First off, before I announce the winner, I've decided to dust off my Oscar acceptance speech.

Okay, I've never actually written one, but if ever I did, I think this would be the good time to give it! 

These 12 days after the unveiling of the Church of the Holy Wow have probably been THE Holy Wow-iest days ever. I am enormously grateful to the people* who contributed prizes, promoted the giveaways, and showed up to participate in my big re-launch in whatever way they felt called. Thanks, first and foremost to Goddess Leonie and my Goddess Sisters who have provided me with a very real sanctuary to just be my naturally crazy, enthusiastic self without anyone thinking I'm weird. Well.. without anyone thinking I'm super weird. 

No one tried to tell me my idea was stupid or not worth pursuing. Quite the opposite. My Goddess Sisters picked me up on their shoulders and carried me down to the fifty yard line. Holy Wow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It's been a very strange ride and I've been so amazed at the response to the new Soul Spackle on every level. When I wake up in the morning a little queasy, worrying that I've exposed too much of myself here -- which is how I've felt the last 12 days -- I'm then touched by an email or passing comment from someone who clearly *gets it*. Which makes it okay. More than okay, actually.

 It is very very good. 

Below is one of my favorite videos ever, by McCabe Russell, set to Amy Steinberg's "Exactly". It is my "gift" to you, and it is a reminder to myself that ultimately it is so so so worth Being Brave. 

And now, because I nearly cried when I selected the winner, without further ado.. 
the winner of the Grand Prize Self Love Explosion is......... Maggie!

Many blessings to you for a hugely wonderful Summer of Self-Love!

*Goddess Leonie, Goddess Allurynn, Effy Wild, Dee Morrison, Alexis Yael, Megan Monique, Robyn, Gina Rafkind, Petrea Hansen-Adamadis, Kristen, Flora Mae, Daphne Cohn, Rachel McDonald, Vera Lothian, Jo Crawford, Halo Quin, Becky Jaine, Loran Hills, Goddess Jess Lyn Fox, Leila Lloyd-Evelyn, Melissa Prince, Cassandra Key, Tea Priestess Dionne, Emmanuelle Lambert, oh good gravy... they're starting to play the music.. if I forgot you, it wasn't intentional.. much love!

Dear You,

You’ve been part of my life for so long, birds of a feather, and we were living a kind of comfortable — known — existence in shared misery and powerlessness. We thought we understood what others did not; that life is cruel and unfair, and that we are powerless to stop it from being so.

Yet what once bound us together, separates us now. I know that life isn’t just happening to me, without any opportunity for me to speak or take a stand; life is a verb, and life is a choice I make, and powerlessness only exists where I dare not look at the darkness that makes it so. My face is lifted out of the dark and into the sun, but I see you still in the shadows.

It is so hard. Because I cannot make you see the light, I cannot make you follow me. Like a parent I have to let go and trust that your own path will lead you to healing and strength; but since that time is not now, and not with me, I can’t stay. I can’t carry you into the light, yet I do not belong to these shadows any more. I do not belong in your fear and your shame and your sadness and selfishness and anger and need.

It does not mean that I don’t love you. It is because I love you that I cannot stay to enable you to devour yourself in anger, and I cannot allow the same to swallow me.

You may wish to ask that question that still rings in my heart, “Who do you think you are?”

I am powerful beyond measure, when I follow my heart.

And so will you be, when you are ready to claim it.

I take leave to fly now, but I will be waiting for you in the sunny spot.

All my love,

Sara