The Goddess Path Issue #28
Honey and Vinegar: Beauty Tips
for the Goddess Within
April, 2005
This Issue: Table of Contents
Honey and Vinegar
Audrey Hepburn: Beauty Tips
The 'Create-A-Goddess' Contest
A New Product
White Buffalo Calf Woman: A Goddess for These Times
Honey and Vinegar : Beauty Tips from Granny's Cupboard
Years ago, any time I was overly whiny or being generally obnoxious
or too "uppity" for her tastes, my grandmother was likely to chide
me by saying "Sharon, just remember that honey attracts more flies
than vinegar."
"Who wants flies anyway?" was often my smart-mouthed response.
Then, as now, the notion of being 'sweet' or 'good' stuck me as
being somewhat less than desirable--never mind that I am by
temperament both of those things, a natural-born 'people pleaser'.
It stuck me as being a bit stuffy, if not downright boring. And
boring was something I was determined never to be!
While researching "found" goddesses, I ran across a wonderful website devoted to a
famous woman who walked among us.
After browsing that site, I checked out a recent discussion that was
going on in one of my favorite chat rooms. The subject was body
image, Britney Spears, and the role models of beauty available to
today's young woman.
The juxtaposition was striking. How far we've come . . . but not, I
think, in the right direction.
Ordinarily I bristle when I see famous people used to demonstrate
certain personality types. After all, how do we know who they really
are? Most of what we know of them is just their public persona, the
mask they wear that their celebrity status has forced upon them.
(OK, I'll make an exception for Oprah.)
That said . . . let me introduce a modern goddess and where she
stood on the subject of true beauty.
Audrey Hepburn, The Goddess of Good
Audrey
Hepburn, renowned beauty and actress, became an advocate
and tireless volunteer for the suffering children
of the world. You can view photographs and read the
story of her life at:
Audrey Hepburn.
In
addition to her inspiring beauty and the abundance of
her good works, Audrey Hepburn somehow managed to retain her
ideal weight throughout her entire adult
life -- surely a magical feat that only a goddess could
pull off!
Audrey Hepburn read
these words to her sons on Christmas Eve 1992. She died
a month later and the piece was read at her funeral to
memorialize the meaning of her life. It was a
fitting tribute to the goddess she had been.
Time-Tested Beauty Tips
~by Sam Levenson
-
For attractive lips, speak
words of kindness.
-
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
-
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
-
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers
through it once a day.
-
For poise, walk with
the knowledge that you never walk alone.
-
People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw
out anyone.
-
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find
one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older,
you will discover that you have two hands; one for
helping yourself, and the other for helping others.
As the
time for the ancient festival of Beltane fast approaches
we thank Linda Reeves for this reminder that, just as
people need to be restored and renewed, so does the
earth itself. We sing praises to Spring and the
new vitality it brings to our lives.
News, the Create-A-Goddess competition, and a New Product
at Goddess Gift
As always, here's the link if you want to read
our monthly progress report:
Blog
Create-A-Goddess competition
Last month we asked readers and potential advertisers to give us
their ideas about issuing another annual special advertising
edition with a Create-A-Goddess competition. Didn't get much
response from advertisers, but did hear from a lot of you who
looked forward to the contest. So...
Let the contest begin! (And we'll forego the advertising edition
for now.)
Recall that in last month's newsletter we defined "found goddesses"
as modern deities . . . goddesses that, according
to Barbara Ardinger, we create when we notice a need and meet it
with a sense of humor. They are everyday goddesses meant to address
modern situations that our goddess-loving ancestors never dreamt of.
The challenge will be to create a "found
goddess" of your own. Fame and fortune await the winners.
Deadline is May 1. Prizes for five winning entries:
1st place: Choice of one glass art goddess by Colin Heaney (View)
2nd place: A Bottle of White Buffalo Woman Mist (View)
3rd place: Your choice of Goddess Aromatherapy Oils
(View)
4th & 5th places: A gift certificate to take the Goddess Quiz or
the Greek Gods quiz. (A wonderful gift for a friend, if you've
already taken the quiz.) (View)
All winning entries will be published in the June edition of the Goddess Path Newsletter.
Entry fee?? None, nada, no way. We ask only that you help us
spread the word about the Goddess Path Newsletter by
recommending it to one of your friends. We'll send them a
one-time-only email telling them about the newsletter and giving
them a link to subscribe. (And they can enter the contest too.)
So don your thinking caps and get wildly creative as you invent
a goddess for our times! More information and a link to the
entry form follow my signature at the end of this newsletter.
New Product at Goddess Gift
We're also pleased to announce the addition of a unique and very
special item to our line of goddess themed products that are
available at the website. White Buffalo Woman Bliss
(Meditation Mist) is a
revolutionary product developed by Jana Shiloh, a homeopathic
healer from Sedona, near the home of the White Buffalo born ten
years ago.
Formulated to match the harmonic properties of the White
Buffalo's milk, it has calming and peaceful properties that make
it suitable for use as an aid to meditation, or for calming a
fretful child or anxious pet.
Enjoy the beautiful art work, and learn more about the White
Buffalo Woman Mist by following this link:
White Buffalo Woman Bliss
White Buffalo Calf Woman, like Audrey Hepburn, held children
closely in her heart. We've received several requests to reprint
her story. So . . .
White Buffalo Calf Woman, A Goddess for These Times
“ It was told that next time there is chaos and
disparity, she would return again. She said she would return as
a White Buffalo Calf. Some believe she already has.”*
*Words of Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th
Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the
Lakota Nation
White Buffalo Calf Woman is
ancient, arising about 2000 years ago, and is central to the
spiritual practices of numerous Native American nations, with
minor variation. The brief story presented here is based on the
story as told by Joseph Chasing Horse, Traditional Leader of the
Lakota Nation.
While two warriors were out hunting buffalo, a
white buffalo calf appeared. As she approached them she changed
into a beautiful young woman . . . which is how she came to be
called the White Buffalo Calf Woman. .
One of the young warriors offended her with his
lustful thoughts, and White Buffalo Calf Woman asked him to
approach. As he stepped forward, a black cloud descended over
him and when it dissipated all that was left of him was his
bones.
The other warrior fell to his knees and began to
pray. The White Buffalo Calf Woman told him to return to his
people, telling them she would appear to them in four days,
bringing with her a sacred bundle.
And this she did, appearing to them as a white
buffalo calf descending on a cloud. Stepping down, she rolled
over on the ground, changing from white to black, then yellow,
then red. When she arose she was once again the beautiful woman,
cradling the sacred bundle in her arms.
Spending four days with the people, White
Buffalo Calf Woman taught them sacred songs, dances, and
ceremonies as well as the traditional ways. She instructed them
to be responsible caretakers of the land and to be always
mindful that the children are the future of the people.
On the fourth day she left in the same manner
she had arrived, telling the people she was leaving the sacred
bundle, the White Buffalo Calf Woman pipe, in their care. She
promised to one day return for it and to bring harmony and
spiritual balance to the world.
White Buffalo Calf Woman prophesied that the
birth of a white buffalo calf would be a sign that it was near
the time of her return.
*In 1994, a white buffalo calf was born . . . the first in decades. Some believe
she is
the fulfillment of the prophecy that the return of the White
Buffalo Calf Woman will herald the advent of an age of peace and
harmony.
Laurie Sue Brockway highlights the importance of the White
Buffalo Calf Woman in her delightful book, A Goddess Is a
Girl's Best Friend:
“Now, more than any time in history, we need the sacred feminine
to balance our lives and to balance our world. We must be
spiritual warriors…culling the profound and important aspects of
the power of feminine wisdom and directing them toward peace
within, as without, and utilizing the energies of the goddess
and all mythical women and spiritual heroines to help direct the
course of history.”
She adds: “While men, historically, fight and
defend, females seek to draw peaceful resolve… the important
thing is to have both and a chance for balance… [White Buffalo
Calf Woman] represents the balance, the peace, we all crave.”
In closing,
We Wish…
Pray…
And Hope…
That it will be so.
Sharon
The Goddess Path
P.S. For more information and to enter the contest, go to:
Create A Goddess |