What If You Knew

What if you knew that within World Pulse there are 70,000 of us together here from 190 countries, and what if you knew that there are thousands of women in other women's groups too, in discussion of what to do from here on. Continually deepening the connections we have been forming with each other. 

What if you knew that so recently I was able to be online to see, hear, be with some of these global sisters. A call for the ambassadors of World Pulse to have some time to meet, to know, to share news and information with each other. 

And there we were again, with our MC of the week calling this time, first time ever, for each of us to bring a song. This, after so many weeks of hearing from each other how we are, what we are doing, where the emergencies are, what women in all of our countries are doing about it all. 

What if you knew about this gathering, this meeting, this talking about what we are doing and what we know needs to be done. What if you knew about this global sisterhood with all of us together, with all we are doing, all we are learning from each other and how we are working on these emergencies. What the emergencies are, who is doing what and where, and what is needed. How this is possible because of what we now have together, and that this togetherness sustains us. 

This meeting, like sitting under a tree with each other, staying current with our news, news that we share continually, globally, through our stories. The documenting, for history, for herstory. The part that has been hidden, the part we have searched for in books and online, and how we are finding ways to stay safe to continue the work we're doing, arms linked globally, finding ways we can work together.

What if I told you that stories are pouring in daily, and we read to know where each other are, how we are, how we're doing, what we're doing, and who needs what. 

But this time we are invited to sing together. How beautiful. The chance to hear my sister ambassadors sing, to bring a line from a song that we carry in our hearts. A chance for me to bring a song I have carried for so long now, and I have to ask my sisters at the meeting if I can bring two.

What if you knew that these are the connections we are building among us sisters, globally. That World Pulse sisters have been taking food to communities, and water, and masks, and information about this virus. And dealing with emergencies of women and girls everywhere, at higher risk than ever of dangers new and old. Women and girls living through torture, beatings, slurs, imprisonment, rape, banishment. So many methods of control. And the murder of so many women, constantly, now our own ancestors. And the continuation of wars. With all of the work we have been doing as women, our voices are still not heard. Our emergencies not broadcast, but known to us from our connections with each other, here on World Pulse. The Ambassadors, the Encouragers, the Change Makers, the new members writing for the first time, everyone writing in stories, everyone connecting, everyone part of this global sisterhood.

What if you knew that we know what is happening and where, because of the stories we send in. For news of what needs to be done first, and knowing from our continuous discussions with each other, that food is being brought to people, children being cared for and women being held and holding each other in our pain. And that we have great joy to have each other. And some men, and people who dare to live their true selves outside the narrow norms we have been given, here to learn and to offer what they can in this work we are doing, to end the violence against us as people. To end all forms of violence against anyone of us, and all forms of violence against our beloved Earth.

What if you knew that we meet on these days. And that this particular morning we sang to each other.

There were two songs that I wanted to bring. I really wanted to do both and knew that unless there really wasn't time, I would be encouraged. And I was. My first song was what we sang together in small circles in the 1970s and 80s, knowing that women were, and still are ridiculed or attacked for wanting these moments together. That even learning to trust a sister was new. So we sang, “Sister, sister let me tell you how I feel. You have given me such treasure. I love you so”. I really wanted to sing it to all my World Pulse sisters and so I am writing about it here. Then I wanted to sing the first line of the song we have sung for ages, alive today as some of our sisters in the US made a camp for us to come and be with each other for a short time each summer in the woods. And this was always the opening song. And I want you to know it, just as I have known through World Pulse that our sisters in Kenya sing and dance “Until every woman is heard, until every woman is heard”. 

So I sang: “Amazon women, rise. Amazon women, making rainbows in the sky. Amazon women fly”. 

None of this would be possible without the members of our beloved Team and Board. Our Team dreaming up the next step, the next free course, the next photos of our faces, the next idea for what to write, and all of this gathered and kept safe for us. And sent outward, and then given back to us such wisdom, encouragement and love.

What if I told you that this is how it is, to be a member of World Pulse, and that membership is free. To be sharing stories, what communities are needing, and getting emergency supplies - food, water, medicine, love. And information about this virus. So many women teaching now, and learning from each other how to make masks, and pads for women and girls. And somehow my World Pulse sisters are doing all of the work that they were doing before, with this new work added. Women who are growing and preparing food, taking care of everyone they know and love, collectively tending to all of the neighborhoods. That is, if not still locked in somewhere with no freedom to choose her life at all. Locked in despite broken promises made by Governments years ago. 

What if I told you that the women we are aware of, aware of because we are in touch through World Pulse, are describing all of the ways that we have doubled the loads that we have been carrying, and that this epidemic has now added to this load, and even heightened violence against women and girls. And that we will not be silent despite being called names, despite being in danger. The end to all forms of violence against anyone and against this Earth. To us, a simple and essential plan. The violence must end. The knowledge that we have is because of our connections with each other. Women are doing most of the work in this world. With no money. Women need money for this work that we do. When women have money, we and the people we love can eat. We mean everyone. Water, shelter, safety. 

For more than 50 years to my memory, and before that by what we have gleaned through documented history, communities led by women, communities with strong women leadership are able to begin healing. We have been working to change everything in a healing direction, for everyone. Instead we continue to be silenced, beaten, held captive, raped, murdered. Women, girls, everyone who has dared to step outside, live outside of societal norms that demand that we live in a certain way, punished for stepping outside, but finding true community, here. 

What if I told you that all this is real, because you hadn't yet heard about World Pulse. I can imagine your joy, knowing you are welcome.

That one morning, we sang to each other.