem, liberation, strength, and the joy of receiving the radiance of your soul are the gifts this can bring. Fear is conquered and transformed into love resulting in an experience of sensual pleasure that brings a full and complete pathway to BLISS. But the main focus is to heal and fully reclaim all of the benefits of the 2nd-Chakra… to be set free!

Of course, the 2^nd Chakra isn’t about having to have sex every day. There are many ways to activate our sexual power. And, learning how to activate the life-force energy within becomes supportive to express ones spirit in the physical realm.

“There is a life-force energy pumping through your veins. It comes from flirting with all of life. It’s a type of merging that’s energizing. Just love the best you can.” 

~ Anonymous Facebook Post

When we take the time to slow down in life, and to come from the place of receiving by starting with rest and our sacred breath, we begin to enter the world of the Goddess. Try not to take your environment for granted, that’s the Great Mother. Her Spirit lives in all things. When you breathe into the essence of an object or the room itself, you can merge with all that is, and activate life-force energy, as you get plugged into the Divine Source. Life-force energy is there, when you connect with everything around you. You can then love unconditionally in the moment, because you are physically connected via spiritual vibrations. The emotions are the carrier to ignite the fire of desire. This births sensuality. Once our senses are awakened with presence, we can fully enjoy all 5 senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste with magnified delight!

In many ways, this becomes the relationship to your sacred feminine (just being), and your inner masculine (physically doing). When these two aspects of self co-exist in harmony, the Divine Child is born, which is the magic of the 2^ndChakra. It is creativity and motivation all rolled into a sacred-fire, of the new. Without special attention to growing our pilot-light into a bonfire… we often only have enough energy to be on auto-pilot… especially if there are any old wounds needing to be healed that are either ancient or from this lifetime.
Now that we’ve fully entered this New Age of Aquarius, it’s time to reclaim our Divine Feminine power as she’s been hiding in the Underworld far too long. Together we can create a container of safety, whether it’s with a friend, a therapist, or in a group, and hold each other up as we face the last bit of our fears, and transform them into our greatest strengths with kindness and love. So then, we can truly fulfill our part of the Divine plan with ease, grace, joy and passion!
It’s time for us to move away from the very old sexual story of sacrifice, martyrdom and neglect/fear/abuse.

Finally, we can blossom into a new sensual story of safety, desire, co-creation, equality, and innovation with our sexual fire to create a new paradigm shift. With our full life-force energy, everything we can imagine and more is possible. May we hold each other’s hands and take this journey together.

Moving the Feminine into the New Sensual~Sexual Story Republished from Goddess On The Loose By Anyaa McAndrew & Sahara Exodus

Self-Love, Self-Care and Self-Worth: Part 2

In Self-Love, Self-Care and Self-Worth: Part 1, we looked at different strategies for loving yourself, taking time for you and defining your self-worth. In Part 2 we go even deeper and start understanding the fear behind our painful choices. And finally, the strategies to heal and regain a powerful sense of self-esteem.

What Do I Have To Lose?

There comes a point when you have to ask: What do I have to lose ? What is the point in staying stuck?

Taking current examples, I could blame the my ex-husband for giving up on the marriage which catapulted me on a journey that has left me still searching for a home. Why do I need a partner to settle down and have a home? Why do I judge myself and get frustrated and feel overwhelmed sometimes. It's because I’m not focused and clear on where I want to live and what lifestyle choices make the most sense for me right now. And that's okay. As long as I embrace the unknown, I embrace my fear of it. As long as I don't judge myself, I don't abandon myself. As long as I am moving towards understanding my new identity, who I am and what I want for this new cycle of my life, I can take the pause to integrate my lessons and be grateful for the quiet moments. I'm learning that stability comes from within in me. And that's very new to me.

Self-Love, Self-Care and Self-Worth: Part 1

I promised myself that 2014 would be a year of self-love, self-care and self-worth. All the love and compassion I had given to others would be poured on to me. The reason? I committed to my personal growth and being more honest about myself, my fears, limitations and patterns so I could empower myself and break free from them. I knew that I wanted to be free from my past mistakes and choices and start a new cycle of freedom and expansion, which meant starting with the truth.

I became real with myself about other aspects of my life work, soul purpose, teaching, family. friendships, relationships and overall life balance. However, the first time I really got real with myself as a person, was when I acknowledged that I had become emotionally unavailable after my divorce and once I started on a journey of truth, I learned some uncomfortable but empowering things about myself.

What is empowerment?

• Empowerment is being clear about who you are  
• Empowerment is feeling free to feel all your feelings
• Empowerment is owning your personal transformation and what needs to be changed
• Empowerment is speaking your truth even if you disappoint others
• Empowerment is letting go of repetitive patterns, beliefs and habits that keep you stuck
• Empowerment is taking control of your life
• Empowerment is being able to walk away from abusive or toxic situations
• Empowerment is being free to break the ties that bind
• Empowerment is using your power to choose

Empowerment is when you move your will power through strong emotions like fear or anger ad confusion. You can use the energy behind anger, fear and confusion and transform them into positive qualities that nourish your life. You can use them as doorways into a journey of self-discovery and transformation.

Empowerment is actively taking charge of your thoughts. Changing long-held belief-systems, patterns and habits takes time and devotion.

The Power of Joy

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
~ Henry Ford


Getting divorced was the hardest experience I’ve had up until now. It was frustrating, emotionally crippling and felt like spiritual abandonment.

The experience forced me to face my darkness and to face what choices had brought me to this moment. Why I had separated with a partner who I had pledged to spend a lifetime with. I do not commit easily and when I do, it’s for deep soul partnership. When that dream shattered, I became lost.

I was fortunate to have the strongest weapon in my spiritual arsenal during that time period. My faith.

I used the melancholy time to go inward and reflect. I committed to feeling the pain, understanding the pain, cleansing myself consciously and journaling every day.

While all of that that helped me intellectually, nothing touched my soul the way that joy would. It was a journey I was meant to go through and it changed my life and gave me soul purpose in a way that nothing else had the power to.

At some point in the divorce process, I decided I wanted re-invent myself and change my career direction. I was an advertising executive working in San Francisco and New York. I began to dream of a life I’ve always wanted but was scared to pursue. One year in the Mediterranean. I imagined a life in Spain. I listened to flamenco music and Cafe del Mar all day long, I had vision boards of "My Life In Spain" in my house and at work, I listened to my intuition on places to visit that matched my inner desires, once I arrived there I networked and created trustworthy relationships with people who lived in a magical island called Ibiza. For months I journaled through my resistance and transformed doubt and worry into passion and purpose. I channeled the joy I felt about this life.

When I journaled about the possibilities of this experience, there were so many voices that cautioned me out of it. What will my parents say? What about my full-time job?  I trusted the words that poured out of my soul. I followed that. I trusted my inner voice and my inner vision. I chose that. After hundreds of pages filled with the voice of a woman’s whose soul had been set on fire, I had discovered the ability to follow the voice of my soul consistently and discern between soul and ego. My body was tingling all over. My heart was pounding and I felt excitement and passion flow again through my veins.

I had laid down plans for a new vision for my life. My deepest longings and desires to dance at festivals and concerts the way I once had when I was young girl. To swim in moonlight and dance across the shore of an ocean. I wrote down all the possibilities.

I arrived in Ibiza with money to live there for a few months, retreat and rejuvenate.  I took long meditative walks in nature, spent time meditating on my desires, enrolled in belly dancing classes, painted and wrote poetry. In other words, I connected with a beautiful, sacred and magical part of me. I was not only dancing at healing festivals and concerts and weddings again, I was dancing with life. I had found joy.

After the first year of discovering joy, I knew I had tapped into a fountain of power and it had regenerated me. Now, how to maintain that power? This was to be my next learning. I created a daily manifestation practice as well as a seasonal one where I trained my mental powers and physical body.  I made decisions based on my core values, spoke my truth even when that meant disappointing others. I took inspired action, believed in my worthiness and deservedness to receive all my heart’s desires and became a leader of my community.

The result? I ended up living on a magical island for 3 years, developing a sacred dance practice, life coaching business and a wisdom school to mentor young women.

Every year I felt stronger, eating fresh salads and fruits, swimming in turquoise Mediterranean waters, running 12 kilometers three times a week on an ocean road, learning new spiritual skills, belonging to a sacred community who embraced me. I had learned how to take care of myself again and belong. And not make my partner responsible for filling those needs for me. I marketed my dance company in the Mediterranean and was invited to dance in Greece. I danced with famous sacred musicians who taught me the value of joy through dance, song and music. I was so connected to my personal power and what I could manifest with that.

By this point, I felt I had fulfilled all my wishes. I looked back on my vision board I had created three years ago and I wept. I had achieved everything I wanted. A life based on music and dance, strong community relationships, and feeling beautiful inside and out. I felt very abundant. But there was something missing..

Something was still holding me back. There was resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness. I had to learn to let that go. If I was going to have a beautiful relationship with myself – clean and pure – I had to let go of old emotional programming. The divorce was final. The courts had signed the papers. I was a free woman. I called my ex-husband and I wished him well. I let him know that I would always be here should he need anything and that I honored our friendship still. I gave both of us the gift of forgiveness. And I gave myself the gift of self-acceptance and peace with my past.

Once I did that, the magic began again. And a new set of opportunities presented themselves to me. I was done with my three year retreat on the magical island of Ibiza. I had finished the lessons life was teaching me. It was time to learn a new challenge.

Now, a new career is now opening for me. To teach sacred dance, online empowerment classes and open a wisdom school to mentor priestesses in training. My new dream is to spread these rich teachings globally to women. Some are transitioning from a relationship, some have been abused or mistreated and some just desire more abundance from life.

I have a message for these women, “Yes, joy exists, After everything you’ve known falls apart, it is this one thing that can save you. And you have this power within you.”

Here are my top 5 tips on how to connect with your power:


1. Trust your inner voice

Envision your ideal life, desires and dreams. How do you feel? What are the things you want to do the most now? Let your voice flow and listen. Feel the quality of freedom of being able to do this. Journal to connect consistently to this voice.

2. Claim your personal power

Believe in your worthiness. Write down all of the goals you've already achieved this year. Character traits you love about yourself. Read this list over and over. They key here is to believe in yourself and go after your dreams!

3. Manifest your dreams

You can manifest anything by getting clear. Clarity cuts through confusion. Get clear on how your perceptions. Get clear on your imagery. Get clear on your expectations of your life.

Feel into the possibilities of the picture you've just created.

4. Transform pain into wisdom

Master how to change one form to another form. Transform depression into expression of life. Transform deep loss and regret into life lessons and joy. Shape-shift your career into your spiritual mission and life path.

5. Own your magnificence

The world needs your brilliance, joy talent, grace and radiance. Hold the vision of your life, sing your soul song out to the world and be a light.

Joy is a practice. You have to practice it every day. Joy is based on pure desire. Desire it. Long for it. Claim it and own it. Not only will you attract and magnetize to yourself the life you want, but a life that you deserve.

Every Woman Is A Goddess

This is a special time in sacred feminine consciousness. Collectively, we are leaving behind the stories of "the broken woman," "the damaged woman," "the less than deserving woman". We are now walking past our hurts and wounds and rising up to the light of our sacred feminine practice of self-worth, self-love and self-care. Can you identify with the story of the Phoenix? "The Victorious Woman." "The Woman Who Rises Above Pain and Tears". "The Transformed Woman". "The Deserving Woman".

If you can identify with your vastness, your eternal, deserving, valuable nature and appreciate yourself for all that you've journeyed through - then you are this woman. A woman who is a Goddess. And every woman in truth is a Goddess.

We have been waiting for you.

Welcome home. Welcome back to your heart, to your true feelings, to your deepest needs and to what you desire and deserve.

You are held in love and supported sister.

Shakti Priestess 101: Virtual Temple Starts April 1

Please join us on Facebook for the next class.

Email me at shaktipriestess@gmail.com if you are interested.

Dear Priestesses,

Welcome!

Thank you for your passion in expanding your spiritual power and priestess skills. I would like to answer some of your questions about Priestess 101.

Shakti Priestess Training will teach you the skills of an ancient priestess and how to use these skills in the modern world to harness greater power, beauty, health and create a sanctuary of inner safety and feminine spirituality.

Over a 12 week period, we will journey through the history of the priestess and learn skills which were developed in the Ancient Temples and are relevant today. We will call in our Goddess Archetypes, we shall link energies with the phases of the Moon and we shall celebrate Her Seasons as experienced in our Sacred Bodies.

When does the course begin?

April 1. The course is 3 months long and finishes in June. You can study and practice from the comfort of your own home. There will be a private Facebook group of 13 women taking this course simultaneously. This is your sacred circle. You can share your questions, journeys, personal projects, anything really in this private group.

What is the format?

Starting April 1, each week I will email you a different module and give you homework. You will receive 12 modules in total. You can do the homework to study the topics deeper at your own pace.

Why is there a private Facebook group?

The group is a virtual temple, a support system. My role is to facilitate any questions you may have, introduce topics for discussion, inspire you, and create a safe space for you to share your stories and questions about the priestess process. I will create the group by the end of March and invite you all to it.

What are the 12 modules or topics? What will I learn?

You will learn introductory topics to spirituality as well as the 8 priestess skills.

I am still working on the structure of the course. Ideally, it will look something like this:

Week 1: Introduction to the Goddess

Week 2: What is healing?

Intuition, Dream Symbols, Crystals, Hands On Energy Healing

Week 3: Introduction to Creativity, Art and Ritual 

Creating all forms of Sacred Objects, Altars and candles

Week 4: Introduction to Ceremony and Ritual

Celebrating the Seasonal Wheel and Understanding the Mayan lunar cycle of 13 moons

Week 5: Introduction to Astrology

Introduction to the astrological wheel and ancient zodiac signs

Week 6: Introduction to Oracle

An introduction to Tarot and Egyptian symbols, Prophecy, Channeling and Visualization

Week 7: Introduction to Music

Inspirational music and playlists for meditations, dancing and channeling

Week 8: Introduction to Scribing and Scholarship 

Reading ancient texts, Poetry, Channeling, Self-expression

Week 9: Introduction to the Element of Water

Week 10: Introduction to the Element of Fire

Week 11: Introduction to the Element of Air

Week 12: Introduction to the Element of Earth

Do you I have to learn everything in 12 weeks?

Not at all. This course provides you with knowledge and tools. You can practice this knowledge for as long as you wish to continue - 1 year, 2 years, 3 years. It takes time to practice these skills and master them. I will also offer advanced classes if you wish to continue with me.

I hope this answers all your questions. As we prepare for April 1, I encourage you to read literature about priestessing skills. Here is a suggested reading list and movie list for you. 

Enjoy!

Love, 

Zinnia

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide to the Magic and Inspiration of the Goddess 

http://www.amazon.com/365-Goddess-Daily-Guide-Inspiration/dp/0062515683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394159884&sr=8-1&keywords=365+goddesses

Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Ancient-Mesopotamia-Stephen-Bertman/dp/0195183649/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394159923&sr=8-2&keywords=priestess+handbook

Memoirs of Cleopatra

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=memoirs+of+cleopatra

Goddess Companion

http://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Companion-Meditations-Feminine-Spirit/dp/1567184634/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X6B8TV1D9YRSW3CNG19

The Mysteries of Isis: Her Worship & Magick 

http://www.amazon.com/Mysteries-Isis-Worship-Llewellyns-Religion/dp/1567185606/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394160312&sr=1-1&keywords=Mysteries+of+Isis

Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens: Deciphering The Dynasties of the Ancient Maya

http://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Maya-Kings-Queens-Deciphering/dp/0500287260/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394160357&sr=1-2&keywords=Ancient+queens

Eleusis: Archetypal Image of Mother and Daughter

http://www.amazon.com/Eleusis-Archetypal-Image-Mother-Daughter/dp/0691019150/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394160628&sr=1-2&keywords=eleusis

Sacred Woman, Sacred Dance: Awakening Spirituality Through Movement and Ritual

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sacred+dance+sacred+women&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asacred+dance+sacred+women

The Path of the Priestess: A Guidebook for Awakening the Divine Feminine

http://www.amazon.com/Path-Priestess-Guidebook-Awakening-Feminine/dp/0892819642/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394160815&sr=1-2&keywords=priestess

Awakening the Priestess Archetype

Women are collectively, individually and across the world waking up to their own spiritual power. They may come from all walks of life, from many spiritual and professional paths but they share the common desire to express their inner world, their soul's purpose and most of all, to serve their communities.

Many modern women, if not all women called to be guides for healing, empowerment, leadership and personal development have a strong PRIESTESS archetype.

They are connecting to a force and power within and not to a power vested only through marriage, by culture, academia or traditional institutions.

Women are listening to their inner voice, to their inner desire more than ever before. Women today are courageously taking what has often been: the road less traveled. They are seeking answers within and with supportive sisterhoods.

What is a priestess, many ask?

Webster’s definition: a priestess is a woman who officiates in sacred rites. A priestess officiates sacred rites and serves the spiritual needs of the community.

Priestesses may have existed from the beginning of time. The priestesses in ancient communities around the world carefully observed the rhythms and patterns of Nature.

Attuned to earth’s cycles, they honored the Great Mother by performing sacred rituals for each season.

Women, seen as an embodiment of the Great Mother, were deeply revered, honored and celebrated. Like the earth and nature, a woman was able to create life within her.

Later in history, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian priestesses lived, trained and served together in holy temples. They served the Great Mother, the Goddess in Her many forms. They served the spiritual needs of the community as well and were also held in highly regarded and respected.

As the sword triumphed over the chalice (symbol of the womb), warring tribes began to conquer lands and their peoples. They also conquered their connection to nature and destroyed their religious/spiritual beliefs.

The invaders began to fear the power of priestesses. Religions rose that forbade women the power to guide sacred rites.

The natural spiritual and mystical practices of priestesses were recast as evil. Their power, deeply misunderstood, was thought to be a dark, poisonous force that needed to be eradicated. The fear of the unknown, the dark and of sexuality, included a domination of women's expression of wisdom, sensuality, spirit and intuition.

Thousands of priestesses were persecuted, tortured and murdered for their beliefs and spiritual practices. Those managing to escape death fled their holy temples, went into hiding or joined the religion of their culture.

The priestess has never gone away. She lives brightly in our inner landscape.

An archetype is a pattern or prototype in psychology. In Jungian psychology, archetypes refer to a collectively inherited unconscious concept, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.

The Priestess archetype is perhaps the least known and most misunderstood, especially in the present patriarchal culture, which has rejected women‘s spirituality and individual spiritual expression throughout history.

The Priestess archetype is the inner domain of intuitive awareness and deep insight. It is the portal to secret or “occult” (that which is hidden) knowledge of the invisible realms.


The Priestess has a magical connection to the unknown and a guide of souls. A trans-connector, she facilitates between the material and the spiritual. She is the mediator of the psyche.

The Priestess invokes, transmutes and guides energies between unconscious and conscious awareness which can impact our material and spiritual existence.

Toni Wolff, Carl Jung’s patient, student and colleague (one of the most respected Jungian analysts of her time) refers to this aspect as the Medial Woman.

The medial woman is naturally in tune with her environment and with her intuitive abilities. This is an aspect that has been mostly ignored as the Mother, Hetaira (companion & lover) and Amazon have been idealized in our culture.

If you have often felt like you stand between the inner and outer worlds of the conscious and unconscious…perhaps you are an unaware Priestess.

What this means is that you've always been called to see beyond what the eye can see. You've intuitively known things before they have occurred.

Often you have healed and supported men/women energetically through your love and sensual/sexual healing.
You've been someone others look to for guidance and you've weathered intense tests of faith, health and love.
You may have been rejected as “too much” or overlooked as “not enough.” Your light has been often sought after and at other times been smothered and shut down due to fear, jealousy and negativity. This energy pattern that resides within you is calling for healing at this time.

For hundreds of years, the PRIESTESS has been in the shadows.

EXALTED. DESIRED. FEARED. REVERED. CAST ASIDE. ERASED.

She has been desired for her secret knowledge and chastised for the unknown. The secrets of the void of creation have often invoked terror in cultures around the world.

She has guided and inspired Kings, artists, craftsmen, warriors and noble men.

She has been known as SOOTHSAYER, COURTESAN, LOVER, ORACLE, HEALER, MIDWIFE, MEDICINE WOMAN, SHAMAN, SAINT and MYSTIC.

She has been refuted as WITCH, PROSTITUTE, SORCERESS, HAG, SLUT, WHORE, CRONE and even BITCH.

Many women I know who carry this archetype have woken up to the deep call of bringing forth Soul Work.

They are often burdened with fears of being seen, being outspoken, going public, of being vulnerable in love, having children, of creating poetry, works of art, of loving whoever they want freely.

Perhaps they have struggled with achieving a deep, long lasting connection in relationship. Struggled with financial success and even sabotaged themselves from at giving attention to their artistic talents. At other times, she has hidden her true vocation and desires under the responsibilities of marriage, children, career or addictions.

This transformative pattern of great power has lain dormant and has woken up. Women are rising and expanding.

When a woman is not aware that this archetype is strongly living within her, she keeps thinking she can push, muscle or "think" her way out of it.

You may have aligned with the traditional beliefs in “martyrdom, sacrifice and self-denial.” You may have been taught to be everything to everyone…but yourself. You may have allowed the waters to overflow and have undefined boundaries and lack of self-love.

Both extremes do not allow you full access to who you are and what you bring to the world.

It is only by growing in awareness and incarnating that beautiful energy into a world that you can step into WHO YOU ARE.

This world needs this aspect as it needs its own air, water, fire and earth...for this aspect INCARNATES the SPIRIT into the world.

This incarnates and invites SOPHIA, sacred wisdom into the mundane world.

A woman who owns her connection to the sacred AND the mundane is an EMBODIMENT of the Divine Feminine.

Women own your inner WISDOM.

Call on your elements of power and RISE.

As we do so we engage the STRENGTH, LOVE and SUPPORT of our brothers who are evolving and reclaiming their essence as MAGICIAN, PRIEST, WARRIOR, POET, MYSTIC and LOVER.

As we OWN our power freely we can experience our genius in the world and our truest faith and love are manifest.

I believe the promise was made long ago. I have felt the echoes of it’s manifestation in my soul and in the everyday world I live and breathe in.

I believe that it is our time to learn to become love-based rather than fear-based. It is time to be mermaids, go deep and return with the treasures that ONLY your Soul can offer you.

Be BRAVE. Listen to the CALL. Your Soul is waiting...

RISE Priestess. The world is in need of healing and you are the midwives of transformation and sacred community.

Article by Vanessa Codorniu - New York Alternative Spirituality Examiner

Women Who Roar

A Lioness is a strong and powerful creature.
The Lioness is at ease with her strength, at rest with her power They are powerful hunters, but spend much of their time in rest and play. Women are the same. If we limit ourselves with our fear of our own might, we forfeit our strength and beauty. When we stop struggling in our own ability, our true strength is revealed. Embrace your strength! Do not mistake meekness for weakness! It is tempered strength and controlled might!

The Lioness sets aside former limitations.
Lionesses often fail when they first learn to hunt, but that doesn't mean they never hunt again. Hardship is a catalyst for improvement. You may fail at your first attempts to develop strength, but this is part of the learning process. Accept your failures as stepping stones to your strength and future successes.

The Lioness helps those who falter.
A lioness will bring meat to a lion that is afraid to venture into the wilderness himself. Women should also reach out to those who need help. Turning back or waiting for others may slow you down, but only at first. The deliberate extension of goodness, generosity and wisdom always wins out in the end.

The Lioness hunts with other lionesses.
Lionesses are the only big cats that hunt in concerted groups. They also groom each other after the hunt. Women must help each other keep our lives clean. We speak into one another's lives and invite others to give their input as well. Together, we laugh, cry, pray and confess fears, sins and weaknesses. Sometimes we disagree but that doesn't mean we disband. Just as lionesses hunt together, without competition and without breaking rank, no woman's portion or contribution is more significant than another's. Each woman has her own skill set that contributes to a valued whole.

The Lioness is stunning.
A lioness is a beautiful creature. They move with purpose, aware that the survival of their pride depends on their legacy of skill and strength. Women of every shape, size and color are as stunning, wild and fierce as the lioness. There is incredible beauty in the strength of a woman. You are capable of incredible things. Recognize this and revel in it!

The Lioness has prowess.
Lionesses are the height of hunting prowess. Their ability to provide for their pride is unmatched. Like the lioness, women too have prowess. There is exceptional ability, strength or valor waiting to be developed in every woman's life. You may not know or do everything, but what you do know, you chose to do well!

The Lioness hunts in the dark.
A lioness has the ability to see in the dark. She can take the smallest point of light and transform it into sight. Women too should take the smallest points of light and hope and transform them into sight. There are desperate people all over the world who are trapped in the darkness, waiting for someone to bring hope into their lives. There is power in the realization of a connection, that we are not alone in our struggles. So reach out to those around you with darkness in their lives and offer them hope, love and light!

The Lioness lives in the light.
When a lioness isn't hunting, she has no reason to move about in the shadows. She conducts her life in the open, sun-filled expanses of Africa. She feels no shame and no need to hide. Like the lioness, women must live their lives in the open with a light-filled heart. You alone have the power to open your life to sunlight and live without fear or shame.

Lionesses roar.
When the cubs are threatened, lionesses will roar as a group in a fearless proclamation of protection. Women must also be a voice for the voiceless. We must learn to live what is within us out loud. All the intangibles of faith, hope and love become tangible within individuals, and are expressed in our unified response to the world's needs. Our roar will be the collective expression of hope and love to everyone around us and to all those who need us.

~ Lisa Bevere, author of "Lioness Arising: Wake Up and Change Your World"

http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/2010/12/Women-Who-Roar.aspx

Mental Power

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do
By Amy Morin

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life. Check out these things that mentally strong people don’t do so that you too can become more mentally strong.

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves
Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power
They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change
Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control
You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone
Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks
They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past
Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over
Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over. Instead, they move on and make better decisions in the future.

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success
Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance at success.

10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure
Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. They are willing to keep trying until they get it right.

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time
Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. They aren’t afraid to be alone with their thoughts and they can use downtime to be productive. They enjoy their own company and aren’t dependent on others for companionship and entertainment all the time but instead can be happy alone.

12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything
Mentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits.

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results
Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/13-things-mentally-strong-people-dont.html

The Empowered Woman

The Empowered Woman, she moves through the world with a sense of confidence and grace. Her once reckless spirit now tempered by wisdom. Quietly, yet firmly, she speaks her truth without doubt or hesitation and the life she leads is of her own creation. She now understands what it means to live and let live. How much to ask for herself and how much to give. She has a strong, yet generous heart and the inner beauty she emanates truly sets her apart. Like the mythical Phoenix, she has risen from the ashes and soared to a new plane of existence, unfettered by the things that once that posed such resistance.

Her senses now heightened, she sees everything so clearly. She hears the wind rustling through the trees; beckoning her to live the dreams she holds so dearly. She feels the softness of her hands and muses at the strength that they possess. Her needs and desires she has learned to express. She has tasted the bitter and savoured the sweet fruits of life, overcome adversity and pushed past heartache and strife.

And the one thing she never understood, she now knows to be true, it all begins and ends with you.

~Sonny Carroll© 2003

The Temple In The Heart

There is a Temple in the Heart of Venus where all the little boys that live within men go to heal from the pain that has been inflicted upon them by misguided women. Within this temple the Great Mother heals their wounds and feeds them the manna from her divine breasts, empowering their courage and self esteem to walk again in the Halls of Men. All male children are welcome but they must first find the way...

-Helen Demetriou

Esophoria Mystery School
http://www.esophoria.org/

The Light of Devotion

Painting: Susan Sedon-Boulet

Devotion is the doorway into my soul.

When I think about mu own story of divine devotion, when I think about what would be possible for my life if I was completely devoted  to making my light shine, I think of a little girl who is lost and wounded, sitting in a tree top dreaming towards the stars. She is not really lost  nor is she wounded. She just hasn't found that light inside her yet - that inner shining star full of romance, passion, wit, fire, luck, art, adventure, imagination, creativity, spontaneity, freedom and generosity of spirit.

She is truly unique. I am truly unique. And when I celebrate my Beauty, the Sacred Feminine, the Light of the World, Soul Light, Sophia. When I dream and speak and act and create from that place of power I know I can desire anything and it will come to me.

So this heroine of my story - Skywatcher, Star Dreamer, Courtesan, she dreams and desires healed relationships, truth telling, universal love and honesty from women about their intuition, creativity and ability to create magic in every day life. What is this magic we create? Romance, sensuality, music, passion, ecstasy, prosperity.

I am devoted to living the life of a Courtesan of Love and Life. I am an artist and a healer and priestess. I love my heritage and retrieve my power. My devotion is to my soul. I must marry her. I must honor her gists. Every day. Moving my body, practicing spirituality every day through prayer, stories, song, dance, breath.

Dancing to new music.
Listening to the music of the Goddess.
Painting her, loving her, worshipping her, honoring her.

I believe in my power, in my devotion, in my soul, in my business, in all that I am and all that I have to share and give.

We are here to love each other, serve each other and uplift each other.

My life is my offering. This is my prayer.

Desire

 I want to hold the night in my hair. Catch the white moon in my hands while I dance across the sky. I want to drink from the cup of Life, my true Lover. I want to hear the music of the winds and desert sands, night breezes and perfumed gardens. WIllows making love by the lake, the sun leaving the sky for the infinith time.

I want to dance naked in the sea and kiss the waves, wash my soul with the voice of the ocean, let all my worries and troubles melt away, be one with the dragonflies and hummingbirds, be one with the vast secrets and mysteries of the universe before the they fall like stars from the sky.

I want to arch my body over this mists of the moon and dance all aflame for the sun as the sun setting woman - keeper of the fire flame, keeper of visions and of dreams.

This Goddess and muse is living a new story, a new song, a new vision, a new soul, a new fire, a new flame, a new life, a new woman, a new spirit, a new heart...a new beginning.

The Awakening Woman

I am establishing a reverent relationship with myself,
Cutting through the false self-images.
Throwing the lie of being wounded and broken out the window
I’m no longer giving myself away to fit in and to be accepted
Because I am accepting myself as I am
I am devoted to discovering all that is within me,
I’m no longer concerned about what other people think
Nor will I allow that to deter me
I am focussed on drawing my magnificence forth,
occupying my body fully,
listening to her messages and needs,
I’m feeling my guidance through my heart.
And I am following it,
I am choosing the life that I want to live.

© Caroline de Lisser

I receive

Receiving is an act of loving yourself ~

I am open to receiving the blessings of this abundant universe.
Everything good is coming to me easily and effortlessly.
I accept my good, which is flowing to me here and now.
I deserve the best and the best is coming to me now.
The more I receive, the more I have to give.

Fierce

She is the Black Panther, the Tigress, the Lioness – chasing, stalking, threatening, striking, pouncing. She is unpredictably wild. She is sensual and passionate. She loves an adventure. She is assertive, aggressive, and holds her power with strength and grace. She brings about needed conflict and change. She is protective, guarding against injustice and cruelty. She is a feminine force not to be messed with. But if we surrender to her, she has the medicine to heal our wounds. She is Fierce.

Dance of the Kama Sutra

The Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian text, promotes the cultivation of sensuality as a sacred duty. The need to cultivate and reconnect with our sensual selves - the Goddess at the core of every woman.

The mood of this dance is playful. This is a slow dance, a coy dance, a movement that celebrates our mischievous, loving, laughter filled nature. Sacred, sensual dance unleashes our inner joy. A joy that we carry into our lives. The sacred dance is a series of slow movements that put us in touch with our bodies and our heart.

We open our hips, our shoulders, our back. We release any blocks that keep us from embracing ourselves and our sensitivity

In the beginning was the dance

The Goddess Danced
The Goddess holds the key to the most ancient forms of sacred dance. She is inextricably linked to dance. Dance was the principle form of worship of the Goddess. In some cases, in addition to her role as creator, giver and protector of all life,

the Goddess was a Dancer 

celebrating through dance the cycles of life. It is here then, with the Goddess that we begin our journey into the world of sacred dance.

The Priestess Danced
The image of the Goddess is an important symbol for women as we seek out our sacred dance heritage. Knowing about the priestess and understanding her unique role is essential because the priestess is a real, historical woman -- a woman we can identify with. Through the priestess and her sacred dances, we learn that women were central to religions and spiritual practices. Women had their own rites and symbols.

Tanit the Serpent Goddess

The symbol of Tanit is a truncated pyramid topped with a rectangle bar over which is depicted the sun and the crescent moon. Her Punic symbol was a triangle, representing her robe, surmounted by a circle which is her head and then a horizontal line between them, her shoulders. Often there is a vertical line rising up from each end of the horizontal bar, as her arms are raised skywards in blessing.

A vertical bar with wavy lines coming from it symbolizes Tanit as the Serpent Lady, the Tree of Life with serpents. Ishtar became Astarte to the Semitic Phoenicians and later Tanit, the Serpent Goddess.


From Sacred Women, Sacred Dance by 

Don't let them tame you, stay wild

Art by: Ines Honfi

"When women tap into their forbidden wild side again, mountains will move. Before that happens a huge explosion of anger needs to be danced with and embraced; and when we dare to tap into this pool of wild rage, we discover it contains our raw fire power, our wild, untamed, creative Shakti.

Our primal, feminine essence of the Red River is wild, passionate, fiercely protective, fearless, magnetic, alluring, sensual and playful. WILD means not living in captivity – allowing ALL of yourself to be truly free, to be sensual, to be fearlessly seen and without any shame. This opens the primal, deep, passionate ‘she-wolf’ at the core of your Womb.'

'Pilgrimage into the Womb: Awakening the Holy Grail'