Connecting To The Goddess Within

This introduction to Aphrodite is short and sweet. I want you to be more about feeling than thinking in this first meditation. So expect a brief introduction to Aphrodite before we move into feeling love in our meditation. Aphrodite is the goddess of swans, roses, apples, arts and all things graceful, inspired and creative. Her energy urges us toward Self-Love, celebrating her divine self by being completely unself-conscious of her own beauty and the beauty of others. Above all, Aphrodite represents the transformative power of love.

In today's session I will talk about the goddess Kwan Yin, who is a goddess that may be new to some of you. In Buddhism, the journey to enlightenment journey begins with practice of loving-kindness and compassion. Kuan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy, an emanation of the Divine Mother and serves the world through her compassion and desire for all beings to be free of suffering. Kuan Yin is a messenger of self-love and love for all of mankind. You can call on her when you want to awaken compassion, deepen self-love or love for others. She is always ready to assist. More compassion and love naturally bring more grace and ease into your everyday life.

Hina, as goddess of the moon, is closely linked with feminine energy. In many stories, closely associated with the moon, the ocean, and female activities like cooking and crafts as well as healing. The story of Hina is that she was once a mortal women, beautiful and intelligent, growing tired of the noises and business of the world she sought refuge in the sky, first she tried the sun, but it was too hot. So instead she made her home in the moon, guiding sailors and weaving cloth, she found peace and become the goddess of the Moon.

In ancient Irish myths and legends, Aine is described as a Faery Queen, a goddess of the earth, sun and nature. It was believed she brought luck and good magic to her worshippers. The faery world is one of fun and sparkle: a reminder for us to seek that which brings us joy. As a sun goddess, Aine can help us foster sparks of inspiration, we can draw on her strength, as well as our own inner fire to put our hearts desires into action.

Bambha is the Goddess of Autumn, she represents the bountiful harvest of mother earth as we take in the harvest. This Goddess from Celtic origin is also goddess of stone Circles, nature and protectress of animals seeking shelter from the darkening days. She is a perfect reminder of all we have to be grateful for, and all we have to thank the earth for.

Sekhmet is a sun goddess and seen as a fierce protectress and healer. A goddess from the Egyptian pantheon, she is often portrayed as half woman, half lioness, Sekhmet is powerful and beautiful. Unlike anyone or anything else, Sekhmet can inspire us to embrace our own strength and power. And also to be our true, unique selves. To step into our power is beautiful indeed.

The Hindu Goddess Kali is a powerful dual-goddess representing both light and dark, yang and yin, birth and destruction, she is both a mother goddess full of love, and a warrior full of wrath. Her archetype represents the duality within all of us - and in seeking true balance, and harmony, we must embrace both sides of our nature.

Today we’ll journey to Sulis Minerva's sacred spring, discard fears and then listen to any answers she has. Sulis Minerva is a very special Goddess, created in the ancient town of Aquae Sulis (Now Bath, UK) Sulis is a pagan goddess, her name means eye, to see and to understand and Minerva is the Roman goddess of Wisdom. The Roman settlers in Bath combined these two goddesses to help encourage harmony between pagan and roman city dwellers.

Working with Pele is to work with a lot of energy and power, which is why I have left her until last. Like a volcano gathering strength we have been warming up to this fiery goddess. Pele also, to my mind represents something inside all women that we should sometimes like to set free – a burning hellfire, a tirade of glorious fury, to burn and destroy without regret. Pele represent passion and fire unleashed onto the earth, unapologetic – and in return Pele is not judged, or criticised, or told to ‘calm down’. She is too powerful for that – so she is given the complete respect she deserves. Surely all woman would like to experience this! Hence one of the many reasons for Pele’s well-earned fame.

In this meditation we’ll choose a goddess that has particularly spoken to us over the last 9 meditations, or choose one at random if you aren't sure (the right goddess will find her way to you, whether it is today or in the coming days). And using visualisation and writing: we can create a plan for moving forward using inspiration and guidance from our goddess journey.