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2011 - Talk Birth

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her silent daring,<br />

and how loved I am<br />

how we admire this strength in each other,<br />

all that we have lost<br />

all that we have lived<br />

all that we know:<br />

we are stunned by this beauty,<br />

and I do not forget;<br />

what she is to me,<br />

what I am to her.<br />

——-<br />

My friends and I had our quarterly women’s retreat today and I used the above poem as our closing<br />

reading (I did alter it slightly from the original in the middle). To read it, have each participant read one<br />

line and the rest of the group repeat it after her. The italicized section is then read by the group in unison.<br />

I also used the following as our opening reading:<br />

Opening Words/Chalice Lighting<br />

May we be reminded here of our highest aspirations,<br />

and inspired to bring our gifts of love and service to the altar of humanity.<br />

May we know once again that we are not isolated beings<br />

but connected, in mystery and miracle, to the universe,<br />

to this community and to each other.<br />

-Anonymous (Reading #434 in Singing The Living Tradition)<br />

—————–<br />

I like to share these things I’ve collected here as well in case other women are googling for readings<br />

for women’s programs, retreats, or mother blessing ceremonies :)<br />

1. http://talkbirth.files.wordpress.com/<strong>2011</strong>/06/gaia.jpg<br />

172

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