Yael Nehama

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.

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 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...

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...

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."

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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

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

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...