For all the women who were focused outwardly at pleasing others for so much of their lives...may they find their strength to be themselves, to stand for what they think and love, and especially to just relax and BE.
And a big salute to the men and other women in our lives who stand with us and support our strength and our emotions when we need them.
The place I am going is 166 miles from here! Monument Valley, Utah.
Where I'm coming from...taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
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PS, men are welcome to also "Do This!" Whatever they learn from powerful women creates a good balance...nobody is responsible for anyone but themselves!
But please, patriarchy has accustomed all of us to look to men to be the decision makers, protectors, educators, and above all else, leaders. Take it easy guys, these qualities may also be fulfilled quite adequately by women. Look for sharing. Look for speaking of feelings and intuition...yep, you've got it too! Equalitarianism is quite possible. So men can relax and enjoy following the community of women. Seriously! It won't be abusive, because a matriarchal structure is not power-over, but power-with each other!
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Having been in Ephesus recently on our Road Scholar trip it was interesting to see Artemis again here in your very poignant post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful trip that must have been. I enjoyed following along with your blog!
DeleteI grew up believing that I could do anything and didn't feel that I was less or should be in the background. I wonder if that is because I was in a family of four girls. Of course, when I became an adult, I learned that not everyone felt that way.
ReplyDeleteA very positive story of your life, which is a great start of the day for me. I heard all the "be anything you want" but found it usually pertained to men's opportunities. The glass ceiling is life that I entered as an adult...as you probably also found. This today is when our political balance hangs by a thread as to whether we succumb to autocratic male power-mongers.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and quotes! I like your spirit house, I am glad you are taking it with you.
Best wishes on your move! Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
This Spirit House is full of my life images, there are 3 eggs in the nest pictured on the inside wall. A heart shape, tree designs, and birds. Yes, it's a keeper. Hard to pack, but I'll figure out a way!
DeleteThat Karen Clark quotation is so true, certainly was of my upbringing. Embracing the Divine Feminine is the antidote to all that.
ReplyDeleteI didn't learn about the Divine Feminine until I was in my 50s. Such a relief that it isn't just a patriarchal way with just changing the gender to female, but a new concept (which of course has existed forever) of nurturing, embracing, tolerance, listening, thinking, deciding, supporting...power-with.
DeleteI've noticed that women who lead fearlessly and were encouraged by their fathers were often from families with no boys. Enter a boy and the whole balance is changed. Likewise one man in a group of women is heard. One woman in a group of men is ignored and talked over. There's work to do here.
ReplyDeleteGood point, and we can each make efforts to change that!
DeleteSince birth, I've been doing what I want, and that's what my grandfather and dad taught me the most: be who you are, child, and do whatever makes you happy, not what others want, but what you want.
ReplyDeleteI spent some hellish times trying to "do what you love, what you are happy doing..." and not having survival needs met - until I did what was needed to get paid...like secretarial work to support my love of art. Many writers, actors, dancers, artists of all kinds find a practical side of life, whether male or female, requires us to adapt to survive. Some become famous. Some don't. But having happiness doesn't depend upon what we do to provide food and shelter, but on what our inner being says to us. It's not the dichotomy of pleasing others vs ourselves, but being able to eat so that then we can sing.
DeleteAh, the road to Monument Valley. I haven’t travelled much, but I am glad to have made it to there.
ReplyDeleteIt's now being called the Forest Gump road, since that where in the film he stopped running and turned around (or something like that.) I'm glad you went there too! Did you make it to the Pacific Ocean?
DeleteI find the Karen Clark quote especially powerful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a change you are about to so bravely make!
Definitely keep the spirit house. Why are men so afraid of the power of women?
ReplyDeleteTerrific post! And I'm glad you're keeping the spirit house.
ReplyDelete...I hope that you have enjoyed a lifetime of rhododendrons and mountain laurel. Because there will be few if any where you are going.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to take this route when driving across country several, years ago and ended up in San Diego where we used to live for several years. From one beautiful place to another, I wish you happy travels and thank you for this wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have some great new challenges. It'll keep your mind interested. It's a whole new chapter in your love and you will thrive!
ReplyDeleteI love me a good storm!