She Speaks

The Quarterly Newsletter by and for the Members of UUWomenspirit

Mid Winter 2017

Intentional Interference

It seems as though the setting of intentions has become a com-

mon practice almost everywhere I go these days. I have been to yoga

classes where we were instructed to set an intention for the next 90

minutes of the class. I have been to workshops where we wrote our in-

tentions on small pieces of paper and rolled them into sheets of bees-

wax, creating an “intention candle” that would send my intentions out

to the universe as the candle slowly burned here on earth. I have set

intentions to practice my frame drum more often, to walk my dogs more

frequently, to go to bed earlier…the list goes on and on. And if it isn’t

too presumptuous of me, I would render a guess that anyone reading

this essay has set just as many intentions, if not more, than I have.

But…how many of us can say, with any degree of confidence, we

have actually followed through on the intentions we set for ourselves?

How many times have we, with all of the heartfelt resolve we can mus-

ter, actually witnessed our intentions manifest themselves into being?

If my experience is any indicator, you are lucky if you have 20% of your

intentions come to fruition. Most of the time, all of our sincere desires

to see our intentions come into being are derailed by something. If we

think about it, sometimes we can determine the cause …perhaps a lack

of time or resources is the sneaky culprit. But what if the culprit is

something else, something we just can’t quite put our finger on?

Perhaps the culprit is something in your past that is holding you

back, something that is preventing you from moving forward and bring-

ing your intentions into being. And the bummer of the whole thing is

this…the things that are holding you back may be in your subconscious

and you have no idea they are sabotaging you in the present, acting as

unseen roadblocks for your current intentions.

Continued on Page 2

Contributors:

Sam Bauerle, Sharon Ben-

nett, Tarleton Brooks, Chris-

tine Grewcock, Nancy Hag-

man, Linda Myers, Judy

Padgett and Lisa Sherman

Inside this Issue:

Celebrating the 4

Season—Imbolc

News from the 6

Coordinating Council

Spring 2017 Event 9

Fall 2017 Event 12

Our Web of 13

Community

Our Healing Circle 16 Of Support

Voices of our 17

Community

She Speaks Page 2

But fear not! There is a simple exercise you can do to help clear out past stuff, negative

as well as positive, that could be interfering with your ability to put your current intentions into

being. The practice is known as “recapitulation”, and is a formal review of the greatest hits and

misses in your recent past. The process of recapitulation can be done by anyone at any time.

All you need is a few sheets of paper, a writing utensil, and a few free minutes where you will be

uninterrupted and in the right frame of mind. This exercise can be done alone, or with a group

of trusted people.

Here is the idea…take as much time as you need and think about the events that have

transpired in the recent past…the good, the bad and the ugly; the highs and the lows; the

things that went well and the things that didn’t; the random acts of kindness you performed,

and the unkind words you said about a co-worker; the opportunities you didn’t take advantage

of, and the heart-warming events that brought you joy. Write all of this stuff down on your

sheets of paper, taking as much time as you need. Be sure you are in a place mentally where

you are comfortable reflecting on the items on your list without being unduly harsh on yourself,

try to justify your actions, or place blame on others. It is crucial to be in a mindset of self-

acceptance when you do this.

When you feel your list is complete, if you are by yourself, read your list aloud and hear

your voice speak your truths. If you are in a group with people you trust, share a couple of

items from your list and listen as others in your group share their truths with you. The idea is

to bring to the forefront anything that could be holding you back from moving forward with your

current intentions.

After you have completed your list and spoken your truths, destroy your list in any way

that is meaningful to you. You can tear it up, put it in the shredder, or burn it in your back-

yard. Any mode of destruction will do. Just be sure your list is destroyed, because you don’t

want to read your list at a later time and continue to dredge up the same things again and

again. This recapitulation exercise need not wait until any specific time of year, and can be done

as often as you find helpful. After you have completed this exercise, set your intentions and see

if you have greater success with your intentions coming into being.

Continued on Page 3

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I first started recapitulating on New Years Eve in 2012, and after some gentle convincing

my husband (who shuns anything that could be even remotely perceived as “touchy-feely”) be-

grudgingly agreed to participate. It turned out to be a great experience, and it is now one of

our New Years traditions. I have also found the intentions I set after having gone through reca-

pitulation tend to be more successful than without having first gone through the process of

bringing awareness to my past.

One of my favorite teachers, Sally Kempton, describes the process of recapitulation in

this way:

The miracle of recapitulation is that it creates a current self-awareness that can bring transformation all by itself…As you acknowledge your accomplishments and admit your mistakes, you not only have a chance to learn from the events and actions of your life, but you also have the opportunity to free yourself of the emotional residue attached to them.

We are now at Imbolc, the point on the Wheel of the Year when ideas are germinating, thoughts

are percolating and our very beings are teeming with possibilities and potential. At this special

time of the year, consider participating in your own recapitulation exercise and see if it frees

you up to set your current intentions in motion. May it be so.

Namaste,

Lisa C. Sherman

Editor

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Celebrating the Season—Honoring Mid Winter/Imbolc/February 2nd

Editor’s Note: In 2017, we will explore the cross quarter days and their energetic vibrations through dif-

ferent rituals and divination tools.

February 2nd, also known as Imbolc, Candlemas and Mid Winter, marks the point on

the Wheel of the Year midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. We are

still held deep within winter’s grasp, enveloping us with the cold and the darkness that is the

hallmark of the season. At Imbolc, though, we are reminded that our current situation is tem-

porary; that spring and the earth’s awakening are just a few short weeks away.

If we take the time to pay attention to our present surroundings, we notice the subtle

clues the earth reveals to those who honor her. The days are a little longer than they were at

the Winter Solstice, and the sun is rising a little higher in the sky. Depending on where you

live, certain plants such as crocus and snow drops, may be making an appearance in your local

park or garden. Indeed, the earth is beginning to wake from her winter slumber, although per-

haps not as quickly as some of us would like!

The word Imbolc in Gaelic means “in the belly”, and is a time of inspiration and hope.

The winter has forced us to slow down, to stay inside and take inventory of our lives. Imbolc is

a time of emergence, an opportunity to explore new ideas and make plans to bring your ideas

and dreams into reality. It is a time to explore what nurtures our souls and let go of things

that no longer serve us. It is a time to clear away anything that weighs us down, holds us back

and stands in our way of living our best lives.

An examination of celebratory practices of the solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter

days over the past centuries reveal that many cultures utilized large bonfires as an integral

part of their celebrations. It wasn’t a party unless there was a big fire. The one exception to

this was Imbolc. The ancients represented this cross quarter day with a much more subtle and

seasonally appropriate representation of the energy at Mid Winter—a single candle. The can-

dle represents the spark of inspiration, the light at the end of winter’s tunnel, the hope that

spring will return and the earth will wake once again from her slumber.

Simple Ways to Honor Imbolc

There is a common misperception that Wheel of the Year celebrations must be elaborate

and involved in order to appropriately honor the season. I personally do not think this is true;

even for those who lead very busy lives and have little time for spiritual practices, there are a

few simple things you can to do tap into the energies of Imbolc and feel the inspirational vibra-

tions that abound during this time of year.

Colors that correspond to Imbolc are pink, light green, yellow and white; if you have any

clothes that are these colors, wear them on Imbolc. If you own any amethyst jewelry, wear it

to attract Imbolc-associated energies of beginnings, change and transformation. If you have

any candles in your home, use them rather than electricity...even if only for a few minutes.

Scents that correspond to Imbolc are cedar, peppermint, basil and cinnamon; burn incense or

Continued on Page 5

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Celebrating the Season—Honoring Mid Winter/Imbolc/February 2nd cont.

infuse your space with essential oils with these scents. You can also use any objects that repre-

sent inspiration and emergence to you. The idea is to find simple ways to honor the season in a

manner that is meaningful to you.

Single Candle Ritual

If you have additional time, try this candle

ritual to invoke the inspirational energy of Im-

bolc. All you need is a candle and a place where

you will be uninterrupted for a few minutes.

This ritual is ideally performed in the

dark after the sun has set. Find a quiet, dark

room, turn out the lights and sit comfortably in

the darkness for several minutes. Quiet your

mind of any distractions and allow your breath

to be slow, deep and intentional. Feel the quiet

darkness permeate your skin and sit deep within

your soul.

After a few minutes, light your candle, but

continue to breathe deeply and keep your mind

clear. Gaze into the flame and notice how this

little flame casts a warm, beautiful glow in your

space.

Continue to gaze into the flame and allow

its glow to come into your being; visualize this

glow as a symbol of inspiration, of new ideas, of

potential. Sit with your candle for the next sev-

eral minutes and ask yourself what new things,

ideas, projects or hobbies are of interest to you

but for whatever reason you have never pur-

sued...don’t judge any thoughts that come to

your mind, simply allow these thoughts to arise

from your subconscious…

When you are ready, give thanks to your

candle and gently extinguish its flame. Another

option is to allow the candle to burn until it goes

out on its own (only do this if you have taken ap-

propriate safety precautions) to more firmly cement your ideas and help bring them to fruition.

Take a moment in gratitude for the season and honor all of the potential that resides within

you.

News From the Coordinating Council

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The Coordinating Council, or CoCo, is the governing body of UUWomenspirit. The current members of the CoCo

are Lisa Sherman (Marketing and Outreach Coordinator), Christine Grewcock (Membership Chair/Registrar),

Gloria Hausser (Volunteer Coordinator), Nancy Hagman (Program Resource Liaison), Sue Hand (Treasurer) and

Dale Cost (Scribe).

From Lisa Sherman, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator:

The CoCo’s Winter Meeting will be held at The Mountain over the weekend of February

17-19, 2017. If there are any topics you would like the CoCo to discuss, please send your sug-

gestions to any CoCo member. You may contact any CoCo member directly, or through the

“Contact Us” option on our website, www.uuwomenspirit.org.

One big change you need to be aware of in 2017 concerns the payment of membership

dues. Membership dues can no longer be paid during registration for events and must be paid

either on-line via PayPal or by check. The reason for this change is to simplify event registra-

tion and increase the portion of dues payments that go to support the organization. The second

change is that membership in the organization is no longer required to attend our events. In-

stead, members will receive a discounted rate to attend events. If you want to take advantage

of the discounted rate to attend an event, be sure to pay your dues as soon as possible to avoid

delays in registration.

As most of you know, Liz Kuemmerer rolled onto the CoCo in mid-2016 to replace Judy

Padgett as the Program Resource Liaison (PRL). Unfortunately for us, Liz also accepted a new

job around the same time that proved to be more time-consuming than she anticipated. After

trying to do both jobs and in addition to juggling the many other responsibilities on her plate,

Liz had to make the difficult decision to step down as our PRL in November 2016. We are

grateful for Liz’s contributions to the organization and we look forward to her continued in-

volvement in our organization as her schedule allows.

UUWomenspirit is made up of so many dynamic women who are willing to share their

time and talents with our organization as needs arise. The CoCo is thrilled to report that Nan-

cy Hagman has graciously agreed to serve out the remaining 2 1/2 years of Liz’s term as the

PRL. Many of you may know Nancy through her many years of involvement with UUWomen-

spirit; Nancy served as the Event Coordinator for our 25th Anniversary Event in Spring 2012,

served as Emcee for Cabaret, and has been our Chaplain at many events over the past several

years. Nancy brings to the role of PRL her knowledge of the organization, in addition to her

strong communication and organizational skills, not to mention her ability to see the big pic-

ture and her unwavering sense of humor. We look forward to serving with Nancy as we work

toward the continued development and growth of our organization.

2017 is a big year for UUWomenspirit. As many of you know, this year we celebrate our

30th anniversary! It is rare for an organization made up solely of volunteers to survive even a

Continued on Page 7

News From the Coordinating Council

She Speaks Page 7

From Lisa Sherman, cont.:

few years. The fact that UUWomenspirit is still strong and viable is a testament to the dedica-

tion and tenacity of so many women over our three decades of existence. Particularly in the

times we are in where so much anger, distrust and unkindness permeates our culture and the

media, UUWomenspirit remains a place where women can explore their spirituality, develop

new skills and connect with other women on the path of the Divine Feminine in a safe and sup-

portive environment. For so many women, UUWomenspirit has been a safe haven, a place to

nourish and rejuvenate our souls.

Our 30th Anniversary Event is not one to be missed! The theme for this event, Ancient

Whispers: A Pilgrimage to Women’s Mysteries, reconnects on the deepest of levels to the inspi-

ration of our founding mothers. During this event, we will explore and reclaim the Divine Fem-

inine in her many aspects … the aspects that thrived in ancient cultures before the patriarchy

silenced the women and their power, and those that survived covertly and were passed from

woman to woman despite the patriarchy’s efforts to quash them.

The Planning Committee is comprised of six amazingly talented women who are plan-

ning an incredible event for us. The brochure will be available in late February or early March

on our website, www.uuwomenspirit.org wherein you will find the details of this wonderful

event. Be sure to register early to have a better chance of getting in your first choice of tracks

and workshops. We hope to see all of you in May as we gather in joy to celebrate our beloved

organization, the Divine Feminine and each other.

News From the Coordinating Council

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From Nancy Hagman, Program Resource Liaison

Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of attending UUWomenspirit at The

Mountain. Each UUWomenspirit event energized me and allowed me to explore areas of myself

that I only dreamed about. At times, I have been able to touch the deep crevices of my soul as

well as experience a well received welcome for my more playful and comical side. During this

journey inward, I experimented with a very loving, nonjudgmental audience. UUWomenspirit

has provided the forum for my own personal, emotional, and professional development with un-

conditional love. For that, I am thankful for everyone that came before and during my time, set-

ting the foundation for my rich experiences.

In the past, I have been able to give back in some small ways. However, I have now been

accepted as a CoCo member and hope to be able to continue contributing to the ongoing, evolv-

ing organization in another way. I am enthusiastic to be serving as the Program Resource Liai-

son for the next two and a half years. There are large footprints behind me with Judy Padgett

and Liz Kuemmerer leading the way for successful leadership in supporting the Fall and Spring

Planning Committees. I look forward to continuing the open communication and gaining new

relationships with planning committee members.

So...this Spring we are looking forward to a wonderful event for our 30th year. Judy

Padgett (Event Coordinator) and her team have been making plans and are preparing for an

exciting time together, guiding us through the rich pilgrimages of women and Goddesses. In the

Fall we will be able to experience another enriching event with Sam (Shannon) Inman-Bauerle

as the Event Coordinator. Sam and her committee are already underway in making plans for

the event. (See more information in this newsletter.)

See you there,

Namaste, Nancy

Spring Event—May 17-21, 2017

She Speaks Page 9

From Judy Padgett:

YOU’RE INVITED!

Ancient Whispers:

A Pilgrimage to Women’s Mysteries A Special 30th Anniversary

Unitarian Universalist Womenspirit Spring Event

May 17-21, 2017

Artwork by Kathy Kemerait

We hope by now that you are starting to make plans to join us for our 30th Anniversary

Event in May. 30 YEARS!! INCREDIBLE!! If you haven’t been to an event in a while, this

will be the perfect time to come back, see some old friends and meet some of our newest

Continued on Page 10

A reunion and a

journey through time and place to

remember our sacred heritage and revive

the rich mysteries of our inner being.

Spring Event—May 17-21, 2017

She Speaks Page 10

members. Through worship, tracks, workshops and activities we will embark on a journey to-

gether to rediscover and remember those sacred mysteries and that sacred knowledge

which brought us together in the beginning. Of course, we will gather at The Mountain, near

Highlands, NC, so we also celebrate our 30-year relationship with this special place. We have

some wonderful offerings in store for you, some of which will be revealed when registration

opens in early March and some of which will remain a mystery until they are revealed at the

event! Be intrigued by the following photos:

Continued on Page 11

Spring Event—May 17-21, 2017

She Speaks Page 11

Curious? Intrigued? You will only know if you bless us with your presence at the

event! See you there!

Here are some things you might want to think about in preparation for attending: Silent Auction – start collecting your gently used, women-centered items for our silent auction,

which benefits our scholarship fund.

Brigid’s Bazaar – think about selling your hand-crafted items or items from your woman-owned

business. 10% Sales Commission from the Bazaar goes to our General Operating Fund.

Photo display – Start digging out any photos you have from past events or of past members.

We’d like to display them.

Herstory – Bring or send anything you have to share which relates to the Herstory of UUWom-

enspirit.

Goddess Display – Bring your Goddess statues for a beautiful display of our sacred icons.

Planning Committee: Judy Padgett, Event Coordinator, Tracks and Workshops; Iris Padgett,

Sales and Activities; Kathy Kemerait, Scribe; Arianna Bara, Worship; Carole Eagleheart, Wor-

ship; Farrunnissa Rosa, Worship. Chaplain: Cynthia Stewart.

Fall Event—October 11-15, 2017

She Speaks Page 12

From Sam Bauerle:

Embodying the Goddess: Rise Up, Reclaim, and Embrace Your Power!

A strong woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely. Her tears flow just as abundantly as her laughter. A strong woman is both soft and powerful. She is both practical and spiritual. A strong woman in her essence is a gift to the world. – Ritu Ghatourey

This year the Divine Feminine comes into Her full shining power to create

positive change on the earth and in the universe. Now is the time too that

we all must embrace our own power and embody the Goddess. During

times of uncertainty and despair, the Goddess and Womyn have been the

ones to truly change everything they touch with compassion, intellect, and

strength.

For our Fall 2017 Event, we will explore the power we bring to this world when we engage all

we touch with the Power of the Goddess. Gaia herself is unleashing her mighty powers to sweep

away that which no longer serves us. We must be in service during these turbulent times, each

of us bringing our unique abilities as we aid in midwifing this evolution of energy.

Now is the time for us to examine and develop our strengths as individuals and as the collec-

tive.

Come stand tall in your Divine Feminine Power with your sisters! Come be in community, ritu-

al, and worship at our beloved Mountain. Let the Goddess remind us of who we really are. Al-

low Her to kindle our creative fire, and inspire us to action in every facet of our lives during this

time of planetary awakening.

We eagerly await your track/workshop proposals exploring the different aspects of power, inte-

grating passion into our lives, and using our power for change in our own lives and community.

Please email these to jodycoyody@gmail.com and sbauerle12@gmail.com.

Your Powerfully Devoted Planning Committee

Event Coordinator: Sam Bauerle

Scribes: Carole Dixon and Katie Bloedau

Tracks/Workshops: Jody Gundersen

Worship: Sharon Bennett and Cheryl Dent

Sales and Activities: Shauna Cunningham Ireland

Our Web of Community—News From Our Members

Page 13

From Sharon Bennett:

My Little Paradise

I love Hilton Head Island (HHI), S.C.! Since the first time I came here 30 years ago, I

have been in love with “my little paradise on earth.” I even have a bright orange t-shirt with

palmetto trees on it declaring, “Paradise Found: Hilton Head Island.” My husband and I have

a quarter-share here, which means we get to come here for two weeks every six weeks, or a

quarter of the year. HHI is my “home away from home.” I know it well and I treasure its nat-

ural beauty: the thick abundance of many different kinds of trees including lots of pine, palm,

and palmetto, the sand dunes that sprout tall sea oats, the white/beige beach, and the green,

brown, blue, calm Mother Ocean. I guess like so many people in love with favorite places, I

thought it would always be the same, at least during my lifetime. Then Hurricane Matthew

whirled its slow course up the east coast. Folks who live here on the island say that HHI has

not experienced a direct hit by a hurricane since 1959, until 3 weeks ago.

Our scheduled return to our condominium complex was delayed a week due to downed

trees and debris that had not yet been removed from the property. We were very anxious to

see how our little paradise had fared during the hurricane. We read the Island Packet news-

paper on-line every day and sought information from our complex’s management company.

We saw pictures of roads completely impassable due to trees and other debris. We saw pic-

tures of houses which had been damaged by fallen trees. We read about the floods, loss of

property, loss of electricity, water, and sewerage.

Finally, when we were allowed back onto the island and into our condo complex, I was

horrified at the loss of thousands of trees! There were stacks of trees piled on both sides of

roads; trees broken or bent over creeks, ponds, and lakes; trees broken off at the top, their re-

maining branches dangling; trees still leaning in the direction the mighty winds forced them.

I felt so sad for the loss and damage of so many living trees and plants! I felt like I was driv-

ing in a tree graveyard. The Native Americans called trees “The Standing People” and I

mourned their loss like that of close friends who shared their beauty and gifts of solace,

strength, shade, and protection. I thought about Judy Padgett, her love of trees, and the time

she took a group of us UUWomenspirit attendees to the Joyce Gilmer National Forest.

My first day on the beach, I walked around like I was in a daze. The beach was much

wider because the dunes had been pushed way back, almost right up against houses, board-

walks, and hotels. The dunes were now 6-8 feet high! The life guard told me that if the dunes

had not been there, all the houses on the beach would have flooded. The white/beige sand was

gone and in its place was dark grey hard sand that looked like it had been raped by the brute

force of the storm surge. Mother Ocean was just as calm as usual, but Her high tide only

Continued on Page 14

She Speaks Page 13

Our Web of Community—News From Our Members, continued

Page 14

reached about half-way up the beach compared to Her previous high tide limit. I moaned and

cried out to Mother Ocean and the Great Goddess of all creation, “I am so sad about the loss and

devastation of all these beautiful living things! Please heal this beautiful island, this beautiful

Mother Earth.” I received my answer: “All natural living things will heal. All will be well.”

Currently, the trees and debris are being cleaned up, businesses are open, people are

back to their normal routines, and new plants and flowers are being planted. Yes, I accept the

changes. Mother Nature has cleaned out Her garden. There are thousands of trees still stand-

ing, and by the time we return in December, all will be well. But to me, my little paradise is

changed forever. She changes everything She touches, and everything She touches, changes.

Blessed Be!

She Speaks Page 14

Our Web of Community—News From Our Members, continued

Page 15

From Christine Grewcock: Kiva Update

Using the money raised from Ba'alat's Bookstore (and additional donations), we continue

to make loans to women through Kiva (www.kiva.org). With funds from repaid loans, we were

able to fund another woman in January. Mrs. Hang in Vietnam (https://www.kiva.org/

lend/1222504) wants to purchase baby livestock cattle to raise and sell in the future.

If you want to read about the other women who have a current loan, they are Lina Paola

in Columbia (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1159871), Megala in India (https://www.kiva.org/

lend/1012454), Dominggas in Indonesia (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1037799), Abida Perveen in

Pakistan (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1070304), and Ayelatoe in Ghana (https://www.kiva.org/

lend/1099528).

I am trying to spread our support throughout the world. If you have a specific country

where you would like us to support a woman entrepreneur, please send us an email

at kiva@uuwomenspirit.org with your suggestions.

She Speaks Page 15

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Our Healing Circle of Support

We offer our love and support to our sisters in need

To Amy Regenbogan, on the death of her brother.

To Kathy Kemerait, as she recovers from a serious health condition.

To Nancy Mayer, on her mother’s declining health.

To Melody LaBaron, on her daughter’s health issues.

And to all our sisters who are facing injury, illness, loss, and the other challenges that life

throws our way, spoken and unspoken…

Voices of Our Community

Page 17

Editor’s note: The following is the final excerpt from Tarleton’s sermon “Dance as a Spiritual

Practice”. Please visit the Mid Spring, Mid Summer and Mid Autumn 2016 issues to view the

first three excerpts.

From Tarleton Brooks:

Dance as a Spiritual Practice

I want to go back to my mom’s little birthday party… afterward, mom & I were alone.

She asked me how my husband was doing ~something she did often because she seemed to re-

member that he was a detective.

This time I didn’t just say he was fine. I told her that he was a hero and that he worked

every day to protect our country. She was listening. I went on to say, you know mom, remem-

ber when I was young and you told me about the holocaust and the persecution of Christians

and other people of faith and slaughter of innocents all over the world… well it’s happening

worse than ever.

I thanked her for her faith, for her example, for teaching me to have the courage to stand

up … and thanked her for … dance. There was a very special look on her face. A week later she

died. After a long night, it was a full moon…at day break the moon was bright yellow in the sky

setting in the west and the sun coming up in the east was bright red, in the same sky, the moon

and the sun. And I heard music and saw my parents dancing ~their song.

Dance is a moving prayer—for life, for death, for this precious moment.

Years ago, I had a dream that I was dancing with a small group of sparkly-eyed people

from other worlds. We were all dressed in white and we danced around, not a circle, but a dark

rectangular shape in the ground. It sounds like a grave. But I knew this was not a grave but a

doorway or portal to another realm.

When I dance, I think of my own life ~and death, sometimes consciously but usually not.

It presents a sense of immediacy for me. Life is like a dance. It has a beginning, a middle, and

an end. How do we dance our life?

Continued on Page 18

She Speaks Page 17

The following are offerings from our creative sisters

Voices of Our Community, continued

Page 18

From Tarleton Brooks, cont.

Do we passively shuffle around to a tune we don’t really care about? Do we just sit it

out? Or do we get up and dance like nobody’s watching? It is powerful when do it like you

mean it.

Dance is a simple but powerful act of prayerful intentional sacred gesture and move-

ment, and an act of defiance. We can dance all those things. Life’s beauty and darkness, as

well as the silence. And by doing this simple thing that is so natural to us as human beings on

the earth.

When we dance together we are like stars in a constellation connecting Heaven &

Earth, God & Goddess, Angels and Nature Beings and we send it out to a hurting world that

needs it as much as we do.

Let us pray.

She Speaks Page 18

Voices of Our Community, continued

Page 19

From Linda Myers:

Morning Prayer

She awakens from her slumber

Golden gown veiling star and moon

With rosy cheeks and bright eyes

The day breaks with new potential

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She Speaks is issued quarterly and is a publication of the UUWomenspirit community,

edited by Lisa Sherman. All UUWomenspirit members are encouraged to submit infor-

mation, events, and creative submissions to be included in an upcoming newsletter by

sending it to newsletter@uuwomenspirit.org. The views expressed by an individual con-

tributor are those of the contributor and are not necessarily the views of the organiza-

tion as a whole.

The mission of UUWomenspirit is to create, conduct, and support activities that en-

courage and empower women to explore their religious and spiritual origins, experienc-

es, and beliefs. Pursuing, nurturing, and affirming creativity and diversity are major

emphases. There is a strong commitment to developing the use of consensus as the

model for decision-making. Volunteers do all the work for UUWomenspirit. There are

no paid positions. Learn more about our community by going to our website:

www.uuwomenspirit.org.

Original photographs on pages 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 © 2017 Lisa C. Sherman