The Power of a Simple Smile...

As I ran arrands this morning, I was guided to go into the GoodWill in town.  I was grateful to find a number of Calvin Klein and Banana Republic Jeans that fit me, looked Fabulous and were less than $7a pair.

While I was waiting for the fitting room, I crossed paths with an older man who didn't look so happy.  I looked at him and smiled big.  In that moment I saw his heart unlock and the biggest smile I have ever seen poured from this man's face.  It was magical.  I was momentarily overwhelmed with joy at what has just happened. 

Next he began cracking jokes to his two friends that were behind him and they all started laughing!! I couldn't help but pick up on the vibration and giggle out loud myself.

By the time I had finished in the fitting room the man was in line waiting to check out.  He turned around as though he felt me coming and said, "Please, you go first!" with a GRAND SMILE!  I said, "Thank you!"  he began smiling and giggling again.

I paid for my jeans, turned to the man.  I said, "Have a beautiful day!" and he took off his hat, nodded and said,"And you Ma'am, keep smiling, you are a ray of sunshine!"

I said, "Thank you! I will!" and I floated out of the store.

It is quite amazing what one simple act can do...
I am not sure what was going on in that man's head or what he was dealing with, but I am sure that he is in much better spirits about it now and has even found a solution if there was a challenge. 

Life is good!!! SMILE! (It keeps 'em guessing!)

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree

Easy like Sunday Morning....

Good Morning!

Today is a beautiful day!  I am going to lounge all day!  BECAUSE I CAN!!!! 

Enjoy the magic of today!!!

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree

Words that want to flow... Paying Attention even more...

I am  so excited and amazed on a daily basis with the wisdom that I am remembering. 

I wrote a blog the other day about Paying attention and I have some expansion to do on this subject. Now that I am a college student I am learning how to "Pay Attention" again and to "Follow Directions."

I have to completely separate this experience from my high school experience because the motive at that time was to get out as fast as I could.  Now that I am actually dancing on a journey or self discovery, in an expansive career path, I am learning so much on many, many levels.

I have learned that I have become so accustomed to doing things my way that I would rather do it the hard way than read the instructions that are right in front of me.  The formula is there explaining each step like a math equation and I have been taking the more challenging way to get to the answer...

Following directions, such a simple idea right?  For those who have continued on the educational path this would be very effortless.  For someone who,without regret, has been in "spiritual college," or the "College of Life"it is a beautiful awareness to acknowledge. 

I have always known that there is SO much to learn.  I am grateful that I can now take a look at the formula's and perfect equations that are laid out for me in every area of my life.  I get to simply take the time to follow them and I will end up with the desired result.

Thank you!

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree

Menstruation in the Media - PMS = Power Made Sacred - An Essay for my College English Class

This Essay is about a Myth in society, my view on the myth and how I would change it if I could.

Enjoli Rountree

College English

Instructor, Sharon Coleman

19 August 2010

Menstration in the Media

PMS = Power Made Sacred

Menarche is defined as the occurrence of the first menstrual cycle. Imagine growing up as a young Woman and learning about the magic of your being. You grew up knowing that every detail of you, from your body to your thoughts, is perfect and serve a divine purpose. You were taught to love and take care of yourself at all times, especially before your monthly blessing. You were reminded daily by the Men and Woman in your family that you are beautiful and perfect just the way you are. As you grew out of adolescence into young woman-hood, you and the other Woman and Men in your family rejoiced in the celebration of your rite of passage as a Woman, Menarche.


The current media saturated reality of today’s young woman, entering her rite of passage, is that she will have a week of hell each month until she experiences “The Change,” also known as Menopause, in about Forty years. The image above is from the Tampax Tampon Website. The Image shows a Woman dressed in a very old fashion outfit from the 30’s or 40’s with a red present, wrapped in a pretty red bow, in her hands. You can see by the expression on her face that she doesn’t want her present. She doesn’t want her present! She can’t go swimming; she’ll have cramps, bloating, headaches and fatigue and she now has an excuse to be a complete bitch. The media makes women out to be disgusting and cruel during menstrual and pre-menstrual cycles. So the young women of today get to hide themselves during their menstrual cycle for fear that someone might find out and be disgusted. Most men will avoid a menstruating woman in disgust and see her as useless during this time since she is not in a position to have sexual intercourse. In the essay, “Fly Girls to Bitches and Ho’s,” Joan Morgan accurately states, “Clearly we are having a very difficult time loving one another.” I personally believe this is a result of a loss of love for ourselves.

The Native North American tribes regarded the menstrual cycle as an auspicious time for women. Upon her Moon Cycle, the Native woman would take a four day vacation so she may take care of herself. This also ensured a break for Women since they were always working even when Men are not. The woman would also refrain from being around men because they believed that her power was so great, during her cycle, she may take on masculine energy that is not wanted or needed by the female body. The Menarche or first period was regarded as the most powerful and potentially dangerous time for a woman since she is learning how to control this power for the first time. Upon the experiencing of the Menarche, the Natives believe that the woman has just bonded with the Earth and the Moon. This is why some call their period a Moon Cycle.

A group of Wise Women wrote the following, “We women….we must learn the sacredness of who we are. What do we do with the "Sangre de Madre" (menstrual blood)? We throw it away in a garbage can. I am not garbage! This sacred gift and responsibility I have been given, I do not disrespect it so that I would treat it as trash; a thing to be discarded with little thought. How can this be bad or dirty? Is this not the Creator's way? Is this not a part of the miracle of creation? Think of it! It is the Creation of LIFE. It is Sacred! Among my people, when a young woman comes to her first Moon Time she is given a pad, which catches the flow. When she changes this pad, she puts it into a container of water - the blood of Mother Earth - blood to blood - from which we all come. At the end of her time she takes that water and plants a tree, using that water to feed the tree. As she does this she prays for her family, and she prays for a mate that is whatever she desires (and she gets very specific..'I want him to be 6' tall and handsome and a good provider and not to be thus and so'). When she is married she again uses this Moon Time water to give the tree praying for children or for the children that she has been given, her husband and any others she chooses. In this way she nourishes not only the tree, but also her family and her community. Yet she also nourishes herself in acknowledging the sacredness of who she is and the gift and responsibility she has been given.

You women. Why do we wear skirts and dresses? Watch me as I walk (she says as she moves around in her white native dress). You see the shadow surrounding me? It is always a circle and it always surrounds me. Therefore I am always within a sacred circle. I am always protected. These things are our women taught. As women, we have two mouths. Yes, two. In the mouth with which we eat, we take in nourishment, we take in life. Yet in the mouth below we not only take in life…we also give forth life. We teach our young women that just as we must be careful what foods we eat so that we may be healthy and strong, so must we be careful what we put into our mouths below, so that our people may become strong and healthy. These things we teach." (Galisgisgia and Bird Clan Mother)

It is amazing to me how far removed we have come from such a wise time for Woman and as a united people. With the factual and intuitive information about the power of the menstrual cycle and the female body, I see how the media uses this to their advantage. If a Woman, on her monthly cycle, is as powerful as the natives believe, then directing the energy of that woman toward the negative side of herself would be beneficial to all companies who provide products that give the illusion of a solution. This global act is quite comparable to a young native woman hanging around men during her Moon Cycle, adding unnecessary masculine energy to her body. If a Woman is insecure during her menstrual cycle, as most women have become, she gives up her power to pills, unhealthy foods, beverages and everything her body craves as a result of a lack of love for herself.

We know not every woman is on their moon cycle at the same time. This means that at any given time there are women menstruating. This gives the Media a very large window to work with when marketing toward the Female gender. Every Woman knows how crazy our mind can get during and prior to our Moon Cycle. So think about how, the subtle hints within each advertisement may be affecting even the most conscious Woman. In “Two Ways a Woman can get Hurt,” Jean Kilbourne says it best, “The main goal, as in pornography, is usually power of another, either by the physical dominance or preferred status of men or what is seen as the exploitative power of female beauty and female sexuality. Men conquer, Women ensure, always with the essential aid of the product.”

The newest products for Women stop the menstrual cycle all together taking away a Woman’s monthly super power completely. Side effects my include, loss of limb, blood clot, shortness of breath, loss of sex drive, depression, suicidal thoughts, constant diarrhea, lots of tumors because you are stopping the natural flow of nature, but you won’t have to wear one of those awful maxi pads! Plus if you act now, by the time you are menopausal you will have a cabinet full of medications to counter act the medications you will be on because you stopped your natural flow…Hurry! Ask your doctor today!

I would love to see young ladies being blessed with “Changing Woman” ceremonies and parties. When I become a mother my goal is to mimic the Dené and other Native Tribes by showing my Daughter her beauty and magic. Some of the most powerful menstrual rituals were developed by the Dené Tribe. For one year the young woman would drink from a vessel made with Swan or Goose bones and wear a beaded veil upon the completion of Menarche. Once all resources where gathered, gifts and feasts, a grand event would take place with the entire tribe celebrating not only the joining of the Woman with Earth and Moon, she is transformed into the, “Changing Woman,” and forever regarded as a Deity. “These are the most important ceremonies of these cultures. No man who has taken part can possibly disrespect a woman who has undergone these rituals, and no girl who has endured the ceremony can ever lose her empowerment in being a woman, for during the time of ceremony, the young woman becomes a deity.” (Paper Pg.95)

I see Women across the globe reconnecting with their femininity and loving it. There are global Goddess Gatherings that include powerful conscious Men helping to balance the Yin and Yang in Ceremony. There are moon cycle retreats and Menarche celebrations for the, “Changing Women,” to become Deities. We are teaching our daughters to love themselves enough to love Mother Earth and give nourishment to Mother Earth as she does so abundantly for us. The negative side of the Media has dominated long enough. The Media will be most powerful when it taps into the Light of Life for all Beings. This is why I am a student of Advertising, to ensure that this happens.

Citations

• Native North American Religious Traditions, Dancing For Life

By: Jordan D. Paper

• The Native American Woman

Myths Vs. Reality

By: Anita Atsila Galisgisgia, Bird Clan Mother, Southern Cherokee Tribe & Associated Bands in Texas http://www.blueskywaters.com/page_36.htm

• From Fly Girls to Bitches and Hos

By: Joan Morgan

• Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt

By: Jean Kilbourne

Native Wisdom Regarding a Woman's Moon Cycle...

So I am currently writing an essay about Menstruation in the Media.. and I found this amazing quote! Anyone who knows me knows that this resonates up my spine and through my DNA... you will also trip out about the comment about having mouths.... we really are WOman!!!! Enjoy and Love yourself!

"We women….we must learn the sacredness of who we are. What do we do with the "Sangre de Madre" (menstrual blood)? We throw it away in a garbage can. I am not garbage! This sacred gift and responsibility I have been given, I do not disrespect it so that I would treat it as trash; a thing to be discarded with little thought. How can this be bad or dirty? Is this not the Creator's way? Is this not a part of the miracle of creation? Think of it! It is the Creation of LIFE. It is Sacred! Among my people, when a young woman comes to her first Moon Time she is given a pad, which catches the flow. When she changes this pad, she puts it into a container of water - the blood of Mother Earth - blood to blood - from which we all come. At the end of her time she takes that water and plants a tree, using that water to feed the tree. As she does this she prays for her family, and she prays for a mate that is whatever she desires (and she gets very specific..'I want him to be 6' tall and handsome and a good provider and not to be thus and so'). When she is married she again uses this Moon Time water to give the tree praying for children or for the children that she has been given, her husband and any others she chooses. In this way she nourishes not only the tree, but also her family and her community. Yet she also nourishes herself in acknowledging the sacredness of who she is and the gift and responsibility she has been given.



You women. Why do we wear skirts and dresses? Watch me as I walk (she says as she moves around in her white native dress). You see the shadow surrounding me? It is always a circle and it always surrounds me. Therefore I am always within a sacred circle. I am always protected. These things are our women taught. As women, we have two mouths. Yes, two. In the mouth with which we eat, we take in nourishment, we take in life. Yet in the mouth below we not only take in life…we also give forth life. We teach our young women that just as we must be careful what foods we eat so that we may be healthy and strong, so must we be careful what we put into our mouths below, so that our people may become strong and healthy. These things we teach." 

By Anita Atsila Galisgisgia (atsila@aol.com), Bird Clan Mother, Southern Cherokee Tribe & Associated Bands in Texas http://www.blueskywaters.com/page_36.htm


"The honor of the people lies in the moccasin tracks of the women."
Village wise man / Sioux 1961

PMS = Power Made Sacred

Mercury Retrograde Cycle - Friday, August 20, 2010 - Sept. 12, 2010

We are entering a Mercury Retrograde Period on Friday August 20th. Mercury Retrograde Periods are usually felt about a week or two prior to the actual event and a few weeks after lasting about 4-6 weeks in length. Dispite the negative light that is usually put on this particular planetary cycle, we must remember that every cycle has a divine purpose.

Over the past few years as I have experienced these retrograde cycles, with a conscious intention of moving through the cycle on the positive pole, I have come to notice that it can be a wonderful time of introspection and manifestation. I feel that Mercury, our beautiful planet of communication, is reminding us about the basic forms of communication like intuition and speech. Mercury is reminding us about a time when we did not have computers and all of this brilliant technology.

So my advise to you, especially Gemini's and Virgo's, during this amazing time, be very patient with yourself, your loved ones and especially technology. Remember that everything is happening for a reason, dispite your particulare wants, the universe always gives you what you need.  Remember to BREATHE and AGAIN!!!

Avoid making any major decisions or signing any contracts unless they originated during a Mercury Retrograde cycle or it feels completely in flow.

Give thanks to Our Planet of Communication on a daily basis and you will start to see the beauty of these cycles...

Remember that whatever you look for, you will find... look for the beauty and you will see your true self in the beautiful reflection of everything and everyone!

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree

Violet Flame Saturate us all, Especially those who are travelling...

Today has been an amazing day.  My drive to San Francisco was a little nerve racking as I felt a slight uneasiness about being on the road.  I used my violet flame visualization and affirmation when I felt realy uncomfortable and of course I made it to school safely.

My math Teacher was almost an hour late today due to eight accidents from her home in Santa Cruz to San Francisco! 

On my way home from school, there was a contractors truck in front of the pick up truck in front of me.  All of the sudden a shovel flies out of the back of the truck and misses all vehicles landing on the side of the road. I passed this truck and made sure that he was behind me the rest of the way home.

Anyway, I am only share this because I feel that I need to express the necessity to be patient right now. My next Blog will explain a bit more about why...

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree

Pay Attention

So, this morning as I was sitting in my Color Theory class, when I was reminded about the simplicity of following directions and paying attention.  

I realized that the younger generations have been catered to in such a matter that no one has been taught to simply pay attention or follow directions.  

Now I know that rules are meant to be broken, However, if you are given a challenge and the solution to the equation is right in front of you, it would save you much time and energy to simply use the tools and information at your fingertips.

 Speaking from a first person perspective, I have caught myself scanning material and looking for key words instead of actually engaging and identifying with the information that is needed in order to complete the project at hand. 

I am remembering and strengthening my cognitive skills.  It is scary to realize that the freshly graduated youth have not developed that skill and are completely removed from the idea of having to remember something without using their blackberry or having someone remind them.

I am re-learning to pay attention and to follow directions.  

Blessings! Namaste

GiaTree