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May 13, 2015
The Lead Goose is Tiring
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I use the image of geese in flight as a metaphor for shared leadership in circles of women--when the lead goose tires, another moves up to take her place. All go further together than they would if they flew alone, and honk encouragement to the lead goose to keep up her speed. As lead goose for 5WCW at the UN, I came back discouraged by UN Women's opposition to 5WCW. I learned that UN ambassadors from countries who asked, had been told that 5WCW wasn't necessary, which I heard Laksmi Puri, deputy executive director, say to a plenary session at UN-Geneva. This was after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly had said it was high time for 5WCW and a decade after I began working toward this as my assignment.
UN Women's position on prostitution is a another cause for anguish that they are on the wrong side of an issue. In the letter to UN Women signed by 61 organizations representing the most vulnerable women in Southeast Asia to "recognize that commercial rape is the same as non-commercial rape" and to "stop advocating for decriminalization of pimping and brothel keeping", which would make it increasingly hard to criminalize trafficking. I had heard Ruchira Gupta, founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide in India--an ally for 5WCW, who was recognized by NGO CSW NY as the 2015 "Woman of Distinction" speak about this and was appalled when I learned that the highest price paid by brothels in India is for a pretty seven year old girl.
If the General Assembly had responded to the joint request by the SG and PGA for a UN 5WCW, it would have been sent to UN Woman to organize. That it didn't happen in this way now appears to be a good thing. The advice I am getting: Better to find another way, and to get UN's endorsement after it becomes a fait accompli. From the-bottom up may be the better way, with the women's movement in the United States which began as autonomous consciousness-raising groups a model for millennial women and women in India.
There was an overall sense of frustration from NGOs because they were having very little influence on the Commission on the Status of Women's report, most of it written ahead of the arrival of women who came from all over the world to share what they were doing and what they knew first hand. Because this was Beijing + 20 review, it had the largest number of registrants--over 9,000, more parallel and side events than ever were offered. These events were held in four different locations--not close together. Ours were well received, but I found myself disheartened and tired of being the lead goose who--in a V formation with other women, fly to NY to organize events and handouts.
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I want to see the sky filled with birds flying in the same direction, each V honking encouragement to their own lead goose, and honking for the joy of flying together toward a time when women will be Free To Be (which I wrote about in the last chapter of Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman). May they be flying to and from a 5WCW Forum if this is to be--may it have an influence similar to the Beijing Forum, which initiated women into taking on challenges and becoming founders and leaders of NGOs, members of parliaments, prime ministers or presidents of their countries, leaders of villages, communities working toward making the world better and safer. May circles of women who want to see another worldwide conference energize a global women's movement, "circle up" to support each other's vision and together contribute to reaching critical mass, tipping point, the metaphoric "millionth circle" that ends patriarchy.
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2020 Vision
I continue to believe in the potential of 5WCW -- a 21st Century 5th World Conference on Women that would energize a global women's movement. I envision 5WCW in India in 2020, feeling that 2020 is the right time and that India with the most active grassroots women's movement and the largest and most diverse democracy in the world, is the right place. I saw in this week's Time cover article that the eyes of the world are on India's new Prime Minister Modi whose first major address to his country was about stopping violence against women and the shame of India as a "rape culture."
*2020 will be Beijing +25 (25 years after 4WCW in Beijing).
*2020 will be the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that gave American Women the Right to Vote.
*2020 is also the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution #1325, on Women, Peace, and Security.
*By 2020, the United States could have its first woman president (I'm for Hillary!) and the UN, its first woman Secretary General.
The depth study of one issue (40 years, 70 countries) sought to find what made the difference in enforcement of laws to stop violence against women; it was only when grassroots feminist movements created political will at the top, as happened through the 2012 demonstrations which led to the enforcement of rape laws in India. May women in India make 5WCW in India possible: circles of women NGO leaders, circles of millionaire and billionaire women who want to give back, circles of women students, of women professionals, of women who find circles change them and support them to change their world, and the World and an ambassador from India to the UN who will be an advocate.
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What to do with the 5WCW Petition?
Before I learned that UN Women was an obstacle to 5WCW, I thought the 5WCW petition might be presented to Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame, a millennial and spokesperson for UN Women, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, new Executive-Director of UN Women. It could be a media opportunity for 5WCW. The print-out was 1161 pages, with names, where-froms, and comments of over eighteen thousand people, an impressive stack--over two reams of paper. What to do with it now?
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The evening before I left New York, I went to a celebration for Bella Abzug. I had only seen her through the media as the congresswoman who wore a big hat and had a loud voice. Now I was hearing people who knew her and were inspired by her, tell their stories of her and what she had accomplished. Screen clips included her in a wheelchair in Beijing at 4WCW --what an indomitable spirit! Without realizing it before, I was seeing a foremother of my 5WCW efforts. Her daughter Liz Abzug has much of Bella's extroverted energy and heads BALI--the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute.
Teresa Younger, new president of the Ms. Foundation for Women was there, we arranged to meet the next morning. I'm a former board member, I was on the board with the founders (Gloria, Letty, Marlo, Pat) , and though of different generations--we immediately clicked. She would be honored to keep the petition in her office, until the right opportunity came along for it! When it was in my AirBnb apartment and now with her, it felt like energy came from all the names and the comments, from all who signed. Maybe when there are over 20,000 the opportunity will arise? The preamble and signatories are substantial reasons for 5WCW, it will continue to inform, and anyone who signs receives this occasional newsletter. Click on the GoPetition logo to sign if you haven't already--post it for your FB friends?
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WINGS
I was lead goose at the UN Geneva, a panelist on a Round Table discussion at the NGO Forum, UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in a committee room at the Palais des Nations on November 4, 2014. It took perseverance, time, expense, and energy to go all that way to speak in a room that held forty or fifty people. I would never have guessed, that six months later, WINGS--Women"s International News Gathering Service (Canada) would have created an audio public radio program, the first 9 minutes after the introduction is me speaking with spirit about 5WCW and why. The audio is excerpted on my home page (click www.jeanbolen.com) The program was recorded and narrated by Frieda Werden: "Equality and Taxes,"(Click here for entire program) available through www.rabble.ca.
The program's theme music is perfect for this eblast-newsletter:
"There's a river of birds in migration, a nation, of women with wings," (Libana: A Circle is Cast).
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From Perserverance to Trust
My activist mantra is "Love, Hope, Perseverance, and Optimism." It also is applicable to long-term Jungian analytic work, which is what I do--my day job. Wherever seeding, watering, and fertilizing are required for growth, healing or change, persevering effort furthers. But, there is a time to persevere and a time to pause, retreat--to wait and to trust. My mantra then shifts to "Love, Hope, Trust, and Optimism." Trust that this is a fallow period and that seeds are germinating out of sight.
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Trust = keeping faith that we are spiritual beings on a human path and what we do here matters. Trust that if we are headed in the right direction, there will be signs along the way. Trust that "The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing." Trust is then in the waiting.
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What the Rune Said
I drew a rune, I might have thrown coins for an I Ching, others may draw from various Tarot decks or the Motherpeace cards--all of which require synchronicity to work. There is no logical explanation how these oracular means could possibly work. But they do, anyway.
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Harvest--FertileSeason--One Year-Jera (The Book of Runes, Ralph Blum) "This is a Rune of beneficial outcomes. It applies to any activity or endeavor to which you are committed. Receiving this Rune encourages you to keep your spirits up. Be aware, however, that no quick results can be expected. Always a span of time is involved; hence the key words "one year," symbolizing a full cycle of time before the reaping, the harvest or deliverance.
You have prepared the ground and planted the seed. Now you must cultivate with care. To those who's labor has a long season, a long coming to term, it offers encouragement of success. Know that the outcome is in the keeping of Providence, Jera is a counsel to persevere.
Remember the farmer who was so eager to asset his crops that he went out at night and tugged the new shoots. There is no way to push the river; equally you cannot hasten the harvest. Be mindful that patience is essential for the recognition of your own process, which in its season leads to the harvest of the Self."
This was my Rune -- could it be yours, too? I shared it with my women's circle-- it did apply to them and it seems as if it would for many people around me. Many I know well or hear about seem to be in a time of waiting for clarity, for resolution, for conclusion--waiting on the Tao--for Providence to move.
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Sprouting Seeds!
As I worked on what to say in this eblast-newsleter, the timing of two emails could not have been better or more encouraging. Signs of sprouting seeds! An email from Hana Figueroa in Central Mexico telling me that The Millionth Circle had inspired the circle organization she had formed in Central Mexico and of the Women's Circle Workshops she has been creating.
Then an email from Ashley Young who had filmed and then edited my talk " Indomitable Spirit in Activists and the Archetype of Artemis" at the UN CSW NGO Forum, March 10, 2015. Click Here for Video Jungian Analyst/Author Jean Bolen - "Indomitable Spirit in Activists & the Archetype of Artemis"
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Global Spirit "The Call to Wisdom"
Global Spirit is described accurately as "an internal travel series. Each program is a conversation with video clips that add to the discussion. "Call to Wisdom" is lively and engaging conversation among host Phil Cousineau, Roger Walsh and me which will premiere on Sunday June 7, 2015. The three of us will participate in a webcast discussion immediately after the program is premiered. Go to the Global Spirit Facebook page or website to check time and station.
Preview of program "The Call to Wisdom" to premiere on Sunday June 7, 2015 Click Here
This program is introduced by actor John Cleese, hosted by author Phil Cousineau, produced by Stephen Olsson. Click Here
The subjects and people are archived on their website is a treasure trove. It is a privilege to be included in this series.
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Descriptions & More Details
May 30, 2015 – Berkeley, CA
The Dream Institute, Workshop 10am – 1pm
Artemis: Goddess, Archetype, Source of Meaning and Activism
June 21-27 - Helena, MT
Feathered Pipe Ranch
Women's Week-Long Retreat: Water, Moon, Yin:
August 16-21 - Big Sur, CA
Esalen Institute 5-Day Workshop
Your One Wild and Precious Life: A Deepening Gathering for Women
Click Here
September 2-6, Siracusa, Sicily
Art & Psyche in Sicily – IAAP Conference
October 15-19 - Salt Lake City, UT
The 2015 Parliament of The World's Religions
Terry Tempest Williams and Jean Shinoda Bolen in Conversation (pending)
Deepening Conversation, Finding Common Ground: Circles with a Spiritual Center led by Workshop: Conveners of the Millionth Circle Initiative (pending)
http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/
November 3 – Los Angeles, CA
USC Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds
Presentation: Tuesday Noon – 1:00 pm
The Mythology of Artemis and the Psychology of Women who Personify this Archetype
Keck School of Medicine, USC
Los Angeles, CA
November 27-28 – London, England
C.G. Jung Club London
Friday, November 27: Evening Lecture:
Artemis the Archetype Liberated by the Women's Movement
Saturday, November 28: Seminar:
Path with Soul/Path with Heart: the Inner Compass
Details TBA, not yet posted
December 1-3 – Barcelona, Spain
Editorial Kairos Book Presentation
Spanish Edition of Artemis Media & Event
December 4-6, 2015 – Rome, Italy
IAAP – Analysis and Activism Conference
Social and Political Contributions of Jungian Psychology
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FEATHERED PIPE RANCH — MONTANA
Water, Moon, Yin: A Women’s Retreat
June 20 -27, 2015
For the first time, a river will run through the workshop–we will journey down the Missouri River in the middle of the week. The moon will be moving out of new moon into first quarter when we begin, which is an aspect of Artemis the Goddess of the Hunt and Moon, archetype of the sister, goal achiever, and activist, whose realm is the wilderness. There will be time to listen to stories and myths, to be playful, to be in circle, to have opportunities for friendship and solitude. In the midst of the beauty of the outer world of big sky, trees, hills and lake at Feathered Pipe, the inner world is evoked, the inner child remembered.
http://featheredpipe.com/feathered_retreats/water-moon-retreat/
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August 16 - 21, 2015 "Your One Wild and Precious Life: A Deepening Gathering for Women" The premise of my Jungian, feminist, and spiritual perspective begins with the certainty that it matters what we do with our “one wild and precious life,” a quote from the poet, Mary Oliver. To find and live our personal myth, is to be true to who we are. In this week, there will be time to hear stories and myths that are about us, time for self-reflection and perhaps to discover sources of meaning in our lives. Esalen is a most beautiful place.
http://esalen.org
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With love, hope, trust, and optimism.
Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD
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655 Redwood Highway, Suite 336, Mill Valley, CA, 94941 |
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