With deep sadness, we report that Liz Fisher passed away September 25, 2020 after several months in hospice care for cancer. She shared these thoughts with us in May 2020.
As I look back over my 72+ years of life in this body I am amazed at all I have experienced, thought and felt. During my years from early 1980s to the present, Women and Religion has been my nourishment. As Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898) of the 19th century taught so well, the early societies that proceeded patriarchy have a profound message for us.
The purpose of Women and Religion is to proclaim our ancestral stream of concern for fair, compassionate, kind, and most of all, mutually supportive inclinations. This tendency is to be blended with the contemporary concerns of positive modeling of non-violent co-existence and protection of the natural world – plant, animal, stone and star.
Gretchen Ohmann has been the web keeper linking several generations and many women, allowing all to find places in the web. Her generosity and response to my critical need is further proof of the real spirit – social, physical and group conferencing – I have always felt with Women and Religion.
I have to call out Shirley Ranck – a role model for kind sustenance and stalwart holding of the message of this movement. She kept the light for all of us as well as others living and passed. A special thanks to Rosemary Matson, Lucile Longview, Emily Champagne and Meg Bowman who taught me that women’s rights are human rights, as well as to Barbara Schonborn for her uplifting attitudes.
There have been men throughout the years who have been sympathetic too, particularly my devoted partner, Robert Fisher, who has fully backed the W&R movement and been my chief promoter, and who so impeccably cared for me during my last months. We share the worldview of Taoism / Wabi Sabi that: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.
I have for some time been creating and sharing expressions of my observations, feelings, insights and wisdom. I have also published the efforts of others, especially in the Rise Up curriculum. I made available some of these at www.RiseUpandCallHerName.com. I believe the Universe has intelligence which is available and willing to participate in each of our adventures. It is called LOVE.
May, 2020 Pacific Grove, California
