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To My Beloved Children

Just to see you smile, My joy is there flitting around your up turned lips My happiness dancing at the song of your laughter Just to see you smile, My fears and worries are allayed My heart is filled with peace Just to see you smile Your joy is my joy Your laughter, my song. Just to see you smile My life is whole My happiness complete. Just to see you smile Noting exists but that moment And your beautiful, wondrous smile.

Thank you, Ms. Steinman!

Finally, finally, Ms. Steinman has called a spade a spade and spoken the words I have been longing to hear! In an article titled Feminist Ideal: A myth she states: "Women are told they can have it all, that they can do anything, as long as they also keep doing everything else they were doing before." I am doing such a happy dance over here you have no idea!!! This was one of the main points that would infuriate me so much about the Feminist Movement. I could support equal pay for equal work, respect for women in the workplace, gender equality and such, but what I could not support is the fact of that women were still expected to "Bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget your a man!" GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! It seemed to me that women simply were making more work for themselves and men were either becoming emasculated or lazy! Horrible words I know, but that is what I witnessed. Women who wanted to stay home and keep house or raise their children w...

The Business of Birthing (Repost)

The "Business" Of Birthing This is a repost from the Giving Birth Naturally website. Note: All of the information here represents fact , not opinion, of birthing within the United States. If you don't believe it, check the references listed at the end of the article. That being said, you may want to sit down before reading further... FACT Each year, the U.S. spends over $50 billion dollars on childbirth. This is more than any other nation in the world. (This number does not include babies in the NICU or readmissions during the first month.) FACT Maternity care is the largest source of income for American hospitals. FACT The U.S. ranks 37th in the world for the quality of its health care. FACT Over HALF of all hospital admissions in America are for maternity. FACT Hospitals are NOT the safest place to have a baby. 25 infectious strains exist that are resistant to ALL known antibiotics. These are found primarily in hospitals. FACT 75 years of routine hospital birth ha...

Cell Phone Doula-ing

At 5:30 this morning I received a text from a dear friend/sistah informing she was at the birth of her niece! Well, anyone who knows me I cannot resist fiber, plants or birth so I shook off the sleep and got to it. I got to be the 'doula's doula' offering her support and encouragement through texting! I was amazed at the speed of my thumbs! What an honor to be a part of this birth even if only peripherally. The last time I had this kind of opportunity was about 5 years ago and I was a doula for a mommy over the phone! Yes, it can be done and although not ideal, that is what I do as a doula, support birthing mommies (and their doulas) however and whenever they need me. This is such a timely reminder of what I've said many times before and will continue saying, "It takes a village!" Believe me, I struggle with this myself, not allowing anyone in and not venturing outside. It is much easier to close up into my shell and stay there. But the truth is we truly nee...

Today's Horoscope said:

Ok, let it be known that although I dig astrology, I only read horoscopes for fun about once a week, and only if it suits me. They are obviously generic and bogus but every once in awhile I happen across one that I say to myself BRING IT !!! This one happens to one such horoscope I want to make come true, and stars aligned or not, I am the only one who can manifest this into reality. "New ideas are flowing into your life now, but you must be ready to receive them. You may already be in touch with a philosophical perspective as beneficial Jupiter continues to inspire your 9th House of Higher Truth, but the Sun-Jupiter trine today can blast the doors of awareness open. Luckily, this shouldn't feel like hard work. Opportunities to expand your thinking and widen your horizons are more fun than you might expect."

Bellydance, Anarchy and Prayer...OH MY?!?!

Last night my troupe and I danced at a ridiculously awesome Hafla hosted by Tribalbellies studio. Hipnosis opened the show and we (Tribal Spirit) closed the first half. Unmata was the headliner and well, I couldn't possibly explain their awesomeness so just take a peak here to have a look see. To say it was an amazing show would be such an understatement. Once we get the videos up I will try and share them here with you. I can't even begin to explain to you the mad love I have for my tribal sisters, let's just say they remind me to not take myself so damn seriously and they keep a very silly smile on my face and dance in my step. This morning, I stumbled upon a anarchist youtube channel. (!?) You know how that goes, you click on and this that leads to that, then all of a sudden I am on some anarchist youtube channel. I thought to myself, "Well some of my best beloved and dearest to my heart are anarchists so why don't I have myself a listen." I'll tel...

Honoring Veterans Day

I am a multi-faceted "peace-nik". So what does that mean? Well, think of a woman heavily influenced by images of John Lennon in front of the Statue of Liberty and the choruses of "Give Peace a Chance" ringing in her head. Think of a teenager racing up to a friend in the halls of her high school hands held high in peace symbol/victory sign, exclaiming "MAKE LOVE NOT WAR" every day of her sophomore year. Think of an eight grader engaging in a screaming match with her teacher on the injustice of dropping the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those images are still burned in my mind so clearly, I still feel the pain in my heart as when I first saw the video in class that day. Now, think of a young woman who witnessed Vets returning home from a war they had valiantly fought in and were thanked with protests signs, obscenities and claims they were murderers and baby killers. Vets who came home from nightmarish conditions, who the government deemed old enough to ...

Words from the heart, touch the heart.

I have some pretty awesome friends, of which I am most grateful. One particularly special lady stepped out of her "No Poetry" zone and wrote this for me. Strangely enough it came after I had seen her and said nothing in particular, but obviously my heart and soul spoke volumes to hers. Words from her heart spoke to mine and, I believe, offered me some healing. Gentle waves start from her heart Flowing down her arms Twisting wrists and flicking off fingers Beckoning you to come, warning you to stay Her heart pulses, lifting her breasts Chest fills with desire And collapses, coated with pain Loneliness washes down her belly Her body remembers fullness Ecstasy and conception The undulation of birth Dancing children out of her womb Her empty hands wait Anxious for the next baby to catch The next tuft to spin The next florio to circle Hips twist, thighs pump Knees flex, calves tighten She pushes against the ground Feeling, needing the ground to push back Spirit demands her bo...

New Moon Musings Kisev

The Month of Kislev, birthed under the Dark Moon in Scorpio, brings with it many, many changes for the Village Wise Woman. The month of Kislev falls during the Dark Months, the months that beckon us to rest, to delve inward and to reflect. Their is no foliage, no birdsong to distract on this leg of the journey. Physically the animals are making their final preparations for their long winter's sleep and the gardens are all mostly bedded down for the winter. The sun sets earlier making our times of daylight shorter. I will admit, this is not my favorite time of the year. The cold and dark force me to search out the cold and dark within myself. That Dark Side of the Moon we all have as Twain so aptly calls it. Sometimes it is a hard place to visit. This lovely piece of art is by a dear friend and mentor of mine, Dvorah Horn . She has based this beautiful and comtepletative piece on the month of Kislev. You can read her thoughts here. It is not mere coincidence that many major religion...

A picture is worth a thousand words

And when you add a few words it becomes even more valuable! Picture of my friend BJ at the Rally to Restore Sanity by LaDawna

I have realized...

That just because something is good and wonderful that doesn't mean it's not painful. That just because it painful, that doesn't mean I don't want to feel. Pain and sorrow, joy and bliss can be wrapped up into one beautiful package and I owe it to myself to feel it all. To pause in the moment and rejoice and mourn. That intermingled in the laughter and the dance are tears. It is okay to cry and feel the sadness. It is okay to feel the ache in your heart and soul. And it's okay to go right on dancing and while feeling it all. Birth Art by Nancy Bright

"Our daughters are like cornerstones, crafted in palatial form."

My daughter is moving today. Close to three weeks a married woman, she and her beloved are setting off about 12 hours from my home to establish their home. This morning as I woke up she was who I saw in my mind's eye and she is to whom my thoughts turned and my heart was full of words and love that I want to share with her as she embarks on one of the greatest journeys of her life. My daughter, you are my daughter. This means you come from a long line of kick ass women. Never forget who you are. You are the granddaughter of Dawn Ann and Carmen Lydia. You are the Great granddaughter of Mercedes, Inez and Blanche. You are the great-great granddaughter of Maria de los Angeles. You are the daughter of Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah and a child of Chava. All strong women, all wise women, and all of which you carry a spark of inside of you. Inside of you are the generations of women, strong and brave, tender and loving. Inside of you is all of the collective Wisdom and Light of your gra...

Happy October

Well, it seems Autumn has finally arrived in all of her golden, red, and orange splendor. Granted, Philly is in no way Lancaster County or Maine :::sigh::: but we do have a few trees around here and they are quickly changing their clothing for their last dance before Winter. The weather has also cooled down and the sun has returned after a very rainy last days of Sukkot. I'm ready for the sukkah to come down and return the sunlight to my home. Once I know the shach has dried I will start that process. A bit sad for me, I really do enjoy Sukkot and the removal of the sukkah means re-entry back into the 'real' world with work and responsibilities. I have to try to keep in mind the bit of chizuk (encouragement) I received on Simchat Torah. We rejoice when we enter the sukkah for obvious reasons, (think fun outside harvest festival and good food, woot!) but then we are also supposed to rejoice when we leave. (huh??) Well, the trick here, I was told, is to take with you all the ...

The disease called "Perfection"

This is the title to a blog post that I am hoping will go viral. The Disease of Perfection is something that is wipespread, in face I am a victim...or a willing infectee, but I would like to now be part of the cure. The first step, of course, is knowing you have it. Click this link and see if you have any of the symptoms: The Disease Called Perfection. After you read it you can comment there or here and read my comment below in the comment section.

Organic birth video

Walk it Out - Baby (another Baby Dance Video!!)

Well, they say walking is best to get baby going! °Ãœ°

Labor of Love Birth Dance

Enjoy this beautiful mommy as she dances during labor just hours before delivering her baby! I particularly enjoyed her musical lullaby, 'Sweet Child O' Mine'.

Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits

Ack, ew...now that was really too corny but I was trying to think of something clever to call this list of fun and interesting links I wanted to share with you. Enjoy! Cloth Diaper Blog is having a huge giveway with a $500 gift certificate to Diaper Junction! Essential Herbal has super tutorial for an herbal syrup for cough and conjestion. Check out this pictorial on Positions for Labor and Delivery. Great post by Public Health Doula delinating the role and usefullness of a doula and how she does not interfere with the birthing mom's partner or other birth team members.

And Now for a Man's Opinion on Nursing in Public

Neil over at Citizen of the Month has decided to join the forum and share his opinion regarding the whole Nursing in Public controversy that is so hot and heavy right now. You know, I kinda see what he means. ;-)

Grandmother Moon

I am a moonchild and I have a love affair with the moon. I watch her constantly and observe her comings and goings. I meditate on her waxing and her waning and it makes me think of my own. I think of how she is the lesser light that rules the night and a reflection of the greater light that rules the day, regardless of whether you see her or not she is there. I love all the moon songs, moon books, pictures and jewelry. I've written her poems and celebrated her monthly rebirth. She is a metaphor for women and the beauty of femininity. According to the rabbis she is even a metaphor for the Jewish people, a reflection of Divine Light. She is my Grandmother carrying wisdom and Light from high above. And I love her. Tonight my husband set up the telescope and knowing how much I love the moon he called me out to see. How lovely! I could not believe the craters and the light that was reflected off the surface. There she is and here we are, drifting in space, spinning and twirling, dancers...

Yom Kippur Reflections

Photo Credit Kippur has come and gone and I am left with a feeling of joy and deep gratitude. Much prayer and petitions for help from Above enabled me to exchange my fear of not even being able to get through the fast (Tisha B'Av kicked my butt with a blazing headache by evening you would not believe) to sincere thanks that I made it and even experienced Joy in the Journey. I did not get hungry and I did not suffer the ever feared caffeine headache. Prior to the fast I did have a bad attitude. No, that's not entirely accurate because I knew I wanted to fast. I had been working on myself and I wanted very much to be there for the Kol Nidre and Neilah services. My stress level though felt like it was through the roof and it left me ultimately feeling quite unprepared to come before the King. Also I was struggling with a few of the pre Kippur traditions and these feelings were irking me. (Truth is, if som...

Now that's an etrog!!!

Check out this ginormous etrog!! This baby weighs in at 7.5 kg (16.5 lbs) and is kosher. It now also hold the Guiness Book of World's record for the largest citron. Imagine waving this around with your lulav, the muscles you would have and perhaps the blessings that come with it! From Kikar Shabbat

Herbal Ally: Valerian

So yesterday was Yom Kippur , a 25 hour fast from food or drink of any kind. After I break a fast, I usually catch a buzz which makes it almost impossible to fall asleep and ensures me of a miserable next day. This time I decided to be a good herbalist and heal myself. I took some Valerian and had a great night's sleep and am feeling quite refreshed and content this morning. Valerian is a wonderful ally for those with extreme anxiety and insomnia. It is often referred to as 'Nature's Valium', although I think it should be the other way around and Valium ( diazapam ) should be referred to as the pharmaceutical Valerian . Although they sound alike and work in similar ways by binding to the same brain receptors, Valium is not derived from Valerian as many people think. Valerian is non addictive, does not interfere with the REM part of sleep, and you are not left with that groggy hangover feeling the next day. Medicinally the roots are used. You would recognize Valerian...

Look and Listen

The day before a holiday and/or shabbat is always hectic at school. Couple that with the fact school has just started and so there is a ton of other things I am trying to accomplish and you have the ingredients for Frustration Stew. Today I was in such a stew and the time came for my break when I soon realized that said break was not going to happen. Nonetheless, I ran home, about half a mile from work, to try and grab something to eat and find glue sticks (don't ask). In the short time it took to get home, my frustration was heavy on my head. I drove home, turned off the radio and got out of my car. Just then I heard a hawk's cry. I looked up to see if I was hearing things when there I saw her soaring over me. As I was admiring my friend Hawk, soaring so effortlessly in the sky, a monarch butterfly flew over my head and I smiled. Right here in Philly, the hawk still cries the butterfly still flies and at that moment all is right in the world and that is what matters. I tho...

Crossing the Narrow Bridge--Together

For the past nine years I have wanted to learn Breslov Chasidut with someone, anyone, near my home. As there is no vibrant Breslov community here I was pretty much tough outta luck. I continued on my not so merry way, and occasionally I would meet up with someone who would be willing to learn a little with me. I must say, those times were like a small oasis to me and I was most grateful for them but they lasted only weeks, if I was lucky. By nobody's fault the learning simply fizzled out. Well, perhaps it was someone's fault. Maybe even mine. Perhaps I just wasn't ready. Perhaps I was not committed to learning with others and sharing that learning. Perhaps I simply did not want it enough then, because this past summer I have enjoyed the sweetness of learning with a group of ladies that have become such a precious time in my week and particularly of my shabbat. It all started when I met one lady at shul (synagogue). Now allow me to preface this with just a little someth...