International Women's Day

I wanted to share my experience of the CSW meeting, which ran from February 23 to March 8th (International Women's Day) at the United Nations this year. From the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations: * International Women's Day (March 8) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This day is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. * When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. * International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This year's CSW at the United Nations ran from February 25th to March 7th * In celebration of this day, I wanted to offer to you a humble glimpse of my experience at the CSW related events I attended this year. These were circle gatherings around the 2010 Sophia World Women's Conference being planned for Bulgaria, receptions sponsored by the Sophia conference delegation and the Women Founders Collective, and the UN Crafts Fair. Being in the presence of many women, hundreds, thousands, from around the globe a rich, glorious array of skin tone, shapes and sizes, adorned in color, fabric, and design reflecting tribes and traditions from Indian to NY corporate, from African to western casual speaking in vocal tones, accents, and styles, reflecting a planetary panoply of sonic vibration all gathered to be together in a space of sharing experience, learning, advocating, and celebrating. This, in itself, was enough, was more than enough, filling my heart to the depths with tenderness, bursting my heart with delight and the simple comfort of belonging. Young, charming women from Uzbekistan selling handmade bedspreads and tablecloths fit for a queen, adorned with hand dyed, hand embroidered silk thread patterns of leaf and tendril and flower An American woman, in love with the Merasi artisans of India's Thar desert, selling their charming traditional crafts and recycled candy wrapper mandalas and promoting their U.S. concert tour Fatima, the unflagging Afghan-American woman, offering traditional rugs and jewelry, supporting dozens of goundbreaking projects for women and girls in her homeland Filipino women who work with the street prostitutes in their country, seeking ways of healing their broken hearts and abused bodies Women from Uganda and Bosnia and South Africa and Kenya and the Benin Republic and Switzerland and the Netherlands and America Men of good heart and clear minds, men who listen, men who value the strength of softness and silence and openness to the felt journey Being together, sitting in circle together, embracing unknown bodies, kissing fresh cheeks, partaking in this grand global gathering of touching feminine presence. Diplomats, business women and men, grass roots activists, nourishing the birthing of the 2010 conference in Sophia; gestating a UN sponsored 5th women's conference, perhaps in 2012. Whole Women Healing selling beautiful shawls, offering our Cloth of Compassion quilt proposal for the Sophia conference, promoting our participation in the "Making Way for the Feminine" conference, discussing a request for training in healing modalities for next year, re-connecting and exploring new connections, witnessing, embracing, listening, considering. And myself, feeling completely at home and in the wilderness simultaneously, treading on earth and dancing in space at the same time, holding unwavering confidence and "how in the world can I, we ever accomplish. . . in the same breath?", in union and alone, tears and laughter together. We move forward, strengthened in our interconnectedness, our ability to hold steady, our willingness to abide in uncertainty and loneliness, and our openness to celebrate in the pleasure and pain of this moment. May you take delight in your womanhood! Please feel free to be in touch if you want more information about the CSW and/or Whole Women Healing's programs, quilt project for the 2010 Sophia World Women's Conference, and planned trips to Colombia and India.