In preparation for my upcoming presentation at the Women of Wisdom Conference where I am presenting a workshop titled "Awakening the Internal Nurturer Through Art & Ceremony" I decided to browse goddess figurines online to gain inspiration. In my presentation we are making clay goddesses as part of the 3 hour class and I was looking for images or figurines to take along to conjure up the energy of the Mother Goddess. I ran across a goddess that I couldn't take my eyes off of. It was her color, her shape and her earthy organic feel that drew me in. She felt to me as if she had just risen up from deep in the earth. And there she stood, naked and very present. I didn't put too much thought into her other than the fact that I felt I had to have her.

On top of feeling so connected to her, the woman who creates these wonderful works of arts lives about 10 minutes away from me and I was able to meet with her to receive my goddess. When I brought my goddess home, I spent some time listening to her. I believe that everything holds energy and when a piece of art enters into your life I think it is a great opportunity to try to understand the symbolic nature of its arrival, whether it is a work of art that you have created or someone else has.

As I sat with her and placed her on my altar, the realization of what she symbolized for me became very clear. She brings the gift of standing naked and raw in your essence. It is a powerful energy that is accessed through the slow chipping away of all that is around your pure raw beauty. This type of bare bones beauty simply is beautiful by virtue of its nature. It has to do nothing to be beautiful.

This excavation for me like all excavations has been a lifelong work. The arrival of this goddess came because she is welcoming me into this new experience that I am allowing for myself. When we access our 'bare bones beauty' contrary thoughts, emotions and fears do not have a hold over us. They no longer keep us buried. There is no conditions or strings attached to this type of beauty. The very nature of its uniqueness IS the beauty of it. To be this is to simply be you without all of the 'extras' that are getting in the way of unearthing your true essence.

Just like the goddess figurines that have been excavated throughout history, I feel that we do that also within ourselves. We dig and dig, we know she is in there; that pure organic us that just simply is a magnificent work of art.

Author's Bio: 

Jennifer Lothrigel specializes in spiritual and somatic approaches to wholeness. Her unique approach combines her natural intuitive gifts with body conscious coaching, body connection, healing movement, nutrition, expressive arts, sacred ceremony, soul retrieval, herbs and essential oils and guided imagery. Her intuitive way of working with the body is a gentle process that allows you to become more present and grounded in your own knowing, developing a foundation for practicing unconditional love for all of who you are.