In a study reported by ScienceDaily, researchers from MIT, Carnegie Mellon University and Union College examined levels of collective intelligence in groups and found that those containing more women demonstrated greater “social sensitivity “– the ability to perceive other members’ emotions — and thus performed better in complex undertakings.

Sounds like the feminist principle of co-creation to me. As Gloria Steinem wrote in “Revolution From Within”: “progress means interdependence.” Joining a women’s group and participating in goddess retreats can help connect creative collaborators and foster radical personal transformation. Ten years ago, I joined a women’s circle and attended my first goddess retreat. When I made space for my own personal and spiritual growth in these environments, I was showered with support and grew in ways I never could have imagined.

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Why do so many young women and girls in today’s society feel disempowered? “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Jennifer Siebel tells us in her new documentary “Miss Representation,” which explores how mainstream media portrays women in limited ways. Namely, that womanhood means being young, beautiful and thin. Without realistic role models, is it really surprising that so many young women are confused, isolated and deeply depressed?

In the course of working on my book “Goddess on Earth,” I encountered women from a diverse range of backgrounds and vocations with a variety of appearances and life paths. They did, however, all have one thing in common: they cultivated their own empowerment by identifying with a goddess and invoking her symbolic qualities.

I don’t mean to say that believing in or identifying with the Goddess makes young girls immune to societal pressures of beauty, attractiveness or self-worth. But I do think that the world of goddess spirituality offers an alternative to our cultural climate, which is so focused on women’s limitations — how they look versus how they should look, how they act versus how they should act, and so forth.

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I have always loved autumn. It feels like new beginnings; a new grade at school, a new semester at college, a fresh start, and not surprisingly, my only child was born in October. It is also the time of the Autumn Equinox, a day when the duration of light and dark are equal, before the tipping point of summer turning into fall. This year, I still feel that excitement, a tingling in the air, but I am also reflective; musing about my life as I inch ever closer to the crone.

The Goddess, worshiped for at least 5,000 years before Christianity, encompasses the concept of a trinity: the maiden, mother and crone. Barbara Walker wrote in her seminal book The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, “From the earliest ages, the concept of the Great Goddess was a trinity and the model for all subsequent trinities, female, male or mixed.” I’ve struggled as a maiden, loved being a mother, but at 55, am I ready to be a crone?

The maiden aspect of the Goddess is symbolic of new beginnings, youthful enthusiasm, independence, and a time when a girl is growing into the woman she is to become. When I photographed Maya for the Artemis portrait in Goddess on Earth, she was just 12 years old, and beginning to deal with all the newness that comes with growing into your own skin. In her statement to accompany her photograph, she wrote: “Artemis represents strength, independence, self-reliance, and courage — all qualities I wish I had.” Here Maya was, on the cusp of adulthood; I could feel her power but also her fear. I too remember a confidence at that time, but underneath it, what I really wanted was approval that I was doing things “right”.

The characteristics of the mother stage are creativity, balance, and fullness of life, being pregnant with possibilities, as well as loving and receiving love. Rha Goddess, the renowned hip-hop performance artist, social entrepreneur and activist had no trouble choosing which Goddess to embody: Lakshmi, the Indian Goddess of wealth and prosperity clearly spoke to her. “It is our Goddess-given birthright to be healthy, wealthy and wise. The divine mother Lakshmi belongs to all of us; she moves in the hood just as she moves on Wall Street, challenging us to bring new consciousness to all our resources.” With light streaming into a dark Brooklyn stairwell, Rha glowed with a magical life force.

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In a few weeks, I will give birth to an eight year-old — or that is what self-publishing my first book feels like. When first conceived, I thought the path to publishing Goddess on Earth would be fairly complex but straightforward. Instead, it took me to unknown lands, introduced me to wondrous individuals and in general, carried me on a great adventure.

Eight years ago, suffering during a night of insomnia and depression, I picked up Jean Shinoda Bolen’s book Goddess in Everywomen and couldn’t put it down. Though thoroughly enthralled by the subject matter, one of the Goddesses seemed to leap off the page and speak to me. Her name was Demeter, the Greek Goddess of the Bountiful Harvest.

Demeter was a nurturer and a mother (as I was), and when Hades (the Greek God of the Underworld) abducted her daughter Persephone, she was devastated. Demeter’s grief caused the land to became barren. While reading this myth, I saw myself reflected in this universal archetype. With this knowledge, I felt strengthened and empowered: I knew that I would eventually crawl out of my cave and return to the world of light, creativity and passion, just as Demeter had done when Persephone returned to her for six months out of the year.

My journey had begun and I began photographing women as Goddesses to see if sacred myths spoke to other contemporary women. I wanted to explore how resilient, complex and multi faceted present-day women were — just like the goddesses of ancient myths. I chose women of all ages and from all walks of life, and for some, the idea of their lives resembling a universal archetype was a new and thrilling concept. The choice of sacred myth wasn’t necessarily easy, or straightforward, but it always revealed deep personal insight.

When I first approached Jodie Evans and Dana Balicki from the political organization Code Pink about a portrait, Jodie immediately identified with the fierce Hindu Goddess Kali. For Dana, it was a personal moment of truth — she believed in change and transformation, but had to dig deep to find the raw anger and rage necessary to embody the bold, giver and destroyer of life: Kali.

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Green Tara, the Tibetan Goddess of Compassion provides Tashi Dolma with strength and peace. A trained medical doctor from Tibet, Tashi now lives in New York where she operates the successful Tibetan Healing Clinic in Valley Cottage. Leaving her homeland of Amdo, Tibet during the winter of 1990, her treacherous journey on foot brought her to Bodhgaya, India where she received Kalachakra teaching. Deciding upon whom to embody in Goddess on Earth was an easy decision for Tashi. “Green Tara helped me to cross the Himalayan Mountains when I escaped Tibet!”

You can see in her life here in America, that she is a woman overflowing with love. She is one who brings healing into peoples lives in multiple ways. Tashi has also continued to spread hope and healing to those in need in Tibet with her non-profit Home of Hope. It is a home and school for orphan children who would otherwise be abandoned. On her web site, Tibetan Home of Hope, Tashi wrote “We are unique in that it is not our intent to send children to adoptive families–our goal is to contribute to the preservation of Tibetan culture, while concurrently supplying the children with the best care and education possible within their homeland.” Her heart, passion and intellect gravitates in concern towards those she can help, as with the children she takes under her wing at her Home of Hope.

Tashi’s life is a clear depiction of a woman who has overcome, persisted and given much from what she has to offer. A real life testimony from such a strong woman is an inspiration to me, and my desire is that it will touch you in some way, shape or form as well.

For the last 10 years, I’ve attended a women’s spirituality festival called “Where Womyn Gather” held in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I missed this year’s gathering because I was overseeing the printing of “Goddess on Earth” in Verona, Italy, but you can be sure I’ll be there next year!

It was at these gatherings that I was first exposed to the divine feminine and a vibrant, goddess loving community. Each year, for four delicious days, I felt the freedom to let my creative juices flow, gleaning inspiration and support from the other women attending. It is also there that I photographed Maya who chose to embody the goddess Artemis.

A free and wild spirit, the goddess Artemis is in harmony with nature. She is pure, like a virgin forest, driven and self-determined. I see these qualities as the embodiment of the goddess in her “Maiden” aspect. This stage of a woman’s life is symbolic of new beginnings, youthful enthusiasm, independence, and a time when one is growing into the woman she is to become. Although often associated with a young girl, I have chosen in my work to instead embrace “the Maiden” as a universal stage that can flower at any time in a woman’s life.

When I photographed Maya, she was just 12 years old, and beginning to deal with all the newness that comes with growing into your own skin. In her statement to accompany her photograph, she wrote:“ Artemis represents strength, independence, self-reliance, and courage – all qualities I wish I had.” Maya found power and inspiration in Artemis during this important time of self-discovery as she is finding herself, and learning who and all she wants to become.

Last week we celebrated Mother’s Day and there is no better Goddess to reflect on during the month of May than Gaia, the personification of Mother Earth. Gaia, one of the first deities in existence,  is said to have emerged from Chaos – the primordial abyss, giving birth to the sky and the sea. She is a symbol of all life in nature and the abundance of the earth’s bounty.

I have a friend who is a remarkable mid-wife with a large practice here in Nyack. A few days after helping with a home birth she phoned me to recommend the mother, Marin, as a Goddess subject. Within days of this introduction, Marin welcomed me into her house, proudly sharing the joys of her home birth and we made a Goddess portrait that shimmers with a lush chiaroscuro lighting.

Marin is a genuinely warm and calm woman, a beautiful embodiment of the character and nature of Mother Earth. She is so committed and dedicated to helping other women experience a natural birth that she is now a trained birth doula, She offers physical, emotional and spiritual support to mothers during the birthing process, coaching and walking women through this sacred rite of passage.

As she embraces the difficulties and beauty alike all around her, she exudes love and a motherly care that puts you at ease. Our photo session was a joy as Marin was so comfortable in front of the camera with her children, and I feel privileged to know another great woman living locally and actively instrumentally in the lives of others.

I met Jan while walking the festive streets of Nyack during one of their seasonal street fairs. I noticed her from a distance, as her dynamic character was apparent, as was her striking appearance. She was no doubt intriguing, and I thought she would portray a goddess wonderfully. I approached her and after introducing myself, explained my project. Jan was interested and enthusiastic right away, and said she would research what goddess she would choose to embody.

Jan decided upon the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Hathor, who nurtures and embraces life in all its ecstatic expressions; joy, song, laughter and dance. We took a trip to the New York Botanical Gardens to photograph this session, where the lush, tropical  plants in the Haupt Conservatory helped put us in an Egyptian state of mind! Not only did the photo shoot go smoothly, but Jan’s approach to life and all of its different aspects shone through this goddess, as she really does embrace the beauty all around with a confident and playful eye. Jan is a mother, grandmother and successful entrepreneur, and her portrait, to me, is an iconic “Mother” image; conveying a fullness of life, a creative woman pregnant with possibilities, willing and able to give and receive love.

My question for you is, which goddess are you? What goddess or sacred myth can you find yourself relating to, being inspired by, or striving to be? It was a pleasure to serendipitously meet and get to know Jan, and I hope you may find some inspiration in this chance story and goddess portrayal, as it is something within reach! “Live to inspire, and be inspired.”

Fatima was one of the first children to be born into Islam and the fourth daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. She is considered to be one of the four holiest women in Islam after the Virgin Mary, Khadija, and Asiya, the Queen who rescued Moses from the river. It is said that when Fatima prayed, her light was reflected by the mihrab, the direction of the Ka’aba in Mecca that a Muslim must face when praying. Her inner light was seen by everyone and the name “Zehra”, meaning “resplendent or shining one” was given to her among other such titles

This portrait began when I was introduced to a wonderful Sufi mosque in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. I was invited with open arms to their Saturday night potluck dinner and there  met three sisters, all college students. Their names were Amina on the left, then Nuranisa, and Sema.

When asked what myth or sacred life story they would like to embody, they spoke about of the importance family, community, and faith in their lives. The significance of these elements led them to Fatima. “We chose Fatima because she is the ideal model for all Muslim women (even men) in spirituality, worship, prayer, service and inward and outward demeanor. Her loving and kind countenance made the people love her, her shrewdness made people respect her and her words and actions made the people imitate her.”  Nuranisa, Amina and Sema later wrote, “Our parents surrounded us with a very spiritual Islamic lifestyle based on prayer and worship but most significantly with love and service to our community, which is ultimately service to Allah.”

I was struck with admiration for the dedication and devotion these three sisters embrace life with. Amina, Nuranisa and Sema are my neighbors, living their lives fully within the uniqueness of their culture and values; emanating beauty and strength daily.

Anna Msowoya-Keys was one of the women I photographed for the Women of Rockland project. Anna is from Malawi, and goes back and forth between Africa, where her roots are, to Valley Cottage, New York where her immediate family resides. In her words, “I am a Malawian woman, happy to be in America. But as much as I love life here, I have not forgotten my roots, the small village where I come from in northern Malawi. The closeness of family and the importance of community I experienced in Malawi sustains me to this day. I now live in two worlds. One is not better than the other. They’re just different. Don’t ask me to chose, but do give me the space to live fully in both.”

Anna is a wife, mother, friend, sister, development activist, and founder of Maloto, an organization devoted to improving the lives of women and children in northern Malawi. Last year, I was able to travel with Anna to Malawi and see first hand the incredible work she is doing there. I can honestly say she is one of the most extraordinary women I have ever met. With complete dedication, fierce determination and relentless drive, she has helped create the Kwithu Women’s Group which, since 2004,  has acquired eight acres of land for agriculture and served over 25,050 meals to local orphans and children; and the Mzuzu Academy, the first internationally accredited secondary boarding school in northern Malawi.

Anna is a woman that went after her dreams and with much hard work is seeing them come to fruition. She is a beautiful picture of strength, fullness of life, warmth and joy. Without a doubt she is a goddess on earth.