The Goddess Pages ~ Laurie Sue Brockway (95 of 2024)

 Laurie Sue Brockway from New York is an interfaith minister, who had researched on various Goddesses and have covered 36 in this book,  in six parts. 

Not all of them are covered here - like the Goddess of Justice : Themis and many more. 

It's only natural that the Goddess should have special significance for women, who long to know, too, that they are made in divine image. 

God is one source, but a source that manifests in many ways, through many paths, religions and spiritual practices, represented by a wider range of deities with different names. 

She was first influenced by Lakshmi, and realised that,  we can connect to any goddess we feel called to, anywhere, anytime, as long as our hearts are pure and our intentions are sincere. 

One of the many challenges we women face is low self-esteem, it seems to be the root of many problems - dating wrong men, underpaid, people taking advantage, not saying 'no' enough, not chasing dreams,  feeling unworthy or uncapable of. 

Connecting with many Goddesses of the world, will help us connect with our Goddess within. Goddess worship appears to be there from 40,000 years before, one of the most famous earliest artifacts is that of Venus of Willendorf. She is depicted as a rotund and curvy female. Her pendulous breasts represent the hills and mountains, her big belly is the rich and fecund earth. 

The Great Goddess Mother was the planet. Many of the world's culture continued to worship her, though conventional monotheistic religious belief is dominated by references and images of male. 

While the book focuses more on ritual than religion, most of the faiths honor the feminine as an aspect of God. 

Each chapter gives you directions and suggestion on how best to honor a particular goddess. Every story, every ritual and prayer is shared here to empower you, help you enhance your own life and help you tap into your own power - the Goddess within. 

Goddesses covered here are:

I 1.Reclaiming Eve:

Our first link to divine feminine in human form. Reclaiming here is the first step towards getting to know the Goddess within. 

II Goddess of Self-Empowerment and Strength:

1. Hathor  Egyptian goddess of love, beauty and pleasure, helps you to see your inner light and shows you how truly beautiful you are. 
2. Lilith - The Hebrew goddess said to be Adam's first wife, was demonized historically but is an empowered woman in the Kabbalah and in contemporary feminine spirituality. She helps you discover your dark and wild side. 
3. Oya - Yoruba goddess of wind, hurricanes and wild weather helps you welcome the winds of change. 
4. Nike - Greek goddess of victory and herald of success, helps you claim your victories in life. 
5. Mary - mother of Jesus, is not considered a goddess in the Catholic faith, yet has the powers of Feminine Divine and has been its primary representation for two thousand years, making her the spiritual mother for us all. She helps you connect to your healing power. 
6. Sophia - goddess of wisdom in Gnostic Christianity, is also referred to in Hebrew texts and the books of Solomon. She helps you tap into and trust your own intuition. 
7. Kuan Yin - Chinese goddess of healing and compassion, helps you find compassion for yourself and others. 
8. Green Tara - Tibetan Buddhist goddess of protection, helps you feel safe and shows you haow to stay calm and centered in a crises. 
9. White Buffalo Calf Woman Native American spirit woman, is the mystical feminine force who taught great sacraments to her people. She helps you connect with the true nature of the soul and create a more peaceful life and world. 

III Goddess of Love and Romance:

1. Venus quintessential Roman goddess of love and beauty, shows you that self-love and appreciation is the first step to embracing your own divinity and empowering your sense of self-worth. 
2. Oshun Macumban goddess of sensuality, beauty and woman hood, helps you tap into your sensual side - and express it. 
3. Freya Norse goddess of sexual prowess and war, guides you to be a 'man magnet' and enjoy every minute of your life's sizzling sexual energy. 
4. Persephone Greek goddess of springtime who was abducted by the god of the underworld, shows you how to liberate yourself fro bad relationships and set forth a new path in your love life. 
5. Gauri Hindu goddess of love and marriage, shows you how to prepare for  serious relationship and gently encourage your true love toward the altar. 
6. Radha sacred consort of Hindu avatar krishna, helps you discover your soulful, higher lover. 
7. Isis famous Egyptian mother goddess is hailed for her healing, magic and resurrection powers. She helps you rescue troubled relationships and get them back on track. 

IV Goddesses of Family Life and Friendship:

1. The Great Goddess is the divine female energy of All That Is. She represents life itself, as well as death and regeneration and can help transform your relationship with your own mom by connection you with the power of female ancestry. 
2. Pele the fire goddess who dwells in the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, shows you how to channel and express anger and heal in a healthy, holistic way. 
3. Kali Hindu goddess of life, destruction and regeneration, shows you how to own up to your dark side and dance with the hungry ghosts of your past. 
4. Saint Lucy (Lucina) is the cherished Catholic saint who originated as the Roman goddess of a newborn's first light. She can help you open your spiritual eyes, see family in a new light and bring light to the shadow side of family life. 
5. The Muses the nine Greek deities who joyfully presided over the arts are among the most familiar mythical women and goddesses. They help you celebrate creativity and connections with sisters and friends. 
6. Mary Magdalene the spiritual heroine who is closely linked as soul companion to Jesus, helps you survive the loss of a loved one. 
7. Vesta Roman goddess of the hearth, assists you in creating a true home. 

V Goddesses of Work and Finance:

1. Aurora Roman goddess of the dawn, assists you on the path to your true calling and helps your open your spiritual eyes. 
2. Artemis Greek goddess of the hunt, helps you pursue your career goals with passion and focus. 
3. Brigid  Celtic Irish goddess of inspiration, poetry, birth and blacksmithing helps you find your inspiration and let your creativity flow. 
4. Lakshmi Hindu goddess of fortune, gives you a hand- or four - to boost your income, your financial potential and your ability to plan for your future. 
5. Nemesis Greek goddess of retribution, helps you handle office politics and troublemakers while showing you how you may sabotage your self too. 
6. Durga Hindu mother goddess of protecting and war, helps you draw your boundaries and protect yourself from negative energies. 
7. Saint Terese The beloved Catholic saint known as the Little Flower, is a spiritual heroine or women of all faiths. She helps you complete even the most menial tasks by showing you the relevance, power and sacredness in life's little chores. 

VI Goddesses of Play and Lightheartedness:

1. Bast Egyptian goddess of play, felines and females, shows you how to be playful as a pussycat. 
2. Uzume The Japanese shaman goddess responsible for inspiring laughter, shows you how to bring sunshine and levity into your life. 
3. Iris Roman goddess of the rainbow, helps you  add color and zest to your life. 
4. Butterfly Maiden Native American spirit woman, takes you from cocoon to butterfly and helps you transform your life. 
5. The Fairy Godmother  a goddess like figure many girls grow up with, may be an icon of fairy tales and movies, but she is also an inspiration for activating magic in our lives at any age. 

We can all greatly benefit from an intimate connection with the Divine Feminine!