Okay, now seriously, Pomba Gira wouldn't be someone to mock or take lightly, nor would I recommend actually petitioning her for help unless you became well versed in what that would entail. In no way do we want to go prancing around messing with a perfectly wonderful and culturally different spiritual practice. It just wouldn't be nice.
That being said, I think many times there are ways to honor the essence of something good from another's respective culture without making a mockery of it. Of course, as soon as I type this, there are a hundred great examples of where this is a slippery slope. I'll let you in on my thought process and where it went..."hmmm, US Constitution and government borrowing from the Iroquois Confederacy....no, no, that only works if they'd also afforded the Iroquois at the time of said borrowing/adoption the same rights under the law that they held themselves so dear....bad example....mhmmm...." Where have I heard this before, this idea of taking something without making a mockery of it? Oh yes, the inipi or sweatlodge ceremonies of the Lakota. Suddenly, people who weren't trained in it were running around putting up do-it-yourself sweats, and claiming to be honoring the essence of it...what might that be called? Cultural misappropriation.
I'm such a tease. It's all been a lead in to being able to discuss cultural misappropriation. It would be so much easier if we could just have a Pomba Gira party and be done with it! Cultural misappropriation is when something of another's culture, particularly the tools and practices associated with it, are taken out of context, stolen away with in the night, and claimed by others to have the right to do it or practice it. However, typically when this happens, it ends up being a one dimensional mockery of what was otherwise a deeply meaningful and essential part of the culture in which it originated.
Rather, perhaps throw a party in honor of all of your female friends. Invite them all over, pamper them and treat them right. Have some great music, some nice chocolate, some excellent coffee, or your beverage of choice, and make it a point to remind them that it's all right to hope, that their dreams are important, that they are valuable as people. Encourage them to begin to think this way themselves. Don't weigh them with your baggage, but each of you help one another lower that weight to the ground for just a little while. Let them encourage you to think this way yourself. Have an all out ball! Maybe bring flowers for each other, or write each other notes of gratitude, or together write notes of commitment to your dreams. Share in projects, crafts, create something together! Nothing formulaic is ever fun. Let it be an organic process, let the spirit move you. Be grateful for those that do.
Did I mention that chocolate fountains can be a serious uplifter to the world-weary female of today?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment