A Meditation by Dana Taylor

Despite patriarchal push back, it’s exciting to see the rise of feminine influences. In my neck of the woods of Northern California we have emerging priestesses, earth mothers, clergy, and yes, political leaders. Female artists abound in all disciplines. To which I say, “hooray!” One of my favorite poets is Chelan Harkin of Washington, whose book, Susceptible to Light, I reviewed in 2021 (Delight in the Divine with Chelan Harkin). When I was asked to create a meditation for the Curious Soul webinar sponsored by Helen Nibs of Ripples of Light, I included a fun poem from Chelan’s latest collection, Wild Grace.

The verses of Wild Grace veer between passionate, playful, and painful. Harkin takes iconoclastic swings at male dominated images of Deity. She shakes her fists at patriarchal authority, encourages women to release their pent-up Divinity, and kicks chauvinists to the curb. Here’s an intriguing example ~

THE HOLY WORD “SHE”

I don’t think God has a vagina
or has ever had a penis.

But to use that holy word, “She”
to describe the divine 
is the sweetest shorthand
to overturn everything.

She is gloriously subversive
She is radical—
Meaning essential, of the roots.

Rather than up and out,
She brings us down 
and in.

She brings us into the fertile lands
 of our bodies,
into the intersection
of ancient wounds and wisdoms.

She is what motivates our untold stories
 into their telling.

She is what germinates truth.

She speaks of a God that understands Mothers.

She undoes a power-over paradigm
and describes power that comes from a cracked
open heart.

She knows feeling is essential to reverence.

She restores tears 
to worship.

She honors pain as much as purity,
the sullied as much as the sanctified.

She is the vastness of the oceans,
She is the soft fire
of the moon.

She 
is the revolution
birthing in our hearts.

My meditation, Beautifully Bold, is offered here for your enjoyment. It begins with opening the Chakras and then unfolds with imagery to inspire the listener to become their best Beautifully Bold self. Included is a playful selection from Chelan Harkin’s Wild Grace. Listen and enjoy!

The Beautifully Bold Meditation is also available on the Opening Chakras Page and my YouTube Channel.

💖Bright Blessings! Dana