My last full day on the Land, I wore this necklace, one from my extensive collection of cool pendants made by Zelda (who is, unfortunately, not making them anymore). On one side it says Be Optimistic, and on the other side it says HOPE.
It was a hard day, knowing I would soon be leaving my home in the woods and my family there. Also, knowing I would be going out into the real world of sexism and hating and tragedies and other sad things made me sick to my stomach.
So, my re-entry is crawling along, and not going so well. I suppose I need to put this necklace back on.
This year several people at the the festival, for different reasons, told me to have more faith. This may seem a strange (or rude?) thing to say to someone preparing for a religious career, especially coming as it did from agnostics and atheists, but I am continuing to ponder the wisdom in the sentiment.
So often, it is easier for our friends to see our potential or our gifts or our calling than it is for us to see our own. We need them to remind us of who we are. At least, I do.
This is one of the best things about the festival for me, that somehow I've been lucky enough to gather a group of friends there who really see me--all of me--and who aren't afraid to speak up when I need them to.
So, tonight I'm really trying to remember the feeling of being embraced by women who truly know and love me, and to figure out how I can carry that feeling with me, especially in the places where I feel like I can't be my whole self.
It sounds like you need to bead, or knit, or maybe make some new kind of art that you haven't tried before?
Posted by: Cordelia's Mother aka Auntie Knickers | August 19, 2007 at 02:42 PM
come over for an art day!
i really could use the motivation for some beading.
Posted by: celeste | August 20, 2007 at 08:11 AM