The Story of Rhiannon - Goddess of Inspriaion

Rhiannon, the Celtic goddess of the moon was a Welch goddess.   The goddess Rhiannon's name meant “Divine Queen” of the fairies. In her myths, Rhiannon was promised in marriage to an older man she found repugnant. Defying her family’s wishes that Rhiannon, like other Celtic goddesses, declined to marry one of her "own kind".

Instead, the goddess Rhiannon chose the mortal Prince Pwyll (pronounced Poo-ul or translated as Paul) as her future husband.  Rhiannon appeared to Pwyll one afternoon while he stood with his companions on a great grass-covered mound in the deep forest surrounding his castle.  These mounds, called Tors, were thought to be magical places, perhaps covering the entrance to the otherworld beneath the earth.  It was thought that those who stood upon them would become enchanted, so most people avoided them. 

So it is no surprise that the young prince was enchanted by the vision of the beautiful young goddess Rhiannon, who was dressed in glittering gold as she galloped by on her powerful white horse.  Rhiannon rode by without sparing him even a glance. Pwyll was intrigued and enraptured, and his companions were understandably concerned. 

Ignoring the protest of his friends, Pwyll sent his servant off riding his swiftest horse to catch her and asked her to return to meet the prince.  But the servant soon returned and reported that she rode so swiftly that it seemed her horse’s feet scarcely touched the ground and that he could not even follow her to learn where she went.

 The next day, ignoring his friends’ advice, Pwyll returned alone to the mound and, once more, the Celtic goddess appeared.  Mounted on his horse, Pwyll pursued her but could not overtake her. Although his horse ran even faster than Rhiannon's, the distance between them always remained the same.  Finally, after his horse began to tremble with exhaustion, he stopped and called out for her to wait.   And Rhiannon did. 

When Pwyll drew close she teased him gently, telling him that it would have been much kinder to his horse had he simply called out instead of chasing her.  The goddess Rhiannon then let him know that she had come to find him, seeking his love.

Pwyll welcomed this for the very sight of this beautiful Celtic goddess had tugged at his heart, and he reached for her reins to guide her to his kingdom.  But Rhiannon smiled tenderly and shook her head, telling him that they must wait a year and that then she would marry him.  In the next moment, the goddess Rhiannon simply disappeared from him into the deep forest.

Rhiannon returned one year later, dressed as before, to greet Pwyll on the Tor.  He was accompanied by a troop of his own men, as befitted a prince on his wedding day.   Speaking no words, Rhiannon turned her horse and gestured for the men to follow her into the tangled woods.  Although fearful, they complied.  As they rode the trees suddenly parted before them, clearing a path, then closing in behind them when they passed. 

Soon they entered a clearing and were joined by a flock of small songbirds that swooped playfully in the air around Rhiannon’s head.  At the sound of their beautiful caroling all fear and worry suddenly left the men.  Before long they arrived at her father’s palace, a stunning site that was surrounded by a lake.  The castle, unlike any they had ever seen, was built not of wood or stone, but of silvery crystal. It spires soared into the heavens. 

After the wedding a great feast was held to celebrate the marriage of the goddess.  Rhiannon’s family and people were both welcoming and merry, but a quarrel broke out at the festivities.  It was said that the man she’d once been promised to marry was making a scene, arguing that she should not be allowed to marry outside her own people. 

Rhiannon slipped away from her husband’s side to deal with the situation as discreetly as she could . . . using a bit of magic, she turned the persistent suitor into a badger and caught him in a bag which she tied close and threw into the lake.  Unfortunately, he managed to escape and later returned to cause great havoc in Rhiannon's life.

 The next day Rhiannon left with Pwyll and his men to go to Wales as his princess.  When they emerged from the forest and the trees closed behind them, Rhiannon took a moment to glance lovingly behind her.  She knew that the entrance to the fairy kingdom was now closed and that she could never return to her childhood home.  But she didn’t pause for long and seemed to have no regret.

Rhiannon was welcomed by her husband’s people and admired for her great beauty and her lovely singing.   However, when two full years had passed without her becoming pregnant with an heir to the throne, the question of her bloodline, her “fitness” to be queen began to be raised. 

Fortunately, in the next year she delivered a fine and healthy son.  This baby, however, was to become the source of great sorrow for Rhiannon and Pwyll.

 As was the custom then, six women servants had been assigned to stay with Rhiannon in her lying-in quarters to help her care for the infant.  Although the servants were supposed to work in shifts tending to the baby throughout the night so that the goddess Rhiannon could sleep and regain her strength after having given birth, one evening they all fell asleep on the job. 

When they woke to find the cradle empty, they were fearful they would be punished severely for their carelessness. They devised a plan to cast the blame on the goddess Rhiannon, who was, after all, an outsider, not really one of their own people.  Killing a puppy, they smeared its blood on the sleeping Rhiannon and scattered its bones around her bed.   Sounding the alarm, they accused the goddess of eating her own child. 

 Although Rhiannon swore her innocence, Pwyll, suffering from his own shock and grief and faced with the anger of his advisers and the people, did not come strongly to her defense, saying only that he would not divorce her and asking only that her life be spared. Rhiannon’s punishment was announced. 

For the next seven years the goddess Rhiannon was to sit by the castle gate, bent under the heavy weight of a horse collar, greeting guests with the story of her crime and offering to carry them on her back into the castle.

Rhiannon bore her humiliating punishment without complaint.  Through the bitter cold of winters and the dusty heat of four summers, she endured with quiet acceptance.   Her courage was such that few accepted her offer to transport them into the castle. Respect for her began to spread throughout the country as travelers talked of the wretched punishment and the dignity with which the goddess Rhiannon bore her suffering. 

In the fall of the fourth year three strangers appeared at the gate—a well-dressed nobleman, his wife, and a young boy.  Rhiannon rose to greet them saying, “Lord, I am here to carry each of you into the Prince’s court, for I have killed my only child and this is my punishment.”  The man, his wife, and the child dismounted. 

While the man lifted the surprised Rhiannon onto his horse, the boy handed her a piece of an infant’s gown.  Rhiannon saw that it was cloth that had been woven by her own hands.  The boy then smiled at her, and she recognized that he had the eyes of his father, Pwyll.  

Soon the story was told.  Four years earlier, during a great storm, the nobleman had been called to the field to help a mare in labor, when he heard the infant’s cries and found him lying abandoned. He and his wife took the baby in, raising him as if he were their own.

When the rumors of the goddess Rhiannon’s fate had reached his ears, the farmer realized what had happened and set out at once to return the child to his parents.  Most legends suggest that the badger actually was the enraged suitor that Rhiannon had rejected who had escaped and taken his revenge by kidnapping Rhiannon's infant son.

Pwyll and his people quickly recognized the boy for Pwyll and Rhiannon’s son.    The goddess Rhiannon was restored to her honor and her place beside her husband.  Although she had suffered immensely at their hands, Rhiannon, goddess of noble traits, saw that they were ashamed and was filled with forgiveness and understanding.

 In some versions of the legend, Rhiannon was the Celtic goddess who later became Vivienne, best known as the Lady of the Lake. She was the Celtic goddess who gave Arthur the sword Excalibur, empowering him to become King in the legends of Camelot.  

 

The story of the Celtic goddess Rhiannon reminds us of the healing power of humor, tears, and forgiveness.  The goddess Rhiannon is a goddess of movement and change who remains steadfast, comforting us in times of crisis and of loss.

Overcome Fear, 7 Steps to Free Yourself from Fear’s Stronghold

Article by Dani Johnson

The plague of fear is a huge epidemic that stops people daily from reaching their goals and dreams. Whether it’s fear of failure, success or anything in between, you need a step by step method to break free from this nasty demon. I’m going to cover some of the most common fears and give you the steps to breakthrough them for a lifetime.

The following fears apply to business and life in general. None of us are immune to these fears but we have the ability to not be controlled by them. The most common fears are fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of humiliation/looking bad and fear of making mistakes.


Decision, commitment and action are your best tools for overcoming fear. Decide what you are going to do, commit to doing it consistently and take immediate action. Where there is no commitment, fear and doubt set in.
I decided that Network Marketing was my chosen profession and that I would do what it takes to get good at it. I had the same faith of a medical student who knows that he won’t see a patient solo for 8 to 10 years.

The doctor knows that if he commits to developing the skill every day that he will eventually master his craft and own a practice earning a professional income. The beauty of the home business industry is that you can earn just as much or more than a doctor in much less time. Making up my mind that there was no turning back, I burned the bridges of doubt and fear. Within 2 years I was earning as much or more than most doctors.

 Here are 7 steps to overcome fear:
1. Doubt – don’t open the door or make an agreement with it. Make a decision whether you are going to agree with faith or agree with doubt.
2. Be 100% committed. Commitment destroys fear and doubt. Stay with your plan and fight through adversity.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, people with vision and dreams who are awake and stirred to do great things.
4. Keep yourself moving forward in action mode. Lack of action creates idleness which opens the door to fear.
5. Stay involved by plugging into tools that increase your skills and feed your belief system. Listen to conference calls, CDs and attend seminars. Protect and feed the growth that you are experiencing.
6. Practice prospecting and giving presentations daily. The more you talk to people, the easier it gets.
7. Make the decision to never quit. Once quitting is not an option, there is no room for fear.
You can’t afford to live in fear. The future of our families and our nation are relying on you stepping up to your potential, taking action and building a future. Get the skill you need to get more and do more and you will fear nothing.

"What does Love mean?"

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of four through eight year olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs."

"Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don’t yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired."

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

"Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you’re scared they won’t love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."

"There are two kinds of love: Our love and God’s love. But God makes both kinds of them."

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore."

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
"Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken."

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

"I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."

"Love cards like Valentine’s cards say stuff on them that we’d like to say ourselves, but we wouldn’t be caught dead saying."

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you"

"You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Source Unknown
received via email

The "Second" Ten Commandments!

1. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
2. Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.
4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.
5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
6. Thou shall not borrow other people’s problems. They can better care for them than you can.
7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!
8. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.
9. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.
10. Thou shall count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to big ones.

Life Is... By Mother Teresa

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

365 Ways to Live the Law Of Attraction (day 7)

Let Go of The Negatives, Focus on the Positives

A thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the Law of Attraction allows us to quickly achieve our goals and et more of the stuff we want and avoid attracting things we do now want. With deliberate and focused application of the priciples of the Law of Attraction, we can achieve our full human potential and perhaps work together toward creating a more harmonious and just world.

The Law of Attraction, as already noted, works in response to thoughts that have become energized.  What if you deliberately focused your attention on something that you wanted to call forth in your life... something that you deeply desired to manifest? Would the Law of Attraction bring it to you? The answer is yes... Always.

Taken from the book 365 Ways to Live the Law of Attraction by Meera Lester (available in the Inspired Mama Goddess Amazon Book Store)

**My Two Cents...  Placing focus behind thoughts has been a practice since the beginning of time and thought. For millions of modern practicing witches, this is the essential point in working magick. The use of tools, candles, herbs and even rhyme to help the mind focus on a desired outcome is simply a way of life. For millions of others prayer is a great form of this same principal.  And yet to others this is something completely new... In either case, the Law Of Attraction is the unseen force making the magick!

50 Women Who Changed The World (BiographyOnline)

50 Women That Changed The World

1. Sappho -570BC

One of the first published female writers. Much of her poetry has been lost but her immense reputation has remained. Plato referred to Sappho as one of the great 10 poets.

2. Cleopatra 69 -30 BC

The last Ptolemic ruler of Egypt. Cleopatra sought to defend Egypt from the expanding Roman Empire. In doing so she formed relationships with 2 of Rome’s most powerful leaders Marc Anthony and Julius Ceaser. These relationships have been depicted in Romantic terms, although in reality they may have been political alliances.

3. Mary Magdalene 4 BC - 40AD

The historical facts surrounding Mary Magdalene are shrouded in speculation. However accounts from the Gospels and other sources suggest Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. It is said she was a women of “ill repute” but according to the Gospel of Mark and Luke her pure devotion to Christ earned her complete forgiveness. Mary Magdalene stood near Jesus at his crucifixion and was the first to see his resurrection.

4. Boudicca 1st Century AD

Boudicca was an inspirational leader of the Britons. She led several tribes in revolt against the Roman occupation. Initially successful her army of 100,000 sacked Colchester and then London. Her army was eventually completely destroyed in battle by the Romans.

5. Hildegard of Bingen 1098-1179

Mystic, author and composer. Hildegard of Bingen lived a withdrawn life, spending most of her time behind convent walls. However her writings, poetry and music were revelatory for the time period. She was consulted by Popes, Kings and influential people of the time. Her writings and music have influenced people to this day.

6. Eleanor of Aquitaine 1122-1204

The first Queen of France. Two of her sons Richard and John went on to become Kings of England. Educated, beautiful and highly articulate, Eleanor influenced the politics of western Europe through her alliances and influence over her sons.

7. Joan of Arc 1412-1431

The patron saint of France, Joan of Arc received “heavenly visions” giving her the inspiration to lead the French in revolt against the occupation of the English. An unlikely heroine; at the age of just 17 the diminutive Joan successfully led the French to victory at Orleans. Her later trial and martyrdom on false premises only heightened her mystique.

8. Mirabai 1498-1565

Born to a privileged Hindu family Mirabai broke with the conventions of society to live the life of a mystic and devotee of Krishna. For her unconventional lifestyle her family tried to kill her, but on each occasion were unsuccessful. Her bhajans and songs helped revitalise Devotional Hinduism in India.

9. St Teresa of Avila 1515-1582

Mystic and poet. St Teresa of Avila lived through the Spanish inquisition but avoided been placed on trial despite her mystical revelations. She helped to reform the tradition of Catholicism and steer the religion away from fanaticism.

10. Catherine de Medici 1519-1589

Born in Florence, Italy Catherine was married to the King of France at the age of 14. On the death of her husband she became Queen mother to her 3 sons. She was involved in interminable political machinations seeking always to increase the power of her favoured sons. This led to the disastrous St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in which upto 50,000 Huguenot’s were killed.

11. Elizabeth I 1533-1603

Queen of England during a time of great economic and social change, she saw England cemented as a Protestant country. During her reign she witnessed the defeat of the Spanish Armada leaving Britain to later become one of the world’s dominant superpowers.

12. Catherine the Great 1729-1796

One of the greatest political leaders of the eighteenth century. Catherine the great was said to have played an important role in improving the lot of the Russian serfs. She placed great emphasis on the arts and helped to cement Russia as one of the dominant countries in Europe.

13. Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-1797

Mary Wollstonecraft wrote the most significant book in the early feminist movement. Her tract “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” laid down a clear moral and practical basis for extending human and political rights to women. - A true pioneer in the struggle for female suffrage.

14. Jane Austen 1775-1817

One of the most popular female authors Jane Austen wrote several novels, which remain highly popular today. These include “Pride and Prejudice” “Emma” and “Northanger Abbey”. Jane Austen wrote at a time when female writers were very rare. Most of her early books were written under a pseudonym. She paved the way for the next generation of female writers.

15. Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811-1896

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a life long anti slavery campaigner. Her novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was a best seller and helped to popularise the anti slavery campaign. Abraham Lincoln would later remark her books were a major factor behind the American civil war.

16. Queen Victoria 1819-1901

Presiding over one of the largest empires ever seen Queen Victoria was the head of state for most of the nineteenth century. Queen Victoria became synonymous with the period symbolising propriety and middle class values. Queen Victoria sought to gain an influence in British politics whilst remaining aloof from party politics.

17. Florence Nightingale 1820-1910

By serving in the Crimean war Florence Nightingale was instrumental in changing the role and perception of the nursing profession. Her dedicated service won widespread admiration and led to a significant improvement in the treatment of wounded soldiers.

18. Susan B.Anthony 1820-1906

Susan Anthony campaigned against slavery and for the promotion of women’s and workers rights. She began campaigning within the temperance movement and this convinced her of the necessity for women to have the vote. She toured the US giving countless speeches on the subjects of human rights.

19. Emily Dickinson 1830 – 1886

One of America’s greatest poets Emily Dickinson lived most of her life in seclusion. Her poems were published posthumously and received widespread literary praise for their bold and unconventional style. Her poetic style left a significant legacy on 20th Century poetry.

20. Emmeline Pankhurst 1858-1928

A British suffragette, Emily Pankhurst dedicated her life to the promotion of women’s rights. She explored all avenues of protest including violence, public demonstrations and hunger strikes. She died in 1928, 3 weeks before a law giving all women over 21 the right to vote.

21. Marie Curie 1867-1934

Marie Curie was the first women to receive the Nobel Prize and the first person to win it for 2 separate categories. Her first award was for research into radioactivity (Physics 1903). Her second Nobel prize was for Chemistry in 1911. A few years later she also helped develop the first X ray machines.

22. Emily Murphy 1868-1933

Emily Murphy was the first women magistrate in the British Empire. In 1927 she joined forces with 4 other Canadian women who sought to challenge an old Canadian law that said, “women should not be counted as persons”

23. Rosa Luxemburg 1870-1919

A leading Marxist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg was a friend of Lenin who fought passionately to bring Social revolution to Germany. In the lead up to the First World War she wrote fiercely against German imperialism and for international socialism. In 1919, after her attempts to herald a Communist revolution in Germany failed, she was murdered by German soldiers.

24. Helena Rubinstein 1870-1965

Helena Rubinstein formed one of the world’s first cosmetic companies. Her business enterprise proved immensely successful and later in life she used her enormous wealth to support charitable enterprises in the field of education, art and health.

25. Helen Keller 1880-1968

At the age of 19 months Helen became deaf and blind. Overcoming the frustration of losing both sight and hearing she campaigned tirelessly on behalf of deaf and blind people.

26. Coco Chanel 1883-1971

One of the most innovative fashion designers Coco Chanel was instrumental in defining feminine style and dress during the 20th Century. Her ideas were revolutionary; in particular she often took traditionally male clothes and redesigned them for the benefit of women. Listed by TIME magazine as one of the top100 influential people of twentieth Century.

27. Eleanor Roosevelt 1884-1962

Wife and political aide of American president F.D.Roosevelt. In her own right Eleanor made a significant contribution to the field of human rights, a topic she campaigned upon throughout her life. As head of UN human rights commission she helped to draft the 1948 UN declaration of human rights.

28. Amelia Earhart 1897-1937

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in 1928, just one year after the first ever crossing made by Charles Lindeburg. It was a significant achievement in itself but also significant for being achieved in a male dominated field.

29. Katharine Hepburn 1907-2003

An iconic figure of twentieth Century film Katharine Hepburn won 4 Oscars and received over 12 Oscar nominations. Her lifestyle was unconventional for the time and through her acting and life she helped redefine traditional views of women’s role in society.

30. Simone de Beauvoir 1908-1986

One of the leading existentialist philosophers of the twentieth Century Simone de Beauvoir developed a close personal and intellectual relationship with Jean Paul Satre. Simone de Beauvoir radicalised philosophy. In particular her book “The Second Sex” depicted the traditions of sexism that dominated society and history. The book was received to both intense praise and criticism. It was a defining book for the feminist movement.

31. Mother Teresa 1910-1997

Devoting her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed Mother Teresa became a global icon for selfless service to others. Through her missionary of Charities organisation she personally cared for 1000s of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1979.

32. Dorothy Hodgkin 1910-1994

Awarded the Nobel prize for chemistry Dorothy Hodgkin work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. These discoveries led to significant improvements in health care. An outstanding chemist Dorothy also devoted a large section of her life to the peace movement and promoting nuclear disarmament.

33. Rosa Parks 1913-2005

Rosa Parks refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man indirectly led to some of the most significant civil rights legislation of American history. She sought to play down her role in the civil rights struggle but for her peaceful and dignified campaigning she became one of the most well respected figures in the civil rights movements.

34. Jiang Qing 1914-1991

The wife of Chaiman Mao Jiang Qing gained tremendous power during the repressions of the Cultural Revolution. Jiang claimed she was only following the orders of Chairman Mao, but in practise she abused her position to pursue political enemies and target anything “intellectual” or “artistic” After the death of Mao she was tried and convicted.

35. Billie Holiday 1915-1959

Given the title “First Lady of the Blues” Billie Holliday was widely considered to be the greatest and most expressive jazz singer of all time. Her voice was moving in its emotional intensity and poignancy; an intensity probably fuelled by her tempestuous private life. Despite dying at the age of only 44 Billie Holliday helped define the jazz era and her recordings are widely sold today.

36. Indira Gandhi 1917-1984

First female prime minister of India. She was in power from between 1966-77 and 1980-84. Accused of authoritarian tendencies she only narrowly avoided a military coup by agreeing to hold an election at the end of the “emergency period” of 1977. She was assassinated in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards. He murder was in response to her decision to storm the Sikh golden temple, which left many innocent Sikh pilgrims dead.

37. Eva Peron 1919-1952

Eva Peron was widely loved by the ordinary people of Argentina. She campaigned tirelessly for both the poor and for the extension of women’s rights. At the same time she was feared by some in power for her popularity. She was also criticised for her intolerance of criticism; with her husband Juan Peron they shut down many independent newspapers. She died aged only 32 in 1952.

38. Betty Frieden 1921-2006

Leading feminist figure of the 1960s. Her book “The Feminine Mystique” became a best seller and received both lavish praise and intense criticism. Betty Frieden campaigned for an extension of female rights and an end to sexual discrimination.

39. Margaret Thatcher 1925 -

The first female Prime minister of Great Britain, Mrs Thatcher defined a decade. In particular she is remembered for her emphasis on individual responsibility and lack of belief in society. She presided over a successful war in the Falklands, reduced the power of trades unions and her economic policies led to 2 major recessions in the UK.

40. Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962

Born Norma Jean Baker, she rose from childhood poverty to become one of the most iconic film legends. Her films were moderately successful but her lasting fame came through her photogenic good looks and aura of glamour and sophistication.

41. Anne Frank 1929-1945

Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most widely read books in the world. It reveals the thoughts of a young, yet surprisingly mature 13-year-old girl, confined to a secret hiding place. “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.”

42. Audrey Hepburn

Leading female actor of the 1950s and 60s. Audrey Hepburn defined feminine glamour and dignity, and was later voted as most beautiful women of the twentieth century. After her acting career ended in the mid 1960s, she devoted the remaining period of her life to humanitarian work with UNICEF.

43. Dian Fossey 1932-1985

Zoologist and conservationist Dian Fossey dedicated her life to protecting wild species. In particular she spent most of her life with the wild gorilla in central Africa helping to raise awareness over endangered species.

44. Germaine Greer 1939-

Leading feminist icon of the 1960s and 1970s Germaine Greer enjoys raising contentious issues. In particular her book “The Female Eunuch” was a defining manifesto for the feminist movement, which proved influential from the 1960s onwards.

45. Betty Williams 1943

Together with Mairead Corrigan, Betty Williams campaigned passionately to bring an end to the sectarian violence of Northern Ireland. They founded the Community for Peace and were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 (post dated for 1976)

46. Billie Jean King 1943

One of the greatest female athletes Billie Jean King was one of the greatest female tennis champions who battled for equal pay for women. She won 67 professional titles including 20 titles at Wimbledon.

47. Benazir Bhutto 1953

Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister of a Muslim country. She helped to move Pakistan from a dictatorship to democracy in 1977. She sought to implement social reforms, in particular helping women and the poor. She was forced out of office on corruption charges; charges she continues to deny.

48. Oprah Winfrey 1954

Influential talk show host Oprah Winfrey was the first women to own her own talk show host. Her show is tremendously influential, usually focusing on issues facing American women.

49. Madonna 1958 –

Madonna is the most successful female musician of all time. She has sold in excess of 250 million records. In addition to being a great pop musician she has rarely been out of the limelight.

50. Diana, Princess of Wales 1961-1997

One of the most photographed persons ever Princess Diana combined the appeal of a Royal princess with her humanitarian charity work. Although her marriage to Prince Charles was overshadowed by affairs on both sides; her popularity remained undimmed as many were inspired by her natural sympathy with the poor and mistreated. Her death in 1997 was a major shock to the whole world and sent the world into an unprecedented collective mourning.

Many of the Women selected in this list were featured in the book “Women Who Changed the World” by Ros Horton and Sally Simmons available in the Inspired Mama Goddess Amazon Book Store!


This List and More information about most of these women available at: 
http://www.biographyonline.net/people/women-who-changed-world.html

PASSING ON THE GIFT OF INSPIRATION:

I am a woman,

poor but proud, invisible but invincible,

a natural resource with unlimited potential.

I am important.  I am ready for change.

Given a choice, given a chance,

I will participate, strive, achieve.

I will improve my community and contribute to society.

You can help.

With tools, with knowledge and opportunities,

I am someone - one of many,

working together to overcome prejudice,

fight poverty, wage peace,

for our children,

for our future.

I am a wife, mother, sister,

daughter, partner,

force, leader.

I am powerful.

***

She has the power to change her world.

You have the power to help her do it.

***

Getting involved is so easy.  You can make a difference with one nomination, one small $10 donation, and five minutes of your time.  Please help us to pass on the gift of inspiration to women of poverty.  Make your nomination today.

Then, if you want to help us even more, you can help us spread the word about this great project.  Tell your friends, family, and colleagues to visit our blog and make their nominations.

One nomination at a time, we will make a difference.

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*This information was compiled from CARE's "I Am Powerful Action Kit."

Top 5 keys to ensuring your New Year's resolutions are acheived in 2010

My Thanks to Jennifer May, my friend and mentor for this awesome article! 

Now is the time for everyone to get ready for the New Year... Time to write your goals and dreams down for the year and start implementing the tasks to making them happen. Before you write them down this year, let's dig a little deeper into really achieving them. As known in The Slight Edge, Secrets to a Successful Life, it is not just writing down these important things but it is staying consistent with actions daily to making them happen. Instant gratification is a very sad concept this world has grown to need and feel is necessary to prove success. Which honestly is not at all included in the road to success by any means. The road to success or happiness can be a hard, difficult one. But remembering that it is the journey and never giving up is what counts will ensure you achieving these successes and achievements you dream of.

With that said we wanted to share a few key concepts and tasks to implement with these New Years resolutions of yours. So not only writing down and thinking of what you want to achieve this year but now actually sticking with them and making them happen can be accomplished successfully.

The Top 5 Keys to ensuring your New Year's Resolutions in 2010:

1. To know and believe you will achieve your goals and dreams. Make it your focus and visualize making them happen and they will. Put your heart, dedication and determination into whatever resolutions you make. Do whatever it takes to make them happen, do not let any wall, obstacle or hard time stand in your way. A great way to enforcing this mindset is learning more about The Secret.

2. Staying realistic but still reach for the stars. Make high goals so when you achieve them (even if it is not as high as you wanted it to be when you get there) you will still be proud of yourself and know it was worth it! Making high goals that are still realistic make your achievements that much higher and allow you to achieve more than you thought possible as to opposed to aiming low. Aiming low will ultimately not get you where you want to be.

3. Action, action, action. Put forth the tasks, work, dedication and determination that is necessary to achieving your goals and dreams. Write down a game plan and stick with it on a daily basis. Ensure you are working towards them everyday even when you do not feel like it. Make it a priority in your life just like your children and family. It has to be on the top of your list no matter what.

4. Consistency is key. With any resolution, goal or dream you might have... it is those who do not stick with it consistently are the ones who do not achieve these goals that they so awfully want to make happen. What happens is many will get excited and get those goals in action mode. Then a week goes by and they do not see instant gratification and they give up or gradually stop working towards it. This is where consistency in life and in your goals is necessary to achieving them. Also, understanding it will not happen over night and will take time is a great deal apart of staying consistent achieving success.

5. Personal Growth and Development. Learn about you, grow yourself daily as a person. Doing this will allow you to work towards your resolutions, goals and dreams with the positive feeling and mindset to making them happen. This includes utilizing audios, books, movies, seminars, etc. Just doing something on a daily basis to grow and learn. You can find many ways of Personal Growth and Development here.

As you can see these are just a few things you can do to ensure your success of any resolution set in your mind and heart. There are many ways to ensuring you achieve these but remembering it does go much deeper than writing them down and starting them... It is finishing them is what counts! Giving up is not an option and if you have to fail your way to the top, you better do it to make those goals and dreams come true. Happy New Year and may you have the strength, perseverance, consistency and most of all... the heart and passion to achieving your goals and dreams in 2010!

N.Y. Protestant churches apologize to Native Americans

N.Y. Protestant churches apologize to Native AmericansBy Daniel Burke, Religion News Service

Four hundred years after their spiritual ancestors took part in the decimation and dislocation of Native Americans in New York, one of the nation's first Protestant churches held a "healing ceremony" to apologize.

"We consumed your resources, dehumanized your people, and disregarded your culture, along with your dreams, hopes and great love of this land," representatives from Collegiate Church said in a statement. "With pain, we the Collegiate Church, remember our part in these events."

The Friday ceremony took place on Native American Heritage Day in lower Manhattan, where in 1628 Dutch colonizers built the first Collegiate Church, then known as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, at Fort Amsterdam. The Dutch West Indies Company treated Native Americans "as a resource," Collegiate said in a statement, and "we were the conscience of this company."

Collegiate now includes four churches in New York, including Marble Collegiate Church, where the late Rev. Norman Vincent Peale preached from 1932 to 1984.

Ron Holloway, who attended the ceremony as a representative of the Lenape people, said "the native populations were suppressed by a political and religious will of which they could never begin to conceive." But, he said, he and other Lenape people "whole-heartedly accept this apology."

At Friday's ceremony, Holloway embraced leaders from Collegiate, according to the Associated Press, and exchanged wampum, strings of beads symbolizing money or ornaments.

"After 400 years, when someone says 'I'm sorry,' you say, 'Really?'" Holloway told the AP before the ritual. "There was some kind of uneasiness. But then you've got to accept someone's sincere apology; they said, 'We did it.' We ran you off, we killed you.'"

Fifteen Things God Won't Ask

 Fifteen Things God Won't Ask
Author Unknown

• God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. 
• God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy. 
• God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed. 
• God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life. 
• God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary. 
• God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones. 
• God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others. 
• God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability. 
• God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.
•  God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend. 
• God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others. 
• God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors. 
• God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character. 
• God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t.

The 85 year old water skier!

So, I'm working part time at Macy's right now to help out for the holidays! I love what I do and love being there. Well, the other day I have this elderly woman come over and tell me she has lost her Macy's card. So, I go through all the steps to help her find it. The first thing I do is take her back to the counter she was just at and check with the sales woman there! I noticed it took her a while to get to the counter, but just brushed it off as her age forcing her to walk slower than me. She said "Honey, I'm sorry, I just had my knee replaced, so I'm have to walk slower." I understood completely and let her take her time. Once at the counter, I talked with the sales woman, who had not found the card. The elderly woman emptied her purse on the counter and went through all her bags and pockets a second time. No card.

Since we couldn't find her card, we decided the best thing for her to do was to cancel it. These days it's all to easy for someone to pick it up and use it before she even had a chance to get home. So I took her to our credit dept. phone is and helped her to get everything taken care of.

While we were walking to and from the courtesy phone we chatted a bit. This woman was just great! She told me that she had been out of the hospital for a full week and that her doctor was a "quack.." I, of course, had to add the "they all are" to that conversation.

As it turns out her doctor had told her that she would have no chance of walking again, she would spend the rest of her life as a "cripple." She decided she would make her own rules and told him to go to... well, you know what she said. She told me that she had left her cane at home and would not be seen in public with it! But that she did have to give in to one of the orders of her doctor, and let me say, she was NOT happy about it!

She was forced to sell the her boat and skis because the doctor told her that he would not be able to replace her knee for a third time. As it turns out this woman, had been through three knee replacements and multiple other surgeries simply because at 85 she was STILL water skiing on a regular basis!

That had to be the most amazing thing I have EVER heard! I can only pray that at 85 I'm still water skiing! Hell, I'll be happy if at 85 I'm still walking!

So where ever you are Elderly Water Skiing Lady - Here's to you!