[HTML1] Dorothy (Chickee to her friends) – author of Conversations with the Goddess – would be the first one to admit that she had no idea that her trip in the 70’s to Petra, Jordan would be the beginning of an inner journey that would transform her life. Having never heard of Petra, Chickee went to Jordan on a whim. While exploring Petra with her family, Chickee found herself profoundly affected by ancient Petra.
When she was exploring the site she was fascinated with how Petra’s people lived, what were their living arts, and traditions for death. At the time of her visit to Petra, her goals were modest; one goal being that of encouraging her sons to perceive themselves as global citizens by way of their father’s Middle Eastern heritage. Secondly, she had always hoped to provide her sons with a well-rounded, cultural, and academic education.
Seven years after her trip, in a relaxed and meditative state, Chickee had her first encounter with the Goddess. Although initially Chickee was astonished and doubtful, she continued to meditate and eventually became inspired to research and explore the new world introduced to her.
Out of her encounters and dialogues with the Goddess she received a spiritual and physical empowerment she had never before experienced. In addition to actually walking through her own doubt and confusion, Chickee found she needed an authentic vocabulary for her experiences. Hoping to ground her ongoing dialogues with the Goddess, Chickee entered areas of inquiry beyond what she learned as an undergraduate.
As a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Delaware, Chickee received an endowed fellowship for a Master’s degree in English Literature. Her studies led to ancient history, archaeology, depth psychology, quantum physics, transpersonal psychology and the evolution of consciousness, and the study of ancient religion and mythology.
In recent years Chickee attended both Jean Houston’s Mystery School and her Social Artistry Training Program. Chickee herself has created programs around the theme of the Divine Feminine, one titled: “Coming Home to Our Bodies: The Radiant Body of the Goddess”.
Chickee says, “My hope for the reader of Conversations with the Goddess: Encounter at Petra, Place of Power is that they feel they are experiencing the voice of the Goddess. Every woman is part of Her Story, emerging in our times, a story which includes affirmation of women’s wisdom and the spiritual power of the feminine.”
Family continues to be vital to Chickee, her husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, and two grand-daughters have the good fortune to live in the same city where they enjoy each other’s company. Books continue to be her best companions, as they have from childhood. Dorothy Atalla is currently developing a sequel to Conversations with the Goddess.
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