Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Featuring MAU Handbook Portrait Ohki Simine Forest.

Ancient Native ways teach that there is nothing on
Earth more powerful than a circle of decided women.
In ancient Council ways,
the circle of women is at the center of the community,
holding the heart of all people . . .
The Earth is calling for this return to Council ways,
calling women to take up her Bow of Authority.



Ohki Siminé Forest
, Red Wind Councils,
featured in the 2007 MAU Handbook, Mother Leadership



"Not Your Everyday Baby Shower."

MAU co-founder Beth Osnes is a woman of many hats, aprons and gloves; she includes in her wide array of spirited talents those of writer and performer. She is the author of Twice Alive: A Spiritual Guide to Mothering Through Pregnancy and the Child's First Year. Her article, Not Your Everyday Baby Shower, which originally ran in Issue 138 September / October 2006 of Mothering Magazine is currently the featured article on the esteemed mama-mag's website. The article is a wonderful resource for expectant mothers and host friends who want to create an uplifting and celebratory experience for the mother-to-be and her surrounding tribe.

The picture above is of my belly cast in progress at my very own blessingway -- a not-so-everyday-baby-shower given by my closest mama friends just a few weeks before giving birth to my son.

Monday, February 05, 2007

"Vote for Mom."


In response to this excellent article in last week's New York Times, Mothers Acting Up Co-founder Juliana Forbes (below) wrote the following letter to the editor:

Robin Toner’s article, “Vote for Mom” (1.29.07) asserts that Pelosi and Clinton have exhibited enough political strength to afford wooing voters by showcasing their motherhood. Perhaps also motherhood is seen now as a SOURCE of strength in political leadership. Mothers – traditionally the keepers of domestic issues – are recognizing that their children’s lives are at stake – and are claiming the “tough” issues of national security, the environment and international relations & development as their own Mother Agenda. Faced with sobering facts – today 1 child dies every 3 seconds due to mostly preventable causes and almost every other child in the world lives in poverty (UNICEF) – mothers are becoming a powerful lobby for children and view other mothers as most likely to protect children. The Motherhood Study reports that 92% of mothers care about the wellbeing of all children – not just their own – and 72% agree more mothers in political power in America would make life better for mothers and children. Maybe Pelosi and Clinton aren’t just being savvy; perhaps they truly see mothers leading a magnificent revolution to prioritize children’s lives.


J
uliana Forbes
Cofounder, Mothers Acting Up
www.mothersactingup.org