The Heroine's Journey.

This was not a book to be done with but revisited throughout a lifetime. And honestly one needs to be ready for it. Most things you hold dear will be gently ripped to shreds. The myths we perpetuate as women and things we were proud of, things like, 'I am my father's daughter' will be asked to be questioned - in terms of why we do that, what happens to the mother in that equation and is you being a woman completely honoured when you take on that role.

The mythology is very telling, Greek or otherwise in the way the role of women has been defined. I am using the word defined not because I am a staunch feminist but because a lot of those definitions are used to this day to make women constantly question and be unsure every time they take a stance against any one of those definitions. I am one of those women who tentatively (hidden) takes a step in a chosen direction as I do not want to deal with the barrage of definitions that are thrown at me. Please do not get me wrong, I have thrown my own definitions at people and am still learning and evolving. But I question a lot more these days and let go of a lot more than before and I get the feeling this journey is never-ending.

She also talks about the darkness/madness/crazy (NOT defined by the woman going through it) that women go through as an integral part of being a woman. Emphasising on the fact that it should not be looked at as a disorder to be treated but as a journey to be respected and given space to evolve. There is so much of legitimising we need to do in order for women to be okay being who they are.

"Geshtinanna has much to teach the modern-day heroine; she makes her

descent not for accolades and approval but to experience the full cycle of her

feminine nature. She gains the wisdom of the cycles of change, accepting the

dark, instinctive side which helps us find meaning in suffering and death as well

as the light, joyous side which reaffirms our strength, courage, and life." The Heroine's Journey.

Acknowledging that there is research and rebuttal research to that research, I think matrilineal lines were wiped out of fear and lack of ability to understand the female strength . And the world is still wonky because of that. The equal footing is still a struggle in many strata of life for women. And the human tendencies and structures built are still focused on arguing about which is the best kind of path to get equality rather than working together (privileged or otherwise) to get to that path. I for one am ready to let go of what a feminist should be and move into how do we get past the need to create rigid definitions and move forward as one.

When one half is left completely out as reality is constructed. Constant denial to the whole ends up with left over or unattended-to parts which lead to minimal eco-logical thinking. Listening is the only thing that gives language its wholeness, it is a need and not a want. Listening has no remunerative value in our culture. The philosophy of listening - Gemma Fiumara

Read if you are open to a personal earthquake.