To kick start the issue, I would encourage you to take our quiz titled, More Than Just Good Looks.  I’m sure you’ll be able to pick a number of our celebrated women, and then there will be others you’ll learn about.  Either way, all these women have contributed to our world, one way or another.

If you are conscious of the money you spend, the waste you produce and the environment, you’ll love the site, Love Food Hate Waste.

Michelle profiles the book, How Jane Won: 55 Successful Women Share How They Grew from Ordinary Girls to Extraordinary Women, and Cheryl shares with us an insight that tooks some years to realise.  Apart from our meditation, Empowering Yourself, we have a couple of give aways within our Just For You feature.

This month’s Modern Goddess and inspiring woman is Jennifer Lee.  Jennifer rediscovered her childhood passion and has successfully carved out a career and business doing the things she loves.

May your month be filled with laughter, happiness and empowering action!

Nicole x

Did you know that only 12 women in its more than 100 year history have been recognise with the Nobel Peace Prize? Six of those women - representing North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa - established the Nobel Women’s Initiative in 2006.

The have come together in a united effort for peace with justice and equality. Their initiative is to help strengthen the work already being done in support of women’s rights around the world. The Vision of the Nobel Women’s Initiative is a world transformed, a nonviolent world of security, equality and well-being for all.

You can support the cause in many ways from donating money to writing letters to embassies. In support of International Women’s Day, I encourage you to Take Action today.

Goddess Give Away One 

All  goddess subscribes go into the draw to win this beautiful piece called ‘Crown Blossom‘ created by Juria valued at $35.00 USD.

Juria’s jewellery is inspired by everyday life. She explains that this design was inspired by water lilies she came across while spending a day at a Golf Resort in Guandong province, China.

Crown Blossom is designed with amethyst and natural moonstone beads on sterling silver wire.  To read more about it, please click here.

Juria sells her beautiful jewellery through Modern Goddess Gifts sells more of her beautiful pieces.  They are all handmade with love and attention to detail.  Each piece is a one-off.

The winner will be announced be contacted via email and announced in our next issue on the 4th May 2009.

Please read our Competition Terms and Conditions prior to entering.

Goddess Give Away Two

In conjunction with Anne’s article, More Than Just Good Looks we are giving away a Soul Journey with Nicole Graham to the value of $50.00 USD.

A Soul Journey is similar to a guided meditation that softly encourages conversation during the meditation. It allows you to delve deep beneath your everyday life into the realm of inner truth. In the quietness of the Soul Journey, your long sought after answers arise easily and effortlessly.

To read more about the Soul Journey, please visit Modern Goddess Gifts.

Each journey takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. The Soul Journey will be conducted over the Internet using Skype, at a mutually agreed time.

To be in the running to win the Soul Journey email us at competitions(at)moderngoddessmagazine.com send your answers to our quiz by the 1st May 2009.

All entries will go into the draw and the first entry pulled with the correct answers will be the winner. The winner will be announced be contacted via email and announced in our next issue on the 4th May 2009.

Please read our Competition Terms and Conditions prior to entering.

Our winner of the Crossword Membership is Diane Panaro.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Diane, we’ll be in contact shortly with the details of your membership.

As a certified coach, artist, author and yogini she is doing wonders in her local community as well as over the Internet.

As a kid, Jennifer was always painting or drawing but once she hit high school she started comparing herself with others, and gave into the belief that she was not talented enough. Like all other good young adults, she focused on doing well in school so she could get into a good college and have a good career.

However, after 10 years in corporate America working for companies such as Gap, Accenture, Sony and Universal, Jennifer she left her successful career in change management consulting to pursue her passions and living in alignment with her values.

Jennifer incorporates creative elements like visualization, movement, collage and book arts, to help women tap into their greatest potential and live their most authentic, full life. She is the creator of the Right-Brain Business Plan, a tool to help you creatively envision your business.

These days, Jennifer spends her days coaching individual clients, practicing yoga on and off the mat, facilitating workshops, leading the Oakland Ladies Who Launch chapter and doing creative projects. In short, she’s living her life authentically and feels like she’s making a positive impact in people’s lives.

When Jennifer’s not working, she loves to spend time hanging out with her husband, Brian and their adorable dog, Emmett. She enjoys Ashtanga yoga, reading, knitting, book binding, arts and crafts, painting, hiking, nature, eating great food and connecting with friends.

As we do with all our modern goddesses, we asked Jennifer a few questions.

Nicole: What inspires you?

Jennifer: I’m inspired by so many things! The beauty that surrounds me in every day life. Touching stories of people taking risks to live their dreams. I’m inspired by art, creativity and people expressing themselves fully in all aspects of their lives. I’m inspired by seeing connections and discovering new and interesting way to integrate different concepts or ideas.

Nicole: Which women have inspired you?

Jennifer: Anyone who is going after her dreams and living her most authentic life inspires me. It takes courage, passion and determination to make your visions real in the world, so I love seeing women creating positive change in their lives and the lives of others. I’m inspired by my dear friend Brighid O’Shaughnessy who developed a non-profit based on her passions around theater and mental health. I’m always learning from her willingness to speak the hard truth with love and her talent for mobilizing people to take action.

Fictional females even inspire me – like Paikea in “The Whale Rider” and Juliette Binoche’s character in “Chocolat” who both embodied the power of intuitive and feminine leadership.

Some of my other muses include: Martha Stewart, Oprah, Madonna, Frida Kahlo, tranquilista Kimberly Wilson, the amazing clients I work with and the world of creative bloggers who bare their art and soul everyday.

Nicole: What are your future plans for your business, and for yourself?

Jennifer: I’m envisioning abundance, ease and organic growth. I want to continue supporting women to awaken their inner muses and live their dreams. My vision includes getting my first book published, continuing my 1:1 coaching and leading workshops, and offering more ways to help “musepreneurs” authentically grow their creative businesses. I also want to contribute to the emerging field of Expressive Arts Coaching through supporting other coaches, developing community and sharing resources.

In my personal life, I’m intending more spaciousness to enjoy the things I love. Some fun goodies I already have in the works include taking intuitive painting classes, enjoying a yoga retreat and vacationing in Mexico with my hubby. Yay!

Thanks again, Nicole, for this wonderful opportunity to connect with you and your marvelous readers!!

Nicole: You’re welcome Jennifer.

To relate the meditation back to this issue’s theme, our meditation focuses on empowering yourself to live your dreams.

Sit comfortably with a straight back and your eyes closed. (Pause) Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. (Pause)

As you count down from 5 to 1, you find yourself letting go (Pause), letting go of all thoughts (Pause) and releasing any tension in your body. (Pause)

5. Ensure that your face is soft (Pause), ensure your eyes are soft (Pause) and your jaw is relaxed. (Longer Pause)

4. Let go of any tension in your neck, your shoulders (Pause), your arms and fingers. (Pause)

Good! You’re doing well! (Pause)

3. Take a deep breath in, (Short Pause) count to 3 (Short Pause) and release your breath imagining yourself calm, relaxed and totally at ease. (Pause)

2. Let all your thoughts float away like a white fluffy cloud on a clear blue day. (Long Pause)

Excellent! (Short Pause)

1. All noise and movements allow you to slip deeper and deeper into a state of wellbeing. (Pause) Feel the tension of you lower back, hips and legs become soft and relaxed. (Long Pause)

In your mind’s eye you find yourself sitting by an open window… (Pause)

When you look out this open window, you see the most beautiful, lush, green grass with bright coloured flowers sprinkled throughout.  Take the time to look around and drink in the amazing energy of this glorious place. (Long Pause)  Feel the energy seep into your heart (Pause), seep into your mind (Pause), seep into your soul. (Pause)

As you are taking in this energy you begin to realise that your Inner Goddess is nearby (Pause) she has the most infectious smile, that you cannot help but smile with her.  Her love for you is truly blissful, you feel it to your core. (Pause)

As you connect with her, she encourage you to walk with her through the field. (Pause)  While walking pick some of the flowers that you walk past, knowing that these will be displayed in a vase to remind you of your time together. (Pause)

Your inner goddess asks “what is it that you really wish to do, but there is a barrier stopping you?”  You sit down in the grass to connect with your heart and find your answer. (Pause) When you’re ready you share your answer with your Inner Goddess. (Long Pause)

Your inner goddess asks “what can you do to overcome those barriers?” and without thinking you immediately tell her the actions you can take to empower yourself to live you dreams. (Pause)  Upon finishing you feel your energy buzzing, your heart smiling and butterflies dancing in your belly. (Pause)  This is all good, your inner goddess tells you.

Your walk is nearly over and you have bright, illuminous flowers in your hand.  Say goodbye to your inner goddess (Pause) and make your way back to your window. (Pause)  Once you’re back at your window, watch the sunset (Pause) and know that the obstacles have become actions, and those actions will move you forward in achieving your dreams.  Sit with those actions and recognise how each one is a stepping stone and an achievable goal. (Pause)

When you’re ready, put your hands together in prayer position, (Pause) place them at your heart chakra (Pause) and say “I am empowered to live my dreams” and take the time to thank your inner goddess for visiting. (Pause)

Take 3 deep breathes and with each breath your awareness returns to the here and now. (Pause) Wiggle your toes and fingers (Pause) and when you’re ready, open your eyes. (Pause)

Take a few moments to remember your obstacles and actions to overcome them, write them down if you wish.

Blessings to you!

It is the constant longing for achievement, the little voice inside that encourages you to fulfill your dreams.

It takes strength and intensity, backed with powerful, positive emotions and faith to accomplish your goals.

A passion so deep that it drives you to achieve your objectives no matter what obstacles you must overcome in order to succeed.

You will get what you want if you have a burning, intense passion to accomplish your goals and you take action to make your dreams a reality.

Everyone has the ability to get what they want. It is natural for the forces around you to give you what you want when you ask for it. Therefore, it is important to think positively about what you desire to achieve.

Anthony Robbins, World Renowned Expert on Motivational Thinking, said it best…

‘By repeating an affirmation over and over again, it becomes embedded in the subconscious mind, and eventually becomes your reality. That is why you need to be careful what you think and believe, because that is exactly what you will get!’

Positive thoughts bring positive results.

As you look for ways to accomplish your dream, look to accept what experiences come your way and be grateful for them. Accept them with thanks and gratitude, and focus on having more of what you desire.

Isn’t it interesting how happy people always seem to get what they want? I believe it is because they use what ‘God’ has given them, are truly thankful for it, and strive for more of it.

If you are unhappy about everything in your life then your experiences will be unhappy. Your negative attitude shouts, ‘Forget it! Who needs this?’

Not the attitude that will make your dream a reality.

Have you ever heard someone say, ‘Man, a black cloud follows me everywhere I go. If something bad is going to happen it’ll happen to me’? And sure enough, that person continually pulls along with them that little black cloud. Surrounding themselves with all the wrong forces and creating a life of misery.

I prefer this positive definition of desire, ‘The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy.’

GO FOR YOUR DREAM with the intense hunger and passion to achieve success!

Many famous people have survived serious illness through their intense will to live and enjoy every moment of living. Adversity can be overcome through the power of a strong, intense desire.

Even those whose destiny is not life, they survive every moment with a burning passion to live.

What a positive way to overcome the obstacles by replacing negative thinking with positive thinking; enjoying and living your life to the fullest every day.

You can conquer anything you want when the desire to achieve it is filled with passion, a hunger so deep that nothing can stop you from accomplishing your dream. Take the time to write down your goals, visualize your success, and never wane from accomplishing your objective. The passion in your soul that never sleeps will open your mind to achieve what you believe in.

Failure is not an option… merely steps toward your achievement! You can, and will, achieve your dream successfully.

Want to learn more about the positive personal power techniques that will help YOU achieve your goals? Claim your free copy of The Habits of Achievement today and watch your passion to achieve your dreams power up to succeed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Kennedy_Bohannon

The book is divided into career sections including healers, nurturers, artists and musicians and communicators so you can dip in and out to gain any information or inspiration you might require.  All of these women felt that they were in fact very ordinary girls growing up which seems to make the book very accessible for women of all ages.  The women noted in the book range from 30-80 providing perspectives and practical information from many generations.

Success is multi-faceted and this book confirms that success does not only rely on the title of your job but the happiness and joy you seek in life on a daily basis.

The Love Food Hate Waste campaign aims to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste.

Their website is jam packed with recipes, tips on how to save time and money as well as how to work out portion sizes.  All practical everyday things that can do to waste less food, and ultimately benefit our purses and the environment.