Releasing the Goddess Within

This is the kind of book that just perfectly fills the void. It's positive, fun and inspiring. I picked it up when I was in a little bit of a funk. One of those things where I was going to the gym regularly, eating healthy stuff, not smoking, and not staying late at parties where I wasn't having a good time. And you know how if you behave extremely healthfully sometimes you can be left with a sad, empty feeling in the middle of it when you should be feeling good? This hit the spot. I've read a little about goddess stuff before, not a lot, and I was worried this would be way out there but I found it totally accessible. I think any woman who wants to explore the spirit and meaning in herself and in the world would find great stuff in here to think about, and exercises that can get you moving in a whole new direction.

After reading Releasing the Goddess Within, I must compliment the clear, concise manner in which author Katherine Gleason transmits her uplifting messages of self-love in this tome. Like the handy reference guide on Wicca and Witchcraft she helped compile last year, this book will surely become a well-worn addition to the personal library of the spiritually attuned woman, or to her who strives to be so.

This self-help (*not* hardcore pagan) book will do a lot to bridge the gap between women who already *know it all* about The Goddess/es and those who are just getting their feet wet in Aphrodite's ocean.It's a highly imaginative book that declares that Goddess is everywhere and in every woman. You just have to know how to see Her. I enjoyed the multicultural inclusion of Goddesses from around the globe and only wish that the cover design--though absolutely lovely--had been similarly inclusive. I quibble with the notion of every pop star and literary character being declared a goddess; I see actual goddesses as wild, untamed, universal energies, not pet rocks or pop celebrities or fictional characters. (And, yes, I also can see where the authors are going with this, and that's okay in a way.) But I think this book offers a useful, healthy, fresh perspective for women who are willing to give it a go, play a little, dream a little, and awaken Goddess Self within. Not every suggestion or exercise will work for every woman but--good golly!--there's enough of them in here to cover a lot of different tastes and needs. I've been involved in this type of work for many years, and even I found surprising stuff I checked off or made a note of! Give it a shot and you might be surprised.

Wherever you are on the Triple Goddess life path, from maiden to mother to mature woman, you possess a divine Goddess spark within you. This book leads you on a quest to find that spark and use it to kindle a greater spirituality in your life. Through enlightening essays and specially designed, fun-to-do exercises, goddesses from varied cultures and times help you explore your own Goddess qualities, from Sumeria's Inanna to China's Kwan Yin.

I am very active in the pagan community, so I read a LOT of books on subjects like exploring goddess energy and changing your life through pagan-oriented practices. Let me tell you, most of them are BAD BAD BAD. Fortunately, Gleason and Feldman get it right in this fun book. This isn't heavy reading; it's a witty, practical, and USEFUL guide to unleashing the goddess forces that reside within all women. You don't have to be a pagan or into goddess worship to appreciate what the authors have to say, you just have to be open to embracing the powers of creativity, adventure, and self-acceptance. After all, goddesses were "created" to reflect the forces of nature and human spirit. This book encourages readers to define their own "magic powers" and develop more healthy, focused, and unpredictable lives!