Our old ones always brought the bread for the woman to bake. Even if she was sick and in bed, Grandfather would take the dough to her so she could knead it before it went in the oven. Not because he was being insensitive and disrespectful, but because woman brought life to the food, and our ancestors knew this and respected it. As women we have the power to teach our sons how a sister, mother, lover should be treated. We can empower them with respect for all life, so they will know the value of peace. As the primary caretakers of children when they are young, women can be a powerful force in the development of their sons.

It is time for us as women to take responsibility for the results of our children’s upbringing. For it is not only men who are to blame for wars, abuse and disrespect of the feminine principles. We must stand strong now, for the earth is in great transition, and as she goes through her many changes so must we. When woman surrendered to patriarchal control, it created imbalance. Men and women together hold all the gifts to bring back harmony, peace, honor and respect. It is together we will walk again in dignity and in the beauty way.

So, yes, there are many broken women, but when things fall apart, they can be mended, and in the mending are made whole. Women are the peace keepers, and yet there is nothing more fierce than a woman protecting her young. So she need not be broken. It is not a truth that women are weak. We can choose to be whole, strong, and noble. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our men equal in every way. Indeed we must quest to heal ourselves fully from the chains of dependency, and in freeing ourselves as women, we also lift some of the burdens from the men in our lives.

When women truly know, and value themselves, and are comfortable in their femininity and their strengths, men will lose their destructive arrogance, for women will no longer give it audience. The story goes that where women blaze a trail, men will surely follow. So the day is coming when the story of broken woman will be an old legend, and in this legend she will be a heroine, and her name will be Wholesome Woman Bringer of Beauty.

ST I KA YI