Shining Her Light, in progress © Isabella Vickers

I believe in Beauty
the beauty of women
the power of the Feminine.

The strength of the vulnerability
to stand in the tenderness
of one’s own beauty
–not protecting
protected
apologizing
qualifying

Just standing

Standing
in the quietude of being
of being beheld
of being loved
of being honored.

Not doing anything
in response, only
receiving.

Standing in the truth
of our own unique and
brilliant light. Accepting
the sparkle. Trusting
the shine. Believing
this truth.

Oh sure, there are other things
we’ve been told or shown and
until now we have accepted
these false things
as truth.

Until now.
until now.^[1]

Now, more than ever

We must stand
in our light, shine
our beauty with the fierce gentleness
and tender strength of
great wisdom.

Now, more than ever

We must reflect and
kindle the light
of our sisters, our daughters, our mothers
and remind them
of their brilliance
and hear and receive their reminders
of our own.

We must know there is room
for ALL of us, for all
of our light.

The world is full
of darkness;
The darkness around us
is deep.^[2]
and Now, more than ever
we must shine
our full Lights,
wear our full Beauty,
Love our full Hearts.

Now is not the time for turning back,
for learned and practiced
humbleness.

Now is not the time for jealousy
or intimidation.

Hold hands, join hearts
Sing the songs
dance the dances
paint the paintings
plant the gardens
tell the stories
to change the world.

Now, more than ever
it is time to shine.

The world — our world –
needs Light, needs
Beauty, needs to hear
our voices rising up
in Love and Joy.

And we can do something
right here, right now
about that –

Shine your Light.

Listen to your Heart.

Be the Beauty you are.

Now is not the time
for hesitation.

Pick up your brush
Take up your pen
Lift up your voice
Put on your shoes, or
Take off your shoes
Roll up your sleeves
Pick up your shovel

Open your hearts
Open your eyes
Open your ears
Open your minds

Experience the Light and Love
and Beauty
right there inside
you, right there
next to you –
your sister, your daughter, your mother.

Be the Beauty you are.

Shine your Light.

Now is the time.

_____________________________

FOOTNOTES
¹From the poem Enough by David Whyte. Return to Now is the Time. (You can read Enough on my Inspiration page.)
²From the poem A Ritual to Read to Each Other by William Stafford. Return to Now is the Time. (You can read Ritual on my Inspiration page.)