One by one the women step up
and commit the forbidden act
of biting into patriarchal thought
refuting it, smashing it,
discarding it and beginning again
in the very beginning when women
loved their bodies
named their gods
authored their lives
when women refused to surrender
except to life as it pulsated through them.
Women reminding us
there is nothing wrong
there never has been anything wrong
there never will be anything wrong
with woman.
*a poem by Patricia Lynn Reilly, who I have been trying to find biographical info about, but only came across more fabulous writing, like this:
“There were no religious images in the churches or synagogues of our childhood that celebrated the birthing powers of women. According to religion’s myths, the world was brought into being by a male God, and woman was created from man. This reversal of biological process went unchallenged. Most of us didn’t even notice the absence of the mother. Although we may not have been consciously aware of her absence in bible stories and sermons, her absence was absorbed into our being. And its painful influence was intensified as we observed the design of our parents’ relationship and the treatment of our mothers by our fathers and brothers. Our families mirrored the hierarchical reality of the heavens. In a society that worships a male God, the father’s life is more valuable than the mother’s. The activities of a man’s life are more vital and necessary than the mother’s intimate connections with the origins of life. The father is God.” – from ??!! More research is clearly needed, peeps! None of her work is on Amazon, which I have to believe is a choice, as is the absence of a wiki page. inneresting.
“In the beginning was the Mother.
On the first day, She gave birth to light and darkness.
They danced together.
On the second day, She gave birth to land and water. They touched.
On the third day, She gave birth to green growing things.
They rooted and took a deep breath.
On the fourth day, She gave birth to land, sea, and air creatures.
They walked and flew and swam.
On the fifth day, Her creation learned balance and cooperation.
She thanked her partner for coaching her labor.
On the sixth day, She celebrated the creativity of all living things.
On the seventh day, She left space for the unknown.”
– from Be Full of Yourself!: The Journey from Self-Criticism to Self-Celebration
Never heard of her, but – obvs – worth looking deeper. Youze too, perhaps?!