Etymologgy states the word Mother means:
English mother and Latin mater and many similar maternal words contain the worldwide etymon ma ‘breast’ + ter an Indo-European agent suffix, so that the etymological meaning of the word mother is ‘breast-feeder.’
As this word implies- Mother is the source for nourishment- a self sustaining food source. Mother is not only the source for physical nourishment- but psychological and spiritual as well.
She is the channel for nurturing, care taking and connection to the Divine.
I share with you a Mothers day writing.
Mother
Mothering begins at birth-
In a moment of contrasts
The movement inside gone;a death.
But an indescribable celebration;
a new life at the breast
while the womb contracts and mourns it's loss.
The life sustaining umbilical cord severed;
but there will always be a cord that will never be cut.
I will continue to nourish you in a different way
from near or far
I will always know.
I am Mother;
Life bringer
Nourisher
Leader
Provider
Healer
Warrior
Shape shifter
Sage
Goddess
and Prophesier
I am the wellspring;
for any and all that thirst or need fed.
I fill my cup from an inexhaustible source;
I am love and comfort
I am patience and truth
I am encouragement and strength
I am Faith.
and give you my cup to slake your thirst.
Marianne Goldweber
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Mother's Day 2009- The Sisterhood
Websters defines the word Mother in a number of ways- but my favorite is
"Source or origin".
The Female part of the Creative force is a fertile place where life springs from.
The mother represents the source of life-
Mother is the nurturing place we return to feel loved, and understood.
Mother is the lap we put our head and lay our fears.
Mother is where we go to ease our pain.
Being born female is a great responsibility- first to ourselves and then for others. We are the creative force- the fertile ground that nourishes and gives birth.
We are the breast from which everyone drinks.
The strength of this feminine force is divine.
The pain associated with our cycles and birthing is a rite of passage that represents acceptance of one's own pain and suffering as a means of spiritual purification and growth. Being a mother is not just the physical act of birthing- It is a celebration of the female creative force.
Giving birth signifies the time of "becoming"- that we are now responsible for another person and their well being and growth.
I am blessed to have given birth. It was a life changing event for me- it was also a life changing experience for my son's father. He witnessed a strength that came from the depths of human instinct. It was also something that he could never do.
It changed our relationship, something that I don't believe either of us expected.
Giving birth awoke in me an inner strength and resolve that I did not know I had.
It is now the litmus that I hold all other life challenges up to.
There was no quitting- there was no giving up- another life depended on me to "labor" and bring them into this world or they would die.
Motherhood is was the most responsibility I have ever taken in my life.
What I have come to find is that my monthly suffering and labor prepared me for other kinds of pain that being a mother bring;
The pain of having to allow my child to have his own thoughts and feelings.
His own aspirations that don't include me.It was the pain of their illness- where you feel alone and helpless.It was the pain of watching them fall- and letting it happen.It was the pain of watching them be hurt by the cruelty of people and the world; and encouraging them to rise.
It is summoning the courage to fight for them, to champion them - to defend them.
To change the world for their sake and to allow them to leave in order to take our love forward as they begin their own journey....
So in this celebration of Mothers Day-honor the anniversary of your Rite of passage- Celebrate all the things that being a Mother represent.
When you meet another Mother- remind her of her courage and her strength- because our experiences bind us all together in this sisterhood of Mother.
"Source or origin".
The Female part of the Creative force is a fertile place where life springs from.
The mother represents the source of life-
Mother is the nurturing place we return to feel loved, and understood.
Mother is the lap we put our head and lay our fears.
Mother is where we go to ease our pain.
Being born female is a great responsibility- first to ourselves and then for others. We are the creative force- the fertile ground that nourishes and gives birth.
We are the breast from which everyone drinks.
The strength of this feminine force is divine.
The pain associated with our cycles and birthing is a rite of passage that represents acceptance of one's own pain and suffering as a means of spiritual purification and growth. Being a mother is not just the physical act of birthing- It is a celebration of the female creative force.
Giving birth signifies the time of "becoming"- that we are now responsible for another person and their well being and growth.
I am blessed to have given birth. It was a life changing event for me- it was also a life changing experience for my son's father. He witnessed a strength that came from the depths of human instinct. It was also something that he could never do.
It changed our relationship, something that I don't believe either of us expected.
Giving birth awoke in me an inner strength and resolve that I did not know I had.
It is now the litmus that I hold all other life challenges up to.
There was no quitting- there was no giving up- another life depended on me to "labor" and bring them into this world or they would die.
Motherhood is was the most responsibility I have ever taken in my life.
What I have come to find is that my monthly suffering and labor prepared me for other kinds of pain that being a mother bring;
The pain of having to allow my child to have his own thoughts and feelings.
His own aspirations that don't include me.It was the pain of their illness- where you feel alone and helpless.It was the pain of watching them fall- and letting it happen.It was the pain of watching them be hurt by the cruelty of people and the world; and encouraging them to rise.
It is summoning the courage to fight for them, to champion them - to defend them.
To change the world for their sake and to allow them to leave in order to take our love forward as they begin their own journey....
So in this celebration of Mothers Day-honor the anniversary of your Rite of passage- Celebrate all the things that being a Mother represent.
When you meet another Mother- remind her of her courage and her strength- because our experiences bind us all together in this sisterhood of Mother.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Self Check- Mirror Mirror on the wall.......
The first principle I learned in my spiritual awakening that lead to my recovery
from co-dependence was to 'go first' and 'focus on my own growth only'.
Sounds simple enough...right!
A native American Teacher of mine had sent me out to 'observe' for a week, the
things and people that crossed my path.
Then return with the results.
So being a judgmental, co-dependent control freak...I was excited to get the
opportunity to observe who and what came into the path of my ever present
critical eye...I was writing things down like a mad woman....
I was in a restaurant and there was a woman at the next table who was loud and
abrasive- she was running over her friend and interrupted to 'one up'; her with
a bigger and better story.. I was annoyed- and felt angry at her..
How Rude! I thought.
I then observed a man bullying a woman at the gas station. I thought he was an
egomaniac- and was using his energy to overpower her.....and HER what's wrong with her????
Why didn't she see that this was not ok? Were was her backbone?
She just stood there and cried, like a victim. Where was her self respect????
After a week of these observations- my teacher asked me to write down all of the critical things I had observed.
I was very proud-
1. arrogance
2. abrasiveness
3. loud and overbearing
4. know it all
5. victim
6. bully
7. interrupter
8. bad listener
9. lack of self respect
10. (my favorite) bitch.
Then he asked me to write down the beautiful things I had observed..
Beautiful things? I had not written any beautiful things.
He then told me to write 'I AM' in front of all the criticisms.
Screech....what?
He then went on to explain that the Great Mystery -Creator- had sent all of those people as messengers- so I could get a look at myself in the Smoking Mirror of Illusion of Self..
I was horrified.
He said the reason I could not write about anything beautiful is because I could not acknowledge anything beautiful about myself..
This exercise changed my life.
We are all but a mirror for each other. I stopped wanting to fix others because I was now too busy fixing those flaws in myself. Frankly I didn't want to look in that mirror any more than I had to...lol
I began looking for the beautiful things in others and began to truly accept the beautiful things I had not cultivated in myself because of my negative attitude and low self esteem.
My intense judgment soon turned to compassion. I now knew myself- and then could find compassion for my brothers and sisters who were suffering, like me- not so long ago. Not trying to fix them-but understanding that they too are receiving messengers like myself when they were ready they would see. I wasn't my job to interfere in their journey or their lessons.I had enough work of my own to do.
I then understood what Gandhi meant by-"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
I have made it my life mission to be the best mirror I can be to the world.
But there is always work to do ;)
Amen.
from co-dependence was to 'go first' and 'focus on my own growth only'.
Sounds simple enough...right!
A native American Teacher of mine had sent me out to 'observe' for a week, the
things and people that crossed my path.
Then return with the results.
So being a judgmental, co-dependent control freak...I was excited to get the
opportunity to observe who and what came into the path of my ever present
critical eye...I was writing things down like a mad woman....
I was in a restaurant and there was a woman at the next table who was loud and
abrasive- she was running over her friend and interrupted to 'one up'; her with
a bigger and better story.. I was annoyed- and felt angry at her..
How Rude! I thought.
I then observed a man bullying a woman at the gas station. I thought he was an
egomaniac- and was using his energy to overpower her.....and HER what's wrong with her????
Why didn't she see that this was not ok? Were was her backbone?
She just stood there and cried, like a victim. Where was her self respect????
After a week of these observations- my teacher asked me to write down all of the critical things I had observed.
I was very proud-
1. arrogance
2. abrasiveness
3. loud and overbearing
4. know it all
5. victim
6. bully
7. interrupter
8. bad listener
9. lack of self respect
10. (my favorite) bitch.
Then he asked me to write down the beautiful things I had observed..
Beautiful things? I had not written any beautiful things.
He then told me to write 'I AM' in front of all the criticisms.
Screech....what?
He then went on to explain that the Great Mystery -Creator- had sent all of those people as messengers- so I could get a look at myself in the Smoking Mirror of Illusion of Self..
I was horrified.
He said the reason I could not write about anything beautiful is because I could not acknowledge anything beautiful about myself..
This exercise changed my life.
We are all but a mirror for each other. I stopped wanting to fix others because I was now too busy fixing those flaws in myself. Frankly I didn't want to look in that mirror any more than I had to...lol
I began looking for the beautiful things in others and began to truly accept the beautiful things I had not cultivated in myself because of my negative attitude and low self esteem.
My intense judgment soon turned to compassion. I now knew myself- and then could find compassion for my brothers and sisters who were suffering, like me- not so long ago. Not trying to fix them-but understanding that they too are receiving messengers like myself when they were ready they would see. I wasn't my job to interfere in their journey or their lessons.I had enough work of my own to do.
I then understood what Gandhi meant by-"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
I have made it my life mission to be the best mirror I can be to the world.
But there is always work to do ;)
Amen.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pain.......
I was having lunch at school with my son and his friends. The school is having a poetry competition that had them memorizing and performing a 25 line poem- this exercise is mandatory. They were all excited because the semi-finalists came out today.
One of the girls recited her poem for me and it was entitled "Pain" by Ellen Kang.
I have been having some personal and spiritual growing pains of my own- so I saw it as a message- and I was very focused on what she was saying..
Her poem was dark and shocking; it dealt with someone wanting to silence the pain and run from it through addiction and suicide- but it was much more than that.
For me it identified the many painful places that I (not so long ago) had and still have on some level... I welled up as she finished and was amazed and her emotion as she recited it. I gave her a high Five and told her that was beautiful.
(She probably thinks I'm a weirdo...lol)She said no one really liked it because it was about suicide. I told her it is about more than that. Her poem makes people uncomfortable with the pain of others and their own pain.
I've been reflecting on this during this New Moon-
Pain is necessary- whether physically,emotionally or spiritually; it is designed to stop us and have us look at the source of the pain for the lesson, the learning.
Then we will choose to allow it- accept it- and grow from it... OR
pain can also causes us to blame- to wallow in it and to deny it..and rid ourselves of the experience of it.
Pain is a change in the making- a change of consciousness- or a change in our physical way of doing. But the loving force of the Divine; allows us the free will and allows us to feel the pain- like a parent who knows what's best and allows us to do it our way. Knowing the pain will come. Knowing the pain will teach
Now that is purely unconditional love....
The thought for the day is From The Prophet- by Kahlil Gilbran
Pain
And a woman spoke, saying, 'Tell us of Pain.'
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.
Kahlil Gibran
One of the girls recited her poem for me and it was entitled "Pain" by Ellen Kang.
I have been having some personal and spiritual growing pains of my own- so I saw it as a message- and I was very focused on what she was saying..
Her poem was dark and shocking; it dealt with someone wanting to silence the pain and run from it through addiction and suicide- but it was much more than that.
For me it identified the many painful places that I (not so long ago) had and still have on some level... I welled up as she finished and was amazed and her emotion as she recited it. I gave her a high Five and told her that was beautiful.
(She probably thinks I'm a weirdo...lol)She said no one really liked it because it was about suicide. I told her it is about more than that. Her poem makes people uncomfortable with the pain of others and their own pain.
I've been reflecting on this during this New Moon-
Pain is necessary- whether physically,emotionally or spiritually; it is designed to stop us and have us look at the source of the pain for the lesson, the learning.
Then we will choose to allow it- accept it- and grow from it... OR
pain can also causes us to blame- to wallow in it and to deny it..and rid ourselves of the experience of it.
Pain is a change in the making- a change of consciousness- or a change in our physical way of doing. But the loving force of the Divine; allows us the free will and allows us to feel the pain- like a parent who knows what's best and allows us to do it our way. Knowing the pain will come. Knowing the pain will teach
Now that is purely unconditional love....
The thought for the day is From The Prophet- by Kahlil Gilbran
Pain
And a woman spoke, saying, 'Tell us of Pain.'
And he said:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.
And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.
Kahlil Gibran
Friday, April 24, 2009
A Village of One- Rise
Some days, I feel like a Village of One.
There are many times in our life when we will have to choose between doing the safe and easy thing- or the harder, better thing.
That sounds simple enough in theory, but as martin Luther King said;
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"
--Martin Luther King Jr
Fear is a crippling thing.
Courage asks you to rise in spite of popularity- of the status quo- of harm- or retaliation.
Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I marvel at how "gangs" band together to create destruction, chaos and fear..but seldom do we have "gangs" of do good-ers banding together to take a stand for Peace, Love..
Each loving sensitive person in this world feels like a Village of One; unable to have the strength to overcome these darker forces... alone.
Nice people are afraid of making people angry, we are conditioned to turn the other cheek; afraid to Rise, to become a target......
Setting Peaceful, Loving boundaries and speaking our truth will always annoy people who are not being their highest and best..
But your example will empower others to have the courage to Rise..........
With Love and Compassion and en-courage-ing each other,through our example- we can make a difference.
You are not alone, have the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak of Love, Hope and Peace, justice and the right to be...
and before you know it you will not be alone anymore....
Here is the thought for the day;
And I Rise- Maya Angelou
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Namaste,
Marianne Goldweber
There are many times in our life when we will have to choose between doing the safe and easy thing- or the harder, better thing.
That sounds simple enough in theory, but as martin Luther King said;
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"
--Martin Luther King Jr
Fear is a crippling thing.
Courage asks you to rise in spite of popularity- of the status quo- of harm- or retaliation.
Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I marvel at how "gangs" band together to create destruction, chaos and fear..but seldom do we have "gangs" of do good-ers banding together to take a stand for Peace, Love..
Each loving sensitive person in this world feels like a Village of One; unable to have the strength to overcome these darker forces... alone.
Nice people are afraid of making people angry, we are conditioned to turn the other cheek; afraid to Rise, to become a target......
Setting Peaceful, Loving boundaries and speaking our truth will always annoy people who are not being their highest and best..
But your example will empower others to have the courage to Rise..........
With Love and Compassion and en-courage-ing each other,through our example- we can make a difference.
You are not alone, have the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak of Love, Hope and Peace, justice and the right to be...
and before you know it you will not be alone anymore....
Here is the thought for the day;
And I Rise- Maya Angelou
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Namaste,
Marianne Goldweber
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Rainbow of gratitude
"There are times I forget to be grateful
easier to see things that are wrong
as I dishonor the the gifts I've been given
with worry, angst and woe.
There are times I need reminding
of the things I take for granted each day;
my children, my home or a stranger,
sent to brighten my way.
Take some time to say thank you
for the blessings that color your day;
Those colors will form a rainbow,
and chase the darkness away.
"
~Marianne Goldweber
easier to see things that are wrong
as I dishonor the the gifts I've been given
with worry, angst and woe.
There are times I need reminding
of the things I take for granted each day;
my children, my home or a stranger,
sent to brighten my way.
Take some time to say thank you
for the blessings that color your day;
Those colors will form a rainbow,
and chase the darkness away.
"
~Marianne Goldweber
Do you know God?
The more I know and accept myself,
the more I know God
The more I replace judgment and fear with Peace and Compassion,
The more I know God
The more I give myself in service to others,
The more I know God.
Marianne Goldweber
the more I know God
The more I replace judgment and fear with Peace and Compassion,
The more I know God
The more I give myself in service to others,
The more I know God.
Marianne Goldweber
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