Embracing the Sacred Feminine

The Takeaway: 

Does winning equality in a “man’s world” truly represent victory, or are we missing a richer conversation about so called “feminine" values like receptivity and nurturing?

Some Calendar Girls Unusual by Annie Leibovitz. #MemesThatMatter

A proposed Sanctuary conversation

On our #CampaignTrailRedesign, #DesignThinking to investigate the sacred feminine in #SocialLab experiments (#Sanctuary & other initiatives)

What does winning equality in a “man’s world” really earn for us? Cafeteria plans to pay for childcare pre-tax? I recently remembered Sheryl Sandburg’s comment about the lack of preferred parking for pregnant women in her book Lean In, and at the time, it made me think, "Is that it? Is that what we're shooting for?"

We’re probably never going to reach a true gender or income-equality in a world designed by and for *man*kind: perhaps more accurately stated, if we believe that within each of us resides both masculine and feminine attributes and potentials, we'll never reach any kind of #SocialJustice as humankind referencing only values of power, wealth and domination. Many of our conversations about feminism leave me suspicious that we’re barking up the wrong tree: we can't become equals by denying that our mind/bodies are different or denying the sacred feminine within us all. See NY Times bestselling author, Marianne Williamson’s, video comments on the subject below.  

Recognizing *Her* cycles: monthly & in major human life transitions, Mother Earth seasonal : from maiden to mother to crone.

İnsanoğlunun dünyaya zulmü

İnsanoğlunun dünyaya zulmü

Posted by Fizikist on Saturday, June 14, 2014

There are obvious correlation with environmental concerns: women have regularly been treated the same way the planet has been, which if for no other ethical reason, is simply unsustainable and ultimately bad for business. This doesn’t have to be an angry power struggle: it’s illogical to under-develop or hamper the progress (due to poor systems design) of over half the world’s human population. It’s leaving money (whatever that’s going to become) on the table. Our current ways of living are straining the earth’s natural resources, and threatening living populations of every variety. A #MemesThatMatter take on our conversation about the #SacredFeminine today. #BWrought2Tiers

Mother Africa, From Kelley Padrick's #FieldNotes

Mother Africa, From Kelley Padrick's #FieldNotes

A simple review of “Mother Goddess” on Wikipedia reveals that feminine deities and archetypes appear throughout the centuries and cultures of the world. It’s an obvious global connector. As a #Sanctuary #Wayfinder, and seeker, I am personally very interested in collaborating with experts in anthropology, philosophy, history, and spiritual studies to create meaningful local social engagements that can inform social templates & best practices for governance: once again, using our #BrandUSA #MeltingPot culture groups as a launching point for global connections in #SocialChange and #IncomeRedistribution, designing super cool, fun, entertaining & supportive programs for change. While we need to be sensitive that some will consider these conversations to be related to new age nonsense at best or cults at worst, we must also remember that technologies like radio and medicines were also once considered to be “magic.” With a balanced, scientific approach to investigating phenomenon & humbly asking for invitations (#AVAInResidence) to understand another culture group’s sacred practices, we should be able to gain important wisdom to translate into social lab experiments that test the beliefs generated. (#BeliefID, #MoralCompass, #Wayfinder)

 This painting reveals the light and dark sides of the great mother (source of universal mother guilt?) A Kali figure: destroyer when threatened or in shadow, a necessary Mother Earth metabolizer when in balance. Legends that she will birth and murd…

 

This painting reveals the light and dark sides of the great mother (source of universal mother guilt?) A Kali figure: destroyer when threatened or in shadow, a necessary Mother Earth metabolizer when in balance. Legends that she will birth and murderously defend her young, but will also attempt to seduce her sons and kill her daughters when they come of age and into their mature power. The healthy transitions we must facilitate: Her sons must leave and cleave to their wives. Her daughters must come into their own, preferably not having to defend themselves against her (in shadow) black widow vicious and vindictive jealousies.

In the natural order of things she shall be replaced by the younger. With consciousness and light, the tension becomes a rite of passage & the two shall transform one another, the younger’s full maturity allowing the mother to enter crone’s rest and wisdom.

It is important to assure our populations of respectful Ava-In-Residence engagements, both on our #CampaignTrailRedesign and rolling right into our formatting for the #SocialWhiteHouse. Negotiating APIs or diplomatic protocols for learning in every thematic area, based on standards, we will assure the faithful gathering of information for meaningful changes in governance: not to poach or misuse another’s cultural heritage.

#BreakItDown

The importance of rites & rituals in general and for women in particular as it relates to this post: menarche, prenatal, birth, motherhood, menopause, elder. 

Preparation for #AgeGroup transitions

Add Hayhouse/Northrup, Native American, Hindu, Greco-Roman etc. references to Great Mother, other divine fem teachings etc. 

Hypothesis to investigate in #Sanctuary #SocialLab settings: 

The best defense: becoming fully who we are in supportive community. Message to women coming into adulthood: it is *not* your imagination: the archetypical mother/our internalized voices of worthiness (B. Brown) / “She” is attempting to undermine & sabotage you- like any other social autoimmune disease when unchecked, unrecognized/expressing shadow, because she’s defending the good she’s created in *her* life. Generational tension (among fathers & sons as well) is a predictable factor we can track & design for and around. #Wayfinder

 

We have lots of teachers who can help us on our #CampaignTrailRedesign, hosting #Sanctuary conversations about the issues *truly* affecting our lives. Many times, authors and teachers must rely upon expensive seminar formats like these: making a living for less established people than Ms. Williamson, can be complicated and their audience reach is limited to only those who can afford to attend.

"On October 23-25, 2015 Marianne Williamson presents THE APHRODITE TRAINING...live in Los Angeles and LIVESTREAM. Go to http://marianne.com/theaphroditetraining/ for details."

  • My life will never look like your (mother/daughter) life & that’s not only okay, it’s desirable. 
  • These are learned behaviors & beliefs everyone, usually unconsciously, begin to adopt & reinforce.
  • “My recipe for ____ is delicious too.” It’s in the tiniest details, the seeming insignificant stuff where we become recognized, affirmed or marginalized: (reference movies like: The Hours, How to Make An American Quilt) because society knows you can be discounted as hysterical. “Why are you making a federal case out of this?” “You’re being over-sensitive.”
  • Body/Beauty stuff: Best Defense: delighting in anticipation of the #SacredSexy (loved the C.K. Louis bit on loving his womanly #Midlife wife) #ShowNTell conversations to call out our tendencies for self-sabotaging, #SlutShaming. 
  • We can’t address what we can’t acknowledge. In our era, rituals revolving around feminine archetypes are scant. Women compete/bitchfest/tear one another apart in shadow. In Light we have inherent skills at recognizing and managing complex connections.

A woman’s best transitioning defense: The Exit Interview: designing for the generation after her metabolizes her experience (ref: Dr. David Simon) so she does not become competitive & bitter. Her transition goal is to release her reproductive age & midlife burdens in order to re-enter a childlike way of being in her golden years: free from financial worries, able to rejoice in her “daughters’” (whether biological or in community) beauty, being fully present & helping with raising grand(great grand etc.) children, enjoying the work about children with a special vigor, since the buck doesn’t stop with her:) She's experienced, yet able to acknowledge & respect her daughters’ authority in leading the rearing of her grandchildren. Her role as grandparent/crone is vital when revered and in balance. 

Our collective best defense against social autoimmune disease: recognize all feminine archetypes & revere the Priestess and the Crone. 

Take Action!

The #ThanksgivingThrowdown: Like Ava’s exploration of reconnecting with the shared cultural traditions behind a holiday like Halloween (ancestor veneration appears in cultures all over the world, the All Saints traditions & recognizing the pervasive “sexy nun”, “sexy whatever” cheap costuming to be a cry for the lover, Goddess to be recognized= economic and cultural development #HXD opportunities. Many images exist in the media about miserable emotional conflicts between generations at the Thanksgiving table. Loving traditions revisited or old hurts emerge? Making new traditions with #AffinityGroup gatherings where biological family fails or doesn't exist. Making the kitchen (#Stir), home and hearth a welcoming place for people of all ages and personal strengths: creating meaningful rituals for giving thanks and sharing them. Using the occasion to honor native peoples, whole healthy foods and our environment. Learning how to rest & rejoice together.