On the eve of the inauguration, I am moved to speak to my fellow sisters about the very important spiritual role women play in society.  For centuries, women have been the spiritual guideposts for their families, in fact many of the great mystics were women: Hildegard of Bingen, Joan of Arc, and Saint Teresa of Avila to name a few.  Given how disenfranchised these women were from their governments and family units, it is astounding the impact they had and the legacies left behind. The historical lessons gleaned from this seem to demonstrate the importance of the continued contribution of feminine voices no matter how small.

 

Raised in a very traditional home, I always found it a bit puzzling that the girls, while treasured, were never encouraged to be leaders. We were encouraged and expected to be gentle, kind, and soft spoken, loving and nurturing. At family gatherings we were sent to the kitchen to assist with food preparation, child care and table setting. Meanwhile, the men gathered in separate rooms for “business meetings”.  Sorely lacking was the recognition of feminine power and the importance of feminine voices in all venues.  Yes, I just said power. Men may shudder when they hear “feminine power” but this is misplaced fear. A woman in complete harmony with her femininity is a site to behold and one that men should revere and seek out.

 

One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.

Joan of Arc

 

With all of these remarkable women who have come before us, why do we find ourselves in the unlikely position of having elected a leader that by all accounts is a misogynist? Even more troubling, many people that I respect supported this choice, once again foregoing women’s rights under the guise of more pressing issues. What could be more pressing than the mutual respect and autonomy of half the human race?  I feel compelled to state firmly that it is never okay for a person in a position of authority to think less of another simply because they are a different gender! It is saddening and incredibly disappointing that more men did not stand up and simply say “No”, watching the narrative unfold as if following a reality television show. Sadly, this is real life with real implications.

 

Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.

Saint Teresa of Avila

 

While doing some recent family research, I discovered a story about my grandfather’s sister. Anna came from a family of farmers with 15 children all together.  She had difficulty delivering her eighth child and came down with a horrible fever from infection.  Soon she was delirious, shouting and swearing and not able to care for her young children. She was quickly admitted to the mental hospital in Minnesota with the diagnosis of puerperal insanity and died there a number of years later, never recovering her health enough to be released. Puerperal insanity was considered a form of postpartum psychosis at that time. It was an inexcusable way to diagnose what the male doctors thought to be a female hormonal unbalance, when in fact Anna had sepsis from infection. This story is yet another troubling example of women being seen as hysterical in regards to their mental health. In fact, the word hysterectomy comes from the Greek root word hystera. I cannot help but find correlations between this story and the way in which our new leadership has spoken about women. After all of this time, the prejudice still remains.  

 

There is the Music of Heaven in all things and we have forgotten how to hear it until we sing.

Hildegard of Bingen

 

The divine feminine in each of us ushers in new life and exhibits great visionary ability. It is a power to be sure and one that should be passed down woman to woman, mother to daughter. As our ancestors did, teach your daughters their value beyond procreation. Teach them the beauty and strength of emotional intelligence and the force this brings to leadership. Teach them their worth, that no man should treat them as less than and teach them the incredible power of love as an actionable character trait.

 

Men may shy away from strong women, but that is not our concern. A strong man will know how to live, work and love in partnership with a strong woman, never belittling her and always supporting her as she does him. Women living in this way will have strong opinions and not be afraid to share them, while still embracing all the wonderful qualities that represent femininity.  A true balance of power and a beautiful display of male and female energy as it is meant to interplay. Our new leadership should take heed and know that the voices of women will continue to sing for as long as it takes to be heard.