reclaiming MEDUSA

[Whitebird Sings]

we call to you Medusa
priestess of Athena

we call to you Medusa
as Mother of creation
sovereign female wisdom,
fertility,
and
transformation

we call to you Medusa
as Kindred Spirit,
violated by Ocean's lord
and
punished for his crime

we call to you Medusa
we weep no more,
we rise
and
we take our place

we call to you Medusa
our eyes are open,
obscure and blue
and we are ready

we call to you Medusa
and the land will swim with snakes
and the life force will be once more --
reclaiming what is ours

[judih]

Madam Medusa
madly mythical Medusa
Larger than life
Wilder than a thousand snake eyes
So potent
no man may look

So majestic
no common approach can survive

Medusa, we're calling
we're joining you, your leylines, your latent regality

We call you, Medusa
energize Her
vivify Us

We call on you, Medusa

[Whitebird Sings]

hush...

(soft now)
listen

(soft still)
do you hear my sister?

there is her voice...
carried on the wind

our voices meld
and
we call to you Medusa

two voices now --

i know that
more will follow.

together,
we imagine you --
back
to life.

winged sister
earth mother

golden snakes
are your crown

this time --
the blood you shed
is as every woman sheds

and Pegasus springs forth --
your progeny

his hoof strikes helicon
and hippocrene
once more
flows freely

we feel the current
and we gather --
poets and the muses
gather

power and joy returns to our life
and it is here that we will dance

at the feet
of Medusa

[Whitebird Sings]

a sister
Helene Cixous
writes to us

"All you have to do
to see the Medusa
is look her in the face:
and she isn't deadly.
She is beautiful
and she laughs"

we are women

honour our strength
and
our beauty

don't ask us to be less
or
punish us
if we choose not to be

don't fear our laughter
embrace our joy

in these ways
we find the promise
of a common future
lived in fullness

[Whitebird Sings]

i stand with Medusa
and we sound a clarion call for change

COME BACK
COME BACK
TO THE ISLAND SISTERS

Sappho stands at the Gate

i call to the
daughters
of Mnemosyne
and
i call to
the heirs
of
Lilith
Athena
Helen
Sarah
Bathsheba
Mary
Theresa
Florence
Sojourner
Lucy
Elsbeth
Nellie
Emily
Louise
Mahatma
Indira
Bella
Janis
Miriam
and
Chizuko

who should i add?
tell me their names

call out to your sisters
a clarion call for change

COME BACK
COME BACK
TO THE ISLAND SISTERS

Sappho stands at the gate

and let us continue with the reclamation

a time of conception
gestation
cultivation
and
birth

standing side by side
shoulder to shoulder
with Medusa

[judih]

add me and you
to that list of wows

women of wondrous sisterhood

w
o
w
s

[Whitebird Sings]

How wonderful!

WOWS

a name that celebrates us

a name that is honouring

a name that unites us

...no need to apply
yours as a birthright

LOVELY!

women of wondrous sisterhood

ALL!

Hands cupped around my mouth
i shout
"Roll Call"

Sappho stands at the Gate

and we file by
laughing
dancing
singing
drumming

from the north
from the south
from the east
and
from the west

ROLL CALL!

i call to
Mnemosyne
and
i call to
her daughters

i call to
all women
and
their heirs

i call
to
Lilith
Athena
Helen
Sarah
Bathsheba
Mary
Theresa
Kali
Isis
Florence
Sojourner
Lucy
Helene
Elsbeth
Doris
Barbara
Nellie
Emily
Simone
Louise
Mahatma
Indira
Bella
Janis
Tiffany
Desiree
Miriam
Daphne
Tess
Suzanne
Chizuko
Hester
Tilly
Doreen
judih
and
whitebird

we form a sacred circle
shoulder to shoulder
and the children
take their place
at the centre

so it is
as it was
as it should be
as it must be
as it will be

WOWS...

there are others
and
they will come
once they hear
the call

Madonna and Medusa
ONE

[panta rhei]

a sacred circle
women of wondrous sisterhood
we hear
we dance
eternal movement
joined
a circle of sisters
the offering of mindflow
illuminated
round
whole

[Whitebird Sings]

JOY beyond JOY
panta rhei
has joined us!

we embrace

she has heard
the call

her song
is the eternal
song
that burns within
each of us!

we are women of wondrous sisterhood

[Whitebird Sings]

the women gathered
at
Kigali

...and they wrote (or did they sing):
a Charter for Humanity*

...and they wrote (or did they sing):
We are building a world
where diversity
is considered an asset
and individuality
a source of richness;
where dialogue flourishes
and where writing,
song
and dreams can flower.

In this world,
human beings
are considered
one of the most precious
sources of wealth.
Equality, freedom, solidarity, justice, and peace
are its driving force.
We have the power to create this world.

...and they wrote (or did they sing):
We reaffirm
that another world is possible,
a world filled with hope and life
that is truly a fine place to live.
We proclaim our love of the world,
its diversity
and its beauty.

It was a gathering
of women --
a sacred circle
of the
women of wondrous sisterhood...

and they wrote
and they did sing
the eternal song
that burns within
each of us...

a freedom song

ROLL CALL!

look and listen --
as we gather...
see the smiles,
hear the laughter...
djembe drums
and
wild dancing...
Madonna and Medusa
ONE...

reclaiming what is ours



*The Charter is found here:
http://www.marchemondiale.org/en/charter3.html

[judih]

we are present

[Whitebird Sings]

i have always known you

[panta rhei]

presents we are
for each other
and ourselves

here
and now

[Whitebird Sings]

...and the women are gathering at Delphi

Gaia has returned,
snake god at her side

women of wondrous sisterhood
sacred circle
filled with power
born of love

we dance the spiral dance

mother oracle
speak to us

thank you for what is next
for the highest and the best

Gaia, Madonna and Medusa
ONE

we are one
as joy and sorrow are one

here and at Delphi and at Kigali

we continue to gather

ROLL CALL!

[Whitebird Sings]

what level of ignorance and arrogance is this
that asks us if we have all the answers

that is not how life is lived

you will not limit
our enthusiasm,
our efforts,
or our joy

by suggesting that we are less
because WE do not have all of the answers

life is to be lived
as it unfolds

in harmony with all things

lived intuitively
lived spontaneously

no one has all the answers
because we are not
predictable
churning
pieces of metal

we are life
born out of chaos
daily

how glorious

now get out of the way
of our spiral dance

or join us