The Diana Challenge

... Your challenge, therefore, is to ...

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See you at The Diana Challenge

Blissed be!
Anita

What is the single biggest challenge facing you right now?

It's funny how one simple question can be the permission we need to share... when I asked on my Facebook page,

"What is the biggest challenge facing your right now?", 

the answers that were shared were amazing.

Heartfelt.

Real.

Tear-jerkers.

Read the rest of the post at http://igoddess.com/affirmations-to-remind-you-of-your-awesomeness/

Blissed be!
Anita

Feedback from a goddess sister

Although time limitations doesn't allow me to respond personally to every email, goddess sisters, I really adore receiving every single one. Here is one I received a while ago that I found again in my inbox just when I needed a boost... sharing it with your now, hoping that it will make you smile like it did for me...

Dearest Anita~

I understand you probably receive boatloads of emails just like this one - but I must express my gratitude. When I sit down at my computer and see my goddess newsletter, I smile and my heart beats a little faster. It's like a sparkly little electronic gem just for me! As a solitary witch with no coven or circle, your newsletters help to teach me, refill me, energize me and help to fend off the despair and loneliness that often sets in when working alone. I found your site while early on my path and it has been an invaluable resource to me - your posts have inspired much of my work, and helped me to articulate my passion for the Goddess through paint. After I've read your Monday morning letter, my fingers get tingly for my brushes and I fly down the hallway with my hair wild and pajamas still on - and the only cure for the tinglies is to make something beautiful! I understand you are a terribly busy lady and don't expect you to write back, but I just had to thank you for your generous efforts. I am truly grateful!

*~Blissings!~*

Thank you soooo much for your emails of support, love and even constructive criticism! If you are an InnerGoddess member and have sent me an email, whether you have received a reply or not, here is a thank you gift for you:

a free "Affirmation Poster"

courtesy of "Affirmation Goddess" (coming soon)

Simply right-click the link above and "save link as" to download your gift.

The truth behind those rumours and misguided beliefs...

What exactly is goddess? This is as complex a question as time is old. The simple answer is that every woman is goddess. Every action, thought, projection of self, and treatment of others is a reflection of the goddess within.

The more complex answer involves reconnecting with goddess energy, and learning to implement it in our daily lives. It helps to first dispel some of the common misconceptions.

-----------


Read the rest of this post at http://igoddess.com/lies-and-misconceptions-at-last-the-truth/

Blissed be!
Anita

My Predictions for 2010

2010 arrived on the back of a gorgeous blue moon this week, and with it a renewed sense of hope. After a difficult 2009, I am calling twenty-ten my "year of power and purpose." I have a feeling that you also are on the cusp of stepping into your goddess power, ready to reclaim the happiness that is your birthright.

I'm also predicting that this year:

* You'll glimpse your inner wow-factor... Yes, you'll look in the mirror and be startled by the gorgeous broad looking back at you. You'll see wrinkles as laugh-lines, your belly as an expression of femininity, and a sparkle in your eyes that can only come from a realisation of self-appreciation.

* You'll be showered with good fortune... Yes, you will find money in your wallet, you will be able to afford little luxuries (and big!) and you will be able to pay your bills without any stress. This is because you will learn that money is simply energy, and the more you allow it to flow the more it flows in abundance back to you.

* You'll lose weight... Yes, suddenly that pre-baby wardrobe is looking like an option again. That favourite pair of pants is coming out for another season. That dress that makes you look hot hot hot is coming our for another trot trot trot. This is because you will look in the mirror and lose your attachment to any feelings of ugliness, unworthiness and un-sexiness. As you gain self-acceptance, you will lose your baggage.

What do you predict for 2010?

You are enough

I woke up yesterday with yet another flu. It's not fair - I'd only just recovered from another flu a week earlier. To make matters more stressful, our landlady called to say she'd sold our house and we have two weeks to find somewhere else to live.

"Dear Goddess," I said in frustration, "I'm unable to work because I'm ill. I am forfeiting thousands of dollars on my investment in the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Melbourne this weekend. I've spent a whole day on the phone trying to find somewhere to live that is clean, affordable, and will take a dog. I'm near the end of my tether here. I'm ready for a change of fortune."

I closed my eyes and let my prayer drift into the cosmos. Emptying my mind of worries, for the time being at least, I allowed myself some space for peace. In that quiet moment of "be-ing", of simply sitting in a space of zero expectation, a beautiful answer drifted back to me.

I shared that answer in this week's newsletter, and invited the InnerGoddess gals to share their thoughts here: what would you most like to hear right now?

A Time to Remember

11 November is Remembrance Day in Australia, a time to remember those who have died or suffered in wars and conflicts and all those who have served during the past 100 years.

For the purpose of "remembering", we look to Greek goddess Mnemosyne (nem-oh-zeen), whose name means "memory." She bore nine daughters with Zeus, who became the nine Muses of the creative arts.

In this week's Inner Goddess newsletter, when prompting, "What Would Goddess Do?", I noted that if she were in your situation, she would write her memoir. She would begin by recollecting her journey, recalling both the wonderful and the icky moments in her life, recognising the beautiful being she was born to be, and relearning how to apply her life lessons for a more rewarding existence. In doing so, she would easily recognise her full potential as wonderful, sacred, self-fulfilled being.

I also promised a list of prompts for beginning your memoir. Here they are (from the journal "What Would Goddess Do?")...

• It all started when …
• Imagine her surprise when …
• If only she knew …
• Her major turning point was …
• I was named after …
• My finest moment was …
• I felt giddy with happiness …
• In all my life, I never …
• If it’s one thing I regret ….
• If I could change things …
• My epitaph would read …
• I’m so proud of …
• When I think of …
• It was so perfect …
• Happy is the girl who ...

Love is Like Jello (a lesson in finding your soul mate)

In this week's newsletter to InnerGoddess members, I told a story about how I found my soul mate. The motto of my story is that...

Love is like jello - the more you try and hold onto it, the more it squeezes out of your grasp.

I also invited members to offer their little gems... When / How did you meet your soul mate? What life lesson did you learn in the process?

Be the kind of woman that...

... when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says,
"Oh crap, she's up!"

This well-known expression made me laugh out loud this morning... so much so I began a list of other things that would make me "that kind of woman." In the spirit of Bast, some of it's playful, but underlying each point is a serious sentiment.

I've started my list here, and would love you to add to it.

Be the kind of woman that...

• ... takes 'No' as the start of a negotiation, not the end
• ... isn't afraid to do a U-turn when she's on the wrong road
• ... knows that today's escapades are tomorrow's morning tea
• ... is adept at riding the winds of fortune
• ... chooses her battles wisely; big enough to matter, small enough to win
• ... kisses slowly, forgives quickly and dances a hell of a tango
• ... does what she can with what she has in what time she has to do it
• ... is as strong as the coffee she drinks and the friends she has
• ... grabs second chances without second glances
• ... demands tequila and salt when life gives her lemons
• ... fights for what she loves and against what she hates
• ... lets the day happen whether she gets out of bed or not
• ... doesn't believe in bathroom scales or bad-news-papers
• ... predicts her future by creating it
• ... brings her own sunshine no matter what the weather
• ... takes the greatest delight in the smallest of miracles
  
• ... loves her body, loves her Self and loves her goddess within

~ Anita Revel :: AnitaRevel.com

What's Your Personal Vibration Level?

I had another birthday recently, and like every birthday, I reflected on the past year to celebrate the many moments of magic. Inevitably I also find moments I could have improved on through my choices and actions. This is OK too - all in sacred balance, after all!

I do this "annual revision" by taking a "Personal Vibration Quiz" (sent to the InnerGoddess members moments ago). It only takes a couple of minutes to get your result - aka your "Personal Vibration Level" – a number out of 100 that tells you how much potential you are using. It is a measure of the energy you emit as you walk through life. And, it helps you identify areas for improvement.

I invite you to subscribe to the InnerGoddess newsletter to take the quiz also. If members are so guided, you may commit to improving your Personal Vibration Level by posting your result / promise / plan of action by commenting on this post.

Goddess as an acrostic poem

Every day I receive gorgeous emails from InnerGoddess members sharing a piece of their lives with me. This letter came from Janne after she found my story in That's Life magazine...

Over the past few years I have become very spiritually aware and have known that there is the goddess within us which is the one we need to cherish and love to help us grow and become the beautiful caring beings we are. In fact I was meditating some time ago when I came up with a meaning for GODDESS which I feel fits very well and would like to share with you.

GODDESS: Guiding Our Divine Deity Entire Sacred Self

This meaning that came to me just seamed to fit so perfectly so I am so glad I have found your goddess site

Thanks from within Anita, Janne

How lovely is that? Janne effectively came up with an acrostic poem that personalises "Goddess" to her. Can you think of one that describes your connection with the goddess within? Share it here!

Prayer for Beauty (as inspired by Venus)

The following paragraphs are taken from The Goddess DIET, See a Goddess in the Mirror in 21 Days by Anita Revel. Keep this perspective in mind as you say Anita's Prayer For Beauty to help you reconnect with the gorgeous goddess that you were born to be. You can read the prayer in this week's InnerGoddess newsletter, or in the book, The Goddess DIET, See a Goddess in the Mirror in 21 Days.

Getting Real About Loving Your Body

Dove commissioned a study in 2005 and found that out of 3300 girls and women between the ages of 15 and 64 in 10 countries, 68 percent agreed that media and advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty that they could not hope to achieve. It’s important to remember that yes, models are beautiful, but again, they are only one kind of beautiful. Thankfully the air-brush was unheard of when Rubens, Botticelli and Bouguereau were creating their fabulous works. They have inspired countless modern day works such as Venice Reconstituted at Venice Beach (by California artist Rip Cronk, 1989, pictured left), or Baron Von Lind’s stunning pin-ups, or the alluring burlesque performers that captivate audiences world-wide.

It appears the artists also inspired Anita's Prayer For Beauty that you can read in this week's InnerGoddess newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Disgraceful Challenge

In this week's InnerGoddess newsletter, I included a Prayer for Growing Old Gracefully. It's a really sweet prayer, full of sage advice and common sense. But sometimes the inner cheeky goddess simply must be heard... who wants to be practical all the time, right?

So, I've invited InnerGoddess members to co-create a "Prayer for Growing Old Disgracefully"... for example, your contribution could include requests along the lines of, "may I never forget to pack paper towel in case I spill my cocktail in public."

Comment to add your suggestion to our co-created prayer.

Extraordinary things in ordinary moments

This is a true story. The Washington Post organised a violinist to play incognito in the metro station as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognise talent in an unexpected context? The answer it seems, is no we do not.


You can read the story in this week's InnerGoddess newsletter... Please return to this post to answer the question: what have you seen today that is an extraordinary thing in an ordinary moment?

1 September: Happy New Year!

Here in Australia, it's the last day of winter. From 1 September, we enter a time to stretch, yawn, awaken, reach upward, outward, flex and gravitate to the light.

Our goddess sisters in the northern hemisphere, on the other hand, are saying goodbye to the long, lazy days of summer. Northern sisters are entering the Autumnal phase where days grow shorter and the earth prepares for winter. It is a time for you to cover up, snuggle down and go within.

Either way, 1 September represents a turning point in our consciousness. It is the start of a new year, of sorts. Why wait until the calendar new year, when we can choose to rock into new intentions right now?

What do you hope to achieve in this next stage in the wheel of the year? What do you hope to manifest in the next few weeks or months? Whether you're drawing on the revitalising energy of Spring, or the introspective energy of Autumn, harness both to achieve a long-awaited dream.

What is going to be your "1 September New Year Dream"?

Prayer For You

I'm happy to announce that this is a perfect moment. It's a perfect moment for many reasons, but especially because I have been inspired to say a gigantic prayer for all of you. I've been roused to unleash a divinely greedy, apocalyptically healing prayer for each and every one of you - even those of you who don't believe in the power of prayer...

... and so begins Prayer For You by my favourite philosopher and astrologer, Rob Brezsny. The man is a genius, and funny to boot. If you only buy one book this year (apart from one of mine, ha ha), make it this one. 

Possibly my favourite line is "And please give them bigger, better, more original sins and wilder, wetter, more interesting problems," although my preference changes regularly. I included a couple more of my favourite verses from Rob's Prayer For You in my newsletter this week, with an invitation to InnerGoddess members to share their favourite line / concept here...

What's your favourite line and why? Which words moved you? Which gutsy prose inspired you to action? Which passionate blurbage bit fired the blood in your veins and a song in your heart?

Numerology advice please...

Over the xmas break, we played Kelly Pool quite a bit with our various guests. We didn't have a "14" button in the bottle so used the number "16" button instead. Later, I found the "14" button on the floor of the lounge. So I put it back in the bottle thinking, "yay, now we have a complete set"...

The next day I found the same button back on the loungeroom floor. What the? Thinking it a bit strange, I put it back in the bottle again. The following day, I found the same button YET AGAIN. For the third time, I put it back in the bottle, and this time told Gavstar what was going on.

He went inside to shake the bottle and see if there were any holes in it (apart from the opening!), when he nearly stepped on the number "7" button sitting on the floor. Two days later, he found the "7" button AGAIN. Again, WHAT THE...?

I was reminded of this story when I went for coffee with a friend a couple of weeks later. She got "number 7" table marker, while I got... NUMBER 14.

Please please please, if you are a numerologist, intuitive or just plain insightful, please, give me a clue! What is the meaning of finding these two numbers together?

xx
Anita

Review by Flourish Magazine: The Goddess DIET

This review was published in the winter issue of Flourish Magazine, currently on sale in newsagencies throughout WA and major cities nationally.

House Protection Spell... Lifted

Thanks so much to everyone who offered their advice. I feel very blessed to be surrounded and supported by such WISE women! After careful consideration of your advice, and conscious digging to my intuitive centre to find my answers within, I've written a release-and-lift blessing so that the new owner can travel her own path and develop her own relationship with the house :-) It feels like the right thing to do - I just had to have it clear in my head and heart that I wasn't lifting the original spell for the wrong reasons ;-) Herewith is the blessing I have written for the house...

My darling house of seven years,

Under your roof we had no fears;

You sheltered us through hail and shine,

And welcomed friends with hearts so fine.

But the time has come to say farewell,

So with gratitude and love, I wish thee well.

In my heart and memory you shall stay

As the home I loved being in, every day.

Now with these words I lift the spell

That kept us protected and safe so well.

What happens next, come what may,

All is in divine order; for the highest good, I pray.

House protection spell.... your advice please

Goddess sisters,

This week, after a long and tiresome process, my beautiful home finally sold and a new owner has moved in. But I have a quandary and I'd like your advice...

Years ago when I first bought the house, I put a protection spell on it to protect it (and us) from harm, and to welcome only those with pure intentions and open hearts. It was a wonderful home to live in as a result, and we only have fond memories of our time there, and of our beautiful visitors who added to the warmth of our memories.

As it transpires, however, the new owner has less than pure intentions, and showed zero compassion or understanding during the final days of the house's settlement. In short, she is the type of person who my house would have rejected in order to protect my son and I. Herein lies my quandary...

a) Do I leave the protection spell in place, in which case she will be protected from nasty people and happenings, but the house will reject her? Or,

b) Do I remove the protection spell so the house won't reject her, but expose her to the potential nasties the house may become subject to?

What do you think? What should I do so that all parties are taken care of and I can move on with a clean conscience that I acted for the highest good of all involved?