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Posted: July 6th, 2007 at 12:52am By: Anita Revel
Picture this: A bunch of war-weary guys (and a couple of gals) in a program to help minimize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The returning troops are sitting in their group therapy sessions at a VA Hospital discussing a book in earnest. Look closer ... what is the book?
No, it's not "How Do You Spell PTSD?" Nor is it "There's an Easy Way Out But the Enemy Has Already Mined It." Surprisingly, it's a book entitled "Goddess Gift: Discover Your Goddess Type."
Sharon Turnbull wrote this book to help women examine their own lives, notice the patterns, look at what is working and what is not, realize what is valuable and authentic for them as individuals, and "live their lives with self-acceptance and with intention, refusing to let their dreams die, their visions fade, or to accept a gray life of mediocrity."
Phew! If it can do all this, I'm surprised it doesn't do the ironing too! (But isn't that what blokes are for?)
So, all right, if the book is written for women, how is it finding its way to men who understand terms like "Iron Mike," "short-arm inspection" and "sucking chest wound"?
To be honest, I can't think of a reason why the tactics in the book can't work for the blokes too, hey? To test this, I did a quick whip-around-vox-pop to some male friends to see if they have an inner goddess.
Returning troops they are not, but they do understand enough about resolute women to know that incoming fire has right of way. Hence, they were quick to supply me with these gracious answers:
Ian: Yes, her name is Barry.
James: Yes, I do, and her name is Robert.
Steve: Why, what have you heard?
Will I don't know about an inner goddess, but that may explain these cross-dressing fantasies that I've been having lately. ...
Brody: Sure, why not. ... I'll try anything once.
Jack: Why? Would it work for you if I did?
Gavin: I only have an outer goddess, and her name is Anita.
All right, that last one was by my husband, but it doesn't hurt to see his affirmation in writing sometimes. My friends had lots more to say, but there's only so much one can cram into a weekly column — I suggest you visit my blog to read the rest or contribute your own suggestion.
It is said that real military leaders don't need a GPS to find themselves — in fact, the second most dangerous thing in a combat zone is an officer with a map — but I'm sure a squiz at Sharon's book for directions wouldn't hurt either. The ancient goddesses went to war too, after all. (Although they never had to tackle a rogue shopping trolley like modern goddesses do. Nor did they know the true meaning of "booty call" or find out what kind of animal "spam" comes from, but they're still pretty special G.I. Janes regardless.)
"I think we mortals can easily see ourselves reflected in the goddesses, since they seem so very human," says Sharon. "They teach us that we can go ahead and have a pity party (even a long one, if it's appropriate), but there comes a day when we must let go of victimhood and just Get Over It! To be unable to do that, or unwilling, is the darkest thing I can imagine."
One of Sharon's tips for "reclaiming goddess" is to do a morning ritual to honor the goddess within.
"First thing I do is drag myself into the bathroom, force an eye open, give the goddess in the mirror a big smile while pinching my cheek and saying, 'Golleeee, Sharon, you are gorgeous!!' Gets me off on the right foot every day," she says.
"Please recommend the ritual to your readers, Anita," she continues. "It really works. They can use their own names in the mantra, but I just love the idea of thousands of women throughout the world chanting out mine."
I'm sure this ritual is something the guys could try too. Whether you say your own name or Sharon's, either way it's gotta be good for your self-esteem (and besides, it's less effort than cussing for a full 10 minutes without ever repeating a word).
"Everyone would be so much happier if they unleashed that inner goddess and learned to LIVE OUT LOUD!! (Or Shhhhhhh, live out quiet, if that's who they really are!)," says Sharon. "But to do this you first have to learn to love, honor and trust that inner voice so you can be who you really are. And sometimes that takes the courage of a trooper."
— — —
Anita Ryan-Revel is the creatrix of Goddess.com.au, a content-rich website 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, one of which is "The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality." You can read more of her columns here. © copyright 2007 by Anita Ryan-Revel.
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Picture this: A bunch of war-weary guys (and a couple of gals) in a program to help minimize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The returning troops are sitting in their group therapy sessions at a VA Hospital discussing a book in earnest. Look closer ... what is the book?
No, it's not "How Do You Spell PTSD?" Nor is it "There's an Easy Way Out But the Enemy Has Already Mined It." Surprisingly, it's a book entitled "Goddess Gift: Discover Your Goddess Type."
Sharon Turnbull wrote this book to help women examine their own lives, notice the patterns, look at what is working and what is not, realize what is valuable and authentic for them as individuals, and "live their lives with self-acceptance and with intention, refusing to let their dreams die, their visions fade, or to accept a gray life of mediocrity."
Phew! If it can do all this, I'm surprised it doesn't do the ironing too! (But isn't that what blokes are for?)
So, all right, if the book is written for women, how is it finding its way to men who understand terms like "Iron Mike," "short-arm inspection" and "sucking chest wound"?
To be honest, I can't think of a reason why the tactics in the book can't work for the blokes too, hey? To test this, I did a quick whip-around-vox-pop to some male friends to see if they have an inner goddess.
Returning troops they are not, but they do understand enough about resolute women to know that incoming fire has right of way. Hence, they were quick to supply me with these gracious answers:
Ian: Yes, her name is Barry.
James: Yes, I do, and her name is Robert.
Steve: Why, what have you heard?
Will I don't know about an inner goddess, but that may explain these cross-dressing fantasies that I've been having lately. ...
Brody: Sure, why not. ... I'll try anything once.
Jack: Why? Would it work for you if I did?
Gavin: I only have an outer goddess, and her name is Anita.
All right, that last one was by my husband, but it doesn't hurt to see his affirmation in writing sometimes. My friends had lots more to say, but there's only so much one can cram into a weekly column — I suggest you visit my blog to read the rest or contribute your own suggestion.
It is said that real military leaders don't need a GPS to find themselves — in fact, the second most dangerous thing in a combat zone is an officer with a map — but I'm sure a squiz at Sharon's book for directions wouldn't hurt either. The ancient goddesses went to war too, after all. (Although they never had to tackle a rogue shopping trolley like modern goddesses do. Nor did they know the true meaning of "booty call" or find out what kind of animal "spam" comes from, but they're still pretty special G.I. Janes regardless.)
"I think we mortals can easily see ourselves reflected in the goddesses, since they seem so very human," says Sharon. "They teach us that we can go ahead and have a pity party (even a long one, if it's appropriate), but there comes a day when we must let go of victimhood and just Get Over It! To be unable to do that, or unwilling, is the darkest thing I can imagine."
One of Sharon's tips for "reclaiming goddess" is to do a morning ritual to honor the goddess within.
"First thing I do is drag myself into the bathroom, force an eye open, give the goddess in the mirror a big smile while pinching my cheek and saying, 'Golleeee, Sharon, you are gorgeous!!' Gets me off on the right foot every day," she says.
"Please recommend the ritual to your readers, Anita," she continues. "It really works. They can use their own names in the mantra, but I just love the idea of thousands of women throughout the world chanting out mine."
I'm sure this ritual is something the guys could try too. Whether you say your own name or Sharon's, either way it's gotta be good for your self-esteem (and besides, it's less effort than cussing for a full 10 minutes without ever repeating a word).
"Everyone would be so much happier if they unleashed that inner goddess and learned to LIVE OUT LOUD!! (Or Shhhhhhh, live out quiet, if that's who they really are!)," says Sharon. "But to do this you first have to learn to love, honor and trust that inner voice so you can be who you really are. And sometimes that takes the courage of a trooper."
— — —
Anita Ryan-Revel is the creatrix of Goddess.com.au, a content-rich website 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, one of which is "The Goddess Guide to Chakra Vitality." You can read more of her columns here. © copyright 2007 by Anita Ryan-Revel.
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