Go Goddess!
$40 U.S.
available from the makers at www.gogoddess.com

Reviewed by KRISTI DORIAN

Go Goddess! is a board game for women who want to learn about each other and themselves in a fun and mystical environment.

In the game's vibrantly decorated hatbox cover, you'll find seven different-coloured decks of question cards, with "chakra candles" and puzzle pieces to match. These form a ring of colour on the silk scarf that serves as the "board." 

How do you play Go Goddess!? 

Well, there are activities, such as: "Turn to the Goddess on the left and make a wish in her honor." 

There are questions to discuss, like: "What is a tradition that you would like to initiate in your family?" 

And there are topics for self-analysis, such as: "Hera was born to rule. With natural authority and dignity, she stands out in a crowd. Picture yourself as a modern-day Hera. What would you like to feel more powerful about?" 

Twice "The Party of Five" tested the Go Goddess! experience. The Party of Five is a diverse group of female friends who get together two or three times a year for a potluck meal and lots of laughs. We are students, musicians, writers, and professionals. One is married, while the rest of us are in varying states of relationships. Our ages range from the mid-twenties to the early forties. We're a perfect testing ground for a product like this.

The look and feel of the game immediately grabbed our senses. The first time, we followed the directions and felt a little silly, but eventually we fell into the conversational groove. The second evening, we decided to leave out the rules altogether. Both times, after warming up to the process, our stories flowed into the wee hours of the night. We followed roads of thought we'd never travelled before and entered a new level of trust and intimacy. 

Go Goddess! was developed in 1997 by three close friends: Ruth Robles, Kelly Werner, and Elaine Berkowitz. After it was featured in Oprah Magazine, sales and interest skyrocketed. There now is even a Go Goddess Girl! version for "tweens." 

At $40 U.S. plus shipping ($24.95 for the tween version), the cost of ordering Go Goddess! from the source – it's not available in stores, at least in Canada – can be daunting. But especially if you can find a few friends to chip in, it's worth every U.S. dollar. It has what it takes to make any group of women open their hearts and delve deep into their minds.