JOY We See JOY We Seek

Lioness Daiba Sala

Smile & Peace!
"How can one not like, and be affected by the joy and play she exudes?"
- Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories 6.23.14

Lupita Nyong’o for Vogue US July 2014  

GENTLE FACE

Hottagram

May 21, 2013

"There is no one way to be human. Its why all generalities fall away into illusion."
-  Mereana Taki
 June 20 , 2014

 

Catherine's Story

I am a rape survivor. I cannot speak for every rape survivor; I can only describe my own experience. It is nothing like some of the recent politicians would like us to believe.

My name is Catherine Mary Redfern. I was 24 years old that day. I waited at the bus stop in my baggy sweats with my backpack, just having finished a long hike. An approaching pickup truck slowed down. The driver asked me if I needed a ride. I said no. He continued down the road, then he turned around. He was out of the truck and dragging me into the bushes before I could react.

For me, this is what rape is: I was screaming so hard and for so long for help and nobody came. Screaming that made me lose my voice for four days. I was fighting so hard for myself, that when I was finally alone and could see, I saw that I had no fingernails left – just bloody nail beds where my nails had been from fighting and scratching to fight off my rapist. It was tears running down my bloody face because I wasn't strong enough to fight him anymore as he held me down and beat me into submission. I was whimpering while praying as he thrust and pushed so hard against an unwilling participant, and calling on God to help me, wondering why he had abandoned me when I needed him the most.

I was raped – I did not experience the rapture of God’s intention to bless me with a child.

I was raped – it was not consensual, it was not legitimate, and my body certainly did not start working to shut down a conception process – it was too busy fighting for its own life.

I was raped – I am unable to categorize it as honest or dishonest rape. I can categorize as violent, painful and cruel. It was physically and psychologically scarring.

I was raped – it was unexpected; I did not ask for it; it certainly wasn’t planned. Does that make it an emergency rape?

I was raped – for hours I fought for my life and the right to control who touches my body. Although I lost that fight, I did not rape easy.

I was raped – I felt a lot of things when it became clear that it was inevitable. I hated my rapist. I hated myself. I hated God. There was no desire to relax, lie back and enjoy it.

Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, if you think men and women in this country are overreacting to a few comments taken out of context, sit for a moment and think some more. Think hard about what your real, visceral reaction would be if your wife, mother, sister or daughter called you from the hospital to tell you she had just been raped. Unfortunately, if your wife, mother, sister, or daughter were raped, you may never have the opportunity to feel a reaction, offer comfort or give support. You may notice some intangible change in the vitality of the woman you love, but to spare you the pain and anger of knowing what happened to her without being able to do anything about it, she may not tell you. Even if she wanted to, she may be afraid of what her family, friends, coworkers and society would think of her — because on some level, our society still blames a woman in part for being raped. Why else are words like “honest rape,” “legitimate rape” and “forcible rape” being tolerated as part of our lexicon about this crime? My rape was thirteen years ago. I have not yet told my parents.

I have always considered the United States to be one of the most progressive countries in the world when it comes to women’s rights. That is why it angers me to see the word “rape” being used without thought and bandied about as a political ideological concept, rather than a word to describe a violent, abhorrent crime against women. 

I was raped. I am a survivor. I was fortunate enough to live in an age when I did not have to worry about bearing the child of the man who brutalized me. There are some in America who would force me to bear that child, in the name of some warped God-directed concept of respect for life. I ask you this: What god deserves worship who would “bless” a violent, soul-destroying act with an unwanted living reminder? What nation would allow a religion to write law that dehumanizes a woman into nothing but a vessel, as my rapist saw me?

I ask you this: Think of the women you love as you choose your lawmakers.

Thank you for reading my story. 

korero

All of my children have had 'encounters' when they were small especially when they were unwell. its also how I could tell they were becoming unwell....they used to see ghosts and get really scared as kids would do. And they would always have nightmares. However, my 5 year old sees them in my house, mainly my room. Recently she woke up in middle of the night and came in by me, that morning she woke up and looked over me and said "mum where's Lovey?" Loveys her elder sister. I said, "in her room, I guess." 

She said, "she was there wen I came in I saw her mum. She was lying next to you." 

I went and asked my elder girl if she came in my room that night and got funny look as she's 15. "No mum I slept in my room why?" 

I said, "oh your sister said she saw you by me early hours this morn." 

"Nope wasn't me." she said. 

My little girl was adamant and positive about who it was described person long and skinny like Lovey and she said had white T-shirt on, her hair was like Loveys, but she couldn't c her face ...so i just left it at that. I asked if she got scared she said, "no mum why would i be scared?" 

This isn't first time she's seen kehua. When we first moved here and we were going sleep in my room and she said, "mum, why is there a man on the roof?" I thought on the roof? I can't hear anyone up there? 

I said, "no ones up there baby. its too dark to get up on roof." 

She said, "he's right there, mum looking at me." she points to ceiling above our heads!? 

I used to get these experiences as child and I remember being totally scared like skin prickling... I looked like reflex with big eyes at ceiling but nothing. She didn't seem scared of him just little puzzled about how he got up there. I asked my Dad who has passed to come back bless our house and take these kehua back to heaven with him. But we still get visitors. sometimes I can feel them or just see like shadows running past. My children are comfortable in our home, but sometimes people come over and I think our kehua don't like them or something I can see sometimes our visitors look uncomfortable or something and want to leave. Others are quite at home.

I would appreciate any similar stories or people with same experiences korero on this. -  Bellamarie Tupu 2.12.14

Hey.

Holy Cow!!!

Prudence Moe

Feeding the cows in Minnesota
June 23, 2013 

  

Feeding cows in what appears to be a loving way. It must a private farm. Most of the cows we eat are full of fear and deprivation.  If you are sensitive to it, or not the result is the same in your body. Fear settles and digests in our bodies and our emotions. Care alters both perception and life. Gentleness fed to any creature causes a spark of recognition because all are birthed as carefully as possible, and cared for afterwards. It is in our nature those memories. How better the food we eat if the farmer cared? 

These are my words. I am Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 
1.29.14 

PRAYERS MEAN

a moment to design

Playboy Wisdom:

"Be more old-fashioned, put down your cell phones and take care of your woman the way she deserves to be treated." - Amanda Rae Michaels

dark mysteries

mysteries

https://www.facebook.com/dbujewelry 

"The development of the mind contributes to the human need that manifests itself in the creation of his vigilance. World Peace comes from awareness that transcends to that which is untouchable. It is the highest in yourself that gives up the struggle for the resurrection which is peace on earth and in the universe.
Death is only a transition that has the ability to manifest itself in this higher form that finally unites with eternity. Love for all has a consciousness that is translated with the boundlessness of the source, which is love.
One mind is one heart for the world. Let's open it for each other and let’s grow together in peace with consciousness that resides in eternity." - Hildegarde © 2012 

Woman Rising

 October 26, 2012