How to prevent war. By Virginia Woolf, Riane Eisler, Leymah Gbowee, Julie Ward Howe, Malalai Joya, Audre Lorde, Winona LaDuke, Gloria Steinem and bell hooks.
"I earnestly ask that a general congress of women, without limit of nationality, may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient, and at the earliest period consistent with its objects..."
Fantastic essay, as always. What an inspiring story and an inspiring group of women. It is not only that men are too long in power, but that the worst of men are currently in power, at least in America and its current frenemies. There have been extraordinary men who have worked in the name of peace. We need more Mark Carneys. And more women in government generally.
What I think is extraordinary is that so many men need to feel their power through conflict when they could just as easily feel their power through peace and connection. With all of these powerful women in the world, why do we continue to be where we are in the power hierarchy, and why are men allowed to continue playing out their war games? This is a circular line of reasoning that I trace in my head often.
I love the idea of an international women's congress, and a working branch in every country.
Terrific essay! Thank you for highlighting another way of being. It is amazing how the hierarchical structures are baked into our society. I’m training my puppy, and we are working on his recall, and someone suggested I get an e-collar to just use when I need him to come in dangerous situations. It came with an instruction manual that said, your dog only thinks in the language of dominance. He will always want to be the alpha and you to be beta. You must NEVER allow your dog to be the alpha! I realized wow this is such a zero-sum way of thinking. So patriarchal. And those war games are the same. Always a winner and a loser. The writers in this essay see a different world where everyone can win.
Thank You for planting these infinitely powerful seeds of collective partnership, of Loving protection, of Compassionate Truth.
Thank You for Celeste's Motherly Love, for her interconnected clarity, for her fiercely inclusive feminism. Thank You for making Us True mirrors of Your somatic wisdom and omnipotent Grace.
Today I pray that Celeste's Living Words, speaking and writing Your Soul into Being, begin to unburden and unbind the ancient lies of domination in the hearts and minds of exceedingly, abundantly more of Your precious Children than any of us could ever ask or think.
Thank You for making YourSELF unconditionally present in our collective consciousness. Together.
With and without wombs bearing human babies, we receive the full Power of our Divine inheritance as Mothers. Like You. With You.
Yes. TY Celeste for all of your work, reading, study that brought you to this point to write this message today. Waking up today found me vacated - numb you got my blood flowing again ❤️🩹
I can also recommend a book I learned about on this Substack - Before War: On Marriage, Hierarchy, and Our Matriarchal Origins, by Elisha Daeva. She asserts that there was little war until 4,000 B.C. These “primitive” people were far more advanced than we are. It’s disillusioning to see how little effect the words women have written have had on men.
This morning, before the bombs, I had a thought about war. How can we stop it? Ban men from public office, I thought. Then I thought, but what about the good male leaders - Zelenskyy, Carney. *Sigh*. There's too few. And they're entwined in Patriarchal systems; steeped in dominance & hierarchy. I've read so much about women being more naturally cooperative, relational rather than hierarchical... There are of course exceptions like Baroness Thatcher and the women in Trump's admin team; they've opted into the patriarchy. But I think many women, like me, are tired of war games. Because life, our lives, the lives we give birth to... that's not a game.
This afternoon after the bombs I posted this note:
Wow, Celeste. What a powerful article. Thank you for highlighting these incredible women and their words. I sincerely hope society starts listening to them and truly stops, and prevents, war. And damn, my reading list just got a lot longer!
Yes, ask the women. Ask the ones who are on the side of humanity and Mother Earth. Ask the ones who nurture life against all odds, who tend the soil and souls of humans trying to survive. Thank you. Instead of fighting wars, let’s build up the bodies, hearts and minds of women. Thankfully, I see more women emerging in this work in the last few years. Enough.
"I earnestly ask that a general congress of women, without limit of nationality, may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient, and at the earliest period consistent with its objects..."
Now. Now works for me. How about right now?
Works for me
Wow. What a great essay. So much history packed into your piece. Your words combined with their words combined with photos. So powerful. Thank you.
Fantastic essay, as always. What an inspiring story and an inspiring group of women. It is not only that men are too long in power, but that the worst of men are currently in power, at least in America and its current frenemies. There have been extraordinary men who have worked in the name of peace. We need more Mark Carneys. And more women in government generally.
What I think is extraordinary is that so many men need to feel their power through conflict when they could just as easily feel their power through peace and connection. With all of these powerful women in the world, why do we continue to be where we are in the power hierarchy, and why are men allowed to continue playing out their war games? This is a circular line of reasoning that I trace in my head often.
I love the idea of an international women's congress, and a working branch in every country.
So well said. We need more women in power, and more *good men* in power.
Terrific essay! Thank you for highlighting another way of being. It is amazing how the hierarchical structures are baked into our society. I’m training my puppy, and we are working on his recall, and someone suggested I get an e-collar to just use when I need him to come in dangerous situations. It came with an instruction manual that said, your dog only thinks in the language of dominance. He will always want to be the alpha and you to be beta. You must NEVER allow your dog to be the alpha! I realized wow this is such a zero-sum way of thinking. So patriarchal. And those war games are the same. Always a winner and a loser. The writers in this essay see a different world where everyone can win.
As someone who has trained more dogs and horses than I can count, sans domination or any sort of fear tactics, I absolutely love your comment.
Thank you for this. It is the most relevant essay I have read recently.
Dear Heavenly Mother God,
Thank You for planting these infinitely powerful seeds of collective partnership, of Loving protection, of Compassionate Truth.
Thank You for Celeste's Motherly Love, for her interconnected clarity, for her fiercely inclusive feminism. Thank You for making Us True mirrors of Your somatic wisdom and omnipotent Grace.
Today I pray that Celeste's Living Words, speaking and writing Your Soul into Being, begin to unburden and unbind the ancient lies of domination in the hearts and minds of exceedingly, abundantly more of Your precious Children than any of us could ever ask or think.
Thank You for making YourSELF unconditionally present in our collective consciousness. Together.
With and without wombs bearing human babies, we receive the full Power of our Divine inheritance as Mothers. Like You. With You.
Together, We Are Free.
Amen.
Amen 🙏🏼
Thank you for this wisdom. Helped me today
Yes. TY Celeste for all of your work, reading, study that brought you to this point to write this message today. Waking up today found me vacated - numb you got my blood flowing again ❤️🩹
I can also recommend a book I learned about on this Substack - Before War: On Marriage, Hierarchy, and Our Matriarchal Origins, by Elisha Daeva. She asserts that there was little war until 4,000 B.C. These “primitive” people were far more advanced than we are. It’s disillusioning to see how little effect the words women have written have had on men.
I LOVE your work. Your witting is engaging and powerful, crips and informative. I want to be a writer like you when I “grow up!”
Thank you Tracy ❤️❤️ How kind of you to say
What an incredible essay. Thank you.
This morning, before the bombs, I had a thought about war. How can we stop it? Ban men from public office, I thought. Then I thought, but what about the good male leaders - Zelenskyy, Carney. *Sigh*. There's too few. And they're entwined in Patriarchal systems; steeped in dominance & hierarchy. I've read so much about women being more naturally cooperative, relational rather than hierarchical... There are of course exceptions like Baroness Thatcher and the women in Trump's admin team; they've opted into the patriarchy. But I think many women, like me, are tired of war games. Because life, our lives, the lives we give birth to... that's not a game.
This afternoon after the bombs I posted this note:
https://substack.com/@beckeegan/note/c-128160551?r=j83t9
Wow, Celeste. What a powerful article. Thank you for highlighting these incredible women and their words. I sincerely hope society starts listening to them and truly stops, and prevents, war. And damn, my reading list just got a lot longer!
Yes, ask the women. Ask the ones who are on the side of humanity and Mother Earth. Ask the ones who nurture life against all odds, who tend the soil and souls of humans trying to survive. Thank you. Instead of fighting wars, let’s build up the bodies, hearts and minds of women. Thankfully, I see more women emerging in this work in the last few years. Enough.
Amen!
Very timely and needed essay. Your writing is beautiful and I’ve definitely added a few things to my reading list!
Very moving, powerful portraitures and study. Thank you for bringing my attention to this wisdom today. Keep up your great work!