This was the first chapter of my research on the Demonization of the Goddess.
Welcome to Goddesses in the Garden. I'd like to tell you a little bit about the genesis of this title. About fifteen years ago, as an undergrad majoring in Literature, I wrote a paper titled, "The Demonization of the Goddess."
I wrote it as a disgruntled young female in an age of a wave a feminism I didn't care for. I felt that females were being forced to act more 'male' in order to become equal. Even the dress code seemed to mimic the male work wardrobe. I didn't care for pantsuits - not that there is anything wrong with them - it just wasn't me. Ask my twin brother how I dressed in High school, I think sometimes he pretended we weren't related.
And what about competing for jobs in the already gender-ruled male workplace, and getting paid less for the same jobs? What really threw me over the top, were my female peers in class feeling the pain of being labeled "housewife"
- as if that were a bad thing - if they didn't work, and having to live under the tremendous stress of working and taking care of a home, husband and children.
One particular young woman cried in class because she just wanted to stay home and be a mother and wife. What was wrong with that? An argument ensued in class and catapulted me into my research. I wanted to know why the feminine wasn't valued equal to the male. Was the feminine ever valued? When? What happened? My research changed my life. I ended up getting an A+++ on that paper - graded my a male professor. I felt impassioned about being a female.
Eventually, the paper evolved into a play, then a children's book, then a revised play, and seeds from that turned into a Middle Grade Novel and a self-help book. I became obsessed with Crowns, and Goddesses. Just ask my kids. They were kinda sick of it.
Flash forward to a few years ago as I sat wallowing in self pity after having my MG Novel rejected again. My son happened to be visiting and as he walked past me, he threw a manuscript at me. Startled, I grabbed the manuscript before it hit the floor and looked up at him. "That's the best writing you've ever done," he quipped as he went on his merry way.
Thanks to my son, I re-read my play, Goddesses in the Garden and I re-awakened the goddess in me as my characters reclaimed their inner Female Divine. I started to make crowns again for friends, and strangers. From the look on their faces when they put on their crowns, I knew I had to continue this work, to crown one woman at a time, to reclaim the Divine Feminine. I'm having fun; I finally feel that I am being true to myself.
So that's the nutshell version, Visit my Facebook page to see some gorgeous crowns from workshops and a whole host of new workshops I've created for you - essentially to get your creativity going and to create a spiritual practice.
Enjoy my site, which I hope grows into a sacred garden, overflowing with the Feminine Divine and crowns for everyone.
Namaste,
Janis
I wrote it as a disgruntled young female in an age of a wave a feminism I didn't care for. I felt that females were being forced to act more 'male' in order to become equal. Even the dress code seemed to mimic the male work wardrobe. I didn't care for pantsuits - not that there is anything wrong with them - it just wasn't me. Ask my twin brother how I dressed in High school, I think sometimes he pretended we weren't related.
And what about competing for jobs in the already gender-ruled male workplace, and getting paid less for the same jobs? What really threw me over the top, were my female peers in class feeling the pain of being labeled "housewife"
- as if that were a bad thing - if they didn't work, and having to live under the tremendous stress of working and taking care of a home, husband and children.
One particular young woman cried in class because she just wanted to stay home and be a mother and wife. What was wrong with that? An argument ensued in class and catapulted me into my research. I wanted to know why the feminine wasn't valued equal to the male. Was the feminine ever valued? When? What happened? My research changed my life. I ended up getting an A+++ on that paper - graded my a male professor. I felt impassioned about being a female.
Eventually, the paper evolved into a play, then a children's book, then a revised play, and seeds from that turned into a Middle Grade Novel and a self-help book. I became obsessed with Crowns, and Goddesses. Just ask my kids. They were kinda sick of it.
Flash forward to a few years ago as I sat wallowing in self pity after having my MG Novel rejected again. My son happened to be visiting and as he walked past me, he threw a manuscript at me. Startled, I grabbed the manuscript before it hit the floor and looked up at him. "That's the best writing you've ever done," he quipped as he went on his merry way.
Thanks to my son, I re-read my play, Goddesses in the Garden and I re-awakened the goddess in me as my characters reclaimed their inner Female Divine. I started to make crowns again for friends, and strangers. From the look on their faces when they put on their crowns, I knew I had to continue this work, to crown one woman at a time, to reclaim the Divine Feminine. I'm having fun; I finally feel that I am being true to myself.
So that's the nutshell version, Visit my Facebook page to see some gorgeous crowns from workshops and a whole host of new workshops I've created for you - essentially to get your creativity going and to create a spiritual practice.
Enjoy my site, which I hope grows into a sacred garden, overflowing with the Feminine Divine and crowns for everyone.
Namaste,
Janis
This is my play and the cover I created for it. Remember, I majored in literature and education not fine art.