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The Goddess Speaks
Shareen K. Guzman
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Researching the goddess
A couple of my friends contribute to this feature, and I've become curious enough to research the goddess speaking. I know the fine print underneath the article tells me these features are by women about women. But what does the Big Guy, aka Google, think? Will I find the wisdom I am seeking via the Internet?
First of all, who is this goddess? One site (www.juggernautco.com) describes her as "The Goddess never lies/The Goddess is incapable of falsehood .../The Goddess loves those who love the truth of the Goddess/The Goddess never repeats herself/The Goddess never lies." Well, OK. So far, so good. She's got humor, a definite sign of intelligence.
The highest number of hits were for sites about spiritual awakenings. I bypass those immediately. Awakening? That would require four cups of black coffee before the revival of my laptop, let alone my spiritual salvation.
One site in particular discusses how women should engage their inner-warrior goddess when feeling overwhelmed. Really? Visions of my co-workers' faces flash before me as I unleash my Xena-like pre-attack "Ai-yAAAH!" shriek when the next high-priority e-mail arrives in my in-box.
Or should I just take Tom Cruise's one-mind-samurai approach? Close my eyes, focus on the move, see the move before it happens, then delete the e-mail? I don't understand how the combatant approach will bring enlightenment.
I did find a Goddess of YA Web site (www.professornana.com), thinking it might behold gemlike quotes from the Ya-Ya sisterhood like, "Don't look at me in that tone of voice!" This will be my response when I get accused of not receiving that important e-mail.
Actually, the Goddess of YA lists great books for young adult readers, especially for reluctant readers. Made a note to myself to bookmark that site.
I also discovered inspiring sites on music, poetry, advice and even a site on goddess bras! Made a note to myself not to bookmark that site.
So what are my conclusions? Who is this goddess speaking? Whoever is speaking is neither from the masters nor talking about the divine, yet there can be wisdom in learning from other women's situations and perceptions.
I did discover that women writing about women seems to be an inherent skill. As Virginia Woolf once said, "I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman." (From www.brainyquote. com.)
The expressions printed here by the goddesses are not sacrosanct doctrines, but perhaps simply sacred wit about day-to-day living. Or we can continue to procrastinate -- and delay pushing "send and receive" until tomorrow.
Shareen Guzman, a former high school teacher, is a consultant for Herff Jones Yearbooks.
The Goddess Speaks is a feature column by and about women. If you have something to say, write "The Goddess Speaks," 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210,
Honolulu 96813 or e-mail
features@starbulletin.com.