Old Nature, New Day.

Alishaaa Mae moist with the glee of being freed from childhood into the beginning of discovering the nature of being a woman. That means there are paths to explore. Any old woman would tell her that. A wise one will show her how! Alishaaa Mae in the quest for who she can become as a woman makes her discoveries. "Are they not as important as landing on the moon, the stars?" is an obvious question. Without a translation what does the Punany say to the soul? ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10/30/18

Wadi Rum (‘The Valley of the Moon’) in Jordan

Wadi Rum’s forbidding landscapes don’t look particularly hospitable, but people have lived here since prehistoric times. This extraordinary region of sand seas and towering mountains in southern Jordan includes ancient Thamudic petroglyphs carved into cliff faces. Byzantine monks seeking the ascetic life are said to have taken up residence in this harsh desert. And over the centuries, nomadic Bedouins have traversed the scorching sands, as they still do to this day.

Moviemakers are also drawn to the severe majesty here: Many films have Wadi Rum to thank for some of their epic sweep, including ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ ‘The Martian,’ and the Star Wars spin-off, ‘Rogue One.’ ~ anon 

Henna design on Marcy S. DePina somewhere in Marrakech, December 17, 2012.

I have fond memories of Marrakech. The Medina! The best place to go in any city. 

Back when I was young in Morocco, and in ancient times henna was part of the evidence of women's exclusivity in a culture moored in the dominance of men, and Islam and the prophet Mohammed. There was, and is hidden sacred power women held within themselves. Rituals, like drawing geometric designs on hands, and face (I never saw a woman's feet) maintained mystique and quiet powers within the household, and the men they married, and loved. It was deep the love a boy had for his mother, but at the age he went with the men created adoration for Mother, the way a man feels with deeper appreciation for the roles played by both genders.
There is a lot in Henna. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10/30/18 

the form of Valerie. 

"Nakedness catches all off-guard. 

Those off guard moments tell. Those moments are unguarded, 

and in the flash tell many things about a man's soul..." - dawn wolf, keeper of stories 10/30/18 

Naked woman in soft light by AndreasReh 

This older woman has dynamic energies...

WHEN WE AWAKEN: Be Firm To Affirm.

"Some things are just average, other things are spellbinding!"

Adventure has its mystery wrapped in what evolves within the soul engrossed in adventures. The few who do have adventures explore. It is the exploration that designs the journey. In the U.S. women can find reasons not to explore. Those who do follow their impulses create engaging forces that have to travel. In the end of each story are people who resent adventurous spirits.

"Do not let their voices divide your impulse," said the old to the young. ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/20/18

TERROR

In American mythology nudity, speed, sound, movement suggest the dangers of American life can be controlled on a motorcycle. It is all in the dream of white American manhood... 

The actor, James Dean, amongst other young white men, famous for their fashionable aloofness, their rebellious attitudes, set the tone of disenchantment with the 'Establishment' (as expressed in the 1960's). Motorbikes were symbols of rebellion since the 1950's, and into the 1970's as the myth of white disenchantment became more and more violent until organization skills turned motorcycle gangs into business aligned with the mythology, and value system of colonization, conquest and terror their ancestors invested in and employed. 

The recycling of ideologies is composed to continue to stir violence in white American blood. Donald Trump is deeply intuned to its byproducts, its presence and his duty to white Americans, and their sense of global dominance.  

~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/20/18  

"Women in the 1970's were from the previous decade where the gift they gave their daughters originated from. Unappreciative today, white women are repeating themselves in their fights for baffling reasons. 1970's white women like this had a freer tone in their voices. The all woman aspect in their carriage promised to further explore what that meant. Historical fears blocked a lot of that . Today, fearful of white men white women hesitate." ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 

"Women who kill have crossed a line in the choices their gender has to make with their powers of birth." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12/23/18

.

"London Hart's delicate beauty's strengths translate from intangible elements supporting her essential to become a woman with depth, one hopes..." - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories

Requires Thought.

Slave marriage taking place. I remember this dance.

"During the time of slavery, not every hour was a miserable hour. While alone with their families, slaves did attempt to live a regular lifestyle. They cooked, cleaned, and fed their families and made sure that everyone was doing what they had to in order to not get sold. One thing they did to keep each others spirits up was tell jokes and mimic their masters and mistresses. This is what began black comedy within the United States." - Cedric Freeman 

Dave Chappelle's insight.

"I agree with what you have said; we must learn that if we do not agree with other's lifestyles, do not judge negatively what is seen or viewed. None of us are perfect and communications is very important, in the realization that words can damage if not used in a caring way. We are indeed our brothers' keepers. With that in mind, with "love" and loving someone, you do not have to agree with everything they may say or do, because love is being honest with the individual simply because you do truly love them and not to agree to satisfy them or because you feel obligated to agree; We must learn to be true and honest "BUT" in such a way as to show "love and honesty" in such a way that others see and feel the sincerity within us!!!" - Barbara Tharpe 

White Power movements.

IN the Depths of Human Experience.

Is it possible in the brokenness of 21st century the resurrection of divinity within the African? Could be, will it be inevitable? It is ever possible. 

It never could be a better time before, but now the dysfunction deep beneath and within the soul of Americans makes demands on common sense. A powerful African woman seated as an authority announces the presence of a husband completing sacred powers the two have responsibilities to fulfill. Birthed into the present how would crudeness and the crude way of being upon the Earth, our Mother accept the holiness of an African woman and African man, who are deep in the powers beyond the capacity of crudeness?

There is a lot asked of excellence, and a lot to fear. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1/28/19 

African Mother's Powers. artist unknown.

This was the last known photograph taken of Dr. Anna J. Cooper in her Washington, D.C. home. Dr. Cooper was an American scholar and educator.
 
Born a slave in Raleigh, North Carolina, when she earned her PhD in history from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1924, Dr. Cooper became the fourth African-American woman to earn a doctoral degree. Photo Source: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History 

Sarah Collins Rudolph is the fifth little girl who was injured in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four little girls readying for Sunday school. Her sister was killed in the bombing. She lost an eye, suffered severe cuts throughout her body, and has endured years of surgery and medical problems as a result of the bombing... 

Deep story. 

Black History Facts

Simple Moments

"Moonrise"

Christmas Night, 2015

After shooting photos through sunset at Watson Lake, I decided to stick around, despite the freezing cold, and see if long-exposure photos at night would turn out anything good.

My hands were almost completely numb from the cold, as I had to take them out of ski gloves any time I wanted to adjust my camera's settings.

As I shot various photos, I noticed some brightness on the horizon. "Rats, those stupid city lights are going to ruin my photos" I thought. But, the lights kept getting brighter, and brighter... until I realized those were no city lights. It was the rising moon! Shortly after the moon rose over the horizon I captured this photo of Watson lake. ~ Vern Jensen, photographer 2/05/2016 

Moonrise by Vern Jensen at sunset at Watson Lake in California on Christmas night, 2015.

Photographer Vern Jensen. "Teacups from Lilly's 

Alice in Wonderland themed party Feb. 18, 2016." 

"Simple the way colors highlight and suggest. How a good photographer tells any of the stories of color is captivating. In truth, colors have no untruths. They are the substance outside of touch..." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1/28/19

White Women as Subjects

10 minute pose, graphite for Glamour & Fetish Art. 

Art is from the hand of Tim Kelly, from Baltimore. 

This title: "White Women as Subjects" is a volatile one. It is one subject in history too often unknown in depth by today's young American women activists. As well, they are subject to emotions convinced that the intensity of their reactions to social conditions is enough to make the walls of Jericho to come tumbling down! This isn't naivety. This is ignorance. The ignorance of assumption is primarily laziness. Activism is hard work. The hard part of it is the research. Research is work, and respectful of those who lived our pasts.

Understanding European history is basic to the Women's Movement. It explains; no, makes clear why the movement is first and primarily a white woman's struggle to be free. Other women are subjects to the 'crown'. Because of events unique to the 20th century, other women feel apart of this movement. Because the societal changes in the U.S. need to be white led, and the fact of what ails the souls of white women this movement is fraught with internal contradictions. For Black and Red women, the struggle is to free themselves from the histories of their past with white women, and their white men, who traveled the world killing and taking from the rest of the world. In this conquest, the inherent terror white women harbor within their wombs is of concern to us only in our relationship to the horror of what they did to other people's women!

If there is to be a woman's movement let the white women have theirs, and let our women have theirs off camera at the soul level in the ancestral realms...


- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories [Jan. 18, 2019]

"Who was really sacrificed on the Cross.?"

photo by Baden Bowen of Ellis Stone.

Woman Alone by Daïdo Moriyama

Woman of Power shot with a Fuji XT2 camera several years ago by John Lehman.

ELDER TALK: understanding

Introspection evolves around stillness the way stillness requires attentiveness to surface within a person learning to learn from themselves about the worlds within them. It isn't a revolutionary process; it is transformative within the quiet of Being. 

"Who am I alive?" is a question to ask in these moments of knowing. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories [September 28, 2018] 

Lizard. This is an Oriental Garden Lizard © Joby Varghese‎ 

taken in Masinagudi, Taminadu, India, May 2018.

Joby Varghese Photoarts

The hunter revolves around the cycles of life-death-resurrection. The Western reef heron captured by Joby Varghese tells the story. This was taken in Muzhuppilangad, Kerala, India in February 2017.

Perceptions or Musings.

Portrait of a Black man's family in the early years. 

By Nakeisha Campbell

Pregnant by Pasckie Pascua 

Acrylic. Watercolor. Pens. Sharpies. Pastels. Paper canvas. White boards. Sketchpads. 2017.

Pregnant Aishwarya Rai

"Ghetto whores, like Soleil, physically are staggering beauties. Men have to train themselves to see into women's eyes. Therein lies truths, contradictions and the indicators of darkness...That won't happen. Two whores copulating disagree on honesty, and their perceptions of life are linked, and indicative of worth. Devalued one whore cannot see the value of the other whore." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories

Mother Story

Asana held by a pregnant mother, Maxandlizacro taken by @miz.liz

Postpartum. . The part of pregnancy and birth that is the least talked about and often the least prepared for. For me it was a sweet, yet extremely challenging time. . . 

For the first 2 days after Ella was born I couldn't even sit up in bed without unbearable pain. I had a broken coccyx and 8 perineal stitches. This made learning to breastfeed very frustrating for Ella and for me. I didn't leave the house for over 2 weeks. Overwhelmed uncomfortable feelings and crazy mood swings (thanks to massive hormonal changes) left me in bed all day obsessing over the number of poopy diapers and not making enough milk. . . 

My Midwife (who is an actual angel) showed up for me almost every day those first couple weeks with donated breastmilk, homeopathic remedies, herbal ointments, and coconut ice cream. She did Cranio-sacral therapy with Ella and me and helped us navigate the steep learning curve of breastfeeding. My mom (also an angel) stayed at my house for a week cleaning doing laundry and making every nourishing anti-inflammatory meal from scratch; so Trevor and I could focus on recovery and loving on our new baby. 

We also had an abundance of love and support from friends and family who brought us meals, put my nursery together (@megwaldrop), did energy work on us (@tracysageking @happinessatx), and sent words of encouragement. My husband (@colmchiropractic) gave me chiropractic adjustments almost every day to help my body with the healing process. . .

For those of you who are pregnant for the first time- I want you to know that postpartum is harder than you think its going to be ,but it will get easier and you will get back on your feet. Don't hesitate to ask for help and support. You will 100% need it. I pray that you get amazing care and support from your tribe in your time of recovery. . .

Before and after photo with @maxandlizacro taken by @miz.liz 

Dakota Johnson playing with...

He’s with me now sweet heart , oh don’t cry , he’s my man and he needs my kind of love making , the kind only a girl like me can give him , he’s already gone down on me , oh his sensual lips are made for what’s in my panties , he’s longing for me to give him that something extra only girls like have... ~ Joanes Nessere

LINKS to Touch.

eye of Horus, the eyes of a Black woman.

Exquisite beauty of this woman quietly sipping morning coffee.

Exquisite beauty of this woman defies and defines something we need, as men, only accessible by touching our core value. Engaging the soul of a man is by definition effortless done by certain women. An experience like this changes what is formed within a man to resist her touch. We don't recover from the encounter, we change because of the touch... - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9/28/18