Comments on: Woman Am I: A Blessingway Night http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/ Am I Not a Woman and a Sister? Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:13:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dreaming About Women Exercising the Priesthood « The Exponent http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13648 Dreaming About Women Exercising the Priesthood « The Exponent Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:08:44 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13648 [...] by reading blog entries about how a feminist feels about baby blessings, questioning authority, mormon feminist activism, and blessings administered by women, I [...] [...] by reading blog entries about how a feminist feels about baby blessings, questioning authority, mormon feminist activism, and blessings administered by women, I [...]

]]> By: Voni http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13647 Voni Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:42:47 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13647 Dear Lisi - how rich and beautiful. Just what you hoped such an experience would be. Bless you (& Kevin too) as you pass through the portals of new life. Dear Lisi – how rich and beautiful. Just what you hoped such an experience would be. Bless you (& Kevin too) as you pass through the portals of new life.

]]> By: Annie http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13646 Annie Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:08:27 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13646 I loved reading this. I wanted a blessingway, but didn't want to ask anyone to have on for me. I had a fine baby shower, but felt like I was missing a piece for me. I love reading that you organized your own, that makes me feel like I can do so next time (if there is a next time). I just feel it is so important to honor the strength and power of women, especially around the time of birth. It is such an important time to feel connected to the Mother power in each of us, and that connects us as women. I loved reading this. I wanted a blessingway, but didn’t want to ask anyone to have on for me. I had a fine baby shower, but felt like I was missing a piece for me. I love reading that you organized your own, that makes me feel like I can do so next time (if there is a next time). I just feel it is so important to honor the strength and power of women, especially around the time of birth. It is such an important time to feel connected to the Mother power in each of us, and that connects us as women.

]]> By: Kelly Ann http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13645 Kelly Ann Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:49:23 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13645 Alisa, thank you for describing this experience. Congratulations again on your pregnancy. It is great that you are finding ritual that satisfies you. It makes me want the same. I love that this community fosters the ability to be our unashamed unique selves. Alisa, thank you for describing this experience. Congratulations again on your pregnancy. It is great that you are finding ritual that satisfies you. It makes me want the same. I love that this community fosters the ability to be our unashamed unique selves.

]]> By: EmilyCC http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13644 EmilyCC Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:26:37 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13644 This is beautiful, Alisa! I can't help but wonder what it would be like if the ward Relief Societies did something like this for new mothers. This is beautiful, Alisa! I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if the ward Relief Societies did something like this for new mothers.

]]> By: CatherineWO http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13643 CatherineWO Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:21:18 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13643 What a beautiful experience you created for yourself and others. I am quite envious. It is interesting that in the early days of the Church, it was common for sisters to bless each other and their children. Women who were about to give birth were often washed, annointed and blessed by other women. My own great, great grandmother was set apart by Joseph Smith to be a midwife and a healer. How beautiful it is that you have found a way to bring ritual into your life and home. I too have read Sue Monk Kidd's book, and there is something deep within me that yearns for ritual and symbols to outwardly express the Divine Feminine. Thank you for sharing this very personal experience with us. It encourages me to find ways for such expression in my own life. What a beautiful experience you created for yourself and others. I am quite envious. It is interesting that in the early days of the Church, it was common for sisters to bless each other and their children. Women who were about to give birth were often washed, annointed and blessed by other women. My own great, great grandmother was set apart by Joseph Smith to be a midwife and a healer. How beautiful it is that you have found a way to bring ritual into your life and home.
I too have read Sue Monk Kidd’s book, and there is something deep within me that yearns for ritual and symbols to outwardly express the Divine Feminine. Thank you for sharing this very personal experience with us. It encourages me to find ways for such expression in my own life.

]]> By: Alisa http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13642 Alisa Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:37:55 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13642 Jana, I love the idea of the ocean taking away the string we used as a reminder. I am so glad you were able to attend and be a part of the community that night. It makes me so happy to the string in your pics and remember that night! Racy, I thought a lot about the lack of ritual in my life in the Church as well. My husband and I are pack leaders for the Cub Scouts in our stake, and we're often thinking of Arrow of Light ceremonies to make the boys feel special. We try to really make it a coming-of-age ceremony for them as a capstone to their Cubs experience. When I told some women about my blessingway ceremony, they seemed a little uncomfortable with it. I can understand, since it is something so many are unfamiliar with, but at the same time it makes me sad for the daughters who are not offered the same sense of uplifting ritual that Cub or Boy Scouts are offered many times over through Church-sponsored programs. Jana, I love the idea of the ocean taking away the string we used as a reminder. I am so glad you were able to attend and be a part of the community that night. It makes me so happy to the string in your pics and remember that night!

Racy, I thought a lot about the lack of ritual in my life in the Church as well. My husband and I are pack leaders for the Cub Scouts in our stake, and we’re often thinking of Arrow of Light ceremonies to make the boys feel special. We try to really make it a coming-of-age ceremony for them as a capstone to their Cubs experience.

When I told some women about my blessingway ceremony, they seemed a little uncomfortable with it. I can understand, since it is something so many are unfamiliar with, but at the same time it makes me sad for the daughters who are not offered the same sense of uplifting ritual that Cub or Boy Scouts are offered many times over through Church-sponsored programs.

]]> By: Alisa http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13641 Alisa Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:31:19 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13641 kmillecam, I would love to talk to you more about your experience reading The Dance of the Dissident Daughter. I loved how the book described healing the feminine wound through community and ritual. I never expected ritual or ceremony to be so meaningful to me spiritually, as I'm usually a person who lives a lot in my head, but since reading her experiences, I've found that these experiences are very important for my spiritual journey. Claire, thanks for commenting! kmillecam, I would love to talk to you more about your experience reading The Dance of the Dissident Daughter. I loved how the book described healing the feminine wound through community and ritual. I never expected ritual or ceremony to be so meaningful to me spiritually, as I’m usually a person who lives a lot in my head, but since reading her experiences, I’ve found that these experiences are very important for my spiritual journey.

Claire, thanks for commenting!

]]> By: Alisa http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13640 Alisa Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:28:44 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13640 D'Arcy, I loved the blessing on my home, and for the welcoming space it will make for my little one. I'm glad you offered to share your gift! Stina, I'm so glad that you felt something enriching to you - as you know, I'm not always comfortable being 100% the center of attention, and so knowing that the other women present could take something meaningful away is really important to me. D’Arcy, I loved the blessing on my home, and for the welcoming space it will make for my little one. I’m glad you offered to share your gift!

Stina, I’m so glad that you felt something enriching to you – as you know, I’m not always comfortable being 100% the center of attention, and so knowing that the other women present could take something meaningful away is really important to me.

]]> By: Alisa http://www.the-exponent.com/2009/11/12/woman-am-i-a-blessingway/comment-page-1/#comment-13639 Alisa Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:26:28 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3695#comment-13639 G, thanks for your comment. I've often thought about your feminine altar pics, and thought about making some space in my home to remind me of my divine nature and events like this. Jess, I completely feel empowered by the ability to make my own sacred experiences now. I've been thinking about how there are blessings in that we're not necessarily commanded in everything, nor do we have to receive express permission/direction in everything. Women gathering together to strengthen each other can be so empowering, especially when it comes at the express desire of the women themselves. G, thanks for your comment. I’ve often thought about your feminine altar pics, and thought about making some space in my home to remind me of my divine nature and events like this.

Jess, I completely feel empowered by the ability to make my own sacred experiences now. I’ve been thinking about how there are blessings in that we’re not necessarily commanded in everything, nor do we have to receive express permission/direction in everything. Women gathering together to strengthen each other can be so empowering, especially when it comes at the express desire of the women themselves.

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