Friday, May 11, 2007 at 2:02am
Blodeuwedd the Beuwdiful
Column: Outing the Goddess Within
This week, the InnerGoddess gals have been talking about Blodeuwedd, a Welsh goddess whose beauty is said to be skin deep. (Who needs a beautiful pancreas anyway, right?)
The story goes that two magicians created Blodeuwedd (pronounced bluh-DYE-weth) out of flowers, to be a wife for Welsh hero Llew Llaw. Her beauty proved to be only skin deep, however, when she betrayed him for the sake of a lover. Must have been watching too much "Melrose Place" — in which case there's no surprise she slept with the ancient equivalent of the pool boy.
The magicians discovered her treachery and, showing mercy, transformed her into an owl. Blodeuwedd's journey from youthful radiance to her nocturnal existence therefore represents the evolution of beauty — blossoming youth eventually wilts, but with this comes the wisdom of age.
With the cover of every trashy mag plastered with the equally trashy (and plastered) celebrities lately I can't help but wonder about the media's obsession with youthful beauty.
Sure, Paris Hilton may be pretty, but if she had any sense, would she still be an "it" girl? If Nicole Richie swapped her weight issues to focus on weighty issues, would she still be in the public eye (apart from when she's turned sideways, that is)? If Lindsay Lohan counted, would she be shocked at the number of times she's been in and out of rehab?
It's a sad message that we're sending our goddesses-in-training: "Being popular means being pretty, naughty and empty of obvious brains."
Out of interest, I asked my InnerGoddess members: What do you love about yourself? Is it physical, emotional, spiritual, brain-ial or an uncanny knack to smell a closing-down-sale from 100 yards?
Oh, what a refreshing question! For so long we've been taught that it's a "sin" to brag, or a "deadly sin" to be vain. But it is only now, since I have asked for my members to be loud and proud about their assets, that I have realized the extent to which there is a groundswell of women embracing their older, wiser and wider selves. There is a certain, yummy power in acknowledging that youthful beauty is fading and it doesn't matter!
Here are some of their answers that have been posted at my blog:
— I love my kindness, my eyes, my spirituality and my butt! :) I also love my smile.
— I love my belly. For it is where I carried my children. And the memory is but a touch away. ... I have been through the hell of menopause. And it is so beautiful on the other side. I love my heart. My arms open wide and welcome all in. (I am over 50.)
— I love being a good mom, and I LOVE the way I look.
— I love that I'm now getting to the stage where I'm comfortable with where I am in the journey. (And, I'm finally (!) cool with my curves.)
There is a saying that goes: "You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her."
I disagree. This is not the only time she is beautiful.
It is my firm belief that women who are connected with their authentic selves (their "inner goddess") are beautiful, ALL THE TIME, even when they've just got out of bed and their hair is wild, or they've just picked the kids up from school and their track suit could do with a wash, or they've been sitting by a hospital bed for 48 hours straight to keep a loved one strong.
Forget the "Fountain of Youth" ... let love, fortitude and integrity be our code for eternal and radiant beauty. We were born with these attributes, so let's dry our wrinkly eyes and allow our gorgeous-ness to shine.
I look forward to the day when men, women, the media and even the man in the moon can see the true beauty lying within all women, because this is the day when we can claim we have true respect. (Being able to read something worthwhile in the gossip mags will be a bonus too.) What will precocious starlets do for attention then?
— — —
Anita Ryan-Revel is the author of "The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality," aimed at helping you connect with your beautiful, sassy, intuitive, lovable, sacred and authentic self. She has incorporated her journey into hundreds of articles, countless websites and numerous books, many of which can be found at her website, Goddess.com.au You can read more of her columns here. © copyright 2007 by Anita Ryan-Revel.
The story goes that two magicians created Blodeuwedd (pronounced bluh-DYE-weth) out of flowers, to be a wife for Welsh hero Llew Llaw. Her beauty proved to be only skin deep, however, when she betrayed him for the sake of a lover. Must have been watching too much "Melrose Place" — in which case there's no surprise she slept with the ancient equivalent of the pool boy.
The magicians discovered her treachery and, showing mercy, transformed her into an owl. Blodeuwedd's journey from youthful radiance to her nocturnal existence therefore represents the evolution of beauty — blossoming youth eventually wilts, but with this comes the wisdom of age.
With the cover of every trashy mag plastered with the equally trashy (and plastered) celebrities lately I can't help but wonder about the media's obsession with youthful beauty.
Sure, Paris Hilton may be pretty, but if she had any sense, would she still be an "it" girl? If Nicole Richie swapped her weight issues to focus on weighty issues, would she still be in the public eye (apart from when she's turned sideways, that is)? If Lindsay Lohan counted, would she be shocked at the number of times she's been in and out of rehab?
It's a sad message that we're sending our goddesses-in-training: "Being popular means being pretty, naughty and empty of obvious brains."
Out of interest, I asked my InnerGoddess members: What do you love about yourself? Is it physical, emotional, spiritual, brain-ial or an uncanny knack to smell a closing-down-sale from 100 yards?
Oh, what a refreshing question! For so long we've been taught that it's a "sin" to brag, or a "deadly sin" to be vain. But it is only now, since I have asked for my members to be loud and proud about their assets, that I have realized the extent to which there is a groundswell of women embracing their older, wiser and wider selves. There is a certain, yummy power in acknowledging that youthful beauty is fading and it doesn't matter!
Here are some of their answers that have been posted at my blog:
— I love my kindness, my eyes, my spirituality and my butt! :) I also love my smile.
— I love my belly. For it is where I carried my children. And the memory is but a touch away. ... I have been through the hell of menopause. And it is so beautiful on the other side. I love my heart. My arms open wide and welcome all in. (I am over 50.)
— I love being a good mom, and I LOVE the way I look.
— I love that I'm now getting to the stage where I'm comfortable with where I am in the journey. (And, I'm finally (!) cool with my curves.)
There is a saying that goes: "You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her."
I disagree. This is not the only time she is beautiful.
It is my firm belief that women who are connected with their authentic selves (their "inner goddess") are beautiful, ALL THE TIME, even when they've just got out of bed and their hair is wild, or they've just picked the kids up from school and their track suit could do with a wash, or they've been sitting by a hospital bed for 48 hours straight to keep a loved one strong.
Forget the "Fountain of Youth" ... let love, fortitude and integrity be our code for eternal and radiant beauty. We were born with these attributes, so let's dry our wrinkly eyes and allow our gorgeous-ness to shine.
I look forward to the day when men, women, the media and even the man in the moon can see the true beauty lying within all women, because this is the day when we can claim we have true respect. (Being able to read something worthwhile in the gossip mags will be a bonus too.) What will precocious starlets do for attention then?
— — —
Anita Ryan-Revel is the author of "The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality," aimed at helping you connect with your beautiful, sassy, intuitive, lovable, sacred and authentic self. She has incorporated her journey into hundreds of articles, countless websites and numerous books, many of which can be found at her website, Goddess.com.au You can read more of her columns here. © copyright 2007 by Anita Ryan-Revel.