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Posts tagged ‘Women’s Courage’

Finding-Voice

There was a circle of women sitting together having come to join each other in sharing what it was to walk a sacred, creatively authentic path as a woman in this world.  The small island on which this retreat was located held us within the energy of her natural beauty.  There was a leader of this group who stood before us in her power and with her unique voice.  She vibrated with confidence and a wisdom that was palatable to everyone in the room.

The present assignment was simple, or so it seemed.  Each woman was asked to share what brought her, and whether she had any expectations of the week that we would share together.  I immediately felt the fear of being transparent within this circle of women.  It was a full body charge running from the top of my head all the way to my toes….and it wasn’t particularly comfortable.   I felt like a deer in the headlights as my turn quickly approached.

As each woman shared eloquently (or so I judged) her journey to get here, and what she hoped to uncover for herself, I felt like I was the lone ranger with all of this fear of not being able to speak within the circle.  As long as I was the facilitator or leader of a group I seemed to be quite fine thank you very much, but when put in the position of being a participant where I felt not in control of what would come out of my mouth – well it was pure terror!

Most of my life had been spent in a man’s world, literally!  Motherless since 14 with 4 brothers, a father to take care of me, 2 husbands and another long term partner, 3 sons and many years in the conventional medical world, I wasn’t really certain of how to be in the company of women let alone bring my authentic powerful voice to the forefront.  I had been too busy anticipating the needs of men and everyone else around me to trust what my own voice had to say.

Well here was my chance, in this circle of women bound together out of a desire to mine the depths of our individual and collective hearts, souls, and minds – and dance together with our bodies in uninhibited movement.

It was then my turn in the circle to share, and do you know what I did?  I passed!  Oh, yes a lesson learned a 1,000 times over that when you pass on bringing your voice, no matter what the circumstances, you not only miss out on finding out more about yourself,  but you also hold back your unique thoughts, feelings, and ideas that could empower or break open the woman sitting next to you, the woman across the circle from you, or the woman on the other side of the world!

Yes, I finally did dismantle the fear that was keeping me silent, and shared a couple of days later in my own timing. That seemed to part of my lesson as well these many years ago now.  Honoring when I was ready to bring my voice by loving myself in the moment of absolute terror, and then committing within myself to bring my voice before the week was out.  It was what happened between the terror and the bringing that was truly the heart of the healing for me.  I let go of being perfect and committed to bring the whole of me – no matter what.

The “no matter what” was important for me in this safe circle of women, for so like many women we seem to hold a deep cellular memory of having been somehow “punished” for bringing our voice, our talents, and our opinions to the table of the world at large.  I say, let’s create another cellular memory for the girls that follow behind us and for the women of today and yesterday.

What does happen between finding our voice and bringing it out into the world in all of our relationships and endeavors??

There is a video below that is powerfully short and to the point.  Chills swept my body as I realized that although I have brought my voice out into the community, in relationship, and out into the world I have reached a point in age when there is not as much time to bring that unique voice of mine as there was when I was 20, 30, 40 or even 50.

What is it that will encourage, support, and sometimes give us a little lovin push or shove, as the case may be, to find and bring our voice?  I say – each other!

We need all of us to break any silence we have kept for reasons only we know deep in our hearts…tell your story and impact the world, reclaim your voice when you have lost it, be fearless, listen to your inner voice and act accordingly, let go of being perfect, talk about what is important to you with other women and ask for help when needed, live your life in integrity and on your own terms, let go of trying to be everything to everybody….Be completely, transparently, and powerfully YOU!

 

 

 

 

P.S.  Couldn’t help but include this little video as a post script.  Just watched it and still have a smile on my face.  Talk about finding your voice.  It comes in many ways of expression!!  Enjoy!

 

 

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Fearless

What if “impossible” is a wall
YOU build around your dreams?

Would you be willing to tear it down?

-Tammy Vitale

I love what Tammy says in the quote above!  Seeing “impossible” as something that is self created inside by our minds is very possibly exactly what happens.

There are many women that have lived before us, and are living now, that have either torn the barrier down or never built it in the first place.  Perhaps the wall was built of others expectations?!

Take some time to investigate what you are calling impossible today and imagine that you have indeed built a fence around it.  Is it a dream that burns inside of you, or keeps coming back to divinely nudge you one more time?

Are you willing to take the pieces of the barrier down one by one, or even with fierce passion all at once….to reveal what your heart knew all along – that “impossible” is a construct dressed in fear, void of self love,  and two letters too many.  Take the “im” away and become fearless in taking the first step towards the dream that has called you here.  It is time….

Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek & find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. ~Rumi

Two Resources For Practicing Being Fearless:

http://5wcw.org/  SIGN THE PETITION AND BECOME INVOLVED!!
“UN Women and a 5th UN World Conference on Women is a natural fit, a synergy between the two that would raise consciousness and funds for the benefit of women and the development of women’s leadership at every level of society. Since it takes 3 years to organize, a target date of 2015 would be the 20th anniversary of the Beijing conference, the first since the internet and globalization, a time to network a new generation of women leaders. Reaching a tipping point would make it possible to carry out the Beijing Platform for Action, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security. A world that is safe and sustainable would become possible.”  -Jean Shinoda Bolen, speaking for 5WCW.

Fearless: Awesome Women Hub asks “What The World Needs NEXT” with Claudia Carawan


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Trusting Your Natural Inner GPS – Be The Change

This last week I was in Austin, Texas exploring the possibility of relocating there from Oregon.  What has led me to check out this particular place has been an innate guidance system inside that has consistently informed me when I am on track for what is sometimes referred to as the Divine Design of ones life.

I haven’t always trusted this innate system, which is often called our intuition, or guidance from the heart – our feelings.  In fact, on this very trip there was a choice that I made that was completely separate from my own GPS – and it was made vividly clear that I was “going the wrong direction”. ( For more on this experience go to NaturalWealthJournal.com to the post “Negotiating The Overpass – Creating Another Game” )

Wouldn’t you pay attention if the GPS in your car came on and said “What the heck do you think you are doing??  I told you not to go here and you didn’t listen!  Now you are lost in a game that is not of your own creation.   You weren’t supposed to be here in the first place, and I insist that you pay attention to me NOW!”

Well, we all know that the GPS system in our cars (and within us) is  much more polite than that, and when we do make errors in the direction that will get us to where we are to go, it kindly (yet sometimes quite strongly!) gives us alternatives to follow.   We are always well taken care of in that way and we trust that we will always get to where we want to go when we are paying attention. Lapses in this attention pay off in lessons well learned – like course corrections.

I am here to tell you that your own inner GPS system is just like that if only listened to and trusted.  This guidance comes from the messages of the heart – our feelings – and our intuition which never – I mean never – steers us wrong.  What if you trusted that your life is unfolding in a natural manner and you took all actions from that inner GPS?

Here is what my friend Richard Cawte says about this:  “Keep driving.  Trust the pilot.  The pilot is the part of you inextricably in tune with the brushtrokes…as well as the pots of gold…and the seamless electrical circuit that brings health to your cells…It’s you, God, everything.  At the same time, it’s each atom in each cell of your body.  Trust in that intricate design, much as you trust your lungs to inflate with the next breath, and the next…There is PLENTY OF OXYGEN for us all…”

So, I leave you now to play with your own innate GPS.  In order to Be The Change we must listen, trust and take action from this unique wise inner director….or have an experience that reminds us what it feels like to be “lost” in someone else’s game.  It’s all good!

Be The Change by Gypsy Soul

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Don’t Forget The Magic

When we were children magic was a natural part of our everyday life.  We looked upon the world as an unending place of adventure, surprise, and magical moments if we grew up in a loving and caring family.  Not everything could be explained, but we knew without a doubt that it was somehow connected with us, and we were connected with it.

Sorenna Making Bubbles

Recently I found that I was to be a grandmother for the second time.  My sons partner Sophia had no idea that she was pregnant until my very connected and wise 3 year old granddaughter Sorenna told her one day as she was cuddled up with her – “Mommy, there is a baby inside of there (pointing to her belly), and it is my sister!”  Of course Sophia denied that, but Sorenna insisted.  Soon after that a positive pregnancy test revealed that Sorenna “knew” – she is connected!  Whether it is to be a sister or not is still in the unknown.

The point of this post is a reminder of the magic that is indeed all around us and the wisdom of interconnection and knowing that we all have deep within our cellular structures – our heart and souls.  Might it be a boring life indeed if this awareness was lost completely…..and it is NOW when we most need to remember the delight in the simple moments of interaction with life playing out around us and within us.

Here are a couple of videos that were passed on to me this week.  The first is showing some very magic bubbles – be certain to catch the small girls delight near the end of the video.  After viewing that one then sing along with Curtis Mayfield as he sings the great soulful gospel song “It’s All Right”!

As you go through your week find the magic moments and stay open to wonder.  Pass it on!

Giant Stinson Beach Bubbles

It’s All Right with Curtis Mayfield – Have a good time!!

 

RESOURCE: Tilly Greenway & The Secrets of the Ancient Keys/Book 1: Watchers

Pure magic and brilliantly written for the times we find ourselves in now!

Come back to the remembering of a world where all was intimately interconnected with the natural world, and magic prevailed throughout the land.  Travel with 12 year old Tilly and 13 year old Zack in an adventure of a life time – an adventure that reminds us of who we are and how far away from that we have fallen to.  You won’t be able to put it down…I couldn’t!

G.A.

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Women and Power

Maya Angelou

This video speaks for itself!  As you listen to each woman, remember that you too have a part to play in this global transformational shift.   We are being invited as women to examine the powerful creative expressions that we are holding inside and are being asked NOW to take action in whatever form is wanting to be birthed through us.

I invite you to go to Omega’s website as well to see other videos of keynote talks by some distinguished faculty at Omega Women’s Institute.  We all inspire and inform each other!!

http://www.eomega.org/omega/womens-institute/

“Omega’s annual Women & Power conference is one of the most celebrated women’s gatherings in the world, unique in its rich diversity of speakers, performers, and participants. The conference is dedicated to empowering women to bring hope, healing, and change into their own lives and to the world around them.

Last year, the conference was a call-out to women of all ages and backgrounds to become the leaders we have been waiting for. Whether you are a professional, activist, volunteer, student, artist, mother, spiritual seeker, or social visionary, it is time for us to dig deep, retrieve our authentic voice and values, and lead with courage and heart—at home, work, and in the world.”

 

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The Gift of Acceptance

Sorenna Elizabeth

I have just come back from visiting two of my sons,  and playing joyously and full on with my 3 year old granddaughter Sorenna.  As she grows quickly I see the amazing girl she is, and forsee the powerful woman she will become.

I watch Sorenna and see how absolutely at home she is in her body, her mind, and her playful and creative spirit.  She is not afraid to be exactly who she is – in the moment.  She operates from a place of full self  acceptance.  I yearn to be like her….

I often wonder why women – including myself at times – are frequently so hard on ourselves.  By that I mean attempting to fit into a “square hole” of our cultures making with our rounded, and curvy bodies (even if you are thin you have curves!!),  hearts, and psyches.

This week I was blessed to view two videos – both of which are here for you – that speak to acceptance in all of its many forms.  Here are two stunning women bringing themselves out to millions of people.  They are stunning because they both have a track record of saying yes to putting themselves out their within their particular creative art form, and they keep showing up to do just that.

One is a musician who has written many powerful songs for women as she speaks of her own life experience through her music, and the other is a young woman that very early on found her love of poetry and theater arts could be put together – and oh what a perfect fit for her!

The first is India Arie singing Gift of Acceptance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert with a global message for all of us.  We are in a time on our planet when we are realizing more deeply that what affects one of us affects all of us.  I say that acceptance of ourselves at deep levels of loving care allow us to accept others as we do ourselves.  Just what the world needs!

The second video is a brilliant TED2011 talk by Sarah Kay that inspired two standing ovations.   “Sarah tells the story of her metamorphosis — from a wide-eyed teenager soaking in verse at New York’s Bowery Poetry Club to a teacher connecting kids with the power of self-expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. — and gives two breathtaking performances of “B” and “Hiroshima.”

To me this is not only especially inspiring for our girls and young women coming up….but also a reminder to us as mature women that with acceptance of all of who we are (warts, fears, wrinkles, sexual preferences, and all!), the best of our creative gifts are unearthed. It is within our uniqueness that our genius shines!

You will find it here:

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html

Will you be the next to step up “on stage”?  Dare ya!

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It’s Time To Gather The Women!

International Women’s Day just celebrated it’s 101st birthday on March 8th.  “This is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievement of women around the world.  It is a national holiday in some 30 countries including China, Russia, Vietnam, Rwanda and Bulgaria.  In 2010 there were approximately one thousand clebratory events in 64 Countries.  On March 8, 2012, we will make history, with an unprecendetned celebration in every city around the world”.

….and YOU know we can create and manifest this!!  Coming on the heels of my last post I wanted to share the video below with you and also give you a link to Women’s Day Live 2012, a vision in the making. It birthed on 3/8/11. The question posed by Lili Fournier (and ME!)  is: How are you going to be a part of this?

Visit the website at: http://www.womensdaylive.com/

The video below is an inspiring one reminding us of the power that we hold collectively and collaboratively to empower ourselves and each other as women.  It starts with you taking care of YOU….and then reaching out for that “sister’s” hand.  I will be there with my hand and my full expression to meet yours…  Empower Women, Change The World!

 

Women Who Thrive, Change The World!

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Will I Be Pretty?…or Will I Be Pretty Amazing?

Today, like every other day,
we wake up empty
and frightened.
Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.

There are hundreds of ways to kneel and
kiss the ground.

~ Rumi

I start with this Rumi poem for several reasons.  First it reminds me of what to remember as I wake up each morning with new possibility arising within a very big shift in my life.   It also speaks to me of the beauty that resides within and without each of us, and the myriad of ways that we can express this within our own uniqueness.

As women we have often listened to others dictates about what is right or wrong with us – especially our appearance –  and followed the voices of others whims and desires.   If you are like me, you have also wanted to fit in within the “appearance” that you were blessed to have been born with…but may have been continuously displeased with – attempting to change somehow to fit in with what “beauty” or “acceptable” appearance is in your particular culture.

This not only speaks to external appearance, but the “beauty” that we share inside of us offered as gifts of full expression.  This beauty that we seek to understand our entire lives may have been held back from full expression by fear of being misunderstood, not being accepted in the constraints of cultural bias, or perhaps even punished in some form.

In my global travels I have found this to be true universally.  What is it that has us judge our appearance, inside and out,  set apart from recognition of our heart and souls dream for who we are to become this lifetime?

This past week I was blessed to make contact with a woman at the gym after my swim.  She approached me, and what resulted was a short but very profound sharing between two older women that are committed to bringing the fullness of who they are out into the world.

Martha is an artist -a full time one at that.  The glow that radiated from her as she talked about her art gave me encouragement and inspiration to bring my own without the hesitation that has self sabotaged me in the past.

Yet, I learned that it was not until she was in college that she dove into the potential of the art within her.  Her mother did not want her to be an artist when she was growing up.  It was OK for her sister to be one, but mom wanted Martha to be an dancer.  With the freedom that comes from leaving home, Martha started to explore her own beauty within the world of visual art.  She now gives herself permission to bring this to the world as her gift.

This week I also bought a new bathing suit as the old one had such thin material from frequent use that it was bordering on embarrassingly revealing.  When I got it home I tried it on for the first time and realized that it was a tad too small – but not much.

As I gazed at the reflection in the mirror and turned and twisted to see all angles of my aging voluptuous (I love that word!) body I decided to see the beauty of having a body – a body that can swim, lift weights, hike, walk, ride bikes, make love, sit in meditation, run on the beach, play, laugh and breathe.  A body and ageless “beauty” that can be expressed until the last breath is taken….full and complete acceptance of what is now.

Is it time for you to explore that inner and outer beauty……  to simply be the pretty amazing woman that you are? !  There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the fullness of our expressions….

Here is a powerful video by Katie Makkai filmed at the 2002 National Poetry Slam.  She brings a lot of emotion and wisdom to the question – Will I Be Pretty?  Thank you to Karri Ingerson for this video!!

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www.DivineWealthJournal.com – Conversations between The Brit and The American

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WOMAN TO WOMAN – SISTER TO SISTAH

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living In better conditions. ~Hafiz

This post is important.  Important because women are being called to step up into their full expressions as the awakening on our planet spirals out globally, and as we build a new world with very different foundations.   We as women have an important purpose in all of this – to foster collaboration from the heart and soul; to speak out on behalf of the planet, our children, communities, and each other; and to express every bit of the creative genius that we are holding onto inside letting go of the fear that no one will recognize it for what it is – wisdom much needed right now!

Given all of this we cannot proceed, or pass GO as the game of monopoly states, until we heal the relationships with the women in our lives.  I believe that if we do not have closure or understanding with those that we have had challenges or break down of relationship  with, then we are bringing our wounds to the table, and not releasing those that have been close to us, and ourselves, into fullest expression.

As women we bond easily, fiercely, deeply, and often tenderly.  Relationships with other women are at the core of our thriving and full acceptance of ourselves.  Without healthy relationships with women we fall apart within and without.  Our culture, community, and world suffers…and so do we.

This week, as many of you know, there was a repairing of a relationship that took place

Iyanla Vanzant

between two very powerful women – Oprah Winfrey and Iyanla Vanzant. Feminine Power hosted that very same day a conversation with Iyanla on “Woman to Woman: How to Heal Our Relationship Breakdowns with Each Other”.

I bring you the link here to listen to the conversation as I feel that it is vitally important that we do this work with each other first!

Late in 2010 I lost a friend that was very dear to me.  She simply stopped communicating with me after 2 years of a meaningful friendship and many adventures.   At first I attempted to create story – in other words think of the ways in which I might had offended her, or figure out why she did not want to relate any longer.   I left phone messages, wrote e-mails and left a letter at her doorstep at Christmas time…but no response.

Then I realized that she was not going to respond, and that it was time to do my own internal healing around the loss, move out of any story, recognize that there was no longer a resonance which kept the relationship alive and growing, forgive myself and her, and let go.   There was of course sadness around the loss of the relationship…but what really hurt was that we could not come together, face our fears, and deeply listen to each other with an open heart and mind – either for closure, or for expansion of relationship with each other or with ourselves.

This is what Iyanla speaks to in the conversation on this link.  Take the time to listen in and reflect on whether there are any relationships with women in your life right now that require letting go of the fear that you carry and with courage (action taken from the heart) telling your truth.

Here is the link:  http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=17780457

“Woman to Woman: How to Heal Our Relationship Breakdowns with Each Other” with honored guest, Iyanla Vanzant

Welcome to the recording of our special Women on The Edge of Evolution event with Iyanla Vanzant, who shares the challenges, lessons and blessing of healing the relationship breakdowns with our sisters. Iyanla Vanzant is the author of five New York Times bestsellers. Her most recent book, Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through is a masterpiece of hard earned wisdom and a tribute to the resilience of the human heart.

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FALL IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF DAY: A Prelude to Valentines Day

Sister, remember this:
:: you are completely and utterly loved.:: the intelligence that grows the leaves on the trees, is also moving you. Surrender.:: your body is a miracle. It breathes, it pumps, it digests and it moves. It is God in action. Just stop. Stop right now, being so violent towards it.:: the body is earth… awakeningwomen.com

Christine Arylo has declared 2/13 as International Falling In Love With Yourself Day.  What could be more appropriate than a focus on self love for women and girls the day before Valentines Day.

As each of us as women step up to the plate in our lives and bring courage, strength, wisdom, collaboration, listening, and our own uniquely wild creative expression and stories….. we become free.  In this stepping up however, we must embrace our wholeness, and love every single itty bitty part of ourselves – even those parts that we would rather hide under the rug or in the bushes some place! Not always easy…

So girlfriends come out and play today – and everyday that you possibly can!  Here is a video that reminds us why we are being called to action on the global, national, and community fronts of our lives.  It is when we say YES! to our unique dance in life, and fall in love with ourselves, that we are able to inspire other women to do the same while living our lives FREE.

This is ALWAYS an inside job.  When done with dedication and commitment you light up the world!  Join the Tribe.

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