How To Marry Yourself

When my single girlfriends wail that "there are no good men out there," I suggest that before they think about serious relationships and marriage, they first marry themselves in order to find true love.

Read the "how to" article at SelfLoveAffair.com

500 Years of Women in Art

Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli , Boltraffio, Albrecht Durer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Messina, Perugino, Hans Memling, El Greco, Hans Holbein, Rokotov, Peter Paul Rubens, Gobert, Caspar Netscher, Pierre Mignard, Jean-Marc Nattier, Vigee-Le Brun, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Winterhalter, Tyranov, Borovikovsky, Venetsianov, Gros, Kiprensky, Amalie, Corot, Edouard Manet, Flatour, Ingres, Wontner, Bouguereau, Comerre, Leighton, Blaas, Renoir, Millias, Duveneck, Cassatt, Weir, Zorn, Mucha, Paul Gaugan, Henri Matisse, Picabia, Gustav Klimt, Hawkins, Magritte, Salvador Dali, Malevich, Merrild, Modigliani, Pablo Picasso... it's a dream of mine to join this list of esteemed artists one day ;-)

Calypso Inspiration: How To Talk Like a Pirate Wench

As I wrote in my column this week, I’d just finished watching the third instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean with my son when it became apparent we’d slipped into pirate lingo. Boy Wonderful’s simple request for food, for example, became:

Boy Wonderful: “I need some grub in me bung-hole yer dirty land-lubbin’ son of a bilge rat.”

Me: “Bwaarck! Polly wanna cracker?” (Oh, wait. That’s for Talk Like a parrot Day.) No, what I really said was, “If it’s a bucket of slop yer after, there be some swill through yonder galley porthole,” except said in the accent of Tia Dalma (the character in the aforementioned movie who is actually the goddess Calypso bound into human form) so it came out more like, “a-hdaa-me-darrr-la-deeerrr-me-hiiiiy.”

That's when we decided we needed more lessons on how to speak like a true pirate (or in my case, a true goddess Calypso). Here are the three steps we took to learn pirate language:

1. We got ourselves some fabulous pirate names. At BlogThings I became Dirty Left Eye Lisa and Boy Wonderful was renamed Iron Jimmy Jailbird.

2. We weighed anchor at the International Talk Like a Pirate Day for a bit and picked up a great swag of pirate words (the five staple words being Ahoy! Avast! Aye! Aye aye! And Arrrr!)

3. Then, with shovels-a-shovelin’ and sweat-a-pourin’ offava our necks like we was nothin’ more than the underbelly of a taste of the Cap’n’s daughter, we practised and practised and practised!

I'm happy with that, providing I don't suddenly grow to 60-feet tall and spew crabs across the deck of a black pearl...

My Inner Domestic Goddess

I've heard there is merit in doing housework, but personally I don't see the point of making beds, sweeping the floor and cleaning windows if it only has to be done again in six months' time. So, in my column this week, I started looking into which ancient goddess I could use as a domestic goddess role model. This is what I found.

• Rhiannon didn't clean windows because, as goddess of birds, horses and licorice all sorts, she didn't want any of her birds to run into a clean window and get hurt.


• As goddess of the home, Vesta didn't wax floors because she was terrified a guest would slip and she had no current public liability insurance.


• The goddess behind Easter (Eostre) didn't vacuum because she actually liked dust bunnies. In fact, she liked all sorts of bunnies. They were very good company, made great chocolate eggs, and they agreed with everything she said.


• Spider Woman didn't disturb cobwebs because all the earth's children live in her web. To clear the cobwebs would be creating rampant homelessness and that would be just plain irresponsible.


• Demeter didn't spring-clean because she was too busy welcoming Persephone back from the Underworld. Besides, she was too busy ensuring an abundant harvest so that the world's people wouldn't starve.


• The Roman goddess of flowers didn't pull weeds in the garden because, well, once you get used to them, some weeds' flowers are pretty.


• Athena didn't iron because she wore what nature intended — flirty short skirts in peacetime and warrior's armor during the end-of-season sales (and other times of general warfare).


• Love goddess Venus didn't have time for housework — she was too busy painting her nails and other general duties appropriate to her realm of beauty, sass, sunshine and love.
  

Which ancient goddess best reflects your inner domestic goddess?

Do Blokes Have an Inner Goddess?

In my column this week, I looked at how Sharon Turnbull's book "Goddess Gift: Discover Your Goddess Type" is being used by returning troops in their PTSD sessions. I asked the question, if the book is written for women, how is it finding its way to men who understand terms like “Iron Mike”, “short-arm inspection” and “sucking chest wound”?

To be honest, I can’t think of a reason why the tactics in the book can’t work for the blokes too. To test this, I did a quick whip-around-vox-pop to some male friends to see if they have an inner goddess. Returning troops they are not, but they do understand enough about resolute women to know that incoming fire has right of way. Hence, they were quick to supply me with these gracious answers:

• Ian: Yes, her name is Barry.
• (To read the others, go to the column)

After I had submitted the column, I got some more answers from the rest of the blokes who had missed the deadline. However, their answers are worth shouting from the shoe shops, so I'm inserting them below.

• Adam: Yes, I do. Her name is LaDawn. In a previous life, I was a black female backup vocalist. And I am being totally serious...
• Matt: Yeah I got an inner goddess, she's the earth and the moon and the sun and the spirit passed down to me from my mother.

If your bloke has an inner goddess, he's welcome to "out" her in the "comments" box :-)

Love and Blissings Book

Note -- a new book has opened at http://igoddess.com/love-and-blissings-book/

 Please do join us there for the most recent comments, and to add your own! Love, Anita

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I've had more emails than usual over the past couple of weeks asking for prayers, advice and gifts of consciousness. Not sure what's going in the Universe, or why Kali seems to be on a rampage, but I'm only one person and can only physically do so much...
Prayers for strength, healing and unconditional love gain momentum when spoken and shared by many, so I thought I'd create a "Love and Blissings Book" here where you can lodge your request for loving support, or pledge that you will send your loving support to those who request it.
All the names in this Book will be included in my daily meditation and salutes. If you are able to include those in need in your prayers also, please leave a note in the Book to share your intention.

Love and delight :-) Anita

All Aboard the Sisterhood Bus

"When I grow up, I want a bus just like this one"... ;-)

Seriously, doesn't this clip (in support of a campaign for an international human rights organisation that promotes values of dignity, equality and justice) make you want to take life by the short-n-curlies, climb aboard a bus full of goddess sisters, and DANCE?!

What's your dream for gathering your goddess sisters? Is it a red tent, a goddess circle in your backyard, or a large-scale, fun and fabulous goddess gathering?

Share your dream!

My #1 Rule for a Meaningful Life

My 13-year-old Boy Wonder asked me last night, "Mummy, what's the point of living if we just die in the end anyway?"

Wow, I don't know what surprised me more -- this coming from a 13-year-old, or from the son of a life affirmer! It sounds so macabre coming from a young adolescent raised in a positive, warm, supportive and affirmative home! (We all know it's not though -- the "meaning of life" is something we're all chasing, is it not!?!)

Anyhoo, this is what i told him: my #1 rule for a meaningful life...

What do YOU think is the secret to a meaningful life?

What do you love about yourself?

What do you love most about yourself?


The new post has been moved to http://igoddess.com/what-do-you-love-about-yourself/


Please join us there! 


Blissed be,
Anita

The Goddess Workout

It seems my Goddess Workout (featured in the Body+Soul liftout last year) is striking a chord... I found out this morning it is being translated to Dutch and included in a book! More soon on that one. In the meantime, click on the image above to read the Workout :-)

Love and light refreshments,
Anita

Easter Questions

Last week, in my weekly column for UPI, I wrote about Eostre (the namesake of Easter) and her lover, Lepus the hare (aka the "Easter bunny"). In it, I posed two questions:

1. When Easter eggs hatch, what kind of animal is born?
2. Which came first? The rabbit or the egg?

Let the stream-of-consciousness flow!

Road Trippin' in the USA

Chicago is SUCH an incredible city! Why haven't I been here before? Oh my gosh, the three-storey roads had my head spinning for a bit, as did the St Patricks Day festivities here yesterday. But it's all good! It's better than the head-spin I got after taking a wrong turn in Tennessee and finding myself driving through the Virginian mountain ranges, lol.

Hubby (aka "Luvvy") and I have been finding up songs about every state we are visiting. We have some gaps though, and are hoping you can help us by contributing suggestions... So far we have been to:

- Louisana: The Battle of New Orleans, Johnny Horton
- Mississippi:
- Tennessee: Graceland, Paul Simon
- Virginia: Country Roads, John Denver (I know, not "technically" about Virginia)
- Kentucky: Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin (I'm sure there's a line in there about "from the Kentucky coal-mines to the Californian sun")?
- Indiana: "I come from Indiana with a corn cob in my sack" (OK, we made that one up - after 10 hours of driving we were getting a little stir-crazy)
- Illinois: Any song by the band, Chicago?

Coming up next:

- Michigan:
- Ohio:
- Pennsylvania:
- New York: NY NY, the old dude
- Connecticut:
- California: Welcome to the Hotel California, The Eagles

Get in there girls, get creative!
:-)
Anita

New name news

In a decision that has taken me, oh, 12 years to make, I am in the process of changing my name to better reflect who I have become. I know, I know, a disastrous thing to do branding-wise, but ultimately, I've got to be comfortable with the two words that "define me".

Herewith is some background info into my rationale. (Shhhhh, don't tell anyone I used rationale - it might give me a bad reputation, lol)

When I was a maiden I had my father's name. That name represents the happy-go-lucky, exploratory, sometimes awkward, and often embarrassing years of my life.

Then came my first husband's name. I only changed my name to "meet social expectations". I look back now and realise the "social expectations" were simply my fear-of-judgement misleading me into decisions I was making for the sake of others and not for me.

Nevertheless, the surname "Ryan" represents 14 years of growing up, coming of age, some pretty funky handbags and most rewarding of all, being a mother to my gorgeous Connor.

Now I'm entering the beyond-mother stage. Yes my son is still in high school and I'll be his mother for the rest of his life. However, he is growing out of his need to have the same surname as me. My second husband is also growing -- out of patience that is! He's tired of being called "Mr Ryan" when we go to restaurants.

So anyway, while "Anita Ryan" might be my brand as an author and website creatrix, on a personal level it is unsustainable. It is a residue of a life that has served its purpose - a time of amazing and positive growth, mind you - but the time has come to adopt my "adult" name for life.

I know this isn't the end of the line of "me" growing as a person, (heaven forbid!), but I do look forward to stepping into the goddess power I feel resonating in the name, "Anita Revel".
(Pronunciation tip: re-VEL)

Initially you'll start seeing me sign my InnerGoddess broadcasts with a hybrid of my new name. You'll also see my hybrid name on my books and articles from today also, and with 50+ years of writing left in me I'm hoping you'll see hundreds of these!

As a verb, 'revel' means to celebrate with unrestrained merrymaking and great pleasure or delight. This is certainly energy that I look forward to carrying forward with me from this point onwards.

I hope you join me for many years to come as we weave a merry dance back to a world-wild state of "goddess-ness"!

:-)
big loves,
Anita Ryan-Revel

Cover Girl

It is the most surreal feeling to walk past the magazine stands and seeing myface on the cover of a magazine!

The 'Seven-Day Chakra Workout' that I wrote for Spheres magazine is proving to be very popular... stay tuned for the book. Estimated date for publishing: early 2007 :-)

Stairway to Kevin

Brooding over Steve Irwin’s death earlier this week, I headed outside last night to clear my head and look at the stars. As the Egyptian goddess Nuit is typically depicted wearing a cloak of stars that act as a gateway between heaven and earth, to me the stars represent her divine connection between earth and cosmic light.

As I followed the blazing trail of the Milky Way, the stars seemed brighter than any time I could remember. The clusters and random sprinklings of celestial bodies reminded me of something… a vision of some sort… (Edited for length. For the full version of this article, visit ReligionAndSpirituality.com.)

... But enough of e-Bay and the virtual warehouse of endless items of faith. Unless, of course you want to talk about shoes, then I’m on my knees and praying for all soles.

As I said, I was mulling over the meaning of Steve Irwin’s death, and feeling immensely saddened for his family whom he adored.

Suddenly I was able to make out the vision… the stars were forming a stairway to Kevin -- another larger-than-life excitable Aussie who’s already up there -- Gold Coast businessman “Big Kev” McQuay who was famous for his catch cry, “I’m excited.”

It was then I broke through the weight of my grief with a giggle.

Yes, a giggle. You see, Nuit's esoteric attributes are those of oneness, bliss and universal love. She helps us bond with our planetary family while her cosmic energy acts as our bridge to the realm of cosmic consciousness. Therefore, when drawing on Nuit’s energy, many people experience a contact with a guide, whether by voice, automatic writing, or other stimulus.

For me on this particular occasion, it meant that I was able to receive a message from beyond. It was as clear as a bell and funnier’n my dog eating black-cat lollies.

The message was… “Crikey, I’m excited!”

I just hope this doesn’t mean heaven is a warehouse full of crocodiles…

Which City Am I In? (#4)

News travels fast, as they say...

Not only did my "Goddess Workout" appear in the Body+Soul suplement on Sunday (read it here on the news.com.au site, or a pretty version here at the goddess site), but I was also on the Channel Ten news recently. This is a pic of the crew interviewing me... The question is, WHERE is the interview being held?

Clues:

1. It is in Australia;
2. It is near water - large vessels travel in and out of here each day;
3. The location is named after a Queen of England (no, not Julian Clary)

Blissings and Good Luck!
Anita

PS The answer to Challenge # 3 was Broome, Western Australia. Technically, Michelle got the answer correct (in her first guess at least!) ;-)

Which City Am I In? (#3)

You girls are too, too clever! Yes, the answer to the last "which city am I in?" competition is indeed, Bunbury, in the South West of Western Australia.

OK, this time, I'm limiting the clues ;-)

Here is another place I visited while on tour recently... At this time of year, this place is enjoying 31 degree Celcius temperatures - hence my "summer gear" in winter.

This place is famous for its sunsets, and is touted as being the "Best Beach For Sunset Photos in Australia"...

Right-oh, that's it. That's the only clue I'm giving you! Guess away :-)

xxx Anita

Where am I this week?

In my "job" as a Goddess Playshop Facilitator I am constantly on the move. I had the privilege of conducting one of these fun 2-hour workshops in "this city" recently...

The first person to guess (correctly!) which city I am in will win a copy of my book - The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality an 88-page easy-to-understand guide to chakra and goddess energies. (Read all about the book at www.goddess.com.au/eBooks)

To help you work out which city am I in, here are some clues...

1. It is 97.7 miles from Perth - Western Australia's capital city ("Perth", by the way, was the answer to April's "Which City Am I In?" competition);

2. It is sometimes described as "the commercial hub to the Margaret River wine region"; and

3. This area was subject to lava flows (millions of years ago), which resulted in the unique basalt rock formations you can see in this photo.

Good luck! :-)
xx
Anita

Full moon celebrations

As you know, I send out my innergoddess newsletter* every Monday. Although Monday is a perfect day for honouring Selene, Hecate, Diana and all the moon goddesses, full moons also provide a magical backdrop to any gathering.

Whether the gathering be a drumming circle, story-telling, party-for-one, drinks and nibblies, or a night of high passion and sacred ritual, it doesn't matter - it's all significant to spend some time each month for gratitude, contemplation and loving our energy.

This is my favourite full-moon gathering spot (below). Share your favourite spot with us!

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COOGEE BEACH, NSW (AUSTRALIA)

The Women's Pool at Coogee Beach is a heaven-sent haven for women drummers in Sydney - possibly because of its privacy, but also because of its surreal beauty. A steep grassed area slopes down to the sea-pool below and offers a magnificent view of the Coogee bay and white sandy shore. Even more beautiful is the stunning full moon and her reflections in the ocean that ripples in time to the magical energy of the group.

There is room for a group of up to 20 women (or thereabouts) to form a semblence of a circle on the grass, but I find this casual nature of the circle liberating - it allows me to break free from a tight drumming structure and have the courage to let my natural rhythm surface. There is a toilet block at the pool, and providing it is not a total fire ban, small fires may be lit for ritual.
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KEY ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE:
- location
- who is it best suited to (or NOT suited to?)
- best features
- practical features
- quirky / unique features
- why you love it so much
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* If you are not subscribed to the innergoddess newsletter, you may do so by emailing innergoddess-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

I am a fit and healthy size... X!

In last week's InnerGoddess newsletter, one affirmation triggered some truly inspired writing from members. It was: "I am a fit and healthy size 10"

Now, something I perhaps should have clarified in the newsletter itself...

I'm not suggesting ANYONE should take my size 10 and try to make it fit when the goddess has clearly made us all unique. Heaven forbid we ALL turn into robots trying to be something we're not! ;-)

I do, however, suggest taking all of my suggested affirmations as triggers to craft your own affirmation to suit yourself. eg; "I am a healthy, fit and weigh exactly (X) stone which is perfect for me", or "I am healthy, fit, and perfect!"

What affirmation would you formulate to help you find self-acceptance with regards to your body's health and body image?