We hear a lot about goddesses, guardian angels, spirit guides and the like these days, but what does it all mean in a practical world? Can we equate our spiritual longings with our material reality?
To me, living in a Western society means juggling a large number of responsibilities, tasks, activities and pressures. It's genuinely difficult to find time to meditate, ruminate and contemplate; so the only solution is to carry one's spiritual agenda around like an invisible backpack. That's how the "goddess within" can manifest. It's the invisible force that I like to think is linked to our sexuality, spirituality, joy and yin energy. It is a feminine energy which of course crosses the divide of both genders and all ages. But some things are always spoken of as "she" such as cyclones and hurricanes, ships and boats, nature, the Earth and the Moon. Sex and goddess go together as twin images and we speak of femme fatale in the context of a powerful, fully sexual woman. Men cannot be sex goddesses or femme fatales but they can certainly be in touch with their yin center and incorporate into their lives all the best of this energy - mysticism, purity, gentleness, mystery and spirituality.
The Bhagwan did say some wise things, including, "when you choose to live your life in joy, all is meditation." So, to find your own personal goddess, you don't have to trawl the net for information on ancient deities or read books on how to communicate with angels. You don't have to live the life of an aesthete and devote hours a day to spiritual or religious practices. There are some things that can never be taught and do not need to be; one such skill is praying, another is loving, and yet another is laughing. In order to do these things, all that's necessary is to open your heart.
Prayer
This does not have to take the form of a formal words or a ritual; it can be a thought, a feeling, or an affirmation. Morning prayer should set the tone for the day; it's good to affirm a perfect day before it begins. Open up your positive energy to the possibilities of the next 24 hours. If possible, commune with nature by going for a walk first thing, breathe in the ocean before you head off to a job or sit in a garden. With a calm attitude, everything goes more smoothly.
Evening prayers can be about letting go of the day and its joys, difficulties, lessons, challenges, hurts and triumphs. By doing this, every new day is a clean slate. You can slip into a peaceful sleep, knowing you have done "sufficient unto the day." Whatever didn't get done will be tackled later; the night will cure your pain, and reinforce your success. Prayer is about trust and giving yourself over to a higher power, whether you believe in a traditional God, the Universe, or your own higher self. It helps you to commune with your inner wisdom and build your spiritual sanctuary which is a place that is ever-present, ever-safe and ever-peaceful.
Loving
Universal love is a part of the life-force and flows as naturally as breathing. It never needs to be forced, struggled with or faked because it's effortless, unlike romantic and human love which engenders so much compromise, ambivalence and fear. Our inner goddess is made of love and therefore, is an eternal source for us, a perpetual spring that can never dry up.
By loving ourselves through self-nurturing, forgiveness and the gift of acceptance, we become conduits of love for others, especially those who have not yet discovered their own inner flow. Love, like all other emotions, is an energy exchange - we give and we accept, all in the same flow. It can never be measured. If you try, you will damage the very essence of what love is.
Sexuality is another part of the process. When we truly come together with another soul for the purpose of sharing love, touch, sensuality and spiritual energy, we access the best part of ourselves and the highest points of ecstasy. This is far beyond the usual idea of intercourse and orgasm which is very limiting and limited. Let your sex goddess truly come out to play, let her lead you instead of always having to be in control, let go of fear and feel the thrill of free-falling, of total vulnerability and true intimacy, not the imitation variety. Then you will truly be in touch with your own personal goddess.
Laughter
Laughter is considered to be a form of therapy. It can be induced to promote a sense of well-being, childlike pleasure and letting go physically. When we are busy being "grown-up," we dislike anything that makes us look silly or appears to be time-wasting. And yet it is crucial to regularly do things that are non-productive, that serve no useful purpose, that are sufficient unto themselves.
The best kind of laughter is the type that just bubbles up out of unadulterated joy, that is irrepressible. It comes out of love, out of the desire for sharing and ultimately, from the goddess within. There are fewer more intimate moments than when two separate minds come together in a moment of connection, when humor hits at the same time and laughter explodes. I believe this to be even more intimate than sex because it is totally spontaneous and comes from a deep place inside us that cannot be reached by logic. No one can really say what induces laughter, why we find certain things funny, why some people get a joke and others don't.
Practice laughing for no apparent reason, just for the fun of it. Watch how infectious it is, feel its healing power. Laughter is connected to the general concept of play which is highly prized by children and totally underrated by adults. We must make space in our lives for daily play - it's as important as food and drink. It's all about living each moment to the fullest and not getting ahead of ourselves.
The Goddess represents whatever means freedom, joy and love to you. It is the best of feminine energy, all the positive powerful qualities that women possess. At the next full moon, stand outside right under its light and connect with all that wonderful yin energy. Just as the Sun denotes strength, outgoing energy and enthusiasm, the moon is about receiving. Let your life be about both now - get out and do but also sit back and receive. In this way, you will find your perfect balance.
Related articles:
What Is Love?
The Power Of The Feminine
Talk About This Article In The Forum...
