Earth Angel Unlimited

Treat Earth Like the Goddess She Is

2010-04-22T09:40:00.004-04:00

Mother Nature, Mother Earth . . . terms we use so frequently, but do we fully understand and embrace the meaning behind these words . . .

How is the Earth like a Goddess?

In classical Greek mythology, Gaia was the Earth Goddess. She was the first to take form out of chaos. She then gave birth to the sky, mountains, rivers, oceans, and all living things on the planet.

The words matter, matrix, and material come from mater - latin for "mother" We refer to the our planet as "mother earth" and "mother nature" easily.

It was once just as easy and natural for people to worship Mother Goddess, the Divine Feminine and see women in her likeness. To imagine divinity as female was a natural consequence of observation.

Is the Earth just as alive as a Woman?

In the mid 1960s James Lovelock (atmospheric scientist) and Lynn Margulis (microbiologist) formulated the Gaia Hypothesis, proposing that the Earth is alive and that it functions much as our bodies do to maintain homeostasis. Our bodies are an environment in which temperature and chemistry must be kept within a very narrow range of fluctuation. To be alive and healthy requires very sensitive interaction among our many systems - circulatory, respiratory, digestive and so on. Gaia (earth godddess, planet earth as feminine form) has equally complex interactive systems that must also maintain balance - oceans, soil, atmosphere, biosphere and so on.

What does it mean to think of the Earth as Gaia (Mother Nature, Goddess)?

Inhabitants of the planet Earth must realize that we are in a relationship to Gaia as in a fetus in the body of a pregnant mother. In the womb we are provided for and protected. We can only thrive if our mother's body is healthy.

"We all know our beautiful green planet is in danger. Our way of walking on the Earth has a great influence on animals and plants. We are all sleepwalkers, not knowing what we are doing or where we are heading. Whether we can wake up or not depends on whether we can walk mindfully on our Mother Earth. The future of all life including our own, depends on our mindful steps. We have to start learning how to live in a way that the future will be possible for our children and grandchildren"
~ Thich Naht Hanh, The World We Have

When we are finally able to see the earth as our mother and love her as she is, then we will also realize she needs us

Why does caring for the Earth seem like a women's movement?

In our society boys are often shamed for being soft hearted, emotional, imaginative and are discouraged from interests and inclinations that seem "unmanly" Leaving girls to be the "emotional, nuturing" counterparts. Leaving girls as the more likely ones to respond to beauty and to little children and animals. Women are the ones who can be emotional. Women are the ones who bear children and know of the effort it takes to raise a child into adulthood. Women are the empathic gender and therefore in order to save the world, we must gather the women. Beliefs such as this have led to the rise of Eco-Feminism.

Ecofeminism is a social and political movement which points to the existence of considerable common ground between environmentalism and feminism. Ecofeminists argue that a strong parallel exists between the oppression and subordination of women in families and society and the degradation of nature.

We have a beautiful mother
Her oceans wombs, her wombs oceans
The summer grasses her beautiful hair
Her brown embrace eternal
~ Alice Walker, poet/writer

If we want to see progress in future generations we must celebrate, love and respect that which gives birth to us and sustains us - women and the Earth. There are goddesses in every woman. Let's start treating our women and our planet as the Goddesses they are.

Grow with a Life Coach

2010-04-18T12:39:00.008-04:00

I always have a million ideas. One of my friends recently asked me "Are you ever afraid that your head might explode because its over flowing with ideas?" And just the other day one of my supervisors said "You have a hyper active mind"

For the last seven years I've been struggling with trying to balance the multitude of interests and talents that I have; how to explain and promote the services I provide that are based on my many talents and interests without sounding too broad and over ambitious.

The gift of always having new ideas is that you never get bored, but the curse is that if your always writing down, discussing, and planning new ideas you end up not having time to finish and carry out the old ones.

Recently, I had a session with a life coach who helped put everything into focus. It's time to finish what I started! There are several finished books, almost finished books, and unfinished books in my home office and all I need to do is copyright them and send them to an editor. So why haven't I done that yet? Too busy in my own head telling myself there not don enough for someone else to see. Yes, I admit I am a recovering perfectionist. Perfectionism often leads to procrastination because I end up telling myself if i could just add this or that it would be so much better. And then I end up losing interest in the unfinished project because I come up with a newer even better idea

The first step is to commit to myself and to hold my self accountable for finishing the old projects. I promise myself that I will not let new ideas distract me from finishing the almost finished projects anymore. I will write new ideas down in a notebook and leave them alone until I am finished carrying out the older projects. I will use my time management skills to schedule at least an hour a day to work on finishing old projects.

What's helping me stay focused?

Coaching by "Re-Designing Your Life with Terry Ebony" www.terrylebony.com

Books like

1. "Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders,and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day" by Sark

2. You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself by Harry & Christine Clifford Beckwith

Reflect Renew Refresh Rejuvenate Revamp Relaunch www.earthangelunlimited.com

Calling all Moms!

2010-03-29T22:17:00.003-04:00

Would you join a Busy Mothers Network with the mission of supporting your endeavors as a mom who works outside of the home and also wants to make time for other hobbies and interests by having monthly meetings and rotating babysitting, carpooling, and so on?

How do you balance caring for your family, spending time with friends, me time, work/career, travel, a spiritual mission, dating, and life in general?

Let me know what you think about this idea and spread the word to anyone you know that might be interested in something like this.

Become a fan of Earth Angel Unlimited on Facebook, check out the blog at www.earthangelunlimited.blogspot.com, and email me angelika@earthangelunlimited.com

International (Working) Women's Day

2010-03-08T08:59:00.004-05:00

On this day, we honor all women whose courage, creativity, beauty, love, strength, determination and hard work spanned across four centuries to help uplift and build a nation. On this International (Working) Women's Day we honor the spirit of the mothers of our earth and the foundation they set for future generations.

Hip Hop Chakra Yoga

2010-02-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

got my feet on the ground
and my head to the sky
a fire in my belly connected to
my mind's third eye
you can't test me
but if you want to you can try
ain't got no time for playing games
i'm just too fly

Spiritual Dating

2010-02-25T15:54:00.000-05:00

What would it mean if we bring a spiritual consciousness to dating?

~ Exploring how sexuality and relationships flow within the spiritual journey

Instead of feeling a sense of urgency, we would be fascinated by the process of meeting and getting to know new people. Compassion, care and kindness for others would supersede "getting someone to be with us", and we would never try to control another person.

We wouldn't put others on a pedestal nor have them below us. We'd remember that on the spiritual path, the purpose of any relationship is to wake up and get to know ourselves and our lover, thoroughly, without judgement or pride.

On the spiritual path we enter into a shared union where we cherish and give to each other, expanding our ability to love unconditionally.

We would also accept that the process can be awkward, unpredictable, challenging, and surprising.

Dating with a spiritual consciousness means a willingness to confront anything inside that kindles fear or anxiety. When we start wanting to run away, be deceptive, tell lies, or put on a mask, we need to walk right into our fears, sit down, talk to them until they become our friends. This doesn't mean we have a goal of getting rid of fear; rather, we accept it as part of our unfolding journey.

Ultimately, as we become friends with ourselves and give up demanding that the universe provide us with a lover, we become truly open to meeting a special person with whom to share this journey of awakening.

(adapted from "If Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path)

Help Haiti, Make Service A Ritual

2010-02-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

"Everyone can be great because everyone can serve"- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It is great that everyone wants to help Haiti after the earthquake but let's not just get caught up in the moment and forget about helping others when this fades. Let's keep this spirit of service going! There is so much need. There is always need! Make service a ritual in your life. Participating in service projects not only helps those you care for, but is a healing and renewing process for you as you help them.

What will you continue to do? What will you do next? What do you do on a consistent basis to serve?

For the last few years, in my youth programs we do differently monthly themes of service, you can use that as inspiration!

- January MLK Day of Service, Peace & Non-Violent Communication
- February Love & Black History Awareness
- March Women's History Month Awareness
- April Literacy thru Poetry & Global Youth Service Day
- May It's My Park Day: plant trees and help beautify your local park
- June Music & Art volunteer to teach someone how to draw, sing, etc.
- July Clean a Local Beach
- August Donate School Supplies
- September It's My Park Day: plant trees and help beautify your local park
- October Breast Cancer/Domestic Violence Awareness
- November Hunger & Poverty/Canned Goods & Coat Donations
- December World AIDS Day

There are many social issues that need our attention. Choose a cause that you are passionate about and go from there!

"We all have a great desire to be able to live in peace and to have environmental sustainability" ~ Thich Naht Hanh

More Love, Less Hate

2010-02-07T15:17:00.005-05:00

"How can you love God which you can not see, and hate your brother which you see everyday." Perform LOVE. - Minista Jazz

people hate because they've been taught to hate
we have to teach one another how to love more
and love more freely

maybe they're that way because no one loved them
and love may be their only cure

but who is they? haven’t we all
experienced moments of hatred?

I do not hate so I do not attract hate

I do not believe in haters
just unknowing and misunderstandings

even those who may try to hate me
for doing so realize they can only love me
in the end but first
they must love themselves

I love so I attract love

I do not believe that when you love more
the hate grows stronger, I have actually
experienced the opposite

I do not pray for anyone or anything

silence, inner peace is the closest way to God

turn down the noise

chakra mediations
sending out vibes
healing energies

we can only change ourselves
but creating more balance within
leads to
more balance all around

I see change in all of the children around me
They see the god/goddess in me
And my presence commands love

the world is not sick and twisted
we just need to
love more and hate less

Happy New Year! Happy New Me!

2010-01-03T11:02:00.012-05:00

2009 was a roller coaster ride! I was engaged, married & divorced; pregnant, but lost the child; the funding for my youth leadership program was suddenly cut so I was transferred to work at other programs twice in 2 months; my cousin who was like a brother to me suddenly died at the age of 31 while other family members were in and out of the hospital and numerous celebrities & public figures who I grew up watching on TV, reading about in the paper and dancing to their music passed away . . . yet through all this I shaked loose my skin and came out stronger with a promotion at work, but more importantly renewed confidence & love for myself!

I usually don't make New Year's resolutions because I tend to make changes in my life consistently throughout the year. I've realized I have my own internal calendar ridding myself of old and bringing in the new each April & August (spring and summer cleaning). Another realization I have made about myself is that I tend to hibernate in the winter, not leaving my house for anything that's not work, thus most of my productivity and personal growth also happens in the spring and summer. But it's 2010 and it's not only a happy new year, but time for a happy new me!

My new motivation to ignore that its winter when all I wanna do is snuggle and sleep was sparked by 2 things. First, after all the partying was over I woke up early on the morning of Jan. 2nd turned my TV on and watched Dr. Wayne Dyer speaking to thousands of people about his "Excuses Be Gone" paradigm. Then Second, that afternoon I logged on to the "MVMT 30 Day Do It Brunch" where hundreds of people around the world engaged in Vimeo led by Rolando Brown (the man who GROWS things, MVMT)& Jullien Gordon (author of "Good Excuse Goals", Dept. of Motivated Vehicles). Thank you brothers, I learned so much!

As a result of being motivated by watching the live stream and talking with folks in the chat room, I have taken several small steps within the last 24 hours. Starting with a new tradition of making changes and being more alive during the winter by making new year's resolutions!

I will . . .

1. stop over thinking and start doing
"Live out your heart and less in your head" - Thoreau

2. affirm my dreams and create time & space for them

3. ask for help and support from my extended family and friends more

4. finish writing a book this year (there are 4 works in progress I have worked on & off for the past 10 years. no more excuses, no more distractions!)

5. reconnect with old friends & contacts and stop making excuses like "Queens is a Black hole" LOL

6. be more of me and less of who everyone else expects me to be
"I would rather be alone for who I am, then be loved for who I am not" - Wayne Dyer, Exuses Be Gone

Simply put my new mantra is . . .
Affirm, Be, Create, Do!

May you have a happy new year and a happy new you, too!

Self-esteem & Identity

2009-11-06T20:00:00.001-05:00

This week in the girls groups we discussed how we feel about ourselves and whether or not other people see us they way we do. Is the picture you have of yourself in mind the same picture being portrayed to others?

We discussed personality traits and characteristics and then worked on identity poems. Who am I? A very important question. Our self-esteem all wrapped up in our identity. Our self-esteem is our beliefs and feelings about ourselves and sometimes what other people think about us, say about us, and/or do to us can have negative or positive effects on our self-esteem.

In being on a journey to help others develop positive identity I understand the importance of having space and time to express feelings and write freely. Everyone in the sacred circles this week wrote 2 poems: one about themselves and another about why people might be talking about them. I wrote the following pieces during this session

Who Am I?

On the Native American Medicine Wheel,
As a leader
I fly like an eagle, big ideas, big picture, visionary
open minded, flying above and carefree,
soaring through life

But I am also like a deer big bright eyes open wide
loves to laugh and smile and get along
and gather together with friends and collaborate,
loves to read, learn, grow and share
good mother, friend, daughter

Smart and observant like a bear
Yet Quick to act like a buffalo
warrior, confident
fighting for daughters, sisters, mothers

Why Do People Talk About Me?

Why do they make fun of me?
Saying I'm fat, short, skinny, with bad acne and smelly
Why do they call me names?

My mom always told me "Don't Worry. It's Jealousy"
So I'd try not to let it get the best of me

And be happy to be me
Don't have time for negativity
I'm free!

I'll keep living my life like it's golden
It's the God in Me

Gossip can be healthy?

2009-10-23T20:58:00.001-04:00

When girls and women gather in groups to talk the results are powerful. Friendships are built and bonds grow. Girl talk is not about gossip. It's about exchanging ideas, sharing, growing, supporting one another and healing. Girl Talk in a sacred sister cirlce is a safe space to express concerns, emotions, and dreams. It is a space where you process your thoughts, reflect and renew.

I am inspired by the openness and enthusiasm of the young women in the girl talk circles I am currently working with. In our first session we talked about everything from sibling rivalry to what it means to be a good friend.

It is important to have intergenerational groups where girls and women gather to together to learn from one another about sisterhood.

If you've been asking yourself, "How can I change the world?" Here's an answer . . .
gather the women and girls

Suggested Reading

1. Goddesses in Every Woman

2. The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves & the World - The Essential Guide
to Women's Circles

3. Sacred Circles: A Guide To Creating Your Own Women's Spirituality Group

4. Urgent Message From Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World

Women, United, Are Uniquely Equipped To

2009-09-23T08:26:00.005-04:00

An adaptation of excerpts from "Gather the Women, Save the World" by Jean Shinoda Bolen

Women have qualities that men have not developed, and these talents are needed right now! The dormant power of women together is the untapped resource needed by humanity and by the planet. The distinguishing female abilities that contrast with standard behavior have to do with qualitative differences in response to stress and use of communication. These differences relate to women's ability to manage resources responsibly, to work together for the common good, and to base ethical behavior upon compassion for others. In 2000, research conducted at UCLA found that females of many species, including humans, responded to stressful conditions with a TEND & BEFRIEND response, not flight or fight like many male species.When women's lives become stressful, they talk to their friends, look after their children and animals, straighten up the house, water their plants, clean the lab, studio or desk where they work. And as they do, their stress level goes down, and the amount of the maternal bonding hormone, oxytocin, goes up. Men on the other hand, have an increase in adrenaline, when they're stressed, a reaction that prepares their bodies to run or stay and fight (flight or fight)

In the male world, which we currently live in, intellectual development (rational thinking, data-based infomration, objectivity, the realm of the mind) is fostered and rewarded while emotional development (feeling, intuition, aesthetic appreciation, subjectivity, the realm of the heart) is usually not. When both are importan, both sides of hte personality develop and both hemispheres of the brain are used. Since the women's movement, girls, especially, have has social support to develop both sides of themselves and have been freer to do so than boys. As a consequence, women as a gender are more likely to be whole people in this sense.
It is time to gather the women - for only when women are strong together can women be fiercely protective of what we love. Only then, will children be safe and peace a real possibility. Without an adult or society to protect them, children are vulnerable to whatever bad happens. Boys wait their turn to be men with the upper hand and girls become acculturated to becoming powerless women.

Until women collectively become involved in creating a culture of peace to stop violence begetting violence in the human family, women and children continue to be the primary casualties.

I believe that the socialization of very young boys, who are shamed for being soft-hearted, emotional, imaginative, or sensual, and are discouraged from interestes and inclinations that men consider unmanly, contributes to one-sided development. The other contirbution is fear and humiliation. Unprotected, neglected and abused boys and young men grow up to emulate those who has power over them. The plague of violence in the home, in street gangs, and by terrorists is a reflection of an economic and social world where Goddess and Mother as a feminine principle is absent, and no one cares about each person in the humnan family. Until women who believe the divine sacred feminine principles are able to protect both their boys and girls from abuse and bullying, boys can not grow into whole people.

The male perspective, from schoolyard experience on, is that males gang up, take advantage, and that a team player or a guy who wants to stay out of trouble keeps his mouth shut. This "go along to get along" and "look the other way" attitude is a pre-vailing one in many places. Something that men instinctively seem to know that women do not is that men in high positions either know what is going on and don't want it known or they don't know and would rather not know. In a male world, once a man knows a problem exists, he knows it can make him look bad (be "one down". Women's experience is different . In the female world, it is not only bonding and stress-reduing to discuss a problem or admit a mistake, it generates support, ideas, and possible resources. Women are more able to admit mistakes, ask for directions, work collaboratively, seek consensus, be motivated by empathy to alleviate suffering, and take care of vulnerable. Until women are equal partners in setting values, it is not safe for boys and men to be feeling and nurturing people without suffering from patriarchal judgments that they are not man enough. Patriarchy is endangering all species and the planet itself. Mother Earth and mothers need women to set the priorities, take care of resources, and stop wars and other abuses of power.

However, there is a blueprint to begin the construction of a world in which women would be safe from violence, exploitation, and discriminiation, could look after the well-being of their children, and have a voice in all areas of life including the environment. The blueprint comes from previous women's movements, but this next movement we are approaching may be a women's peace movement. The goal is to stop violence, resolution of conflicts, and restoration of peace. Domestic violence, school ground violence, street violence, terrorism, and wars have the same origins in the need to dominate and to be predator of prey.

Women who respond to this message have a sense of connection and sisterhood with other women. We are experiencing a time when the fate of the Earth and all life upon it is at risk. There is a great connection between the status of women, women health issues, and the condition of our environment.

In villages and neighborhoods, mothers gather and talk, share infomration, gossip, laugh, keep an eye on the children and do whatever else brings them together. On college campuses, women organize meetings, talk into the night, form life-long friendships. Women bond through conversations in which rappport and trust grows through what we tell each other and how we respond. We talk about ourselves and our relationships. Women learn through conversation. Women's stories can inspire "if she can do that, I can too!" They also provide warnings of what to be wary of; women listen and take heart "What happened to her could happen to me" There is an empathic support, problem solving, and stress relief in women's conversations. Women's talk leads to symmertrical connections, rather than heirarchical ones, and consensus building, both of which are needed for cooperation and collaboration. Women's talk needs to be recognized as a positive force - a means and method of bonding and understanding eac other and other people - that humanity needs to be able to take a next step toward planetary community.

What cannot be done by men or by individual women, can be done by women together. Earth is home; it is time to take loving care of the planet and all life upon it, beginning with where you are, what you love, and your vision.

Get Your Vote On! Sept. 15th Primary Elections Too Many People Running for Office! Do Your Research!

2009-08-31T09:34:00.014-04:00

People fought for the right to vote for hundreds of years, but women were NOT the last to win this right in 1920 less than 100 years ago, Young people were!

This year marks the 37th Anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amendment which gave 18-20 year-olds the right to vote. Before 1971 only citizens 21 years-old and older could vote.

If you're 18 and haven't registered to vote you must! Don't take your liberties for granted! We make the mistake of only paying attention to Presidential Elections but there are many local representatives running for office and Primary Election day is 14 days away!

Primaries for partisan offices are held in September, with General Elections in November. Primary Elections are held so that voters registered with a qualified political party may select their party's nominees to the general election for partisan offices. Because a primary is a party election, only voters registered with one of the parties qualified to conduct a primary in New York City may vote in their party's (Democrats, Republicans, etc.) primary. General Elections are held to elect candidates to public offices. For partisan offices, nominees from the party primary elections appear on the ballot, along with independent candidates. http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/

Why are local elections important? Local representatives are your legislative branch, they write bills to propose to become laws and then vote on whether or not proposed bills become laws. The person representing you in your own backyard could be the difference between whether or not for example, the new health care laws get passed. Your local representatives also represent you in the electoral college, remember we don't have a complete democracy, we have a republic.

Today is Women's Equality Day

2009-08-26T16:05:00.002-04:00

President Obama, along with many organizations and group, are celebrating Women's Equality Day! Why is this important?

At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote in 1920. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever been treated unfairly because you're a girl/woman?

2. What do you think should be done to challenge sexism and the oppression of women?

3. What are you doing to promote sisterhood and gender equity in your daily life?

Friends are Better Than Boyfriends/Girlfriends

2009-08-18T12:47:00.002-04:00

Somethings to Think About:

Have you ever really examined male-female relationships? Have you ever really examined why you want a boyfriend/girlfriend in the first place?

Why bother labeling someone has your boyfriend/girlfriend when you don't even know if they can simply be your friend, and without knowing how much they really love you without labeling you as their possession?

TOP 5 REASONS NOT TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND

1. Everyone I know that has a boyfriend/girlfriend says their boyfriend/girlfriend gets on their nerves lol

2. Boyfriends/girlfriends come and go, but friends are forever

3. If someone can be with you as your friend and have your back no matter what that someone is a better person than a boyfriend/girlfriend ever would be

4. Boyfriends/girlfriends seem to always want to control or manipulate you while friends accept you for who you are

5. Every guy who has been "just a friend" as done more for me than any boyfriend did

People are just more honest when they're your friend. Generally speaking people will have boyfriend/girlfriend relationships just so they can be with someone when they know that person is not even good for them.

So, girls let's not get caught up in boyfriend/girlfriend drama and instead spend our youth focused on our own personal hobbies and interests. If you live your life focused on yourself and the things you like to do, such as dancing, drawing, skating, shopping, writing poetry, singing, etc. then when you get older and look back on life, you'll have more memories of all the fun you had and less memories of boyfriend/girlfriend drama

Join the Movement!

2009-08-08T09:55:00.002-04:00

There are tons of websites, organizations, magazines, and media targeting young women, but none where we can turn to for down to earth unbiased advice.

None that lifts our spiritis or inspires us to open our minds, spread our wings and live our lives without borders.

None that speak to us to an open, honest, pure voice. None that speak to us in our own voice, from our own hearts.

The Earth Angel Unlimited Blog is here to change that!

What are our concerns?

Everything from "What should I wear today?" to "How do I help my friend who is too young to have a child?"

This blog will feature poetry, art/music, event announcements, videos, and information to help us discuss and deal with our day to day issues as young women.

The world isn't getting any easier and as women we are the foundation, backbone and heart of our generation. As women we are more connected to mother nature than we realize

So, let's grow together and realize the unlimited possibilities of who we are!