Filed under: feral M.D. blogs | Tags: cultural diversity, earth based spirituality, feminism.paganism, sacred space, spiritual diversity, women's health, women's spirituality
ALisa had the vision, first.
She saw a need for women to be able to take time away from our busy lives, and to have “down time”. To relax. To receive a massage. Or do some journaling. Or sit in a corner, knitting, and making a connection to a new friend…
Inspired by Anita Diamant’s description in the book “The Red Tent”, ALisa’s September tent in Baldwinsville was fantastically beautiful. The yurt in her back yard had been decorated with oriental rugs on the floor, and materials in luscious shades of red draping the walls. In a space that could accommodate about forty women comfortably, a few tricked in, for an afternoon of quiet, of connection, and nourishment. There was freshly brewed herbal tea, and yummy soups: a hearty vegetable and a brilliant crimson red “red tent soup” that Alisa’s sister invented for the day.
Now, six months later, there are at least 22 red tents that happen throughout the country, on a monthly basis. Some last for a couple of hours, housed in a church basement or a community meeting room. Some last six hours or longer. Most include a formal opportunity for woman to sit in circle, and speak from their hearts.
In the Red Tent, we weave our science into our intuition. Studies have shown that women prefer to respond to stress in their lives with a “tend and befriend” response, rather than “fight, fly, or freeze” . We feel good when we take care of people. Life is becoming increasingly stressful. We can learn how to caretake OURSELVES, so that we can better care for our clients/customers, our families, our lovers…
Find a Red Tent near you, (see www.Alisastarkweather.com) and give yourself a special treat. Then make it into a regular practice.
