Goddess Gift E-Zine      
June 2009     

Goddess Gift E-Zine

in this issue:

~ Sun Goddesses ~
Athena
Brigid
Amaterasu

~  Myths & Messages  ~

~  Dishin' Divas ~

The Return of the Sun Goddesses

The Summer Solstice arrives and the sun goddesses are gaining power and strength.

Bring 'em on, I say. They're just the fierce and focused deities we need in our lives at this moment.

What's So Special About the Sun Goddesses?

Well, for starters, they believe in themselves.

And they don't feel guilty about wanting it all. Or about letting their light shine for all to see.

May we introduce you to a few of our favorites . . the goddesses Athena, Ameratasu, and Brigid. Each very different from the others. Each bringing her own very special radiance into the world.

The Goddess Athena & the Power of the Spear

Talk about a super-achiever! The Greek goddess Athena was the ultimate career woman and always to be found listed at the top of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the Year".
 

As the goddess of war, Athena was a superb strategist and warrior. Having her on your side virtually guaranteed your success. But the goddess preferred using her wisdom in the role of judge, tirelessly negotiating and problem-solving to keep the peace. Athena generously used her talents to oversee the progress of civilization. She was the patroness of literature and the arts and crafts. In her spare time, she invented the first sailing ship, flute, the yoke and bridle as well as modern plumbing! The myths of Athena remind us that keeping our focus on our goals and placing our energies where they matter help us achieve our dreams. Get to know more about the goddess Athena.

The Goddess Brigid & the Power of the Hearth

The Celtic goddess Brigid was originally worshipped in ancient times as a Triple Goddess. With her two sisters, also named Brigid, they were called the 'Three Mothers', 'Three Sisters', or simply the Goddess Brigid.

Unlike in Greek mythology where the Triple Goddess represented the three chronological stages of a woman's life (Maiden, Matron, and Crone), the Bridgets were all of the same generation and the distinctions between them were based on their domains of responsibility.

• Brigid, the 'Fire of the Hearth', was the goddess of fertility, family, childbirth and healing.

• Brigid, the '"Fire of the Forge' was, like the Greek goddess Athena, a patroness of the crafts (especially weaving, embroidery, and metalsmithing), and a goddess who was concerned with justice, law and order.

• Brigid, the 'Fire of Inspiration', was the muse of poetry and song, history and the goddess who oversaw all cultural learning.

When the Christian church eventually arrived in Ireland they had little chance of getting converts if they denounced the beloved goddess of the Druids, so they wisely chose to make her a saint instead. (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em became their stragegy.) Whether worshipped as Saint or Goddess, Brigid is loved as a goddess of compassion and inspiration, one having great gifts of insight and wisdom. Use this link to learn more about the goddess Brigid.

The Goddess Amaterasu & the Power of the Spirit

The Japanese goddess Amaterasu was a beautiful and compassionate goddess who ruled the sun and the heavenly fields of rice that fed the Japanese people.  Unfortunately she came from a very dysfunctional family. Following a brutal attack by her angry and jealous brother, the depressed and grieving goddess crept away to a dark cave in the mountains and refused to return to the heavens. Without her, the sun could not rise each day. The crops did not grow and the world was faced with famine. The good humor of the goddess Amaterasu was eventually restored by the goddess Uzume (a lesser goddess who was  responsible for revelry and laughter) who brought her out of her deep depression.  The beautiful story of Amaterasu and Uzume tells us that even a sun goddess ineeds to lighten up sometimes. Too much work, too much thinking is sometimes . . . well, just too much!

Read more about the goddess Amaterasu.
 

Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it.

~ Ninon de Lenclos ~

'When you put your life and best energies into support of what is truly sacred to you, you'll find that great forces of courage, healing and strength awaken.'

Starhawk

Important Lessons from the Myths of the Sun Goddesses

The myths of the sun goddesses seem to go against the conventional grain, and rightly so, because they remind us to ask . . 'What good are strength and power (or money and success, really) without the emotional freedom to be yourself and to live your dreams?' The lessons of the sun goddesses are about the vital importance of achieving a life worth living.

Said another way, their lessons remind us to place the focus on the process of living, rather than on the outcome. This process of living happens continuously, of course . . . each moment of every day.

To be able to look back on a life that fills you with joy and pride, the sun goddesses remind you to:

• Explore your needs and wants and know the difference between them. Discover what truly matters to you. (Pssst ... the Goddess Quiz can help with that.)
• Never stop learning new things. Explore the things that fascinate you.
• Chose meaning over money. Always. No amount of money can make up for being miserable while you're making it.
• View your mistakes as opportunities to grow.  Whether it's an 'Ooops!' or a dramatic failure, it's there as a learning experience, casting light upon what you still need to do to improve.
• Hang out with the sun goddesses on a regular basis. . . they do what they love and love what they do. Couldn't ask for a better role model than these gals.

When a Goddess Ties on Her Apron
Things Can Get Really

:: Diva's Diner ::
Announcing the Winners
 in the Annual Goddess Gift Competition

After countless hours of testing (and, yes, tasting), we're pleased to bring you the winning entries. So.... just wait until you get your hands on these goodies!
They're THAT Good!

A huge thanks to all of you who participated by donating your scrumptious recipes to honor a favorite goddess.  Trust me, they all deserved an award.

Here are the winning entries. Check 'em out:  
The Goddesses Dish It Out!

In closing,
   a reminder to...

Do what you love.
Love what you do.
And shine your light out into the world.
 

Sharon

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