So, I just finished up pgs. 1-20 and like Tinkybell mentioned in her post, I am already learning a lot and the creative sparks are flowing like water as I hoped it would as I turned each page....I am so looking forward to getting in deeper into the Gateways to see what other creative sparks come to light.
These are just a few of the many things that I highlighted as I was reading:
pg. 1: Dr. Michael E. Toaff, creator of the Alternative to Hysterectomy website: Here is the link: http://althysterectomy.org/
"African American women and women with male gynecologists are more likely to go under hysterectomies."
pg. 2: "Judgement Day Is Every Day"
"You have to live good health because it comes from the inside out. It comes from what you bring to your life: positive, empowering thoughts, prayers, and affirmations, uplifting company, and high-quality, life-giving foods."
The state of your womb reflects the state of your life.
"The womb is the storehouse of all of our emotions. It collects every feeling - good and bad. Today we have collectively reached a state of "negative womb power"."
pg. 12: I especially liked the relativity of incorporating of the elements water, earth, fire, and air in everyday life
pg. 13: "I place a Maat feather in my hair to encourage me to live in right and truth throughout my day, for I am responsible for what i create."
Laws of Maat
I just happened to be reading SW in the morning, and I went over those 42 laws, didn't really think about it. But it really sunk in, because all day, I observed my actions and if I followed or broke one of those laws. It was suddenly second nature! So reading them in the morning is a great idea, and in the evening, to take stock of our day is a great idea as well.
On the male gynecologist thing, I must say I have a different perspective. I actually prefer a male gyno (my friends all think I'm insane) because the ones I've had have gone out of their way to be more gentle, kind and respectful. My experiences with women have been rough, painful, and at times even insulting. So I almost always have a male. I have a female right now, and I'm going to switch. She was extremely nice, but rough and painful. I felt like that cotton swab was scraping the inside of my brain! (and usually I don't mind the whole process at all). I was literally in pain the rest of the day :(
Wombyn need each other to be whole.
I definitely think wombyn should work with female gynecologists. There is a time a wombyn may need to seek a man, for his medicine is apart & necessary in the balance. However, we often jus need to commune with our sistars, for it is they who carry the wisdom of our great-great-great GrandMothers. Sisterhood is a major element of womb wellness.
Although I've never applied it myself, I feel it is a good practice to chant the Laws of Maat every sunset & sunrise to increase consciousness. Affirmations are very powerful so I'ma start chanting the 42 Laws of Maat everyday at least once.
Everyday is judgment day as tomorrow is not promised so we must accept responsibility for our creations with every breath.
I agree with the I, Soul Living, that it is beautiful how she encourages InI to "...unite the elements of earth, air, fire, water, and spirit..." and follow the path of body/mind/spirit purification so we may be touched by the Ancestors of the Earth.
Intuition Is Definately Given Unto the Mamas!!!
LOVE LIFE LAVA!!!
Hail Up Mama,
It is so true. His Imperial Majesty Always reveals things to us. Sometimes we do things and dont have the full overstanding of why were doing it but we keep doing because we feel as though it was placed in our irits for a reason. Well I say this to say that, for my first pregnancy I and the second now I refused to see a male OB Doctor, everytime I went to my appoitment they would give me problems or try to act like I was being difficult, because I would always through out the male trainig doctors. I didnt really Know why I felt this way and didnt always have the strongest arguement for them, more than I just do not want to see a male doctor, or I do not see male doctors.
There were times where I felt ok maybe your overreacting, or you are being difficult Lava. But still I stuck with it because I felt very strongly about it in my Irit. And now reading about this and getting more insight on how my womb holds memories and feelings from things that have happened to us in the past. I feel as though His Majesty has finally revealed to me why my womb caused me to react in this way. A couple years back when I had met my husband, and we became sexually active I was practically still like a virgin I had only been with one person before him And we only had one sexuall encounter and I felt like he was not the one for me and that I needed to take my time and I never spoke to him again after that ( Sometimes my womb causes me to make very rash or drastic decisions, Im sure he thinks Im crazy now. And my husband to this day doesnt believe that thats all there was to the story but it was as simple as that I was moving to fast and chose to change my path.) but any way I used some raw black soap (you no the big chunky one) and I had an allergic reacton to it I was itching like crazy, I thought my husband had given me something, So I rushed to the emergency room in secret of course because I was still young and I couldnt tell my mom that. And I get this rough male doctor who although I explained to him that I had only been sexually active now twice in my entlire life and at a good time apart, he sticks these huge thongs or clamps what ever they were but they were huge, up my pathway to get one little swab sample. Oh the pain. And the nurse looks at me squirm and says oh we can tell your a beginner, ha ha he he whatever. Its just an infection from the soap that you used there like pimples it happens to everybody. I was like this is unbelievable. And I had never bee to an OB doctor before that so I was totally traumatized. And finally I realized that subconciously my non male aproach was just my womb reacting to the experience that I had had with the male doctor a couple years back. Subconciously I new that a male did not posses the capability to deal with my womb in a nurturing and caring way that a wombman would, because he is a man. This was a very fulfilling discovery for me. I am discoverig so may new things about myself ad why I do certain things and it is truly a blessing. I am also so glad and joyous in my heart to be able to share this with you all.
May Haile Selassie I Bless and Keep You
LAVA!!!!!
Womb wellness
This is exactly why I recommend wombyn to have female gynecologists!
Taken from: TO THE KEEPERS OF THE SACRED WOMB pg.32
"Womb wisdom is women's work, so say the ancients. As Earth Mothers from the original heavenly realms of Nut, we have the ability and responsibility to heal ourselves with natural ways using the elements of air, fire, water, and earth. Men do not have this power, nor is it their destiny to heal our wombs. Men need only to love, respect, support, come through, and give reverence to our wombs. Men can only support what women first establish through the renewal of their sacred wombs~the natural foundation of our self-discovery and recovery."
NEW GROUNDS
LIVE LOVE LAUGH BECAUSE WE ARE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
GREETINGS SISTER SOULLIVING,
I RECEIVED MY BOOK YESTERDAY,AND AS SOON AS I TORE OPEN THE PACKAGE, I GOT TO READING, ALREADY I HAVE GAINED NEW GROUND, I MUST THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS BLESSING, TODAY I WILL BUILD ME AN ALTAR IN MY LITTLE HOME OFFICE WHERE I SPEND MOST OF MY DAY.I FEEL SO BLESSED ALREADY, AND I AM SO EXCITED TO PARTAKE OF THIS VENTURE, WITH OTHER WOMEN OF STRENGHT,WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT, KEEP ME IN YOUR DAILY PRAYERS,PLEASE CALL OUT MY NAME;(SADIE) AKA:INDIGOKISS.
BLESSINGS FROM ON HIGH
INDIGOKISS
I am Amazed!
I am with Mawiyah. Everytime I refernce this book I too feel more connected to my womb. I am amazed at some of the women in my family that have had their wombs removed and are happy about it, but in essence they are not happy (believe it or not there are those women out there). Their creativity is washed up, their families are in dis order, they are disconnected spiritually. How can you be happy about this? Now I do know some women that have had their wombs removed and have wonderful attitudes. They have accepted it and have other ways of channeling that energy. The womb energy is so powerful and precious how can one not try and save it? Yes, imagine if we as daughters were educated on that very power, some of the things we could have avoided. So for those of us that have daughters (for that matter son's too, they need to be educated as well) let us not keep these powers a secret but teach them how to keep them sacred.
www.indigenousremedies.com
I Am Ready
The message is there, you just have to be ready to receive it. I can't tell you how many times I have heard this ... from Iyanla to Oprah, from my Mother to positive sister - friends. I have even quoted it from time to time when someone needed some insight. However, there are times when "the message", although understood, was taken lightly.
I have had Sacred Woman for some time now. Referring to it only if I wanted to look something up. However, as I dedicated some quiet time to sit down and read pages 1-20, a deeper overstanding filled me. Like Soulliving, some of the things that had a resounding impact on me were:
"African American women and women with male gynecologists are more likely to go under hysterectomies."
When my doctor ( a male gyn) told me he wanted to drill holes in my ovaries because of cysts, I fled his office immediately and never looked back!
"You have to live good health because it comes from the inside out. It comes from what you bring to your life: positive, empowering thoughts, prayers and affirmations, uplifting company, and high-quality, life-giving foods."
"The womb is the storehouse of all of our emotions. It collects every feeling - good and bad. Today we have collectively reached a state of "negative womb power".
This hit me like a bolt of lightening ... especially because I tend to keep my emotions bottled up or I take on other's emotions ( the Cancerian Goddess within me).
After reading pages 1-20, all I can say is I AM READY. Ready to open my mind and receive the knowledge that Queen Afua has shared in Sacred Woman and ready for the positive and empowering sisterhood that will grow as we continue our Sacred Woman journey together.
“The world is mine / when I wake up / I don’t need nobody telling me the time” ~ Erykah Badu, Baduizms
Hysterectomy and the laws of Maat
Hello :o)
Okay, so I am close to the 40/40 club and the body is definitely changing and experiencing some phases. One of the things that concern me is the high number of females within my immediate family succumbing to cancer of the reproductive system. My mom, including several of her sisters has all had issues/problems with: ovarian/cervical cyst/cancer and my grandma passed away from it (cervical). I think about my grandma and the generation she came from (the Great Depression), my grandma was afraid of going to the doctor, I’m not sure if it was because she had or own suspicions or a bad experience, all I know is that it was hard as all get out to get her to go in for an annual pap or check up.
So yeah, it’s a concern of mine too. When it pertains to hysterectomy, I find that more women close to my age are having them, and a few are upset because they can no longer have children naturally. Yes, they can adopt and adopting is fine but what I’m getting from the women within my circle is that hey, this doctor diagnosed me too soon or quickly, or I should have gotten a second opinion. Personally, if there are other/alternate ways that help treat/cure, I’m game.
@Mawiyah when you speak of the Laws of Maat, do you adhere to the one’s listed in Sacred Woman or other? I ask because I’ve found several versions of the laws online and I am considering the ones provided by Q.A. but adding the word TRY- I will try not to do wrong.
I PRAY for the predators that hunt me.
The Laws
Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
I follow the ones listed in Sacred Woman but have over the years seen many variations.
I have found myself drawn to those because of my own coming to terms with Afrikan spirituality at a time in my life when doctors said i would never be able to give birth. The book fell into my possession through spirit and that prayer and her sacred steps aided me in transforming my body. To make a long story short I have found peace with those Laws.
I Agree
Mawiyah Kai EL-Jamah Bomani
I have read this book too many times to count but with every reading I come more in contact with my feminine essence. We as a family have made it a practice for years to say the Laws of Maat as we venture out into the world and upon our return. For the past 16 or so years it has proven to keep us grounded in the notion that every day is truly judgement day. It is with those very words that one can walk the straight and narrow with a confidence in self and a love for justice and universal harmony.
Another point of that stood out yet again was womb wellness. Learning to embrace my womb has better prepared me to teach my daughters how to look at their own womanly transitions as blessed events and not the remnants of patriarchal demonization.