What do you do?

I’m guessing a lot.

The old truisms still apply-

“A woman’s work is never done”

“If you want to get something done, ask a woman”

We are busier than ever, with our careers, home-lives, relationships, self-care, political activities, educations, socializing, medical care, pet care, exercise, spiritual/religious, cultural activities, civic duties. It’s rare that we sit down, except perhaps in front of our TV sets, where we can zone out and give our brains and bodies a break.

Yoga and meditation sound nice, as does having a healthy diet…those take discipline, don’t they. I am a frequent dropout when it comes to those activities.

When I think about my own life over the years and now, I can honestly say that I try to do all of the above, as well as create time for some beauty or magic for myself, or others.

Although I no longer work full-time or have responsibilities for caring for children or older relatives, I am still swamped for time. My calendar easily fills up with things I want to do and those that I must.

So after pondering this modern dilemma, I came up with the idea of the goddess of many arms as the title for my Blogpost.

She is based on one of many Indian goddesses who I had the pleasure of exploring while co-teaching in India, this past February. As I began to move to the goddess Pavrati, I became enamored of the fact that she had so many arms.

She seemed the perfect symbol for women across the world. In my travels, I have seen them everywhere, carrying water, branches, and food on their heads, walking for miles to their homes to prepare meals, feed, clean, care for others. So much, too much is expected of women in many cultures.

I wanted my blog to reflect this fact and the honor the millions of things that women do on a daily basis all over the world. I wanted to call them/us goddesses, emphasizing their grace, beauty, power and capacities in ways that lift them above the daily grind of things they/we have to do. I realize that my perspective comes from a very privileged perch; where I can say this, presume this.

We have to start somewhere and I do hope that your contributions with expand my vision and that of others. I welcome you- the goddess of many hands into this space.

On November 3rd, the One House Exhibit at Touchstone Gallery in DC opened with over 220 participating artists (myself included), displaying panels of their family histories of migration and immigration. Check out this link for more information: www.touchstonegallery.com/one-house/ .Pop over to the Gallery or look at the wonderful online gallery.

Seems like it was Fall in all it’s glorious colors and balmy weather, then it snapped into this cold. It came on strong; at the same time I heard news that my friend Bonnie had died of cancer, after a long and brave fight. It knocked such sadness into my soul…and then there were those horrible mass killings, devastating fires, and our insane and ignorant and dangerous president out in the world.

It was good news to hear so many women speaking out against being molested, and abused by men…something we women know is always going on but never before so out there. I hope it continues. It is always bad news that it has happened and continues to do so. I ask myself what is the root cause of this, we know that men are predatory and sexually retarded when it comes to dealing with their erections and that women are way too insecure and nice and scared to speak out, some in very real danger.

We have to send a message that we have zero tolerance for any form of violence and abuse. Speak up, draw, paint, dance, write, be part of it! In fact, join me and 4 poets at a poetry and art workshop in DC on November 18th at Rhizome DC. Go to: www.rhizomedc.org Leave a Comment. Join my Mailing List! Namaste, Sally

PS- The image below is a talking stick that I created at a wonderful workshop at the National Museum of African American History, here in Washington DC. The talking stick comes from many indigenous cultures and is used in group venues allowing only the person holding the stick to talk, so that others don't interrupt and so that they listen more deeply. I use this in my workshops and will use it as a symbol in the future for these posts. Now it's your turn to take the talking stick and say what's on your mind.

Welcome to the Goddess of Many Arms- My New Blogpost!

What do you do?

The Goddess of Many Arms- Talking Stick