Poetry book combines myth with meditation

Goddess Heart Rising is a collection of poetry focusing on different goddesses from history and myth that are used by author Roslyn McGrath to highlight various aspects of the “goddess” in all of us. The subtitle “Paintings, Poems, and Meditations to Activate Your Divine Potential” reveals the purpose of the book.

Although a man (this book’s intended audience is clearly female), I still very much enjoyed what McGrath says in his poetry about the various goddesses. (In fact, I wonder why men don’t write books about the gods of mythology in this sense.) Beyond the poetry itself, Roslyn offers her somewhat abstract but impressive paintings of the various goddesses included in the book. She has painted many of these on large wooden doors, and they are all quite striking, not always beautiful in a common way, but full of swirling energy, peace, passion and vibrant colours, fitting for the individual goddess depicted.

The goddesses themselves come from religious traditions around the world and include Cereidwen (Celtic), Isis (Egyptian), Eve (Biblical), Aphrodite (Greek), Nogoshkwe (Native American), and several others, including Mo-Ray Angelica, who is also known as The Third Mary (McGrath has written an entire book titled The Third Mary in which he channels the spirit of this person; she was not a goddess, but the mother of Mary Magdalene).

The section for each goddess follows the same pattern: a poem written in the voice of the goddess, a description of the painting that represents the goddess, a meditation on the goddess/painting/message, and a section of reflections. Many of the poems read like wonderful dramatic monologues that remind me of Robert Browning. For example, here is an excerpt from what Persephone says:

I expect
in bread
meeting some day
I will no longer wander
meeting some day
I WILL be AT HOME,
meeting some day
I will remember
what does it mean
be happy again.

Reflection questions for this poem include: “Where am I in the process of rebuilding past hurts?” and “What helps me sustain myself in difficult times?” but Roslyn also encourages her readers to journal and write down their thoughts and feelings from the included meditations.

I think this book is beautiful on so many levels, including its words, images, and overall purpose. Any woman seeking to get more in touch with her emotions, talents, and purpose in life will enjoy reading this book and opening up to the divine woman in her. I suspect that even men willing to read such a book will benefit from it, perhaps one will be inspired to write a men’s version full of heroes and mythical gods, don’t forget to include Zeus, Thor, Jesus, Buddha, Hercules and King Arthur. .