It is the women I love
Those women who meet with me in the woods
Who call us to circle with their drums
Who come to dance ourselves into our own power
Those women who call on us to create a shift
To find and use our voices
Reminding us
That we are not asking
We are commanding
We are not here to play small*
We are here to create change
Not to listen to more false promises
Centuries of lies and excuses
It is the women who I love
Who come as storytellers
With stories of their lives
With stories of our ancestresses
And the sisterhood
That for the first time in the history of this world
Is now connected globally
It is the sisters that I meet online across distance
That I love
I imagine that we are meeting in the woods
As we share these stories of survival everywhere
We healers of the world
We women
We know what we have been born into
We list and document what needs to change
Generations of this violent treatment
This takeover determined to keep hidden
The true history of this world
The herstory being carefully uncovered
And brought forward**
Of times and places in which women were and still are
Honoured as leaders
Every one of us
Honoured for our beautiful selves
Places and times in which no one is hungry
In which there is no war
In which we drink clear water from our lakes
In which we grow and gather food in harmony
With each other and with our beloved earth
In which there is no violence
This is what we know is possible
By our meeting with each other in the woods
This is what we know
Through our stories from and to each other
Put to drum and dance
Put to poetry and song
As we sing lullabies to each other
Across time zones as we sleep
As we memorize each others news
As we sing, and dance, and chant our ways forward
We continue to rise
And the sight, the sound, the taste, the smell, the feel, the sense of each other,
And the knowledge that we are in each others lives
Together, in the presence of our grandmother trees
Our sacred drums,
Our sacred dance,
This is the celebration we have longed for
Dreamed of
Dreamed up
Know has existed throughout time
This is the celebration we must never lose again
Now dreamed into these precious lives
We are living with each other
Rise, sisters, rise
Now we are rising together.
*Thank you Qween Hollins
**Max Dashu https://www.suppressedhistories.net
Tam! This! " Reminding us
That we are not asking
We are commanding
We are not here to play small*
We are here to create change"
Feeling this deeply. Thank you for these words, I take them in, on a feeling level and yes. yes Tam, we've got this!!
Massive hug to you right now,
Adriana
Thank you Adriana,
Those words were called out by a beloved and wise sister, Qween Hollins as she opened the gathering, a Women's Drum Camp that many of us go to in the summers when we can. We weren't able to meet last summer, and some amazing Drum Camp women arranged for us to be online together. So a lot of love was sent out to all the World Pulse sisters over the past few days. So glad that you felt it.
Massive hug back,
Tam
Dearest Tam,
This is a mighty call to action. The drums are a heartbeat and a call for connection. We have and must expand upon this heartcall. This is an acknowledgement of our power and worth. Most of all the unity of women that must take place as a tribe. It can be and will be a beautiful celebration. My favorite is Rise, sisters, rise.
This is a wonderful poem Tam and an amazing share.
Hugs...JoMarie
Dear Susu,
I love your photo because I feel as if we are in the same room cooking up plans together. You have that look of determination to 'get things done'. Thank you for your words. Yes, we are rising together. Just a tiny detail note: when you click on an arrow under a previous response you become a response to her. If you write into a new box, it becomes your own.
Sister hug to you,
Tam
Thank you mama Tam,
we will see each other and sit one day one hall specially Celebrations Inshaa allah
love and hugs
stay safe
Dear Jomarie,
Finally some time to respond to your beautiful message, I have carried it in my heart these past few days. Yes, we are expanding, deepening connections trusting what we know is not only possible but essential. I felt your immediate step forward and love that we have been able to meet here to work together.
Hugs back to you with arms linked,
Tam
Dear mama Tam,
How are you
Your night was very happy as I read the words and encouragements mashaa allah, and wise words. Rise Sister Rise.
Thank you. Sorry i responded the our sister comments
Best regards,
Suu
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww,
The woman and poet in me is so stirred woooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww
And I keep the following in that special treasure clove in the innermost sanctuary of my spirit
"This is the celebration we must never lose again
Now dreamed into these precious lives
We are living with each other
Rise, sisters, rise
Now we are rising together".
Love you loads Tam
***Am just happy I got around to World Pulse this stage of my life and not earlier when I was still shaky
My dear sister Marie,
You always bring me a smile, a laugh, happiness with your comments. So grateful to have met you here and know we are rising together. And if you had got here to World Pulse when you were still shaken, we would have just loved you up more.
So much love back to you dear Sister,
Tam
Oh, i love max!! produced her several times with her slide show presentations. amazing work!!!
what a beautiful vision this post is!!!!
thank you "neighbor"
Hello Rahmana,
So glad to know that you know about Max Dashu and her work. She joined World Pulse a long time ago toward the beginning but is so deep in her ongoing research she hopes that we will all carry the information forward, and I hope to do more of that here. We need to get the whole story of this historical and determined oppression of women out in the open, as we continue to work for a world in which we are respected and free. Glad to be linking arms with you here.
In sisterhood,
Tam
haha, maybe i can dig out the flyers. i really pushed her to publish, but all her slides had no consent to publish issues. i really pushed her to teach and she started that too!! gosh, not on facebook much, but come to think of it i haven't seen her post in a bit. i will go check in with her. maybe i will motivate to write something.
Max has been super busy setting up a non profit to protect her work, and has just began a new course that is still open, doing a broadcast monthly, this next is on ancient Egypt. https://www.suppressedhistories.net. I am taking it, and am continually amazed.
Dear mama Tam,
I am all smiles as I read your poem, here with you and our sisters that you speak of in our circle of dance, drumming away in the woods! I close my eyes and 'see' our dance moves of connectedness, of deep delight in each other's presence, of celebrating each other, of the power in this moment that reverberates through out the woods to the towns and cities beyond. And as others here the e echo across the valley, they catch the rhythm, and respond to the drumbeat expanding our dance circle! That is our impact, in this generation and beyond!
Thank you for warming our hearts with this beauty mama Tam!
In a happy, warm and fuzzy sisterhood mode :)
Dear Nini,
I feel your happiness and feel us in a virtual circle dancing to the music of the women drummers. This is the spirit that we have here together in World Pulse, and last weekend being with the drummers virtually where the same spirit was present, I wanted to write about the reality of this positive energy we are able to create by being connected and working together for the same goals. Women throughout time have gathered and been punished for doing so. I have been lucky to have been in these circles, with and without drums for many years now. All of the meetings with women and girls everywhere, are part of this. Last weekend I was able to be in 2 meetings, both the circle I meet with usually in summer, in an online gathering, and another, World Pulse sisters invited to speak about work that they are doing on FGM, invited by @eaglesbloomhope and Women in Bloom. We continue to rise, and now we have each other.
A warm and fuzzy hug, dear Sister,
Tam
Dear Mama Tam every time I read your messages there is something new I am learning, this poem should be sung on March 8th with all WP sisters
Valem,
My dear sister I am so glad to be connected with you here, and that you are feeling the love I send you to trust what you know and what you are here to do. I love that you envision this poem as a song! I'm going to ask some of my drummer sisters about that. I did read it out at the virtual gathering last weekend and talked about all the work that World Pulse sisters are doing.
Sister love to you,
Tam
Mama Tam,
As I read every word, of the women you love, my tears just fall because your love is true. You've proven it for many years as you fight for women's rights, and still, you are here with us, encouraging, supporting, showing up, commanding, refusing to play small, creating change, dreaming, rising up, and more.
This is so beautiful. Can someone gifted with music put a tune on this and make this a World Pulse song?
Thank you for the gift of YOU, Mama Tam! We treasure you as the woman we love. :)
Dear Karen,
I love that this touched your beautiful heart. I sent it to encourage you all that what we are doing is as important and powerful as we hope. I love too, that like Valem you imagine this to music. You have me thinking. My drummer sisters have drummed to some of my poems as I spoke them. But a song...hmmm. Thank you! You know how deeply I am grateful to be in the midst of such powerful, loving and determined sisters here.
Sister love,
Tam
Tam, tis is so moving. Thank you
Dear Beth,
It is always so good to have you stop by with your support. So glad it touched you.
Dear Mama Tam,
I love this poem so much and I am definitely going to write it down and paste it somewhere I can see it and read every single day. This has really pierced my soul and made me to realize that though we may be doing a good job, we need to WAKE UP!!!!!! and rise together as ONE! With our stories we shall conquer all our Fears and Reach all our Aspirations.
After all, WHAT ARE WE????? WE ARE LEADERS!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Barry,
I am so glad that it gives you some deep momentum. I hear your voice, I feel your determination. Yes, we are rising, we are the leaders that this world needs, and what a celebration that we are in touch with each other here!
In sisterhood, arms linked, moving forward together,
Tam
Hello Mama Tam, My heart is over joyed as a read through this rich write up. It reminds me of how blessed I am to belong to this sisterhood, it reminds me of the love we share. The impact we are already creating through out the world and how unstoppable and determined we are to keep up until the World becomes a better place.
How sweet to read about our meetings in the woods. It makes me visualise the excitement at seeing each other during our online calls.
I love the sisterhood Mama Tam.
Keep on inspiring mum!!!
In sisterhood, Regina.
My dear Regina,
It s so true that we are blessed to be here together, stronger with each new member, stronger with each piece of news we share, with the knowledge of each others' determination and bravery, and with the palpable joy that overflows as we continue to be in direct connection with each other. World Pulse is such an extraordinary gift, all the more extraordinary because of the dedication to creating change, that we all bring here together and outwardly in our communities.
Much love dear sister,
Tam
Thanks beloved Mum Tam
Beautiful! I love these lines:
The true history of this world
The herstory being carefully uncovered
And brought forward**
Of times and places in which women were and still are
Honoured as leaders
Every one of us
Honoured for our beautiful selves
Hi Arpana,
I am so glad this touched you. I am learning so much from Max Dashu about how much has been twisted and hidden from us about the truth of women leadership.
This is beautiful Tam!
This really got me......"Rise, sisters, rise
Now we are rising together."
Thank you for sharing.
Love,
Adanna
Hello dear Sis,
So glad it gave you something to your beautiful heart.
Love to you,
Tam
Thank you for sharing this
Hi Nabila,
Thank you. Glad you took it in.
This poem touched my heart and soul. The connection of a drum circle, in person or virtual, is so powerful and the connection between all of us as women rising is a tsunami of potential and love and healing and celebration of what is possible. It makes me wish for a drum circle to be part of in the woods right now. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Hi Bonnie,
So glad you felt it. It is powerful in person, but it is also such a gift to experience that we can feel this connection virtually, and that it is the same kind of energetic, important and powerful love that we are building here through our messages, our conversations, and through the connections we are building with each other. It is this celebration of connection as women that has been under such attack. But we are finding each other. And through World Pulse, we are finding each other globally. This to me is such a gift!
So true!
Dearest Tam, these words are so beautiful. As I was reading, I could see the gathering of women with my minds eye surrounded by trees, hear the chanting of our ancestress', and feel the drums in my soul echoing against the backdrop of Mother nature. Thank you for sharing this incredible gift with all of us.
Much love,
Jessica
Dear Jessica,
I'm so glad you saw this and were able to feel it even for a moment. What we are able to create together is so beautiful and powerful. So glad too that it gave you a moment together in the woods with the drums of sisters.
Wow... you have said it so well and deep. I resonate with you and I am sure other women do. It is a genuine call that must be heeded to. Thank you Tam in sisterhood
Thank you dear sister. I feel in so many ways that we are building this here, together.
Wow ! , This is so inspiring.
"Rise sisters rise , we are rising together ."
Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece mama Tam.
So glad it touched you, my sister.
beautiful written
Thanks Anita,
So good to hear from you.
So beautiful! The rhythm is fabulous here
Thank you for sharing
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