... Our Spring 2011 Theme ...
Our W&R work is in the flow of the worldwide coming together for interdependence and freedom. The human evolution of our going to this partnership level of empowerment makes our W&R movement ever strong.
"Merlin Stone is dead. She died on the 23rd of February, 4:52 a.m., in Daytona beach. She was ill for three years with much pain. . Thanks for the books Merlin,”When God was a Woman” and “Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood.” You changed my life for the better." - Z Budapest.
Stone was a sculptor and professor of art history at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her 1976 book When God Was a Woman is often credited with being responsible for one of the major contributors to the rise in Goddess spirituality and feminist thought during the 1980s.
Mama Donna Henes writes, "I met Merlin in 1975 when we worked together on the Great Goddess issue of Heresies: A Feminist Publication on Art and Politics. Since then, she has been a friend, mentor, supporter and role model for me. She was especially helpful when The Queen of My Self was first released, generously sharing her experience, expertise and encouragement. She will be sorely missed... Merlin, dear, rest in in peace, embraced by the arms of the Goddess."
Zsuzsanna Budapest has asked UUW&R to pass along the details of her memorial service: It will be held on September 24, 2011 at the UU Church in Clearwater, FL. She adds, "We are still in the process of organizing for the event, but you can share the www.MerlinStone.net website with everyone so they can monitor the events and projects happening."
Rev. Shirley Ranck, author of Cakes for the Queen of Heaven comments, "For me, Merlin Stone's book When God Was a Woman was one of the first to alert me to the reality that there had been a massive shift in power in the myths and societies of the ancient world. The title alone was a shock to many people. I remember mentioning it to some sociologists of religion at a meeting and the whole idea was dismissed as nonsense. It must have taken a lot of courage to write and publish that book at that time. We owe Merlin Stone a debt of gratitude for her work."
Helen Poenoe adds, "What a fountain of knowledge Merlin Stone’s work is! Her Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood serves me well as a resource for moon circles, Wheel of the Year services and Cakes… circles besides simply my own inspiration. I like her phrase, 'the Oneness that lies beneath all dualities.'"
SouthWest UU Women held their 25th annual Conference, "Generation NEXXT" in Dallas Texas on March 3-5. Despite their keynote speaker having to cancel at the last minute due to family illness, the SWUUW women were up to the challenge. Participants commented:
"Big Bad Gina ROCKED! It was so fun to dance to their music, and just be entertained by them!"
"I thought Intern Rev. Megan [Dalby-Jones] did a very good job of delivering the message that Rev. Tambra Lebak was to have given."
A teapot holding tea leaves becomes active with strong essence when the water is added. I see you “in hot water” and being strong in this time of tragedy. Today, it’s so hard to know what the escape of radiation from your quake-damaged nuclear plants really will mean for human health. However what I have witnessed about all of you is the steadfastness of your supportive interdependence and industrious positive energy. I’m sure that “when in hot water” from the earthquake, each one of you is becoming strong enough “to take it” and give what you can to your people’s struggle. This vision I carry inspires me to send, daily, my positive vibrations of concerned love. May you be safe and able to be resilient every step of the way to recovery. History proves you’ve done it before. I hold you in my heart dear sisters.
[Details on IALRW members' aid efforts in Japan are on their Facebook group page.]
Egypt’s weaponless January liberation protest connects to WW II’s A-bomb devastation in Japan.
By Helen Popenoe, (written February 21, 2011, but relevant to Japan’s tragedy, today, in its connection to Michiko Tsuchihashi’s mission, described in this report.)
February Article Introduction (followed by early March responses):
If Jeremiah could have looked at Egypt this beginning of 2011, how would he have interpreted the motivation behind the protestors’ movement? Might they have baked cakes for the Queen of Heaven in their pre-protest communication? In WOMUUNWEB’S fall issue, I started a series based on my reactions to presentations I heard at September’s conference for the International Association of Liberal Religious Women (IALRW.) Now, my second report is an opinion piece about Egypt’s strong protest, one minus the violence of warring with weapons. The weaponless Egyptian January freedom demonstrators’ success ties in with IALRW’s Michiko Tsuchihashi’s unforgettable sharing of her mission in life.WOMUUNWEB’s last issue’s report was based on a description of Dolma’s peace education. Michiko, in her presentation, acknowledged how Dolma’s good work in India connects with Michiko’s peace work in Japan.
