Women at the Parliament: We're here!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

We're here!

We are here in Melbourne and getting ready for the opening of the Parliament later today.

If you need to reach us, you can call our global cell phone (using a U.S. number -- just dial it as you normally would):

1-949-300-7060.

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Honoring the Sacred Feminine at the Parliament of the World's Religions

To women of Spirit everywhere:

Every five years, The Parliament of the World's Religions brings together spiritual leaders from around the globe. It was created to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and to foster a just, peaceful and sustainable world. The most recent Parliament convened in Melbourne, Australia, December 3-9th, 2009 and presented the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the Sacred Feminine, to empower women as spiritual leaders and to weave connections in service of the greater good.

The gathering in Melbourne offered a lived experience of the feminine rising. This Parliament was buzzing with feminine energy. Everywhere we went people were talking about Earth-based spirituality, the Sacred Feminine, feminine principles, women’s leadership and women’s issues. Our little pink buttons with the question ‘What happens when women lead?’ showed up sprinkled liberally among the 4,000+ attendees and there was a full page of workshops listed under the Program Cluster ‘Women in Leadership’.

This blog is an archive of our journey to the Parliament, our process to co-create a presentation there called 'A Creative Exploration of the Sacred Feminine' and some of our experiences as we witnessed the remarkable rising of the feminine. It is by no means a complete picture ... only a few glimpses seen through the lens of three women following Her call as best we could.

Kathe Schaaf
Meredith Tenny
Anne Fitzgerald

Many Ways to Contribute Your Energy

A Creative Exploration of the Sacred Feminine

Wonderful news! The program staff at the Parliament of the World's Religions has approved our proposal to create an event to honor and celebrate the Sacred Feminine at the 2009 Parliament.

'A Creative Exploration of the Sacred Feminine' is scheduled for Friday, December 4 at 4:30 pm in Room 220 of the Convention Center.

Individuals from religious traditions around the world have come to know and experience the Divine Mother. Her face is reflected in Kuan Yin, Tara, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mother Earth and many other forms. Her voice is too often missing from formalized religion so we are joyful to have this opportunity to invite visitors at the Parliament to come together to honor and celebrate the Sacred Feminine.

Participants at our event will enjoy a creative exploration of the Divine Feminine in the music, dance, poetry and song of many traditions, co-created by women around the world. We trust the result will be a powerful and inspiring experience that promotes spiritual unity, empowers women as spiritual leaders, and acknowledges and celebrates the Sacred Feminine.

We welcome your ideas, suggestions and support.

And if you will be in Melbourne, please join us!

Women at the Parliament: Program Highlights

These are some of the women's voices that will be heard at the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions.

Breaking Through Patriarchy: New Visions for Women of Faith

Jane Sloan, Jacqueline Ogega, Katherine Marshall, Sr Joan Chittister, Jean Duff

Friday, 4 Dec 2009
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

A Creative Exploration of the Sacred Feminine

Meredith Tenney, Kathe Schaaf, Anne Fitzgerald ... and the women of the world

Friday, December 4, 2009
4:40 - 6 p.m.

The Divine Feminine

Mary-Faeth Chenery, Moderator,Joan Chittister, Mother Maya, Margot Adler, Ven Karma Lekshe Tsomo

Saturday, 5 Dec 2009
9:30 -11:00 a.m.

East and West: Spirituality and Women's Leadership in Different Religious Perspectives

Wendy Sargent, Susan Brennan, Arini Beaumaris, Veronica Brady

Wednesday, 9 Dec 2009
9:30 - 11 a.m.

Labyrinths

The Grove Wholistic Centre for Spirituality will offer both Santa Rosa and Reconciliation labyrinths during the Parliament at Batman Park near the Melbourne Convention Centre. They also will feature a series of special events and facilitated walks which will be posted in the Parliament program.

Global Moment of Connection

Here is a peek at some of the women who will be joining in a Global Moment of Connection with the Sacred Feminine at the Parliament:

Spring Blossom
Organization - 'Circles of Women' COW
Maldon-dayelsford, Victoria
Australia

Blaine R. Glass
Organization - The White Rose Foundation
Irving, Texas
United States

Suzanna Brown
Organization - Drums Not Guns
Dallas, TX
United States

Jeanie DeRousseau
Organization -WaysWomenLead.net
Kailua, Hawaii
United States

Julie Raymond
Organization - Gather the Women
Idaho
United States

Clare Peterson
Duncan, British Columbia
Canada

Women at the Parliament