Clare,
I spent an hour listening to a lecture on childhood sexual exploitation this afternoon…
I still have an hour more to get through.
It is truly disturbing to hear the statistics, theories, characteristics of the "consumers"…
It is all about failing to see the other as a human being.
I wouldn't treat an animal that violently…
why violate a young human?
The woman giving the lecture runs an agency that helps the victims…
she said they are branching out to help males and transgendered youth as well.
Why is this so ubiquitous?
Why don't we see any one as worthy unless they are white, middle aged males?
Most "consumers" are white, middle aged, married men with kids and a job…
but they are the ones that count…
theirs are the reputations worth protecting…
theirs are the lives that might be ruined if the truth were told.
I heard a news story about the Korean women asking for reparation and having no voice in the negotiations. Traumatized again and again.
Women's lives don't matter…
unless, maybe you are the mother or sister of one of those middle aged, white males…
wait, no- even that's not protective.
The laws are improving. Being caught with a sexually exploited child carries the same punishments as pimping them…at least that's a step in the right direction.
I am not sure I'd like to live in the tropics…
I love the seasons…
I could live without air-conditioning though…
it gives me headaches.
I'd love for youth share more books…
I'm working hard right now to put this course together…
but once that's done I will have time for reading again.
Love and Light beautiful sister,
Maggie
Monday, January 4, 2016
woman-trash
Hi Maggie,
Daniel Quinn is a favorite. I read Ishmael years ago, and have read it at least twice. I have another of his books here I will share with you. I need to send your Christmas gift which has now become a birthday gift, which will be late. We are having white out conditions on slippery roads. Nothing got done today.
The book I'll share is The Story of B, and B is the blasphemer.
I will sort of undecorate later this week. It's only the Tenth Day of Christmas. We are still supposed to be celebrating.
It is cold. I know it was colder for longer last year. I know. But I still don't like this. I look forward to global warming. I was thinking about how much less heat we will need, which will be a great saving of resources. Now we just have to train people to stop turning the air conditioning so low in the summer. I hate going into the grocery store in July. I need a sweater to go inside. Then, some days, when I walk back out, I walk into a wall of heat. It is awful.
I know I've mentioned this before, but Earth is a tropical planet in her natural state. When she returns to her natural state, we'll be able to just live...no more heating and cooling. We can just live - and maybe garden year round. And get used to green Christmas - if there is even a Christmas.
I just watched a short video of a very emotional, older Korean woman trying to ask a government official why he accepted reparation and apologies from Japan on her behalf without talking to her or any of the other women who were forced into sexual slavery to service Japanese soldiers during the war. She reminded him that these women, she and her fellow slaves, were all still here, ready to be witnesses to what happened. He was trying to get her to sit down and listen, but he was not listening.He was just smiling and waiting for an opening so he could get her to sit.
She was just a women, another hunk of meat to be used as needed.
She asked if he ignored her because she was a woman? Because she was old? Because she was not educated?
I felt sick. I felt sick for these women, and for this system that makes men feel they deserve anything they want to rape...then not think of themselves as rapists. They think of themselves as men, although they have just betrayed their own humanity, and are truly less than men.
More mental illness, I think...
Something for me to think on...
Read another article also, discussing the huge amount of sexual abuse that happens in military families..
More to think on...
Love and hugs from Clare
Daniel Quinn is a favorite. I read Ishmael years ago, and have read it at least twice. I have another of his books here I will share with you. I need to send your Christmas gift which has now become a birthday gift, which will be late. We are having white out conditions on slippery roads. Nothing got done today.
The book I'll share is The Story of B, and B is the blasphemer.
I will sort of undecorate later this week. It's only the Tenth Day of Christmas. We are still supposed to be celebrating.
It is cold. I know it was colder for longer last year. I know. But I still don't like this. I look forward to global warming. I was thinking about how much less heat we will need, which will be a great saving of resources. Now we just have to train people to stop turning the air conditioning so low in the summer. I hate going into the grocery store in July. I need a sweater to go inside. Then, some days, when I walk back out, I walk into a wall of heat. It is awful.
I know I've mentioned this before, but Earth is a tropical planet in her natural state. When she returns to her natural state, we'll be able to just live...no more heating and cooling. We can just live - and maybe garden year round. And get used to green Christmas - if there is even a Christmas.
I just watched a short video of a very emotional, older Korean woman trying to ask a government official why he accepted reparation and apologies from Japan on her behalf without talking to her or any of the other women who were forced into sexual slavery to service Japanese soldiers during the war. She reminded him that these women, she and her fellow slaves, were all still here, ready to be witnesses to what happened. He was trying to get her to sit down and listen, but he was not listening.He was just smiling and waiting for an opening so he could get her to sit.
She was just a women, another hunk of meat to be used as needed.
She asked if he ignored her because she was a woman? Because she was old? Because she was not educated?
I felt sick. I felt sick for these women, and for this system that makes men feel they deserve anything they want to rape...then not think of themselves as rapists. They think of themselves as men, although they have just betrayed their own humanity, and are truly less than men.
More mental illness, I think...
Something for me to think on...
Read another article also, discussing the huge amount of sexual abuse that happens in military families..
More to think on...
Love and hugs from Clare
Sunday, January 3, 2016
overdone
Clare,
I agree that stereotypical name calling and assumptions are the result of mental illness…
I also know it is fear based…
easily creating other in one word.
I hate when I hear those derogative words being spoken freely…
it immediately makes me uncomfortable.
I am reading a book called Ishmael…
it's about a teacher and a student.
the teacher is a gorilla…
the student, a middle aged man who water to change the world when he was a younger man.
The lesson is connection to the world and each other…
it is powerful…
it needs to be read…
the copyright is 1992.
How do these things escape us? or me?
I'm glad I'm reading it now.
I may suggest it to meeting as their next book selection.
I'm not feeling too well tonight…
queasy…
tired…
overdone.
I un-decorated my house today. That's always a sad day for me. The "magic" is over.
I like my stuff back out though…
it's comfortable…
and familiar.
I'll check back tomorrow.
Love and Light beautiful sister.
Maggie
I agree that stereotypical name calling and assumptions are the result of mental illness…
I also know it is fear based…
easily creating other in one word.
I hate when I hear those derogative words being spoken freely…
it immediately makes me uncomfortable.
I am reading a book called Ishmael…
it's about a teacher and a student.
the teacher is a gorilla…
the student, a middle aged man who water to change the world when he was a younger man.
The lesson is connection to the world and each other…
it is powerful…
it needs to be read…
the copyright is 1992.
How do these things escape us? or me?
I'm glad I'm reading it now.
I may suggest it to meeting as their next book selection.
I'm not feeling too well tonight…
queasy…
tired…
overdone.
I un-decorated my house today. That's always a sad day for me. The "magic" is over.
I like my stuff back out though…
it's comfortable…
and familiar.
I'll check back tomorrow.
Love and Light beautiful sister.
Maggie
N-word
Hi Maggie,
I moved and stacked wood for about an hour today. I feel it in my thighs, in my abs. I forget to go outside sometimes. I forget that I need to go outside - psychologically and emotionally almost as much as physically. While I was outside, I was completely surrounded by raucous sounds that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Finally, I looked up and there was an immense V of Canadian geese moving south. Somehow they knew there was a really cold front coming tonight, and they are moving. I know because of the Weather Underground. I wonder how they know. S#5 told me that the cherries are blossoming near DC. I read that an air mass moved across us, and up over the Arctic. The air mass is 50 degrees higher than the normal temperature. Some scientists predicted that would melt the polar caps. We have crazy flooding in the midwest, snow storms in the southwest. This week I read that the Earth was hit by a solar flare. If it had been one magnitude higher, we all- all of us, on the whole planet, we all would have lost electricity.
Then I started reading a Native American prophecy. It said this change is going to be remorseless, but cleansing.
So all we can do is relax, hold on and love everyone and everything as hard as we possibly can.
I watched a video that also shook me. There was a photojournalist documenting the work of a group of activists working to educate everyone about fracking. This big white guy, probably in his mid-30s, wanted to go make fun of the hippy-dippies. Then he saw this photojournalist, who was not only black, but had dreadies. He began to tell the photographer that he was the root of our problems, his taking things from us. He called him names and made monkey sounds at him. The photojournalist very calmly continued filming the young white man. Because no one was standing up to him, he just kept going on. And on. And on...
The video has been posted, and the white man, who was identified, lost his job. He was forced to apologize to the photojournalist.
I was shocked by the depth of the white man's fear and ignorance.
I'm not sure if losing his job was the best solution, although if I were an employer, I certainly would not want an employee this rude and mean and ignorant. But losing his job - I think the white guy will feel even more put down by the scary people who look different than him. It may make his mental illness go deeper. This was a chance to maybe transform thinking...
We all need to take AVP!
One seriously strong thought came to me, though. Nigger is not about the color of skin. (I am so afraid to write and say that word. I'd rather FUCK! Mom did well!) Nigger is about mental illness. Anyone who uses this word is displaying a serious symptom of a mental illness, and they need treatment.
Unless, of course, it is someone disempowering the word by making it their own.
Back to my quiet Sunday afternoon, with no one in my house...ahhhhhhhh...the dogs are asleep...ahhhh...and so are the cats. We're hunkered down, waiting for the bad weather to arive!
Hope you are nestled in, too.
Love and hugs from Clare
I moved and stacked wood for about an hour today. I feel it in my thighs, in my abs. I forget to go outside sometimes. I forget that I need to go outside - psychologically and emotionally almost as much as physically. While I was outside, I was completely surrounded by raucous sounds that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Finally, I looked up and there was an immense V of Canadian geese moving south. Somehow they knew there was a really cold front coming tonight, and they are moving. I know because of the Weather Underground. I wonder how they know. S#5 told me that the cherries are blossoming near DC. I read that an air mass moved across us, and up over the Arctic. The air mass is 50 degrees higher than the normal temperature. Some scientists predicted that would melt the polar caps. We have crazy flooding in the midwest, snow storms in the southwest. This week I read that the Earth was hit by a solar flare. If it had been one magnitude higher, we all- all of us, on the whole planet, we all would have lost electricity.
Then I started reading a Native American prophecy. It said this change is going to be remorseless, but cleansing.
So all we can do is relax, hold on and love everyone and everything as hard as we possibly can.
I watched a video that also shook me. There was a photojournalist documenting the work of a group of activists working to educate everyone about fracking. This big white guy, probably in his mid-30s, wanted to go make fun of the hippy-dippies. Then he saw this photojournalist, who was not only black, but had dreadies. He began to tell the photographer that he was the root of our problems, his taking things from us. He called him names and made monkey sounds at him. The photojournalist very calmly continued filming the young white man. Because no one was standing up to him, he just kept going on. And on. And on...
The video has been posted, and the white man, who was identified, lost his job. He was forced to apologize to the photojournalist.
I was shocked by the depth of the white man's fear and ignorance.
I'm not sure if losing his job was the best solution, although if I were an employer, I certainly would not want an employee this rude and mean and ignorant. But losing his job - I think the white guy will feel even more put down by the scary people who look different than him. It may make his mental illness go deeper. This was a chance to maybe transform thinking...
We all need to take AVP!
One seriously strong thought came to me, though. Nigger is not about the color of skin. (I am so afraid to write and say that word. I'd rather FUCK! Mom did well!) Nigger is about mental illness. Anyone who uses this word is displaying a serious symptom of a mental illness, and they need treatment.
Unless, of course, it is someone disempowering the word by making it their own.
Back to my quiet Sunday afternoon, with no one in my house...ahhhhhhhh...the dogs are asleep...ahhhh...and so are the cats. We're hunkered down, waiting for the bad weather to arive!
Hope you are nestled in, too.
Love and hugs from Clare
Saturday, January 2, 2016
trust-n-love-n-faith
Hi Maggie,
I love the deep, deep wisdom in recognizing that the answer is simple, but not easy. It always comes back down, to me, to taking that step through fear. That seems to be the essence of trust. Walking up to that palpable, but invisible, wall of fear, then stepping through it.
You are also absolutely correct that trust goes both ways. Understanding that is absolutely loving and accepting...
It's sort of hitting me that trust and love are connected. (I mean, I knew that, but it seems that I am seeing the connection from a different perspective.) Maybe love is the outward symptom of inward trust...maybe. And both are the opposite of fear. Kind of crazy to think about it like this.
I honor your husband for considering this so carefully. Taking responsibility for two more kids, kids who have been hurt - that's big. But it's doable.
And maybe this will melt him a little, let him enjoy a life run amuck...or more deeply - it will get him out of his fifth chakra, where we only feel safe is we are in control. And get into the sixth chakra, the green chakra, where we float down the river of life in faith that we are fine.
I am wandering around the house looking for chocolate. Unfortunately, when I went to the store, I bought kale. And Swiss chard. And a rutabaga.
Writing this morning, and my youngest called and asked if I wanted to go have lunch with her. Yes! But the writing was actually going well. Two days ago I opened the document, and stared at it. Then finally I ordered myself to write just one sentence. Good grief, it can be changed later. Then I went to bed, and in the dark, I knew what to do next.
I like that!!
Do you have resolutions?
Love and hugs from Clare
I love the deep, deep wisdom in recognizing that the answer is simple, but not easy. It always comes back down, to me, to taking that step through fear. That seems to be the essence of trust. Walking up to that palpable, but invisible, wall of fear, then stepping through it.
You are also absolutely correct that trust goes both ways. Understanding that is absolutely loving and accepting...
It's sort of hitting me that trust and love are connected. (I mean, I knew that, but it seems that I am seeing the connection from a different perspective.) Maybe love is the outward symptom of inward trust...maybe. And both are the opposite of fear. Kind of crazy to think about it like this.
I honor your husband for considering this so carefully. Taking responsibility for two more kids, kids who have been hurt - that's big. But it's doable.
And maybe this will melt him a little, let him enjoy a life run amuck...or more deeply - it will get him out of his fifth chakra, where we only feel safe is we are in control. And get into the sixth chakra, the green chakra, where we float down the river of life in faith that we are fine.
I am wandering around the house looking for chocolate. Unfortunately, when I went to the store, I bought kale. And Swiss chard. And a rutabaga.
Writing this morning, and my youngest called and asked if I wanted to go have lunch with her. Yes! But the writing was actually going well. Two days ago I opened the document, and stared at it. Then finally I ordered myself to write just one sentence. Good grief, it can be changed later. Then I went to bed, and in the dark, I knew what to do next.
I like that!!
Do you have resolutions?
Love and hugs from Clare
trust
Clare,
My New Year's Eve was pretty quiet and challenging.
Husband came home from work in a very difficult mood. He is overwhelmed by life right now…
hospital takeovers…
financial concerns…
potential retirements of colleagues...
raising our kids…
fostering 2 other kids.
I listened as he spoke and could only come up with one word…
Trust.
I asked him to trust that the divine universe was leading and all we have to do is follow.
He has so much discomfort with letting go of control.
It is out of his comfort zone.
I see him struggle…
and yet the answer is simple…
but never easy…
Trust
We had the young men over yesterday. It was comfortable…they fit in nicely here.
And yet, I kept judging what I thought his thoughts were minute by minute.
I had to let it go and ask for trust in husband…
trust…
it goes both ways.
Love and Light beautiful sister,
Maggie
My New Year's Eve was pretty quiet and challenging.
Husband came home from work in a very difficult mood. He is overwhelmed by life right now…
hospital takeovers…
financial concerns…
potential retirements of colleagues...
raising our kids…
fostering 2 other kids.
I listened as he spoke and could only come up with one word…
Trust.
I asked him to trust that the divine universe was leading and all we have to do is follow.
He has so much discomfort with letting go of control.
It is out of his comfort zone.
I see him struggle…
and yet the answer is simple…
but never easy…
Trust
We had the young men over yesterday. It was comfortable…they fit in nicely here.
And yet, I kept judging what I thought his thoughts were minute by minute.
I had to let it go and ask for trust in husband…
trust…
it goes both ways.
Love and Light beautiful sister,
Maggie
Friday, January 1, 2016
Yes!
Happy New Year Little Sister!
Last night ended up being just me and my youngest granddaughter, tacos and Doc McStuffin. She fell asleep and I read. I was asleep when the year changed.
Such an exciting life I lead. Actually, my life is always full of little points of magic.
I am still reading Carry On, Warrior. I am still thinking about being Shameless. That word in so powerful, intriguing - it needs to be capitalized.
But the other word I have been yanking around is "Warrior". I have no interest in being a warrior. Who am I at war with? Myself? Is that the relationship I want with myself? I have actually been trying to purge my everyday vocabulary of all military words. I don't want to fight, battle, attack, shoot, conquer, wipe out...I don't want to have enemies.
I am so tired of defining every situation in terms of a winner and a loser. I have complained so much about stories like Narnia and Harry Potter and Star Wars. Each teaches us that violence is the way to peace. But my oldest son, a major Star Wars fan recently opened my eyes a bit...I have only seen the original trilogy, which is actually the middle part of the story. I have not felt much draw to watching the initial part of the story. My son acknowledged that the first part of the story can be a little silly, but that it is important to understand the story of Annikin Skywalker, and to see his turn to the dark side, then ultimate redemption. And suddenly I saw it...all the battles on screen - they are just the old cowboy shoot-em-ups, the good guys win because, well, they're good. The true battle was the battle for Darth Vader's soul. And that was won by the Light. Violence is not the way to peace- Love is.
Now I'm interested. I know all the "collateral damage" caused by the fight for Darth's soul will continue to bother me...
S#3 did not come to visit. I guess she decided not to say Yes! I'm wondering how deeply I can embrace Yes this year.
I am working on my book...That's a Yes!
I social media-ed with a young woman I knew as a toddler this morning. We're going to mutually support our book writing efforts this year. That was a really nice start to 2016.
I had a crazy dream last night. I have been dreaming about a man about once a week for the past few weeks. Last night when the dream seemed to begin, I was partly in this house, partly in the house from when my kids were young. The couch from my office was there, and my dog had five puppies, and all were under the couch. My ex sort of looked under the couch and commented on puppies. I have forgotten about them, and suddenly wondered if they were being fed. I worried about their socialization, so I got them out and started handling them. Two were gold, three were black. Then I was having a conversation with the recurring man about two bands that were playing nearby. Next thing I knew we were in a bathroom, standing in front of a mirror. He came up behind me, rested his chin on top of my head and wrapped his arms around me. I was filled with joy. We just stood there and looked at ourselves, very quietly, for several moments. Then there was something about a message from his mother. He left. The same two bands we had discussed were playing there - wherever he went...
I looked in a dream dictionary. Mirrors have to do with contemplation and character change. Puppies have to do with recapturing the playful side of self. A bathroom had to do with instinctual urges and self renewal. An embrace may mean the need for more love or to show more love.
Felt like an important dream for the beginning of this year. This year of yes!!
Love and hugs from Clare
Last night ended up being just me and my youngest granddaughter, tacos and Doc McStuffin. She fell asleep and I read. I was asleep when the year changed.
Such an exciting life I lead. Actually, my life is always full of little points of magic.
I am still reading Carry On, Warrior. I am still thinking about being Shameless. That word in so powerful, intriguing - it needs to be capitalized.
But the other word I have been yanking around is "Warrior". I have no interest in being a warrior. Who am I at war with? Myself? Is that the relationship I want with myself? I have actually been trying to purge my everyday vocabulary of all military words. I don't want to fight, battle, attack, shoot, conquer, wipe out...I don't want to have enemies.
I am so tired of defining every situation in terms of a winner and a loser. I have complained so much about stories like Narnia and Harry Potter and Star Wars. Each teaches us that violence is the way to peace. But my oldest son, a major Star Wars fan recently opened my eyes a bit...I have only seen the original trilogy, which is actually the middle part of the story. I have not felt much draw to watching the initial part of the story. My son acknowledged that the first part of the story can be a little silly, but that it is important to understand the story of Annikin Skywalker, and to see his turn to the dark side, then ultimate redemption. And suddenly I saw it...all the battles on screen - they are just the old cowboy shoot-em-ups, the good guys win because, well, they're good. The true battle was the battle for Darth Vader's soul. And that was won by the Light. Violence is not the way to peace- Love is.
Now I'm interested. I know all the "collateral damage" caused by the fight for Darth's soul will continue to bother me...
S#3 did not come to visit. I guess she decided not to say Yes! I'm wondering how deeply I can embrace Yes this year.
I am working on my book...That's a Yes!
I social media-ed with a young woman I knew as a toddler this morning. We're going to mutually support our book writing efforts this year. That was a really nice start to 2016.
I had a crazy dream last night. I have been dreaming about a man about once a week for the past few weeks. Last night when the dream seemed to begin, I was partly in this house, partly in the house from when my kids were young. The couch from my office was there, and my dog had five puppies, and all were under the couch. My ex sort of looked under the couch and commented on puppies. I have forgotten about them, and suddenly wondered if they were being fed. I worried about their socialization, so I got them out and started handling them. Two were gold, three were black. Then I was having a conversation with the recurring man about two bands that were playing nearby. Next thing I knew we were in a bathroom, standing in front of a mirror. He came up behind me, rested his chin on top of my head and wrapped his arms around me. I was filled with joy. We just stood there and looked at ourselves, very quietly, for several moments. Then there was something about a message from his mother. He left. The same two bands we had discussed were playing there - wherever he went...
I looked in a dream dictionary. Mirrors have to do with contemplation and character change. Puppies have to do with recapturing the playful side of self. A bathroom had to do with instinctual urges and self renewal. An embrace may mean the need for more love or to show more love.
Felt like an important dream for the beginning of this year. This year of yes!!
Love and hugs from Clare
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