**** Trigger Warning: SA; Unhealed Religious Trauma; Toxic Patriarchy; *Oh! & Speaking My Mind😂 That seems to trigger everyone too. But this is just my perspective. That doesn’t make me right or wrong. I don’t expect my truth to be yours.♥️****
In my Aunt & Uncle’s living room growing up, there were two old paintings of very stern looking, puritan-dressed, women. Among my family they were affectionately known as: ‘The Aunts’.
I have no idea exactly who they were, when & where they lived, or how they are related. I can tell you, however, that everyone in my family knows that each set of those eyes – followed you around the room! 👀
I always assumed it was just a creepy trick of a talented artist.
Now, looking back, I’m not so sure.👀
Because, under their steely, disapproving gazes, generation after generation, they have witnessed the women in my family – sabotage, undermine, and sell each other out!
From a young age, I have been repeatedly shown (& not just from them), that women trash talk, back stab, judge, gossip, humiliate, and manipulate each other in the worst kinds of ways!
And so, for far too long, I held tightly to the false belief that I must distrust – & remain in constant competition with – other women. It’s sad to know I’m not alone growing up with these kinds of narratives.
So where do these issues stem from? How long have these story lines been handed down for?
We don’t have to go back too far in history to get a clue.
Take, for example, the Salem Witch Trials. It was nothing more than men, under the banner of their religion, condemning women – forcing them to turn against each other. Living in fear for their very lives, kept them divided, dishonest, and distrusting of each other.
I was raised Christian and I still really love Jesus!! ✝️ But when I began to look a little deeper, the Bible told me, (right from the very beginning!), just how ‘bad’ women are.
(I’m looking at you, Eve!!🍎)
The story that really opened up my eyes to the toxic patriarchal narrative, is found in Genesis 19: 30-38. There, (again in the very first book of the Bible!), Lot’s two daughters are blamed for the incest they suffer.
??? Wait, what???
🤬
According to the sacred text, the two women were so concerned that their family line would end, that they got their dad really, really drunk & had their ways with him. 🙄 (Yeah – that’s the very same ‘Lot’ from the story of Sodom & Gomorrah, found ironically, just a few verses previously!!)
So is that really how it happened, or just how the male authors of the time wanted to frame it? Well here’s the kicker, Christianity also told me to accept these stories as ‘the gospel truth’. Using my better judgment and rationally questioning things like this – could only lead to eternal damnation.
🔥
Yikes.
I don’t mean to single out Christianity though. Women are disrespected and vilified in other religions too.
I wonder why that is?
Why is this narrative pushed through the very fabric of our constructs: the foundations of our belief systems?
What is it about our womanliness that they don’t want us to remember?
I’ll give you a hint: If someone or something is NOT a threat, there is no need to keep it caged. 🤔
I am an ordained, Inter-faith Minister, but I prefer the word: ‘Priestess’.
🙀
WOW!!! That word is super triggering to people though!!
(Be honest, did it trigger you? That’s ok!!! ♥️I still have a hard time saying it out loud sometimes too!🙊)
But seriously though, why do you think that is?
What is it about a woman that is so ‘inferior’ or too ‘flawed’, that we are denied that sacred relationship with the Divine?
I have news for you: WE’RE NOT!!!
Not only are we capable of that sacred divine connection- we already have one!!! 🤯
No matter your faith, religion, or background, the Creator chose women to be the portal through which to bring souls from the heavenly realm into this earthly plane! It doesn’t matter if she is already a mother, or chooses never to have children. Even if they’ve forgotten, or have been encouraged to believe differently, women already have a beautifully sacred connection to Source!!
So much so, that we are capable of co-creating great big beautiful things, and peaceful new ways of being, living, and doing!!!
💙 🌎 ☮️ 🌎 💙
I know I was harsh on the woman in my family earlier, but make no mistake – I have also been shown amazing strength, grace, beauty, ♥️, and forgiveness.
And throughout my life, I have been blessed with numerous ‘sisters’ who love, encourage, loyally support, and radicallybelieve in me. The gratitude I have for each of them is immense!! It is through their most steadfast support, I was shown that their light doesn’t take away from mine.
🕯️
In fact, we burn brighter together!!!!
🔥
So much so, that maybe, just maybe- the toxic patriarchy is afraid of what we are capable of, once we remember – not only who we are, but who we are together… our Sacred Sisterhood!! 💪 There is a blessing of sacred strength here, when we stand united – loyally supporting and cheering each other on!!
✨🖤✨
Every time I hold a Ceremony for the Divine Feminine, I am moved to tears to witness women healing other women! ❤️🩹 I am humbled to be a part of the beautifully strong and supportive space we create for – and with – each other. I am in awe as every female-aligning person present, leaves Ceremony feeling safe, supported, and seen!
And even better yet: EMPOWERED!!! 💪
✔️Empowered enough to see the world doesn’t have to be full of hatred, anger, division, war, back stabbing, and jealousy.
✔️Empowered enough to know we can create something different!
✔️Empowered enough to start looking at things in a new way.
👀Maybe it’s time for ALL of us to envision this world with new sets of eyes👀
At this point, we have nothing to lose!
🤷🏻♀️
💗Big Love & Many Blessings🌸
~Amanda
©4/2025
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