Women Who Thrive, Change The World!

Posts tagged ‘Taking Root’

Fierce Feminine

Universal-Feminine-Power

There is a tremendous power that lives deep inside you.  It’s fierce – showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity that is brave and untamed – full of preciousness, gentleness, kindness and vulnerability.”  Alisa Starkweather

It is when we are truly transparent as a leader and as individuals, to ourselves and those around us, that we provide a container for those that “follow” or “connect” to wake up to themselves and step into their own unique leadership and soul path.  It is as if we have given them permission to be themselves – fully and completely – by being ourselves – fully and completely.

This is a style of fierce feminine leadership and being that allows and anoints women to step fully into their power in a

Yantra. The symbol of Feminine energy-strength, power and clarity.

Yantra. The symbol of Feminine energy-strength, power and clarity.

cooperative and collaborative way leading from grace and trust.  It is a type of being that lets go of and explores the shadow and sense of survival and internal oppression which has been wired in for eons…and steps out and into what we fear most.

 “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do.”
― Georgia O’Keeffe

No hiding is present here.  We have hidden for way too long.  It has taken so much energy to keep under cover the magnificent light, power,courage,  creativity, wildness, love, wisdom, intelligence, and compassion that each of us carries.

lea #30 (2)Within you, and in nature, is the potent, instinctual, untamable
and nourishing force of Wild Wisdom.
You need it. I need it.
Our world needs us to bring forth our Wild Wisdom “

Lea Bayles, Body and Soul Coach
http://leabayles.com/wildwisdom.html
(click on this link for a wild, evocative and seductive narrative spoken by Wildly Wise Woman, Lea Bayles!)

A short time ago I had the opportunity to share the story of a wildly wise and fiercely feminine woman.   I facilitated a film afternoon co-sponsored along with Sierra Club and TreeSisters (Clare Dakin, Founder – forming a global network of women with a mission of reforesting the rain forests within 10 years).  The film was Taking Root, a story of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Wangari Mathaai and the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, Africa.  There were many things that struck me about this recent history of Kenya and her resources – and even more powerfully the life story of this woman who was bold and committed enough to step into her purpose with clarity and courage even in the midst of an entire government’s ridicule and violent actions taken against her.

And all she wanted to do was plant trees……while empowering Kenyan women and promoting peace and ecological Wangari Maathaisustainability in her country.

There is no surprise that this dynamic woman came back into my life again for as It turns out I had some unfinished business with her. Seven years ago now when I was in Bali, Indonesia at the Global Healing Conference with Desmond Tutu and others from across the world, Wangari was supposed to have been one of the guests to present.  At the last minute she had to cancel.  I was very saddened by that as I had learned of what she had done in Kenya and was very excited about meeting her.

Wangari then came back into my life recently through TreeSisters as they were recommending the Taking Root film to show and discuss. As I am active with them in a volunteer capacity I committed to purchasing the film and facilitating an after film discussion.

About a month prior to this film showing I was visiting with a friend  and we talked a little about Wangari.  She knew about her and loaned me her memoir Unbowed which I finished reading on 9/25/13.  That night I had vivid dreams in which Wangari was encouraging me to “continue my work by telling this story” and “step up into your power and expression as a woman”.  among other things.

The next morning I became curious about what she had died of (ovarian cancer) and when.  When I saw the date I realized why I had been so strongly connected with her that day/night.  She transitioned on 9/25/2011…

317986_290213681073867_886206564_nI remain committed to telling her and Kenya’s story and the relevance to shifting the scarcity/lack and separateness meta-coding that have contributed so greatly to the global challenges we face today – environmental, social justice,  health and spiritual well being.

Her story and that of the women of Kenya is relevant to inspiring and empowering women to express from their fullest potential and to support each other in doing so. It can start with one simple act.

Wangari and so many other women today exemplify the fierce feminine which I am speaking to here. The earth and nature based feminine that is arising with a voice that cannot be ignored.  The  “wild wisdom” feminine that is finally honoring what we have to bring….and bringing it within collaboration and heart based connectivity shifting what Anodea Judith calls the “static masculine” (The Global Heart Awakens: Humanities Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love)  foundation  upon which so much has been built and co-creating a new myth from awakened hearts into systems based on the power of love and the deep interconnection that sustains all.

Root yourself down dear sisters and explore the stories that you are telling yourself.  Are they true?  If not, then change them, make friends with your saboteur and become very curious about what would provide the solid foundation for a fully expressed fiercely feminine YOU!

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941546_10201139084457154_1085573193_nWEBSITE:  http://www.GayeAbbott.com

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

www.BreathingSpaces.net
www.NaturalWealthJournal.com

Give Us This Day Our Daily Breath Preview, Reviews and purchase links can be found here:Breath-Book-coverW2(3)
http://resonancewithlife.com/daily-breath-book/

How you breathe is the way in which you live your life.  If this statement is true, then how would you like to breathe?  Shallow and restricted or full bodied and naturally?

Use a focus each week for the entire year to promote the vibrant aliveness that is your natural birth right!

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Assumptions About Women – Taking A Stand

TreeGirl_quote

A few days ago I was kept awake off and on all night after reading the memoir – Unbowed – of Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and mother creator of The Green Belt Movement in Kenya, Africa.  Every time I awoke her persistence, commitment and passion for what she stood for was infiltrating into my being.

About six years ago now I missed seeing Wangari at a Global Healing Conference in Bali, Indonesia.  I remember clearly that I had been so excited that she was going to be with us as well as Desmond Tutu, Lynn Twist and other Nobel laureates.  Unfortunately, at the last minute she could not travel to Bali.  I felt a great loss.

I knew that she had passed on in 2011 but did not know why, so the day after this wakefulness happened I found out the cause of her death and the date.  She died on 9/25/2011 – the same day/evening that she visited me so intensely!!

She has re-entered my life through a global organization called TreeSisters – birthed into this world by Clare Dakin.  Clare follows in Wangari’s footsteps as she passionately upholds the importance of reforesting our planet – and by women!!  Part of membership in being a part of this planet Earth is to take a stand as Wangari, Clare, Lynn Twist (Pachamama Alliance), Jane Goodall , Barbara Marx Hubbard and so many other women are doing now as we experience environmental, social justice, economic and deep spiritual crises.

These imbalances have been co-created by splitting off from our true nature – the Earth.  We have forgotten our roles as stewards of the Earth and have become dis-eased in the process.  The rampant incidence of depression, anxiety, panic and other disease processes mirrors the very split from that which has given us life.  Natures cycles are women’s cycles!

We all know the assumptions that have been held in regards to women for so many centuries and now seems the time to upset the apple cart in regards to these very assumptions.  The one that has hurt us the most – and one which we have bought into – is “As a woman I am powerless”.  There were good reasons to think so down through the ages, but not now, not ever again.

Why do I say that?  Because not only are women waking up and coming out in our full embodied expressions, but we are standing with each other to facilitate the changes that so many of us are committed to on behalf of the well being of all life here.  We don’t have to step forward without fear, we simply need to be persistent and form alliances with others that are willing to bring their expression to the creative solutions and innovations.

As Wangari says in Unbowed: “What people see as fearlessness is really persistence.  Because I am focused on the solution, I don’t see danger.  Because I don’t see danger, I don’t allow the mind to imagine what might happen to me, which is my definition of fear.  If you don’t foresee the danger and see only the solution, then you can defy anyone and appear strong and fearless.” 

I love this quote as in her life she faced injury, life threats, imprisonment, gender discrimination, and great opposition from the political powers that were present as she was growing The Green Belt Movement.  Today this very movement has been responsible for 51 million trees being planted in Kenya and thousands of women finding their own power and purpose in life thus affecting the quality of life in her country.

She says about those that have walked by her side: “Throughout my life, I have never stopped to strategize about my next steps.  I often just keep walking along, through whichever door opens. I have been on a journey and this journey has never stopped.  When the journey is acknowledged and sustained by those I work with, they are a source of inspiration, energy, and encouragement.  They are the reasons I kept walking, and will keep walking, as long as my knees hold out.”

Now take some time to think about women that inspire you, whether they are present day or from the past. I have chosen those that are working on behalf of our environment and sustainable living and thriving, however yours may be from any walk of life or focus.  What qualities did/do they possess?  They may have been or are called “heretics” and if they are, take a very careful look at who is naming them.  Assumptions are dangerous and at the core are what got us to the place we are today tipping over into imbalances that will and are seriously affecting us all.

I say to each of you – take a stand!  At our core we all have the “stuff” that is needed to “take a stand” even if that is simply being absolutely true to our own unique expression and unfailingly trusting it.  We are all healers and creators.  Let us trust our soul, honor our spirit, open our heart, transform our mind and heal our bodies. ( Heart of the Healer by Don Oscar Miro-Quesada, Peruvian curandero).

Come into ritual space with each other and co-create Earth centered living from the heart ignited by soul and spirit….We can have a gentle birth to the next stage of evolution by accepting, trusting,  and stepping into the innate power that we have been given by simply being born a woman.  You are both the midwives and the ones that are giving birth!!

I Am

We Are

Here Now

One Within

The story of the hummingbird by Wangari Maathai:

Taking Root trailer – The story of Wangari Maathai and The Green Belt Movement

http://www.takingrootfilm.com/trailer.htme

AND ONE MORE TASTY GIFT!  GET UP AND DANCE!!  DON’T FORGET THE PASSION!!

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**NOTE: If you live in Austin, Texas or near by please join us for a showing of the film Taking Root on 10/27/13 co-sponsored by the local Sierra Club, global TreeSisters, and me – Natural Passages Consulting.  A representative from Pachamama Alliance will also be with us!!  Go to htt://www.GayeAbbott.com and click on the EVENTS tab.

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941546_10201139084457154_1085573193_nWEBSITE http://www.GayeAbbott.com

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

www.BreathingSpaces.net
www.NaturalWealthJournal.com

Give Us This Day Our Daily Breath Preview, Reviews and purchase links can be found here:Breath-Book-coverW2(3)

www.GayeAbbott.com/books/

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