Goddess Gift E-zine
October 2008

Greetings!

'Twas cold and beautiful last evening. I glanced at the sky and there was Venus, glittering large and bright beneath the silver crescent silver of the moon.

Perfect!

I'd been a very good girl and spent the day sorting through the towering stack of papers on and around my desk, throwing most of them in the recycle bin and giving the rest a proper place to be. And the vision of Venus in the sky was a reminder that it was exactly what I was meant to do that day of all days . . . the last day of the year.

For in the ancient Aztec world, it was the day for sweeping away the chaos in memory of the goddess of the Morning Star. . .

The Goddess Cihuacoatl, the Snake Goddess
who was the primordial Venus of the Aztec Culture

The goddess Cihuacoatl, or "Woman Snake," was the chief advisor to the Aztec ruler in ancient times.  She stood in close association with both the terrifying serpentine goddess Coatlicue and the highly-revered mother goddess Toci.

Cihuacoatl, the Aztec Snake Woman, wields a broom and was honored in the daily sweeping of the household shrine.

Not an everyday thing, this kind of sweeping -- it was a sacred ritual, one that commemorated the time the goddess saved civilization by donning the robes of a warrior and defeating the dark forces of chaos in some cosmic catastrophe that had once befallen the culture. Some suggest it may have been an explosion of a star such as the one that created the so-called 'Witches Broom Nebula' that is pictured below.

Her symbols are the broom, the snake and the Morning Star (Venus).  In many cultures, a broom, whether it is made from straw or feathers, is a symbol of a comet.

A goddess that 'appears when war is waged' is a familiar one. This is exactly the role that comets play in astrology and mythology . . . and precisely the role of Venus in the astrology of Mesoamerican cultures. In Chinese mythology comets were recognized as "brooms" that swept  away one kingdom and introduced a new world order--the same function of the broom in the Mesoamerican rituals.

In her best known role, this goddess speaks for "domestic" responsibilities for creating peace and order.

She reminds us that sometimes we must 'let go' of that which is 'at war' with our spirit if we are to make a place for the new, and better, things that await us.

Which makes me wonder . . .

. . . if that's what Emily Dickinson had in mind when she penned this poem (a favorite of mine):

   She Sweeps With Many-Colored Brooms
 

She sweeps with many-colored brooms,
And leaves the shreds behind;
Oh, housewife in the evening west,
Come back, and dust the pond!

You dropped a purple ravelling in,
You dropped an amber thread;
And now you've littered all the East
With duds of emerald!

And still she plies her spotted brooms,
And still the aprons fly,
Till brooms fade softly into stars --
And then I come away.

~ Emily Dickinson
Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

"Witch's Broom" Nebula
photo taken by Adam Block of
The University of Arizona
Mount Lemmon SkyCenter

 

Though many say this beautiful poem is about the sunset, it could mean so much more. I like to think that perhaps the broom represents the winds of change while the threads are the remnants of our old ways, the calls to revert to the way we were.

And as we sweep, the quick winds of change blow away, leaving only the stars, difficult to reach but bringing us the bright energy of hope and the promise of a fresh new start.

 
And that, dear friends, reminds me . . .
 
That the response to our very first Goddess Gift sponsored teleseminar Callings & Resolutions, announced in our Solstice Celebration newsletter, has been way beyond expectation!  

In fact, so many of you have registered we may just have to book a 2nd line for 7 p.m. on January 15th!

It’s clear from all the great questions (and very common challenges) submitted that lots of you have been stumped by the whole callings and purpose thing – and by the yawning and painful divide between intention and action - for a long, long time.

Which is why we’re really thrilled to bring this call to you: it could change everything for you this year…

AND the good news is if you haven’t registered yet for the free 60-minute teleseminar, it’s not too late! 

Register for Callings & Resolutions here.

 ***SPECIAL NOTE: This teleseminar will be recorded and replay made available to all who register. As a Goddess Gift sponsored event, there is no charge for the teleseminar itself, but regular long-distance charges will likely apply. Transcripts of this teleseminar will be made available at no charge within 7 business days. Simply e-mail TrueCallings.net to request your copy.  

Look forward to talking with you then (and remember, if you can't make it to the call, don't despair. A recording of the call will be available to everyone who's registered a week or so after the live event.)

In closing,
   a reminder to...

Sweep away  . . .
something that does allows darkness or chaos in your life.
Make room for something new and fulfilling in your life.

Sharon

P.S. In the holiday rush, it's easy to forget what's really important. So, I'd like to take the time now to thank you for the gift you've given us - your trust in and loyalty to Goddess Gift.

We treasure your interest, appreciate every purchase you make to support the site, and every suggestion from the special women around the world who have discovered our little corner of the Internet.

I hope that the new year brings you joy and success and lots of the little things that can make each day a pleasure.

Have a beautiful journey in 2009!

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