Anique’s Blog · Early 2005

Building the Australian Goddess Temple

I never cease to be amazed at how quickly the Goddess works Her miracles in my life.

I sent out the email about the Australian Goddess Temple just 2 months ago and now I have the most inspiring news!

Kaye Wright, a wonderful sister from Victoria, has donated $2000 towards the building of the Temple. Others who are named on the Australian Goddess Temple Page have also donated, so I found myself with $2,255 in the Temple fund.

Just for fun, I rang the three best suppliers of sheds in the area, and asked them to quote on a shed 10 metres by 7 metres, on a concrete slab, with 4 windows and a door and absolutely nothing else. No lining for the walls, no insulation and no frills whatsoever. My plan was to see if I could get a structure up which I and my tribe of sisters here in Kempsey could "finish" to a reasonably comfortable level. I was very surprised when the quote came in at around $15,000!!!

To make matters even more surprising, the supplier of the best quote, tells me that if I can confirm my order by the end of that week, (I spoke to him on the Tuesday) I would get the current price. After that date, the price of steel was going up and it would cost approximately 22% more!!

There followed a couple of days of deep soul searching and constant discussion with Debbie about what I should do.

Now I live in trust, knowing at a very deep level that the Goddess will always look after me when I am on Her path and doing what is best for me and for all. My feeling was to pay the deposit - which was $2,500 - and then trust that the first progress payment due at the end of April would materialise for me. Debbie, my partner, who is a dear wise and cautious soul, was not very comfortable with that idea.

What if the money did not come in?

What if the builder took me to court for not paying?

What if I got sick and could not run workshops to raise the money?

I tossed and turned for two nights trying to decide what to do. Finally I decided. The Goddess was giving me a sign. It was time to act now…after all...She had whispered in Kaye’s ear and had raised $2000 of the deposit for me, and I had another $250, all I had to add was another $250 and I had the deposit. But where would that come from?

I decided to talk to John...the builder and ask him if he would accept $2250. If he would, then the Goddess was giving me the green light. If he did not, then I was not to act any further. Well, my dear sisters and brothers, he said OK!!!

So I am overjoyed to announce that a contract has been signed and the AUSTRALIAN GODDESS TEMPLE HAS BEEN CONCEIVED!!

The First Ritual in the Serenity Goddess Temple

The Moon in Aquarius shone her radiant face towards us as we, 6 women, walked from our home to the Temple. It was a beautiful, still night. The bush was peaceful…almost in trance, as my beating heart looked up at the moon and sent out a silent prayer of gratitude. "Thank you Mother, for this moment, this night, this blessing to finally do our sacred work in your place…thank you."

As we approached the Temple, gentle candlelight welcomed us, beaming out through the entry door. This is the vision that greeted us as we arrived:

What had previously - two days before - been a stark metal shed, had been lovingly transformed into a place of beauty with the many banners and "props" I had accumulated over the years.

As we looked to our right as we walked in, this sight awaited us.

The Great Mother as the sacred Venus of Willendorf, and to Her left the East - Water…and to Her right North - Fire. This statue is made of plaster and is actually a plaster cast of my body, with a "head" attached later. She also wears a large python snake skin around her neck, gifted to me by a python who was pregnant when we first met each other here on our land. The skin was left lying between two rocks exactly where we had first seen each other. The Centre represents Spirit - Goddess - both within and without every living being on this planet. Even the rocks, stones and what we call "inanimate" objects are imbued with Spirit.

Kuan Yin sits on the East/Water altar, embodying the attributes of love, compassion, emotions, nurturing, flow and forgiveness. Water energy is also represented by the water in our body, which constitutes 90% of our body mass, most easily recognised as tears and perspiration. Also on the altar, although hard to see, a bowl of fresh rain water, and an ancient Tibetan horn made from a Nautilus shell encrusted with silver and crystals. My son Ben gifted me with this treasure when we were walking through markets in Taipei. The stall had a thief’s hoard of sacred objects stolen from Tibetan Temples by the Chinese. And also on the altar are two of the ceramic candlesticks I made for our trysting. I shall photograph each one soon and post it on my ceramics page.

The North/Fire Altar holds the Sacred Cauldron and a statue of an Indian deity, whose name I do not know, but choose to view as one aspect of Kali. I have seen a number of stunning brass Kali statues with eight arms but to this day have not found one of a size and price I can afford. If there is one out there who needs a home, may she fly to the Temple now! The Fire energy is about action and passion, transformation and alchemy. It also relates to the blood in the body, which gives the body heat.

At the West/Earth altar, Urda, the ancient Earth Goddess of African origin, the land from whence we all originated, sits with a snake skin around her neck. Also on this altar is the turtle shell pouch, given to me by my Native American sister Otter. I treasure this pouch and wear it often when I teach. I have also placed one of my gourd rattles on this altar to represent this land I live on. I grow the gourds myself and water them with my voice as well as the water from our dam. Earth Energy is about centredness and groundedness, abundance, creativity, fecundity and all life on this planet. Earth energy relates to the bones and flesh of our body. All bony and fleshy tissue in fact, and the matter of our nails and toenails etc…

Next to the Earth Altar and opposite the Great Mother Altar is the Dark Goddess Altar. Some years ago (1998) I met the Dark Goddess when I almost died from pneumonia. Her love and care manifested through Her adamant requirement that I stop working full time (read killing myself) and develop the artist and healer in me. I began reading about Her and in my research discovered that we all came from Africa. The Dark Mother, the Black Madonna, and many of the South American cultures worship the Dark Mother. As I was born in Egypt, on the continent of Africa, I asked the Universe to find me a suitable statue to place in my then second bedroom Temple. The next weekend, I found this magnificent (sorry hard to see) one metre high African Goddess, which stands on the leopard cloth covered Altar. She has a large crack down Her left side (the side of woman, who has also been "cracked" by patriarchy) which meant She was on sale for a ridiculous price. Blessed be the Goddess. I see the Dark Goddess as our "shadow", not a dark force to be feared, rather a loving "devil’s advocate" who pushes us to see what is negative in our lives and helps us transform it to the good for ourselves and for all.

The large wooden wheel to the right of the image is the teaching aid I use in my Wheel of the Year workshop. Made by Wendy, a dear young woman who was in my life some years ago, it is beautifully made with layers of thin timber in different natural tones of timber colours. The stand is a natural tree limb. The Wheel turns to reveal the seasons, sabbats, and the times in a woman’s life of maiden, mother, crone and ancestor/soul ready for birth.

The Goddess of the Air Altar literally "flies" above it. Made by Allyn Jory, this wonderful fabric Goddess has wings and arms upraised in praise. She is suspended from the column above. Air energy represents the air around us, the winds and breezes, as well as the breath in our bodies. Also on the Air Altar is a Feather Wand, which I swapped for CDs and some extra pounds when I was in Glastonbury last year, with another wonderful sister. Unfortunately, I did not ask her name, as we addressed each other as sister. If you see this my sister of the feathers, please contact me. The Air energy is about wisdom, focus, clarity, divination and intuition. It is also about breath and life energy...prana.

Our ritual was sacred and holy. The sisters gave of themselves with open hearts and had made an effort to find readings which were both beautiful and valuable. Our voices joined as one as we sang in the Circle/Directions/Spirits of the Land/Centre. Our hearts and Souls joined together as we released our prayers of love and goodwill to the Universe. In these times of deep challenge, we need all the prayers we can manage. Our hands and hearts were joined as I led my sisters in our Spiral Dance and our laughter filled the Temple as I - who can dance for hours - finally noticed that my sisters were puffing and tired! We raised healing energy in the ancient way, and released it to go where it is needed. And in that sacred space and state, we called in those who particularly needed healing. Ahhh sisters, how powerful we are when we drop our protections/pretences and live in the heart. We finished our ritual and opened the Circle, and walked back in high spirits to enjoy our feast! And what a feast it was!

And so dear sisters and brothers, it is largely due to you that this magical place has now taken form. I thank you deeply. Blessed BE!!

Blessed be!

Anique Radiant Heart