In Honor of All Womyn

March observes International Women’s Day, a time of honoring how womyn before us have paved the way in creating a life where we as womyn are respected for our divine contribution to the world around us. Started as a way to honor the movement for women’s rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women, the celebration has now evolved, in my mind, to also include the honoring of our sacred feminine, that unique and divine quality that only womyn share.

It often passes without much fanfare in the mainstream media, at least here in the US, and few womyn that I know actually choose to find a way to celebrate it, or note it’s passing. In other countries it is a National Holiday, and men are encouraged to lavish the womyn in their lives, and womyn are encouraged to have womyn only celebrations. And, unfortunately, in still other countries, womyn are beaten for celebrating this day. Over the years I have done various things to bring awareness to this important event in the small community I live in, including an open mic night, a women’s movie night, sharing circles, ritual and ceremony. This year I am participating in an event that other local womyn are putting together.

A dear friend of mine, Damaris Margaret, many years ago started the All Woman’s Review-a diverse and eclectic gathering of amazing local womyn appearing on stage and sharing personal stories, poetry, song, dance and comedy. After a many year hiatus, when Damaris sadly moved out of town, Bisbee’s Obscure Productions is now reviving the Review this year. It’s going to be a fabulous, fun, entertaining and great night, and I am going to be reading 2 pieces. One is an original, and the other is a very powerful piece that has moved me deeply. I choose to be involved in this production to honor myself, to honor all the amazing and wonderful womyn in Bisbee, to honor Damaris, and to honor the divine holy feminine power.

This is my original piece I will be sharing… I will share the other piece next week (don’t want to  ruin it for those going to the event! ).

i am a womyn..

just trying to make my way

floating thru the minefields

of rape, abortion, abandonment

abuse and addiction

trying to make my way

on the path of

re-discovering my lost spirit

of yesteryear

reclaiming the lost child

that grew to fast, to hard

a painful time

of confusing intangible love

riding the waves

of adolescent-maiden storms

shipwrecked and sharkfood

i was a womyn just trying to find my way

back then

looking for love

in all the wrong places

seeking that valid connection

without knowing what

i was looking for

only that i had not found it

yet

now, i am a womyn

making my way

transforming the mine fields

into flowers

bringing beauty in gently

thru healing

marking each day

as a miracle

i am a womyn making my way

along this wonderous

path of life

with other womyn

by my side

wounded, beautiful, recovering

healing, strong womyn

standing powerful in all

we have been

all we are

and all we will be

becoming bigger and bolder

with each new day

discovering our authentic selves

our hidden spirits

our loving hearts

holding each other’s hands

holding each other up

with these womyn

i am a womyn

getting stronger

releasing the pain

embracing the beauty

making right choices

being healthy

i am a womyn

creating my way.

~margie scott~

6/16/05

This piece was inspired by my Mentor Retreat Coach Helene VanManen, when she wrote a piece of the same name, which honors the lineage of fine womyn she comes from. Why not create your own? Take some time to sit with who you are, then write a piece to share with the world. Post it here, and I will celebrate you!

I look forward to seeing local Bisbee folks this weekend at The Central School Project for The All Woman’s Review. For everyone else, I invite you to take a moment and honor the great womyn in your life, and if you are a womyn, to spend some time celebrating your incredible greatness.