I have recently read the book: The Goddess Path by Patricia Monaghan. This is a book that was designed to help the reader to help nurture your own connection to the goddess and to share in her wisdom. Within each chapter that is dedicated to a specific goddess there is history about the goddess, myths involving the goddess, invocations for the goddess, ritual suggestions and questions to aid the reader with exploring their relationship with her.
There will be a few blog posts with my personal responses to some of the questions found in each chapter of this book. I urge you to follow along with me as we experience the Goddess within.
The twelfth chapter is about Isis and you can find the questions I will be answering in this post on page 168 of the book.
There will be a few blog posts with my personal responses to some of the questions found in each chapter of this book. I urge you to follow along with me as we experience the Goddess within.
The twelfth chapter is about Isis and you can find the questions I will be answering in this post on page 168 of the book.
What dark times have you experienced? How did you cope with them?
I have experienced a few dark times in my life: the first was while attending college. I was living on campus in another state and was dealing with some serious depression and self-loathing. My life felt empty and worthless. I ended up seeking therapy and was able over time to come to terms with what I felt and what I wanted out of life.
The second time was when my first marriage ended. I again fell into a deep depression and felt betrayed, worthless, unlovable, and a failure. I became very angry and alienated myself from people who cared about me. I was angry at my ex-husband, myself, my parents, the world, and God. It took a while to bring me back to a more balanced place in life. I believe that occurred once I became pregnant with my first child.
When you are feeling depressed or anxious, how does this feel physically to you? Explain it in terms of bodily sensations.
When I am feeling depressed I feel lethargic, unmotivated, and exhausted. All I want to do is sleep and escape into my dreams where things are better and happier. When I feel anxious I feel restless, nauseous, and overwhelmed emotionally. I tend to cry a lot or be irritated with things that I just want to be resolved immediately.
When you feel depression or anxiety looming, what do you do?
I haven't felt depression looming in a very long time so I can't really say what I would do however when I feel anxiety looming I do my best to think the situation through rationally and realize that there is only so much that I have control over. I remember to breathe and if I feel the need to cry, I do.
Are there activities or habits you have adopted in order to blot out the pain of losses you’ve experienced? Are there better habits you might adopt?
I don't believe that I have activities or habits that I've adopted to blot out pain of losses but I'm beginning to question that perhaps I may have deep seated issues that I haven't addressed.
Make a list of the ten most important things in your life. Imagine how you would survive if you lost any of them.
The ten most important things in my life are: my intelligence, the ability to communicate, the ability to be independent, the ability to walk, my husband, my children, my parents, my home, my car, and my business. I am certain that if I lost any of the last items on my list (home, car and business) that I would still be able to survive. And honestly this is true of the other items however it would be more difficult if I lost my "mind" or ability to communicate and be independent. I would most certainly feel depressed.
What do you fear losing most? What does that fear feel like?
I think I fear losing my intelligence or "mind" the most. I cannot imagine being lost without the ability to understand what is going on around me. The fear feels upsetting and overwhelming. I feel it in my chest and stomach.
Make a list of people (fictional characters are acceptable) who have survived apparently impossible losses. What characteristics do they share?
What ideals or value have helped you survive dark times? Ask this question of others in your circle as well.
perseverance, hope, optimism, strength, love, confidence, and faith
Imagine a dark cave, at the far end of which is a treasure. What does that treasure look like? Draw, paint or write about how valuable that treasure is.
The treasure is beautiful. It radiates a bright light that fills the cave with a warm glow. The wooden chest is ancient but looks as if it was just crafted. The hinges are bright and shiny. The cover is opened and the treasure overflows onto the ground around the chest. There are gems, gold coins, chalices, tiaras, bracelets, and necklaces made of the finest jewels. The treasure is a wonder to behold and mesmerizes all who gaze upon its brilliance.
I have experienced a few dark times in my life: the first was while attending college. I was living on campus in another state and was dealing with some serious depression and self-loathing. My life felt empty and worthless. I ended up seeking therapy and was able over time to come to terms with what I felt and what I wanted out of life.
The second time was when my first marriage ended. I again fell into a deep depression and felt betrayed, worthless, unlovable, and a failure. I became very angry and alienated myself from people who cared about me. I was angry at my ex-husband, myself, my parents, the world, and God. It took a while to bring me back to a more balanced place in life. I believe that occurred once I became pregnant with my first child.
When you are feeling depressed or anxious, how does this feel physically to you? Explain it in terms of bodily sensations.
When I am feeling depressed I feel lethargic, unmotivated, and exhausted. All I want to do is sleep and escape into my dreams where things are better and happier. When I feel anxious I feel restless, nauseous, and overwhelmed emotionally. I tend to cry a lot or be irritated with things that I just want to be resolved immediately.
When you feel depression or anxiety looming, what do you do?
I haven't felt depression looming in a very long time so I can't really say what I would do however when I feel anxiety looming I do my best to think the situation through rationally and realize that there is only so much that I have control over. I remember to breathe and if I feel the need to cry, I do.
Are there activities or habits you have adopted in order to blot out the pain of losses you’ve experienced? Are there better habits you might adopt?
I don't believe that I have activities or habits that I've adopted to blot out pain of losses but I'm beginning to question that perhaps I may have deep seated issues that I haven't addressed.
Make a list of the ten most important things in your life. Imagine how you would survive if you lost any of them.
The ten most important things in my life are: my intelligence, the ability to communicate, the ability to be independent, the ability to walk, my husband, my children, my parents, my home, my car, and my business. I am certain that if I lost any of the last items on my list (home, car and business) that I would still be able to survive. And honestly this is true of the other items however it would be more difficult if I lost my "mind" or ability to communicate and be independent. I would most certainly feel depressed.
What do you fear losing most? What does that fear feel like?
I think I fear losing my intelligence or "mind" the most. I cannot imagine being lost without the ability to understand what is going on around me. The fear feels upsetting and overwhelming. I feel it in my chest and stomach.
Make a list of people (fictional characters are acceptable) who have survived apparently impossible losses. What characteristics do they share?
What ideals or value have helped you survive dark times? Ask this question of others in your circle as well.
perseverance, hope, optimism, strength, love, confidence, and faith
Imagine a dark cave, at the far end of which is a treasure. What does that treasure look like? Draw, paint or write about how valuable that treasure is.
The treasure is beautiful. It radiates a bright light that fills the cave with a warm glow. The wooden chest is ancient but looks as if it was just crafted. The hinges are bright and shiny. The cover is opened and the treasure overflows onto the ground around the chest. There are gems, gold coins, chalices, tiaras, bracelets, and necklaces made of the finest jewels. The treasure is a wonder to behold and mesmerizes all who gaze upon its brilliance.
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