Wangari Maathai receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo – the first black African woman to do so

Wangari Maathai’s compelling life story is inextricably linked with the social and political changes that so much of Africa has been through since the idea of throwing off European colonialism began to gain traction shortly after World War II.

Her unique insight was that the lives of Kenyans – and, by extension, of people in many other developing countries – would be made better if economic and social progress went hand in hand with environmental protection.

The Green Belt Movement, which she founded in 1977, has planted an estimated 45 million trees around Kenya.

The straightforward environmental benefits of that would have been important enough on their own in a country whose population has grown more than 10-fold over the last century, creating huge pressure on land and water.

But what made the movement more remarkable was that it was also conceived as a source of employment in rural areas, and a way to give new skills to women who regularly came second to men in terms of power, education, nutrition and much else.

Now, she has succumbed to a battle with cancer. But if cancer was new to her, battle was definitely not; it was a way of life.

Opposing a major government-backed development in Nairobi, she was labelled a “crazy woman”; it was suggested that she should behave like a good African woman and do as she was told.

Her former husband made similar comments when suing for divorce: she was strong-willed, and could not be controlled.

To read more of this BBC story, click here.

Here is what I wrote the first time I set eyes on her extraordinary work: “Colette’s magnificent limited edition of GATEWAYS OF THE DIVINE: An Illuminated Manuscript for the Modern Age is a catalytic portal into the shadow world. During the course of a decade, Colette underwent her own intense initiation and deep process, and through this has emerged a work of art that is both compelling and a powerful transformational tool.”
- JEFF HUTNER, Writer and Producer.

To read more about the book and watch a video I shot for her please visit Gateways of the Divine (http://www.gatewaysofthedivine.com). Colette is offering her remaining copies at cost to NPD readers.

From Colette’s Crucible of Chronic Illness

Moving Forward
10 Sep 2011 05:10 PM PDT

Solutio I

And moving forward takes feral courage,
opens the wildest
and most outrageous light of all,

becomes the hardest path of all.
the firm line we drew in the sand
becomes the river we will not cross.

But the river of the soul flows on
and the soul
refuses safety until it finds the sea.

The ocean of longing,
the sea of your deeper want,
the gravity well of your own desire,

the place you would fall becomes
in falling
the place you are held.

-DAVID WHYTE
from “Millennium”

“I don’t know if I should write or scream,” I confess to my sister Carolyn at the end of June. For a month now my body has been riddled with angry, itchy hives, my entire immune system inflamed and overwhelmed, my nights turbulent and devoid of restful sleep. All the symptoms of my chronic health conditions have returned with a blood-sucking vengeance – crippling fatigue, digestive distress, brain fog, a woefully weakened immunity. I am numb with shock, spun out from suffering, unraveled in anguish. I’m outraged, but too stunned to express it. How did I get cast into the Underworld from just one chemical cocktail injected into my veins?

At the end of May, as I complete two months of Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments, I feel as if I am sailing off into the healing sunset. I am feeling vastly improved, with greater stamina and vitality, a stronger immune system, and the sense of hope about the unfolding of my life. I feel a great sense of accomplishment, having worked so hard to raise the money for this treatment course, and an enduring gratitude to all the friends and family whose generous support made it possible. I have also completed a month of IV chelation therapy for heavy metal toxicity, which has been going very well, with few side effects. I only have 4 more weeks of IV treatments to go, and then I will be retested to check if I needed additional treatments. As far as I am concerned, I am in the home stretch.

Just five days after completing the HBOT treatments, however, I have a blind date with destiny in the form of a chemical called DMPS, which I later discover was developed in the post WWII era for acute mercury and industrial chemical poisoning, and gets injected into my sensitive body to remove only moderately elevated levels of mercury. In a few short hours, my veins take in an overwhelming blend of IV DMPS for mercury, IV EDTA for lead, and followed by an injection of glucathione, a potent antioxidant, and then a push of minerals, which burns and aches terribly as it goes into my arm. I leave the clinic feeling weak, unstable, in a state of shock. I come home, collapsing into bed at 5PM. All night I feel as if I have poison coursing through my veins. I feel assaulted, but I tell myself that maybe it’s just the toxic metals clearing from my system.

The next morning, though, I don’t feel anything is clearing out from my body. My digestive system is on strike and I feel increasingly toxic. Then hives start erupting all over my body. Inside and out, my body feels inflamed, my immune and nervous systems on red alert. The next night, I am unable to sleep. Something is very, very wrong. I’m sinking in a cesspool of fire.

Ragged and worried at this point, I go to the computer the following morning to research DMPS, since that was the only drug I’d never been given before in the IV chelation series, and I had been tolerating the IV EDTA treatments well. I find out that DMPS is not an FDA approved drug, and its status is only as a “bulk chemical” that requires an informed patient consent in order to be legally administered. I was not warned of any dangers and side effects, nor given a DMPS consent form to sign. I also find out in my research that chemical chelators are not supposed to be combined in one treatment, and that it is necessary to wait 24 hours before receiving the mineral push, neither of which happened in my case. There are serious risks associated with the use of DMPS, especially with in those with chronic conditions and sensitive constitutions. Dr. Thomas Levy, a cardiologist who co-authored the book Uninformed Consent, says “DMPS is an unqualified sledge hammer to the immune system. Immune declines and clinical illness can result can result for weeks and sometimes even months after only one injection of DMPS.” Even Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., who is an expert on heavy metal detoxification and is a big proponent of IV chelation therapy himself writes, “More aggressive approaches, such as I.V. Glutathione, Vit.C, DMPS, CaEDTA and others have a place in reasonably healthy people but often worsen the condition in patients with advanced illness.” If I had known any of this beforehand, I certainly wouldn’t have agreed to this treatment.

What was my naturopathic doctor thinking? When she had recommended this IV treatment course to remove toxic metals several months earlier, I had expressed concern about DMPS in particular, because a friend had suffered permanent kidney damage 10 years earlier from IV DMPS. My doctor assured me that the IV specialist had the latest training, and that I was in good hands. End of discussion. No explanation of possible dangers and side effects, nor an informed consent for me to sign. None of the standard preliminary tests were done on me prior to starting the chelation series: blood and urine tests to assess the health of my kidneys, liver, and immune system, hair test to check mineral levels, nor an EKG and chest x ray to see if my heart would be at risk. Hard lesson learned: no matter how much you like and trust your doctor, do the research yourself before agreeing to any drug or treatment course. I know my doctor didn’t intend to hurt me, but that doesn’t excuse the gross negligence in this situation.

“Acceptance is hard. To accept my pain means holding it in my arms, like a package handed to me, my proper burden to be carried. The package may be as heavy as lead, or burning hot, or stuck through with razors, but I must concede that it is my package, simply because it has arrived in my life.

It is not a mistake. It has not been sent by accident to the wrong person. I may not welcome it, but accepting means I can carry it without protest for as long as necessary—and then I lay it down.”

-JEANNE DUPRAU, author, The City of Ember

In the weeks and months that follow, I do everything I can to recover from this nightmare: juice fasting, strict diets, energy healings, and two weeks of additional HBOT treatments to help me get over the worst of the DMPS poisoning. I am now working with a highly skilled and intuitive MD named Catherine Fehrmann who specializes in safe and gentle detoxification, as well as healing areas of infection and trauma in the body. God knows, my body has been through it. I’m now on a regime that includes chlorella tablets and cilantro tincture for the heavy metals, as well as a host of other pills and potions. So far, the treatment is going well. I feel like I’m in good hands.

It’s been more than three months since the DMPS debacle, and unfortunately my immune system continues to feel weakened, with frequent bodily aches and pains, and swollen glands. I have some good days, but my overall energy and stamina are not good. I wonder how long it will take for me to recover fully. I’m considering going back for more Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments, since they are gentle and have had the most positive impact on my health of any course I’ve been on during the past decade.

I’m worn out from what I have been through, but I’m hanging in there. On September 22nd, just 11 days after 9/11, I celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of my book, “Gateways of the Divine: An Illuminated Manuscript for the Modern Age.” At another time I will share the amazing and mysterious synchronicities between the events of 9/11 and the Gateways, but for now I will offer one jewel I gleaned from birthing this 7 lb. book: If you follow your healing path completely, and trust the guidance you receive along the way, you will naturally be led to your path of service in the world.

With a feral courage, I’m moving forward…

“Solutio I,” 4×6” collage on paper from The Oracle of Alchemy, ©2006-2011 by Colette de Gagnier. To order prints from this series, please visit Alchemy of the Divine and Colette’s Visionary Art Gallery at www.MysticAlchemyDesign.com

To learn more about Colette’s book, Gateways of the Divine, please go to www.gatewaysofthedivine.com

For more information on the risks and side effects associated with DMPS, please go to http://www.dmpsbackfire.com/dmps/default.shtml

For more information on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, please go to: www.ImproveHealing.com

For more information on the healing work of Dr. Catherine Fehrmann, please go to http://www.catherinefehrmannmd.com

For more information on the writing of Jeanne Du Prau : http://www.jeanneduprau.com/books.shtml

For more information on the offerings of poet David Whyte: www.davidwhyte.com

you can change : a sweeping affirmation

seemingly impossible; they can, but you can’t; not in this lifetime, light years away, inconceivable.

the stuff of dreams.

luck.

ha.

instead, take this into your cells:

miracles, proof, evolution and revolutions, breakthroughs, dawnings, devotion, in time, in the realm of possibility, with the power of love, come hell or high water, positively conceivable…

you can

: laugh again after unspeakable loss. joy will wind it’s way around scars that will never unknot within you – like smiling ivy warming tree roots.

: triple your income. jump a “class bracket”. pay cash. never worry again about if you have enough money to do what you want.

: be one week from filing divorce papers and see that he’s the LOVE OF YOUR LIFE. (oh yes, I know of what I speak.)

: get over not getting what you thought you wanted to get but never got from your parents – because at some point, you need to get on with getting what you want in the here and now. (give your folks a break.)

: have never walked a full mile and become one of those people who not only runs many miles but LOVES to run. This happens, I’ve heard tell.

: where you used to fill space and time to avoid the terror of stillness, you can actually rest in the peace of your radiant mind. calm permeating.

: come out of the closet, stand in front of your family, and commit to the one you love in full colour and pride.

: lose the weight – permanently. yes, forever.

: hug the person who you sold you down the river when you run into her on the street years later — and mean it.

: melt into love.

truly,
you
can

Revealing
(excerpt)

Overpowering reason
And disbelief, releasing
Concepts of reality
And imagination.

Overpowering thought and being
A presence of knowing:
Forgotten.
Sing your passions everyday,

Surrender to your beliefs
In actions, devotion and peace;
Live them, beyond the
Constraints of necessity.

Release the comforts
Of security, the comfort
Of searching, losing excuses
To the exceptions of

Faith, boundless…

~ Via Angeline Kalí

Don’t forget to click the watch in browser at the lower left of this e-mail to watch the video if you cannot click to activate the player.

Danielle LaPorte is a brilliant luminous writer and consultant who I have only read and yet I admit I love her-highly creative mind.  Enjoy!

open wide.
give your desires words. out loud words.
tenderly gaze of the eye to eye.
expose your craving anyway you must, under a blanket or backed by a rented band.
reveal your intentions, clean.
stand there, vulnerable, waiting.
describe your dream, in detail.
clarify what you’re afraid of and give faith to the opposite.

engage every cell in fiercely wishing:
to be seen. to be graduated. adored. valued. validated. met.

the moment holds it all. give it then and there.
even if it didn’t work before, or you’re not sure what will come out of you to make for something new. (you can’t be sure)

blow off the past.

ask for what you want.

unzip the casing of your personality and let that inner layer feel the air. smart warm life.
do it in front of another being.

this is terrifying relief:
to merge
out in front
melting edges
contributing
punctuations of ecstasy
everyday happiness deepening

we know.

pulse open. open. open.

you will get hurt. shattered — guaranteed.
a glance will cut. denial will bruise, rejection will fracture.
you’ll cry. clenched. you’ll be infuriated. you may choose to walk away — agonized.
leave. quit. swing back. shoot a dart of defense.
you’ll regret it — more or less.

if you stay there, closed down ’round your core, then you’ll never leave the house feeling like yourself.
you’ll pad your soul with stuff destined for landfills.
piles of dislike and complaints will heave between you and bliss.
(bliss is possible. we know.)
itchy. tight. foggy. this happens when the heart is veiled.
nothing will ever be quite right, day after day.

pulse back open.
do it to be it.
lean toward.
worship your precious impulses.
focus to expansion.
this once.

open
up
any
way

From Danielle LaPorte

the manifesto of encouragement

right now:

There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.

Someone you haven’t met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.

Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.

Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God’s children.

A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, “nourish them.”

Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you. Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favourite food is, and treat you to a movie. Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you — for free.

Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.

The next great song is being rehearsed.

Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.

Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.

Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they’ll be thriving like never before. They just can’t see it from where they’re at.

Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to ARRIVE, will get precisely what they want — and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it’s reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all “So worth the wait.”

Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche — this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.

Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.

Someone is fighting the fight so that you don’t have to.

Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe. Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.

Someone is regaining their sanity. Someone is coming back from the dead. Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable. Someone is curing the incurable.

You. Me. Some. One. Now.

self hatred: beneath sugar-coated criticism + self improvement

Self hatred.
Could there be a heavier, shame-soaked, cringe-inducing concept?
Hating yourself.
Hatred.
Hate of self.
You hating…you.

Park that thought for a minute.

You’re self-referencing. You’re successful (and you’re bright enough to know that that’s a relative term.) You’re a generally wide-awake, highly confident, compassionate, secure citizen of the collective. You know who you are. You’re committed to knowing more. You practice mindful speech, you send light to the people who piss you off, you get regular massage treatments, you own a few sex toys, you do workshops. Clearly, you treat yourself well. You know you’re worth it.

Self hatred? You?

Me?

I HATE MYSELF. THERE, I SAID IT.

I used to think my list of self-criticisms, we’re just criticisms. Innocuous opinions I held about myself that were mild, understandable, reasonable even – part of being aware of my “shadow”. Growth points. That on-going, fucking incessant chatter (as chill and dignified as it is,) goes something like this:

I SORT OF SUCK BECAUSE I SHOULD … (and I bet you can insert your own list here…) lose ten more pounds, work less, be kinder to my man, more attentive to my boy, less concerned about “arriving”, more responsive to my readers, less fixated on Twitter, more informed about world politics, less spendy, more willing to adopt a child, less judgmental of all of the shitty customer service and mediocrity in the world, more motivated to get my ass on my bike, less obsessive about strategic planning, more inclined to socialize, less irritated by small talk, more inclined to do less, and blah-blah-fucking-self-critical-unrelenting-BLAAAAH.

Add to that list: dust bunnies, a few missed birthdays, a grandmother that deserves a phone call, an overflowing Facebook inbox that I ignore, a nightstand piled high with books in progress (although I keep buying more books,) and some memories of thoughtless things I said to good people who may have been hurt by my ego … and, well, it’s not adding up to a lot of self-compassion or oozing Goddess worth, is it? It’s not sounding so light, so harmless, or so innocuous, is it?

Park that thought for a minute.

I ADORE MYSELF. TRULY. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
I could list 10,000 reasons, here and now, why I’m The High Priestess of Loveliness. My heart is galactic. My mind is laser-razor. I’ve made some good choices this time around. AND YET …

Those little paper cuts that I inflict on my spirit are not random or rootless. They are effective. They have a source. Yes, self-criticism may be well-intentioned. It may be fed by old hurts, family of origin, past lives, modern culture, mortal coil. But it’s seeded from the murky marsh of loathing. And to greater and lesser degrees, it’s part of everyone’s psychic biosphere. The trick to drying it up is to shine some light on it.

Self-criticism is not “love”, and it is certainly not indifferent. It’s a form of hatred. And when I name that, when I see it for what it is (raw and uncomfortable and saddening…) when I refuse to sugar-coat self criticism, judgment, agitation, and constantly trying to improve myself, then I’m one quantum leap closer to freedom. Out of the swamp. Grounded in love.
. . . . . . .
The most lucid material I’ve come across on self judgment, ego and presence is The Unfolding Now, by AH Almaas.

on bright faith and why falling in love is totally uncool

The Buddhists have a term for a particular flavor of faith: bright faith. This is not the bedrock kind of faith that grounds your psychology, spirituality, or devotion. It’s not the assurance/insurance kind of faith where we hope/trust that life will come through for us.

It’s the Holy wow, I’m standing at the beginning of something that is so insanely ripe with potential that I wanna get naked and roll all over it right now, while singing rock opera…kind of faith. It makes you grin and do uncharacteristically impulsive and obsessive things. Bright faith chugs downs exhilaration at every pit stop.

“This is a state of love-filled delight in possibilities and eager joy at the prospect of actualizing them. Bright faith goes beyond merely claiming that possibility for oneself to immersing oneself in it. With bright faith, we are lifted out of our normal sense of insignificance, thrilled as we no longer feel lost and alone. The enthusiasm, energy, and courage we need in order to leave the safe path, to stop aligning ourselves with the familiar and convenient, arise with bright faith.” – Sharon Salzberg, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience

Bright faith is primal to creativity. Bright faith is essential to falling in love–with people, with causes, with your own unfolding self.

Bright faith can be unnerving, slightly embarrassing, and awkward. We are trained to resist it, and we do so at the cost of innovation and the passion we crave.

THE CLARITY THAT CRAZY BRINGS
Here’s a headline for a life resume: “Selectively, but wildly excitable.” I adore exclusively stoked people. They’re discerning — not everything is a great opportunity, in fact, golden ops are rare. But when they see something that glimmers with uniqueness, or resonates with their reason for being, they just they freak the fuck out. This is how brainstorming goes with brightly faithful people: “Hmmm. Uh huh. Nope. Nah. No. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Ooh. Ahh. Wait a second. Holy shit, yes yes, yes, oh my God, we could…and then we could…and it would be so…and Holy yes and…I’ll sell it all if I have to…and what am I going to wear when I accept the award?! Who will we invite to the wedding?! How big do you think we can build it? Excuse me while I make a phone call.” They go OFF.

It’s illogical, and grandiose, crazy, and most certainly romantic. It’s FAITH. But these are the essential ingredients for breaking through mediocrity and cynicism. Bright faith is a divine kind of madness. And what the Spocks of the world don’t quite get is that the chaotic sparks of bright faith actually burn a path to clarity of mind.

To create things of beauty — in form or between two people — it’s a passion first, discrimination second formula. And yep, it’s dangerous.

COOL IS DULL
If I have to choose between two service providers with similar skill and equal pricing, I’ll always go with the one who expresses their excitement. I did a gig recently with someone who said, “Oh my God, I’m so excited to work with you! I’m going to hang up the phone and do the happy dance.” She was so uncool about it all. No pretense, just joy and bright faith in how much fun we could have. So then I said, “Me too! Now I’m really stoked. I’ll do the happy dance when I hang up too. Let’s do this!”

My best strategic meetings have been the most uncool. Un-self-conscious. Everyone comes to the table with bright faith. They’re happy to be there and they say so.

Bright faith shows up at the beginning — that extremely precious and fractional space when you need as much light as you can to see which way you want to go. The more possibilities you let shine — the more you shine with possibility — the more lucid and discerning you can be.

for freedom fighting + love, conscious business, ruthless compassion, all forms of affluence, and passion that persuades …

I’m interested in liberating truth, raw reality, and grace. I think feminine power and progressive commerce will revolutionize how we live. In my experience, if you steer clear of dogma and muster up more love than you thought you had to give, then your vitality increases, satisfaction sets in, sweetness surfaces. I believe in the creative power of good feelings. I’m convinced that the desire to be real is everyone’s divine imperative. Yeah!

welcome

1. I write. I write here, for you, and on other sites and magazines. And I wrote THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS: a digital book for entrepreneurs which is very hot stuff.

And when the right big company comes along, I create hip, “culture” books for them to use as tokens of motivation and innovative marketing.

2. I speak to audiences about authenticity and entrepreneurship and share my experiences from ashrams to raising venture capital. I do this on stage at conferences, and formerly as a weekly commentator on the CBC National TV show, Connect with Mark Kelley.

3. I’m a strategic and intuitive business advisor. In my Fire Starter Sessions, I work one-on-one and in groups with entrepreneurs who want to rock their career while making a difference in the world.

4. I designed a line of sassy-wise note cards, that people will think you’re really cool for sending to them.

my past life

I never went to university. For this, I am very grateful.

A LONG TIME AGO … I had a real job, co-running The Body Shop Canada’s Department of Social Inventions. We refurbished Romanian orphanages, and ran recycling and rock-the-vote campaigns. So thankfully, it wasn’t really a real job.

I was the Executive Director of a Washington-DC think tank where I managed a team of brilliant, analysts to create future scenarios for the likes of the Pentagon, IBM and the State of the World Forum. I hung out with Navy Admirals and signed NDAs every other day. Trippy.

Before that, I ran my own communications and business development agency, “promoting visionary people and projects,” including a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, a philosopher-physicist, a rogue economist, the Pulitzer-winning co-founder of Greenpeace, and a few old pop stars.

NOT SO LONG AGO … I was featured in BusinessWeek.com, USAToday.com, Elle, Body + Soul, Vogue Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, Globe & Mail, The National Post, The Huffington Post, Entertainment Tonight, and numerous talk shows. I wrote Style Statement: Live By Your Own Design, which The Globe & Mail deemed, “Haute Minded”. It ranked as an Amazon bestseller and caught the attention of Oprah. That was fun. I built a big website and media presence based on that brand, and then went super rogue. Creative sovereignty is bliss.

contacting

: email is magic: d@whitehottruth.com Am I, like, responsive? Everything I receive gets read, tho’ it’s not practical for me to reply to it all these days, especially the big life advice or general business questions. I don’t do book or product reviews, nor do I run guest posts (it’s all about moi, darling.)

: Twitter. Love Twitter. Love it. You’re following me, right?
: Facebook. I’m there, but I never check my private Facebook messages, so direct email is mo’ better.
: By phone: please email me first. I’m an introvert.
: Mail birthday presents (May 25, I like milk chocolate and white orchids) to: 1424 Commercial Drive, PO Box 21708 Vancouver BC, V5L 3XO Canada. If you need a non-PO Box delivery, just ask me.

: Want to hire me for a speaking gig? Cool, I love you already!

go ahead, take my stuff

Please do. Post it on your site, in your destined-to-be bestselling book … with credit to yours truly. Spread the love.

Ever true,
Danielle

Following is a deep video prayer and trailer of Jan’s All Our Relations that honors our oneness with all living things.

I went to a celebration breakfast this morning and saw the trailer to Abigail Disney’s film Pray the Devil Back to Hell that focuses on women and war. (Click here to download a great interview with Abigail).

She spoke for about 20 minutes and helped me remember why I do what I do-use the arts to keep the heart and brain connected. I think it’s the most powerful force we have in these times of so much information and so little inspiration.

I thought of all the people I know who make beautiful things and stop there, forgetting that beauty is one of the greatest things we have to give each other. The beauty of our stories, our poems, our music, our sculptures, our pictures or whatever else we do when we’re trying to lose and find ourselves. Isn’t it beautiful that the very thing we do to stay healed and whole is that thing that heals and repairs the whole human family?

My new book is nearly off to press now, but I wanted to send you a piece of it today since it’s especially perfect for Int’l Women’s Day. It’s a piece written by Lillian Smith, who was born before women had the right to vote. A Southerner, she wrote to change southern society, to advocate for civil rights, to improve the cultural intelligence of her community and country. These are her words, from an era when “he” also meant “she” and “man” also meant “woman.” I did not correct this here for many reasons. But I have spent my life correcting it in my culture, in my mind, in my conversations with myself and others.

We have undone a lot of damage, thanks to the ones who went before us and showed us how. I think our work for the future-which is now-is demanding something unique and visionary-a willingness to walk through the artificial boundaries and borders and call them what they are. There was a time in history when people rose up and said no to slavery, to child labor, to witch-burning. This is our time to rise up and say war is obsolete. It doesn’t work. It serves no one but profiteers. We don’t have to carry signs and march by the thousands. But I think we ought to keep saying it, wherever we are, with whomever we are with, just to go on record as someone who raged against the dying of our common light. But that’s just me…here is Lillian, the real gift for you today…

From Lillian Smith’s, The Journey:

Art, as is true of all man’s profound experiences, is not for art’s sake, nor for religion’s sake, nor for the sake of beauty nor for any ’cause.’ Art is for man’s sake. The artist creates what he creates for himself as a living part of mankind…because of a passionate need to bring forth the inviolate part of his deepest experience and fuse it with elements of both earth and human past until it suddenly has a life of its own.

And when he does this, other men call it theirs, also. The dialogue may rise and fall in cadence, now becoming a mighty chorus, in which the whole world seems to be participating, now only a whisper. But it never ceases. A time will come when it seems to rise again from the dead: that piece of sculpture, or an entire age of painting, or a book or poem-and once more, millions of men are talking with it, sharing their unborn dream with this ancient thing and taking from it what their dream needs to bring it alive.

And by the listening and the sharing we not only are enriched but we bestow wealth on our world. For we are “in dialogue,” we are forming a new quality of human relationship. In doing so, we are, as Henry Miller has said, “underwriting our age with our lives,” because we believe utterly in its power to transmute its terror and grief and sorrow and mistakes into a music which the future can claim as its own. And yet, how alone the artist feels in his ordeal…

But the artist is never alone. He has an intimate relationship with the wood he is carving, the paint and canvas, the words, the stone: these are making their demands and their plea and offering their gifts and he is answering and the dialogue sustains him-as do another man’s beliefs and memories and the knowledge that there are those who care.

The artist knows something else, wordless, oftentimes, but he knows it deep within him: that were it not for the struggle and the loneliness he undergoes in his search for integrity there would be no strength or beauty in his work. And though art is not for the sake of beauty, beauty must be there or the profound revelation the artist makes would be unbearable. (italics mine)

The artist in us knows, the poet in us knows: it is the mark not of ordeal but of mastered ordeal that gives a face, a life, a great event, or a great work of art its style. The wound is there, but the triumph also, the death and the birth, the pain and the deep satisfactions: it is all there in delicate equilibrium, speaking to us.