Anita Revel, 40, Margaret River, WA
Tucking my son Connor, two, into his cot I felt a pang of loneliness. 'It's just us now,' I whispered. My husband and I had just split. I need a fresh start, I sighed.
That month I got a job at an advertising agency and threw myself into work and looking after Connor. But when I was alone, I still struggled. I can't stop thinking, I realised.
Then, one day I saw an ad for a meditation course about making time for yourself. The only 'me time' I get is when I'm asleep! I realised, deciding to enrol.
In my first class, all the other attendees were like me. 'I always feel stressed,' one woman said, echoing my thoughts.
The tutor gave us suggestions to help and over the weeks a new calm descended on me. 'We all have an inner goddess,' said my tutor. 'You've just found her.'
It was 1998 and I wanted to tell the world about the happy life I'd found, thanks to my inner goddess. I'm going to do some goddess research, I decided. I was amazed at what I found.
Even before astrology there were the ancient gods and goddesses. Each goddess' energy was more evident at certain times of the year. And just like with star signs, if you were born under a certain goddess you took on some of her characteristics.
Born October 12, I worked out I was born under the goddess Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The description of Venus-born women was me to a tee. I loved dressing up and I was a real romantic.
Even better, there was advice on how to really harness your goddess and make her characteristics work for you. I wanted to help others find their inner goddesses so I started up my website, Goddess.
What kind of goddess are you? I asked. Using your birth date, you could figure out which goddess you were born under.
Your goddess energy defines who you are and what your life purpose may be, I wrote.
Soon I was receiving messages from women around the world saying how helpful my site was.
'I understand myself more and have learnt to accept myself,' said a US fan.
I was on a roll and wrote two books. Then Connor and I moved to the country. We'd lived there a few weeks when I hit on a practical way of helping women find their inner goddess. 'You're invited to a Goddess Playshop,' I told my new friend Matina.
'Does it mean dancing naked in circles?' joked one mum who was relieved to hear there'd be wine and chatting.
To find out who they really were, I wanted to provide women with some time out for themselves. Five intrigued goddesses gathered at my home the following week. 'Yuck,' said the group as I asked them to smell some essential oils.
Oils linked to the goddesses were a good starting point. They all hated one in particular - Athena oil. 'Athena is linked to the throat so an aversion to it tells me you're holding back the truth,' I explained. They looked around and suddenly, secrets tumbled out. 'I'm being bullied at work,' explained one mum. 'But I'm scared to speak out.'
Then I asked everyone to close their eyes while I whispered positive words in their ears. When I came to an older woman, she burst into tears. 'It's so long since anyone said anything good about me,' she wept.
When I handed around the Athena oil again, nobody recoiled. 'It's because we've made room for the truth,' I said.
Over the weeks my Goddess Playshops were booked out and within a month, my phone was ringing with requests from interstate. So my Goddess Playshops spread.
'So how many goddesses has your empire unleashed?' asked the gentle farmer I met a few months later. Gavin lived close by and when we were introduced our connection was unmistakable. After a few dates, we were inseparable.
In 2005 I took my Goddess Playshops to the US and we got married in Las Vegas.
By 2006 I had written a training manual and had 60 facilitators conducting Goddess Playshops around the world. 'Only $30 for two hours of fun,' said a US member. 'Cheaper than having my nails done.'
But while I was busy helping other goddesses, my own goddess had words for me. 'I'm not pregnant because I'm unhealthy,' I moaned, after a failed IVF attempt. At 72 kilos, and 159cms, I felt so bulky.
So I decided to take the advice I gave at my Playshops. I began noticing which foods slowed me down and which gave me energy. And when I cut out carbs I craved pasta. I must need them, I thought, adding them back into my diet. 'You're eating pizza and still losing weight!' my friends cried.
I smiled. I liked myself again and, as my happiness grew, nine kilos melted away and I fell pregnant.
In December 2006, baby Phoebe arrived.
I sold my Goddess Playshops business to spend time with her but I still wanted to help all the would-be goddesses out there.
This year I wrote my tenth book, The Goddess Diet. Using my experience, I taught women how to harness their goddess energy to help become naturally slim.
'I've found my inner goddess. Now my outer one is shining through too,' I said to Gavin.
I'm hoping my book will transform more women into beautiful and happy goddesses. My goddess helped me change my life and I hope by finding theirs, it will help others too.
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