The International Council of The Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers

There is an ancient prophecy, shared by indigenous tribes all over the world, that states we are now in a critical time in human history. It warns of cataclysmic consequences and total destruction, if we do not reunite with Mother Earth and each other in the spirit of respect.

The prophecy predicts that The Grandmothers of all the worlds tribes would unite, and light the way for us.

That time has come. The Grandmothers have gathered to speak for the next Seven Generations.



This "Global Women’s Gathering [brought] indigenous women elders from around the world together with western women elders who have challenged the limitations of our social system."

The result was the birth of THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF THIRTEEN INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS. They represent "a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our Mother Earth, all Her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next seven generations to come."

Car bombings and insurgent attacks steal global headlines, when in truth, THIS is the work that takes precidence. Please take a moment to go to their website and view the video of this historic event, then ask yourself "What from our traditions are we going to move forward with?"

Ask yourself what is REALLY Important, and what YOU will do with this grand and glorious morning. Look at the faces of these beautiful women and think about what kind of woman YOU really want to be.

To me, these Grandmothers are more beautiful than any Supermodel or actress I have ever seen.

For additional information contact:
Carole Hart
The Laughing Willow Co. Inc.
(212)724-1948
Laughingwillow@earthlink.net

Check out my Soul Sister!

Whoo-Hoo!
You Go Girl!!!

Of Whimsy and Word Play

Satirist and linguist lover Doug Pascover has invited me to define a word on his blog, Waking Ambrose.

The word assigned: Panther
The objective: Satire

Check it out.

http://bitterbierce.blogspot.com/2006/03/special-guest-wednesday_15.html

Awakened Woman

An article I wrote a while back has been published in Awakened Women e-Magazine's March issue.

Its a bit dry, as it covers a bunch of ancient history in order to make the point, but for those of you who like that stuff, click the link and check it out.

Wicked Stepmother Article

Wild Nite for Wildlife

Wild Nite for Wildlife

Watch the video

Last night we held a fund raiser at The Columbus Zoo for The Wildlife Center. Jack Hanna had us all rollin in the aisles with his animal antics and blooper clips, and we raised some big bucks for our furry and feathered friends (and the slimey, scaley ones too.) Click the photo to see some video highlights.

Arise!!!

Arise!!!

Watch the video

Planned Parenthood organized a National Day of Solidarity for the women of South Dakota. As you may know, South Dakota recently passed a law making all abortions a crime. Groups in thirty seven states protested during this nation wide event.

When I arrived at the Statehouse, I saw news crews crawling all over the place. The sad thing is, they were there for a death penalty case. The news people just sat in their AV trucks and watched us with disinterest. One reporter, Carol Luper from WSYX-TV, asked us if we had sent out press releases. "Yes. Releases werre sent to ALL the media, all over the country."

She was livid! She ranted that her news editor never even told her about our event!

Carol reported the story and got the scoop. In addition, a lone AP photographer took some pictures.

But the other news channels chose not to cover the event, and not a word was written in our local paper, The Columbus Dispatch.

If you look at the video, it's obvious that this is news, especially when one realizes that it was going on in thirty seven states. Why did the media ignore us? I mean, we are talking about the big bomb issue that is going to the Supreme Court. We are talking about the one polarizing issue behind the Religious Rights agenda, and the one great desire of Bush's "base."

We are talking about the forefront issue that is being used to whittle away at Women's Rights. Why the H@ll is it that NO ONE CARES????

The women's rights movement in the U.S., that began with the suffragettes in 1898, and progressed to the women's liberation movement of the 1970's is under siege. The Patriarchy is in position to send women back to the Victorian age, and they are on the verge of doing it. If the media will not report on the issue, then we need to do it ourselves. Put on your battle gear Girls... It's Time to ARISE!!!!!

To LIFE!!

"The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge."
-Albert Einstein


I have a friend who shares my penchant for deep fantastical conversation. We have an on going dialog of criss-crossing thoughts on life, science, religion, morality, spirituality, and the Art of Play. We often sprial into these musings when issues of euthanasia or therapy confront our animal friends at the Wildlife Center.

One such conversation turned to how we humans define, and value Life. Clearly we place a higher value on the life of a dog over the life of a fruit fly, so maybe size, and life expectancy equate to higher value. Then again, we value domestic pets more so than food animals like cows and sheep.

And what about Plants! Plants are alive, but even vegans have no problem killing and eating them! What then is the equation for how we rate the value of life? And for that matter, what DEFINES life?

Fire eats, grows, breathes and dies. Is Fire a Living Thing?

Everything in the universe is made up of Atoms. Energy swirling about in infinite combinations of positive and negative charges. Why are some things considered alive, while others inanimate? Is consciousness the key? For that matter, what is consciousness? Most scientists struggle when asked to define this term.

So our conversation turned yet again, to energy, and the infinite variety in the known, (and unknown) Universes. Could there be intelligent life out there somewhere that looks like fire, yet thinks like us? Could LIFE exist in forms beyond our capacity to imagine? Do plants have feelings? If so, then might other objects "feel" too?

Could the things around us, we define as inanimate, actually be alive in ways that we are just unable to see?


"Maybe they are." My good friend answered. "My coffee Cup might be alive. For Instance, Have you ever noticed that some glasses like certain liquids, and seem to reject others. If you use the wrong cup, it just doesn't taste right. When I go to my cupboard and get a cup, I always ask the cups which one likes Coke, or coffee, or whatever I intend to drink." She giggled playfully.



Milk tastes awful in a coffee cup, and Coke tastes different in a juice glass than a plastic cup, and I would NEVER drink hot tea from a wine glass!

I never realized it, but I do this too. I think about what I want to drink then go to the cupboard and search for just the right glass; though I must admit, I never considered the opinion of a contentious cup, to be the root of a bitter beverage!



Hmmm, so I need to ask my cups and glasses what they prefer, and be considerate of their "feelings."

HA!

Now there's a new perspective on life worth toasting.

TO LIFE!

We Reap what we Sow

Once upon a time there was a little old lady who lived all alone. She outlived her husband, her children, and her friends. She was deeply depressed. She cut herself off from the world, and rarely left her house. Her doctor tried in vain to help, and finally refered her to a brilliant psychologist.

On examination, the psychologist discovered that the woman only ventured out of her home for three reasons: To buy groceries, to attend church, and to work in her garden.

Her garden was filled with african violets, creating a blanket of purple wonderment and joy. It was the one thing that brought happiness to her lonely existance.

"As none of the medications we have tried, have provided a cure, I want you to try this perscription: Ask the Church to notify you each time therre is a birth, a death, or a wedding, then send a bouquet of your lovely violets for the ceremony."

Years later, the miracle of the good Doctors advice became apparent when over three hundred people attened the funeral of The Violet Lady, and spoke of the many ways that her kindness had touched their lives.

By reaching out, with her flowers, she planted seeds of love, and cultivated a family. The entire community became the flowers of her garden.

Death is a Gift to the Living

"The tree of life does not give us immortality, it gives us awareness. It wakes us up to the infinite potential of life and the ever-present miracle of our existence. Our days are numbered, but every moment is a new creation to be experienced to the fullest. The incense wakes us to life. When we eat from the tree of wisdom, it doesn't bring death, it brings the awareness of our mortality. When we eat from the tree of life, it doesn't bring perpetual life, it makes the life we have holy. Life and death are not opposite, they are irrevocably intertwined. Death gives life its sacredness and life gives death its dignity. Death is not just a gift to the dying, it's a gift to the living because it teaches us the preciousness of life."


-Excerpt from an essay by Stuart Berman

Untamable II

As we walked and waded, I told Liz about an amazing animal behaviorist named Turid Rudgrass. Turid discovered a universal animal language called "Calming Signals." She teaches a series of over thirty body postures that all animals understand. By using these signals, it is possible for humans to get extremely close to wild animals without alarming them.

After my little lesson, I took Liz to a favorite little spot in the springs, and suggested we lay on the sand and imagine images in the clouds.

In reality, I had a hidden agenda.

I wanted her to be quiet and still. I pulled out my camera and the oatmeal cookies that I had so carefully packed in plastic that morning.



It didn't take long for the Giant Florida Otter to appear. I nugged Liz and gave her a cookie.
"Use the calming signals, wade on in, and give him a piece of cookie."
She literally quivered with excitement. Then used the postures, and eased into the water. The Otter read her signals as non threatening, accepted the cookies, and began to swim circles around her, doing flips and spins for more.

For almost an hour, I sat on the beach taking photos of the playful pair. Liz would go underwater, and the Otter would follow, then he would spin, and she would follow. It was nature's ballet.

Then suddenly, without notice, the Otter disappeared.

"Did I do something to scare him?" Liz asked.
I paused to assess the situation. Something was amiss.

"The birds stopped singing." I said as I motioned for Liz to move closer.
Then I saw it.




"We're being watched." I whispered.
Liz followed my gaze, and froze dead in her tracks.

"What do we do?" She mouthed like a silent ventriloquist.
The panther was intent on us, crouched down and quivering. The Cat's message was clear, and it was NOT a calming signal!

"Don't look at her. Keep your eyes and body in a submissive posture. Let's just act like a couple of manatees, and float on by...Just like a natural part of the environment."

"At least cats don't like water."
"House cats don't, but Florida Panthers are excellent swimmers."

"Do they eat manatees?"

"Good point. Be a log. Float away like a lazy ol' log. And whatever you do, don't think about fear. She'll sense it."

Slowly we sunk into the current, gaining distance, nearing the bend. When, to our astonishment, we heard the cry of kittens.

Kittens!

We could hardly believe it. Our eyes locked in silent amazement, as we drifted away from her den. When we reached a safe distance, I hid behind a tree and took a slew of pictures, loving my 20X zoom like never before.

"Man, the gang is NEVER going to believe this!" Liz squealed.

**************************************************************

She was right. They didn't. When we got back to the hotel, I discovered that I had forgotten to put the card reader in the camera that morning. We had nothing but a good fish story to tell.

"Oh well, at least we have the memory." Liz said sympathetically.

"Yeah." I sighed. "We'll always have that."

The Untamable Land

After my visit with the Kestrels at the Wildlife Center, I went back to the hotel and found Liz at the bar, with her nose in a book, as usual.

"Feel like an adventure?"
"Sure." She replied.

I led her down the beach, past all the long rows of oil covered tourists, frying themselves like bacon in the sun. We turned and headed into the jungle, to the places the snowbirds dare not tread.



Liz walked with trepidation through the heavy brush, and with good reason. They do not call Florida "The Untamable Land" for nothing.



In moments, we found ourselves in a completely different world, surrounded by Mother Natures glory.



Wildlife was everywhere. Our path led to one of Florida's majestic river springs. Florida has more class one springs than any other place in the world. Fresh crystal clear water bubbles up from deep underground, and remains a constant 72 degrees all year. They flow to the ocean, mixing with the sea, forming a brackish mix of fresh and salt that can support all forms of marine life.

We waded, and swam, and swung on the vines like playful children. Our spirits glowed brighter than the noon day sun.



We came upon a baby manatee and her mother. They floated lazily without a care in the world, and we followed their lead, and did the same.



We saw fish in every shape size and color imaginable, and did our best to identify each species, but in the end, we could not, so we had big fun creating names of our own.

It was a magic moment.

Pale in comparison to what happened next...

Look at This!

My good friend over at Decadent Tranquility has created a wonderful image of Kestrels that has sent my spirit flying!

Thanks Tree for creating one more example of syncronicity in my life!