Today is Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love in all its myriad forms, but especially romantic. Love is safe, love is respectful, love is consensual, love is empowering. Respect and understanding create trust and intimacy. Only then can romantic love be shared between equals. This partnership can be one of the highest spiritual callings, a path to deep personal growth, mutual fulfillment and a gift to the larger community.
Valentine's Day was chosen by One Billion Rising to celebrate self-love and shared love around the globe by dancing together for the one in three women in the world - that's one billion women - who are beaten or raped. That's a staggering number - well, now it's a dancing number!
Last year the first annual One Billion Rising event was staged with people - especially women, but not only - dancing and raising awareness in over 200 countries to stop violence against women. Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, survivor of abuse and cancer, birthed this movement in 2013 with the first V-Day worldwide dance and song, Break the Chain.
Freedom is for all. Justice is for all. Until we are all free, none of us is truly free. Real empowerment benefits everyone. We do this not for ourselves alone, but for all people, and for the healing of our relationships with the Earth and all Her creatures.
We are nurturers and healers, activists and elders, midwifing healthy global community, not militants or nazis in a battle of the sexes. That's old patriarchal propaganda and has absolutely no place in a free, loving, empowering community. Violence is sickness born of fear and ignorance, in need of healing and growth. We are not fighting for peace - we are working for peace, dancing for peace, drumming, drawing, sewing, building, creating, teaching, writing, playing, feasting, grieving, learning, praying, breathing, planting, organizing and celebrating for peace!
When women are safe and empowered, communities thrive, everyone can thrive. Well-being for us means well-being for all! Join SafeArt, Safeline and Essential Arts for Circle Dancing, Break the Chain, and Flags of Danger, Flags of Peace at Altus Healing Arts on Main St.(Rt. 110) in Chelsea, Vermont, next to Mascoma Bank, just south of Rt. 113 at 5:00 today. Finger food provided. Watch this website for last minute changes due to expected heavy snowfall, but we hope to be there dancing and making art!
Valentine's Day was chosen by One Billion Rising to celebrate self-love and shared love around the globe by dancing together for the one in three women in the world - that's one billion women - who are beaten or raped. That's a staggering number - well, now it's a dancing number!
Last year the first annual One Billion Rising event was staged with people - especially women, but not only - dancing and raising awareness in over 200 countries to stop violence against women. Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, survivor of abuse and cancer, birthed this movement in 2013 with the first V-Day worldwide dance and song, Break the Chain.
Freedom is for all. Justice is for all. Until we are all free, none of us is truly free. Real empowerment benefits everyone. We do this not for ourselves alone, but for all people, and for the healing of our relationships with the Earth and all Her creatures.
We are nurturers and healers, activists and elders, midwifing healthy global community, not militants or nazis in a battle of the sexes. That's old patriarchal propaganda and has absolutely no place in a free, loving, empowering community. Violence is sickness born of fear and ignorance, in need of healing and growth. We are not fighting for peace - we are working for peace, dancing for peace, drumming, drawing, sewing, building, creating, teaching, writing, playing, feasting, grieving, learning, praying, breathing, planting, organizing and celebrating for peace!
When women are safe and empowered, communities thrive, everyone can thrive. Well-being for us means well-being for all! Join SafeArt, Safeline and Essential Arts for Circle Dancing, Break the Chain, and Flags of Danger, Flags of Peace at Altus Healing Arts on Main St.(Rt. 110) in Chelsea, Vermont, next to Mascoma Bank, just south of Rt. 113 at 5:00 today. Finger food provided. Watch this website for last minute changes due to expected heavy snowfall, but we hope to be there dancing and making art!