TO Ponder.

tattooed and beautiful woman

Assassin's who are women are reputably more lethal because of what they deny, suppress, and kill within themselves... - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 4.19.16

dark portrait of a woman's body art by Paparatzi Keith

We fear the concepts we don't understand. Not knowing they can change us isn't the fear, it is wondering how they will change us. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 5/3/17

African woman's gentleness is the style she wears.

Elegant is this backless V-neck wrap slim stretch dress. It is cloth, but cloth submits to transformation the way a woman submits to the forces within herself to be a woman. . . - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 5.11.17

Against the Grain!

Anne Bancroft was enough of a woman, a seductive beauty to distract me from the magical power of Black women! It bothered me a spell, but freed me in a sense because her beauty was smoldering, and that effect pulls the soul to play. It was a pity in my mind we never got to meet. It would have cost me my Negro card! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories Feb. 16, 2017

Nikki Minaj has many detractors. It takes strength to stand out, make differences count and develop as an artist, a woman in the spotlight! It is a courage gossips do not have that fear cannot occupy. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 2.16.17

Naomi Campbell is dangerous with what she has, who she is and what she fights for...

- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 8.23.16

Dangerous Women of Substance & the War on Terror

Naomi Campbell is dangerous with what she has, who she is and what she fights for...

- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 8.23.16

French fighter jets dropped bombs on a Syrian hospital. This is some of what is left. (June 2016)

French fighter jets dropped bombs on a Syrian hospital. This baby was killed. (June 2016)

Unbearable. You cannot engulf with words what this is, what it means and how it feels on the receiving end of air strikes. We have precious few memories in the U.S. of being bombed and as a consequence have the audacity to rejoice about successful air strikes. Seeing the world at war as a video game is a buffer. When we awaken it will be in the opposite role. And then? - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.24.16

French fighter jets dropped bombs on a Syrian hospital. This baby was killed also. (June 2016)

Native woman's introspective beauty of form and face. In the eyes her people peer back into focus on an inner truth.

Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories

October 24, 2016

PRACTICE 44: teach

Joe Molina Photography 

Makayla Givens pointing a revolver into the lenses of Joe Molina's camera.
 January 12, 2014 

TEACH A MAN TEACH A DAUGHTER 

"This is important for fathers and daughters to grasp and embody: power, and the powers to own authority over life and death. I realize death terrifies Americans, as evidenced by the stories of denial and the gross manipulation of women's faces to beat aging. In the tenderness of our daughter's early lives the questions of power in the context of normal life, survival and struggle with identity should be answered during the playtime of our daughter's childhoods. We can lecture, or drop science, or teach by example how to protect. Protection is an art form, and a right for the right reasons accompanying, and corresponding with the daughter's womb capacity to birth. 

Birth and death are relatives, and it takes time for a father to learn these things, and our daughter's to teach us how to teach them the arts of the priestcraft, and war." ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1.16.14

Makayla Givens

January 11, 2014 

PRACTICE 19: image of illusion

Big Buttaholics

"The warrior's only shield in war is that he loves peace more than war, and the only creature he should fear is himself. When we fight only in order to fight, we will lose something we will never get back and we destroy much more than we are able to make up in one life. Wars are started in our hearts and it is up to us to make peace to the way out or to become part of war." - Goes with 3 Faces 

modeling nov. 27, 2013
IMAGE of imagination

It is the hidden gun we don't see. It is the illusion we fall prey to advancing upon one we see as vulnerable. Security is all illusion. There is no safe place lest we create it and the 'it' is illusion hiding the weapon that may kill you, or maim or demoralize you. The most difficult trick to unlearn is to believe beauty is what it is on a woman. The success of a woman defending herself is based upon what she convinces the predator, the stalker, the killer to believe and to see.

If I can convince you I will and can kill you you will think of other things and do other things away from me. That is a convincing spirit. Wars and hunts are within the spirit first and end in the body count.

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (Dawn Wolf)
December 11, 2013

The Affects of Belief 2

Reality star - Tiffany Pollard posing. For those who don't recognize her name she is known as New York.

So many relationships, and marriages based on conflict pretend they aren't, deny they are, and manifest it daily the way they relate to, and raise their children, if they have any. It spills into their work, business, play, the way they care for their aging parents, and how they view God. How they think of themselves suffers from contradictions easily eradicated by self-examination, and intent. But, self-analysis frightens the paradigm. It also frightens the relationship with conflict, and so the patterns continue to be treated as normal, or fall under the cliches: 


"That's how we do!" 
"I love my Boo. We gotta fight to stay together!" and so forth and so on ya' dig? - Gregory E. Woods 10.13.13

The famous shooter Annie Oakley is reputed to have said, "I ain't afraid to love a man. I ain't afraid to shoot him either." She is just like the main character in the movie, Colombiana. Fear and love and the need for and the need to love plays against each other within her reasoning and her emotions. Many live this way. It is how they conduct their emotions to respond in relationships: imbalanced between their need to love, incapacity to intelligently love, and their conquering fears. It is a Trick Bag hard to get out of with Denial at the front door keeping it safe from scrutiny. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.13.13

of Mothers

gun in the hand of America's mom. If she needs to protect herself who from?
- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 11.9.13

WHO ARE WE TOGETHER?

"Contestation and controversy follows the Imperial power elites wheresoever they attempted to take the cheap way out of genociding the Indigenous populations who guarded and lived upon the valuable resource potentials they coveted. Treaty making was a perfect artifice for 'theft is holy'."- Mereana Taki 6.18.14

Maori man of distinction, 'Ahakoa he koroua he tauira tonu ki te mutunga ' from Mereana Taki

gun to the head, from Mereana Taki

"Ms Amerikkkan Heroine addict ~ the ultimate europeon feminist psychobabylonian." 

~ Mereana Taki 

Between your words, Mereana, and the striking image of the white woman holding a revolver to her head while speaking into a microphone something bizarre happens to the senses. What is the measure of a white American woman you ask, or is it the dark history of terror people of color remember and associate with white women that distorts the vision? Are you seeing European feminists in the shadows of their historical associations with terror, and being terrorized by their own men, hence the term: psycho-Babylonian? 

It has only been a small amount of years I have been able to see the beauty of and within white American women. It was no small feat to achieve this vision, and treasure it. But, the history of terror, their terror is still a history and something still to work through for millions of people whose images of self no longer belong to them, whose esteem is a commodity, or a thing of the past. 

Is courage needed to tread through the paths to reconciliation? Yes. Is fear a part of what prevents community? Yes. Do we need each other? Yes. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 7.18.14

VIOLATIONS

Karen Henderson Meachem

 April 19, 2014 

Karen Henderson Meachem said, " We are targets everyday in ways we don't even realize. Because of our gender, we must constantly think about how to be safe. Fear proscribes how and where we live, where we walk, where we park, where we sleep, eat and travel. As women, we know there are some things we cannot -- or rather, should not -- do, some places we should not go. We've seen the movies, we've read the articles, we know the statistics. The media is our collective storyteller and the story it tells us over and over again is that there is no safe place -- not on the roads where we drive, on the streets where we walk, not even in the house where we live. We feel at risk because we are.


I worry sometimes that I might get attacked or something by some guy because I run in the morning and it's always real dark. I got a dog, so that I can run with him, and I also carry mace on me now when I run."
I'm most afraid of being attacked by a man, especially if I'm out jogging or riding my bike or walking. I don't go out alone at night. I used to run with headphones on and I don't do that anymore so that I can be aware of what's going on around me."

I'm always afraid in a situation where there's somebody that could overpower me easily. I lock my doors, park in lighted areas, don't run in dark areas. I'm afraid every time I take my garbage out at night, because I know that women have been attacked and raped just by simply taking the garbage out, being caught unaware at nighttime. I always take my two dogs with me when I take out the garbage." NO SAFE PLACE


In the U.S. it is estimated that 1 out of 3 women will be assaulted or have already been assaulted in her life time. 85,000 rape are reported every year and 35,000 rape related pregnancies are reported. 60% of brutalizing acts are not reported meaning that their are many more rape related pregnancies.

face of an Elder

One rape survivor, in testimony before the Louisiana Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, described her son as “a living, breathing torture mechanism that replayed in my mind over and over the rape.” Another woman described having a rape-conceived son as “entrapment beyond description” and felt “the child was cursed from birth.

"If you ask a woman what she is afraid of and what she does to protect herself, she'll give you a list of specifics. Ask a man the same question, and he might not understand what you mean. While we were working on our documentary, we conducted an informal survey, asking that very question to men and women. Their answers were enlightening. Typically, women were afraid of physical violence or they were afraid for their children's safety."

"When we started working on our documentary film, we began keeping a file of clippings about the abuse women suffer at the hands of men -- a pregnant young woman shot by her boyfriend, a woman assaulted and run over by her attacker's car, a woman who had suffered a stroke bludgeoned to death by her husband, a young mother and her two-year-old daughter murdered by a spurned boyfriend, a seven-year-old sodomized by her father�s friend. Sometimes the stories appeared almost daily, often two or more in the same paper. Our files so soon started to bulge that I gave up adding anymore disheartening evidence. Not one of the accounts ran a headline declaring, "he was a woman's worst nightmare," even though the accused's crimes included stabbing, raping, choking, beating, and brutally murdering females. No Safe Place - PBS.

May 31, 2014 

"I think that we can all agree that there are "Ain't Shit Niggers" and "Ain't Shit Bitches". These two groups are a threat to our community and they can be found in every class of the dominant society. It is my observation that being accountable and responsible is the difference that makes the difference. Those who resist being accountable and responsible are easy to identify because they are normally quick to go into what I call my 3Ds...Dismissive, Deflective and Delusional. 

Stay focused on one point at a time. Do not allow them to drag you into a conversation you weren't having. Sometimes you can get them to look in a mirror and see themselves as you see them... SOMETIMES..." - Rude Finesse


"Males born to unstable single mothers are far more violent than males born to two parent homes the majority of the time because a lot of black mothers are violent and exercise violence on their sons. How often is it that black man tell jokes and stories about how relentlessly their mothers "whooped their ass" when disciplining them but blindly do not see how they play out that same aggressiveness towards one another on the streets because they adopt the thinking, mentality and emotionalism of their mothers." - Shane Rhabb

Man's evolution 

END RAPE POLITICALLY

Black woman with a gun!!!!

There is a trail that leads from an origin point of grounding in a notion from a story to the actual heart that inspires and spurs a man, or woman to rape another. My travels into that dark realm as a student of life, a scientist of my soul, and a healer of my own soul discovered some of the stories that create the dark red energies of a rapist. 


Understanding the nature of a rapist begins understanding the dark nature of what is good about ourselves. It is the dare to begin a probing journey into the story of the stories we believe in. Outside of this arena are efforts trying to legislate the distortion of the a person's being, his soul. It can't be done. We've tried to legislate racism. It is the affair of the heart, and the bondage from origin stories told over and over again. 

There seems to be more fear around intelligent strategies favored by popular vote to demonize rape. But, rape is fed by fears, and social media, and public outrage feed the demon and tell the rapist himself that no one will enter the realm of spiritual work to confront, understand, know and strategically disassemble the fortifications rapists hold over societies and people. 

I support the public and political agendas to end rape, but they are shallow and not truthful in their proclamations of resolution. Those approaches stand on the outside looking at the dragon needing to be slain. David would not have slain Goliath had he not thrown the stone. He would not have thrown the stone with accuracy had he not practiced. He would not have had the wherewithal to think of standing his ground before the giant had he not had a history in his young life of killing beasts in the wild, and he would not have killed those beasts had he not been responsible for the care of his family's flocks of sheep! - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 2.19.14

If you are joining us in working with us to End Violence and End Rape- join us our group 4 E.V.E.R. to learn more. peace and love. - Chadra Pittman Walke, January 10, 2014

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4EVER2013/

https://www.facebook.com/TakeBackTheNightHamptonRoadsVAChapter

SPOOKY CHRISTIANS

CRIME SOLUTIONS discussed amongst Christians

the challenge:

“Crime has no zip code. It doesn't care about color, culture, race, religion, or neighborhood. Crime is a sin. We must work together to end it. We must pull our resources together to make this world a safer place to live. We can make a difference.” – Dr. Sinclair Grey III 12.18.12

“ don't believe we can end crime(sin) we can only contain it, We need to Teach the Word Harder and bring Back Bibles into schools and homes, Eliminate TV and be Families again! Justice Belongs to GOD and God Alone.” - Mary Morales

“It's also big business. How does the definition of crime apply to the military industrial complex, and corporations engaged in illegal business with governments?” – Gregory

“Again, We have to Pray and Do our part in Teaching About the Love of Jesus, I don't see how this is a government problem. Its a HUMAN Problem where way too many people don't care and Don't believe in Christ.”.- Mary Morales

“Everything is linked together, Mary. The challenge the good pastor put out, I believe, was focused on how we individually participate in resolving our social ills. Jesus was an on hands person. What are you going to do to make this a better way is the question.” – Gregory

“No it is NOT Mr. Woods, Jesus said give Caesar what belongs to Caesar... and once WE are chosen by God we no longer Belong to this world!!! My Part is to IMPART Love and Help where I can and Speak of Jesus and Win Souls!  May the Peace of God be with Mr. Woods.” – Mary

 “I see. That is good work, Mary.” – Gregory

“So true.” – Jennifer Harding-Williams

“The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16” – Mary

Black woman with a gun

"... give Caesar what belongs to Caesar...?" There isn't a connection between this scripture reference (Matt. 12: 13-17) and the pastor's original challenge. Yours is an interesting, and a disturbing reaction to the challenge of our times. You might be a young woman, Mary, and not aware of the errors, and the historic challenge to the notion of "not being in the world!" You might be unaware of what has happened tragically in countless lives following the adage of being in the world and not of it throughout the centuries the world over! – Gregory

“Mr. Woods, What did Jesus command us to do?” – Mary

‘That is a broad subject, or is it?” – Gregory

“You didn't answer the question.” – Mary

"One of the things Jesus asked people to do was to tell the truth. He asked people to come to him as a child, to develop impeccability, love the Creator, respect and love neighbors, absorb and merge with divine teachings, study the prophets, pray, take care of people. He forced people to re-examine their narrow views on subjects as wide and varied as law, women, forgiveness, prayer, and politics. He interjected into common theology a line of demarcation when it comes to financial responsibility as above stated in Matt. 12:13-17.

He shed new light upon the initiatory tradition of the Hebrew people that was common amongst indigenous peoples. He taught enlightenment with a broad based foundation in traditional deep wisdom teachings from various influences of the Chaldeans, and the Egyptians, for an example. Upon further study Jesus’ life re-examined prophecy and one's relationship to prophesies. There are many things Jesus taught." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 12.18.12

“No. He commanded us to do something as His disciples and you did not answer that... keeper of stories.”

“Mary, this is a good place to stop. Wisdom says to leave well enough alone. Doesn't make sense to pretend lopsided theological discussions, or this conversation originally meant to be about solutions for a specific social problem will not descend into a diatribe. Out of respect for the process of sharing and learning it is best to recognize that the absence of the student is not the place for the teacher to share or teach. These are my words. I am Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories.” 12.19.12

Black woman with a gun.

Guns or Roses?

The average response time of a 911 call is 23 minutes; the response time of a .357 is 1400 feet per second. That does not negate the fact that a soft answer turns away wrath, and that the power of the spoken word is the power of life and death. 

I learned some things in the gun confrontations and gun fights I was involved in as a law enforcement officer. The challenge is not ignorance it is fear. Americans operate on a high level of fear.

- Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 10.8.13