The Goddess Connection

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The Goddess Connection

Rev. Doreen Lavista, HPs., RM/T THE GODDESS CONNECTION tm. Clairsentience is the ability to “feel” the emotions of a person or circumstance. Blessed be.

Spiritual Mentor, Reiki Master, Ritual Facilitator, Tarot Specialist
Teaching Meditation/Mindfulness, Metaphysics, Paganism, Wicca & Eclectic Witchcraft, Goddess Traditions & the Divine Feminine Embodiment Tarot & Reiki With Doreen, Spiritual Mentor & Coach, Supporting Personal Wellness, Empowering People to Help Themselves - Creating Rituals for Women in All Stages of Life - Offering A Common Sense Approach to Spiritual Well-Being
I have always had the gift of clairsentience & claircognizance, but as a child in the 1960s, there were no books or classes on how to develop these gifts. It often accompanies Precognition, the innate knowing of what comes next & Claircognizance, a sense of knowledge of information without formal exposure. I later found more information as a teenager, in the 1970s, through research in Wicca & Tarot. Although I only read Tarot for family, friends & classmates, I was honing a skill I would use for the rest of my life. Later in adulthood,I developed a small, private clientele. As an Eclectic Wiccan Priestess, I was a founding member of the Coven BellaDonna, created seasonal celebratory rituals, developed classes in Metaphysical studies. I even became ordained minister of the Universal Life Church & The Church of Spiritual Humanism. I later studied more about Eastern Philosophies and how they influenced the “New Age” movement in the US & the awakening of American Spirituality. Through interaction with other practitioners & Masters, I was introduced to Reiki in the 1990s. I have completed four Reiki Masterships, one with Diane Stein. Through intensive metaphysical study & practice, I confirmed that Spirit is always with me. I learned that we all share the energy of Chi or Vital Life Force. It is here I could define that we all share access to the energy field known as the Akashic Records. And it is here that I reasoned that all living creatures, the inhabitants of Mother Earth, share the gift of Sentience & self awareness. My “real life” experience comes from a 30 year career in Civil Service in Clerical, Supervisory & Administrative capacities. I was employed in County Water Supply & the Library System and retired from there. Prior to that, I lived in Colorado & Germany as a Military Adjunct. My education is varied & extensive & I am currently a Psychology Major in a local college. We never stop learning. My students & clients receive Spiritual Mentoring through out their time with me. I use pop culture references to clarify mythologies & analyze history in my Goddess Classes & Introduction to Wicca. I lean toward Jungian interpretations of symbolism & include them in the process. I am available for public speaking engagements, specializing in Accessing Self Empowerment Through the Feminine Divine. I am forever grateful to the Goddess for all Her many gifts, & especially those of Psychic Empathy, which I bring to clients & students through Reiki & Tarot. When I say I am a Witch, it’s with a capital W! photo - The “Earth Visitor & Me” at the Milton Cemetery, Rye NY, 1991, by Lisa Russano Therien

01/21/2026

01/19/2026

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01/16/2026

Salutations, Dear Readers!

February already! We can see that the sun now sets about a half hour later that it did on the Winter Solstice. The Light had returned! The Pagan Feast of Imbolc comes Saturday, February 2nd. On this day many practitioners of the “Old Religion” and New Agers will gather and perform purifications rituals.

This is just one of the attributes of Imbolc.

February 2nd is the Feast day of St Brigid, or Candlemas of the Old Catholic Church. Brigit of Kildare was a nun of extraordinary dedication and blessings. One of the many miracle legends attached to Brigit was when she had asked the King for land to build a convent. When he refused, she offered that her cloak be the measure of the land to be gifted. The king was amused and agreed, thinking that not much land can be covered by a woman’s cloak. Brigit had four friends hold the cloak at the corners and walk in four directions, north, south, east and west. The cloak grew to cover several acres of land and the King seeing that she was indeed blessed by God, acquiesced, and granted the land. This may be the location of her sanctuary in Kildare where the nuns are said to keep a fire lit in her honor.

However, legends and mythology often arrive hand in hand. Brighid (Celtic spelling) is also known as the pre-Christian Goddess and daughter of the Dagda.

Her feast day is February 2, known as “Imbolc”, which means (loosely translated) with milk. In agricultural societies this is when the livestock were preparing to give birth and lactating. Brede or Brighid, and St. Brigid are both revered in Ireland and Scotland. They are often considered one and the same. Both are patronesses of Wisdom, Fire, Poetry, Blacksmithing, Midwives, Wells, and Dairy Farmers, among others. She is associated with Brigantia, Roman Minerva, and Greek Athena.

In our house, we will start the vegetable garden seedlings in organic fertilizer pots. Packets of seeds and bags of potting soil will inhabit our kitchen, until we decide which veggies will be planted first. Imbolc is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Preparation for the growing season begins.

Or you can just call it Groundhog Day.

Hundreds will gather in Pennsylvania to greet Punxsutawney Phil while he makes his predictions for the next six weeks of weather. Since there’s six more weeks of winter, no matter how you cut it, the Groundhog’s shadow determines weather conditions. Hopefully, ideal for planting come the Vernal Equinox.

Many of the calendar holidays overlap the cultures of the globe. The pagans of Europe (where our ancestors proliferated) would celebrate Brigid, if Celtic, Lupercus if Italian or Strega, Canderaria if Mexican and Disting if Teutonic or Germanic. The traditions assimilated to the Christian culture with Carnevale, Mardi Gras, culminating on Ash Wednesday. Lent begins and again, this is a purification rite in preparation for the new season of growth, a reminder of life everlasting.

And so, to you, Dear Readers, I wish you all a very joyous Imbolc, Happy Groundhog Day, and may the blessings of Brede be bestowed upon you and may your gardens be fruitful! So mote it be.

01/07/2026

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12/26/2025

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12/22/2025

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11/25/2025

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700 SE 5th Terrace Suite 5
Crystal River, FL
34429

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https://www.thegoddessconnection.org/

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Rev. Doreen Lavista, HPs., RM/T THE GODDESS CONNECTION tm. Tarot & Reiki With Doreen, Spiritual Mentor & Coach, Supporting Personal Wellness, Empowering People to Help Themselves - Creating Rituals for Women in All Stages of Life - Offering A Common Sense Approach to Spiritual Well-Being

I have always had the gift of clairsentience & claircognizance, but as a child in the 1960s, there were no books or classes on how to develop these gifts. Clairsentience is the ability to “feel” the emotions of a person or circumstance. It often accompanies Precognition, the innate knowing of what comes next & Claircognizance, a sense of knowledge of information without formal exposure. I later found more information as a teenager, in the 1970s, through research in Wicca & Tarot. Although I only read Tarot for family, friends & classmates, I was honing a skill I would use for the rest of my life.

Later in adulthood,I was to developed a small, private clientele. As an Eclectic Wiccan Priestess, I was a founding member of the Coven BellaDonna, created seasonal celebratory rituals, developed classes in Metaphysical studies. I even became ordained minister of the Universal Life Church & The Church of Spiritual Humanism. I later studied more about Eastern Philosophies and how they influenced the “New Age” movement in the US & the awakening of American Spirituality. Through interaction with other practitioners & Masters, I was introduced to Reiki in the 1990s. I have completed four Reiki Masterships, one with Diane Stein. Through intensive metaphysical study & practice, I confirmed that Spirit is always with me. I learned that we all share the energy of Chi or Vital Life Force. It is here I could define that we all share access to the energy field known as the Akashic Records. And it is here that I reasoned that all living creatures, the inhabitants of Mother Earth, share the gift of Sentience & self awareness.

My “real life” experience comes from a 30 year career in Civil Service in Clerical, Supervisory & Administrative capacities. I was employed in County Water Supply & the Library System and retired from there. Prior to that, I lived in Colorado & Germany as a Military Adjunct. My education is varied & extensive & I am currently a Psychology Major in a local college. We never stop learning.