Back during the old-time 70s feminist days, there was a lot being written about women and depression, women and repressed anger (depression being anger turned inward). Lots of us opted to let our anger out
Kalilily Time
Just an old lady talking to herself
i take it you are already familiar with sandra ingerman’s soul retrieval. i’ve been meaning to re-read that one, i need it bad right about now.
you actually remind me of the women i used to work with at gaia bookstore in berkeley in the mid-90’s. i was one of two “token males” [said tongue in cheek of course] at a ecofeminist/women’s spirituality book/art store in berkeley, ca. it was some of the most fun i’ve had in my whole life. the store had to go out of business but i think the former owner, patrice wynne, is still coordinating huge conferences with famous authors, and is still working on building a community center. if you google patrice you’ll find her book, “the womanspirit sourcebook”, somewhere out there. she was a great boss. we used to start and end staff meetings by sitting in a circle, holding hands and meditating.
Wow. A guy whose really comfortable working within a circle of wild and wyrd women! Now that’s a rarity in my world.
I’ve heard of Sandra Ingerman’s book but I haven’t read it. My problem is that I really balk at approaches that really believe in “soul” or “higher power.” For me, all of that is ME, parts of me that I don’t know very well. As a poet, I really revel in symbols, methaphors, myths, but I don’t take their representation literally. And while I appreciate the good feelings of “loving affirmations,’ I often get pretty bored with too much of that. I like the inner adventures that shamanic therapy leads me into — the chance to step into my own personal mythos and get swept away into those deep caverns of my psyche that are not accessible any other way. For me, that’s the place where personal power simmers, the hearthfire around which those sweet demons linger, waiting to be revealed, loved, and released.
Elaine, in this one paragraph, you make several damning assumptions. I think you’d be well advise to re-read:
“When I read what webloggers at slumberland. and notsosimple and even rageboy write about their struggles to find a way to live lives that feel satisfying and connected as well as challenging and stimulating, I want to tell them that there are other ways
Jeneane, You’re making a lot of assumptions about my making assumptions (none of which are true) and implying that I made implications I never made. Given our past altercation, I can’t help but assume it’s all because I mentioned rageboy, and you felt obligated to come to his rescue again. I, myself, take an anti-depressant (for the very reason you cite), and I do recognize that there are psychological conditions that require prescription medications. I was referring to non-prescription drugs that alter states of consciousness and I should have been more clear on that point.
The web sites I cite happen to be those that include relatively recent posts that reflect “struggles to find a way to live lives that feel satisfying and connected as well as challenging and stimulating.” (Don’t we all?) They even refer to going to therapists. So I’m not jumping to any conclusions about their being dissatisfied with fundamental aspects of their lives.
Jeaouls of my new Blog Sisters’ youth and popularity? If I were, why would I give them links to send even more readers their way? This is not a competition going on here. This is a sharing of experiences and information. Chill out, girl. I know things have been rough for you lately.