Meredith--that was a beautiful description of Gaia as the universe.
A little shameless promotion here... my novel is a fun read for anyone, but it is about a woman who inherits a very old house from a birth mother who was a witch. There's a tiny bit of fantasy in it, but it also reflects a very real description and story of what witches/goddess women are like. Just in case anyone wants to read it...
Dahti

Dream of the Circle of Women
by Dahti Blanchard
published May 2004 by Spilled Candy Books
visit: www.dahtiblanchard.com