Flinging Olives & Embodying The Goddess

This is so much more than a boring photo of an uninspiring lunch.

I would usually grab these as separate elements and gulp them down while doing other things. A couple of spoonfuls of cottage cheese while emptying the dishwasher. Munch chicken like Henry VIII while thinking of the next thing after putting a washing on. Open and close the fridge on passing to pop an olive or two before changing the bed. But not today. I opened my cottage cheese and went to eat it on the move as usual and then I thought 'I wouldn't give a guest a tub of cottage cheese and a spoon, or a chicken breast in a bit of kitchen roll, or fling a few olives at their mouth. So why I am doing this to myself?'

Self care comes in many different forms. To truly care for ourselves, we must respect our needs. We must respect the need for time to nourish ourselves. I am one of millions of woman who fling food in our mouths while on the go, ticking the next thing off a never ending to-do list. But recently, Grief has highlighted some very important things that are being neglected in my life. Grief has the wisdom to know that if I am too weary to run away from the important aspects I have been long neglecting in myself, that this is Her opportunity to capture my attention.

So I place them on a plate - cooked chicken breast and cottage cheese for protein (menopausal ladies, you need more protein than you think during pre, peri, post and active menopause), a little handful of leaves for fibre, colour and minerals (and because I enjoy pretending I'm a cow when I chew salad), and some Rosemary infused olives for healthy fats and to keep the brain firing (Rosemary is very good for memory and mental sharpening but please do avoid it if you have high blood pressure).

I sit and eat my lunch while looking out the window to the garden. No phone. No laptop. No distractions. Other than Robin. Little Robin has been visiting me these past few weeks and has landed on one of the garden posts nearest the kitchen door. Robin does this each day to tell me she is ready for her breakfast. She had her breakfast a good few hours ago but now she's ready for a snack. I would normally stop what I was eating to tend to her but if I was loading the washing machine I would finish this first and then feed her. Why would I finish a chore but not finish something for myself? I'm not concerned with analysing it because not only will this not change it, figuring it out will be added to bottom of the do list. No. It requires action.

So today I say 'I will have my lunch Robin and then you will have yours and we will both be happy and fed.'

There is so much talk of 'embodying the Goddess'. Altars, ceremonies, gatherings, pretty reels etc. But this goes beyond that. What good are these if we are not embodying it in the day to day?

You are the manifestation of the most beautiful things of the world. The Goddess loves all of Her creatures. Love yourself as She does.

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Copyright and IP © VOLVA and contributors. Initial date of publishing 4th February 2026