Lust For Life: Goddess Power

Are you a Goddess Girl?

Gorgeous girl, Cordelia Brabbs, most deffo is, which is why we’ve invited her to come play in our world o’ pink and help us channel our inner goddess girl!
Cordelia is the too-cool-for-school creator of Goddess Power - a bee-youuu-tiful pack of 30 oracle cards and a fully illustrated book that will teach you all about goddesses from different cultures and will show you how to access their wisdom and get what you want out of life!

Cool, eh?

Cordelia says: “One way to tap into your goddess power is to become a goddess girl (g-girl) and unleash your inner goddess. That means loving and believing in yourself no matter what you look like, where you come from or what you’ve been through. You are gorgeous and perfect just as you are!”

Tell us about the goddess girl that is Cordelia in 5 words…
Positive, passionate, gutsy, gorgeous…goddess.

How did you discover your love and passion for the goddesses?
A few years ago I was studying for an MA in Women’s Studies so was really into feminism and issues around women’s empowerment. At the same time I was getting into New Agey stuff like angels and Reiki healing, and came across lots of goddess books and a local women’s goddess group. I really loved the concept of the divine feminine, and it fitted into both of those interests I had.

How did that passion turn into a real life goddess girl power pack?
A voice in my head said: “Write a book on goddesses!”. No, seriously, that’s what happened. I was sat down one day having a quiet moment, when this voice that really wasn’t mine told me those exact words. I was so shocked that I couldn’t ignore it. So a lot of goddess research and a publishing proposal later, and there I was writing a book and an MA dissertation at the same time.

Tell us about the pack, what is it, what can we do with it, what was the inspir-o behind the look and feel of the product?
When I did my research I realized that a lot of the goddess books were a bit on the frumpy side and didn’t have much appeal to us girls. I figured it was time to funk up the goddesses and give them a 21st Century make-over, so came up with the concept of a combined book and goddess oracle card pack with illustrations of young goddesses in cool threads doing normal things. So you’ve got the African goddess Yemaya illustrated as a cool surfer girl, Hindu goddess Lakshmi as a Bollywood star and Tibetan goddess Tara as a hip yoga chick.

There are 30 cards with these goddesses on, and you can use the book to find out more about each one, who she is and how she helps you. The first half of the book guides you through who the goddesses are, how you can ask for their help, how to set up a goddess gang, and how you can unleash your own inner goddess power to become a super-cool goddess girl (g-girl). There are ten g-girl codes including ‘G-girls love their bodies’, ‘G-girls are powerful’, ‘G-girls are green girls’ and ‘G-girls are responsible’. It’s all empowering, positive and non-preachy stuff – and most of all fun! I like to think that Goddess Power is the new Girl Power. But then I would.

The pack includes goddess cards – what are they and how do you use them?
I love these cards!!! OK, so I’m bias, but I use them every day to see which goddess wants to hang out with me, or who I might need a bit of extra help from.

The cards are also there to show you what qualities you might need to develop right now, or what kind of action to take in a certain situation. All you do is shuffle the pack, ask a question or simply ask which goddess can help you, then pick a card out while they’re still facing down. Turn it over, and - ta-da! – you have your goddess guide for the day. Then flick to the second half of the book, read all about her, and use the invocations and connection tips. This will help you suss out what this goddess might mean for you (for example if you picked out the goddess Kali, she means you need to dig deep to find some extra courage).

You offer lots of services, including goddess workshops, we totally want to come! – and Goddess Girl Parties, tell us all about them – what happens?
Ooh, lots of lovely goddessy things! There’s a bit of a misconception about goddess workshops that everyone prances about naked in a forest, but that’s totally not true. At least not at mine anyway. I either do talks to lots of people at Mind Body Spirit exhibitions, or run weekend workshops for women in my home town of Glastonbury.

The bestest thing ever are the g-girl parties, where you and your mates get together in someone’s home, and I come and set up a g-girl circle (with lots of twinkly candles and yummy things to eat). I tell you about loads of different goddesses, show you how to read the goddess cards for yourself and your friends, find out how the goddesses can help with your different situations and how to ask for help, and most importantly learn different ways to live the g-girl lifestyle. I love to do stuff around natural beauty and nutrition, and get everyone in the kitchen making smoothies, and slapping mashed up fruit and stuff on their faces. It’s like a girls’ night in but with goddesses!

What’s a typical day in the life of Cordelia – is being a goddess girl your full time job?
Almost…there are times when I stop being goddess girl and become action girl, as I also work as a freelance journalist for Cooler magazine and a few other sporty / snowboarding mags. I love any kind of adrenaline sport like surfing, and mountain-biking, but snowboarding definitely rocks the most! Although I’ve just been skydiving to celebrate my 30th birthday and that rocked like nothing else.

You have a goddess girl lifestyle - tell us about it!
I love animals and trees and all the lovely things the goddess has made for us, so I do my best to respect them. Six years ago I was a meat-eating, alcohol-guzzling, neurotic journo in London. Then I got real and took up yoga, gave up drinking, and went veggie (and I’m now pretty much vegan). I got into mind body spirit stuff, discovered there was more to life and living than me and my self-pity, and that’s when I got the clarity to do my MA and write my book. I used to be spotty, allergic and always ill, and I’m not surprised considering all the rubbish I put in my body. Now I would never, ever, ever step foot in a fast food restaurant, and I totally urge all g-girls to get savvy about the industry and what really goes into the food you’re eating. It’s not called junk food for nothing. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser is a great read (or check out the movie). A goddess girl treats her body and like a temple and the Earth like a living being that needs care and respect.

What’s been the best experience since setting up goddess girl power?
Finding out the book was being published in America and Australia was so cool, as was getting a letter from T4 presenter June Sarpong telling me how much she loved Goddess Power Pack. And just meeting the g-girls at my workshops, I get inspired every time I run one.

What would a goddess girl power soundtrack sound like?
Totally mashed-up and mostly retro. I’m so way behind with the music scene I’m like someone’s granny. Depending on my mood I skip from the Chilli Peppers to 70’s disco, from Kundalini yoga mantras to Blondie, from Scissor Sisters to Muse and with a bit of India Arie, Jewel, Joss Stone, Jack Johnson and Gwen Stefani thrown in for good measure. But my hot tip for the Next Big Thing is a band called Vib Gyor (see – I do know one cool band!)

What makes you jump-in-the-air-happy?
Doing my goddess workshops, I’m always on a happy high when I finish. Snowboarding and surfing, I love the make-the-hair-on-your-arms-stand-up whooshes of adrenaline. Getting presents and nice surprises. Dancing like a weirdo when no-one’s looking. Hugs aplenty. Cuddling cute dogs. Any dogs. I love dogs!!!

Who are your inspir-o girls in the world?
Annie Lennox will always be the original g-girl, she rocks. Hardcore surfer chicks like Layne Beachley and Rochelle Ballard – they show the guys how to ride the waves with guts and grace. Also loving Joss Stone for her attitude, style…and purple hair!

How do we become a g-girl? What qualities do we need?
You’ve already got everything you need to be a g-girl, you just need to tap into your powers and use them. Being a g-girl is mostly about being who you are and not apologizing for it or trying to change yourself – even if other people don’t get you. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in, have the courage to sort out any bitches or bullies, start to accept that how you look is OK, and actually you are gorgeous just as you are. Stop comparing yourself to models and pop stars. Just be you. Believe in yourself and what you can achieve, don’t listen to anyone who puts you down or crushes your dreams. Then get healthy, get positive, do the stuff you love, make a difference in the world and get goddessy!

What’s next in the world of GGP?
I’m aiming for a Goddess Girl takeover of schools in Autumn with my workshops, so if you want some goddess power bringing your way, email me at cordelia@goddessgirlpower.com. After that it’ll be a new g-girl book, so watch this space…

The colour pink. Discuss.
If everyone wore pink, flamingos would feel less out of place.

www.goddessgirlpower.com