Matriarchal Gift Economy of the Ancient Future - May 18, 2020
Dear Ones,
I do not know if words are capable of expressing the magic that is coursing through our Temple right now, but I am going to do my very best to try to explain exactly what has been happening since the beginning of the month.
In early May, I asked our Council of Wisewomen (the Alumnae sisterhood of our Temple's Priestess Training program) what was giving them life, as we watched death tolls mounting, witnessed people's grief in their hour of loss, and questioned the future of our society. It was my attempt to get us all directed toward whatever sparks of light could penetrate the shadows of fear and sorrow. I mentioned, at that time, that what was giving me life was the dream of the matriarchal gift economy of the ancient future: a timeless principle based on a good mother's instinct to provide lovingly for her baby, who can provide nothing in return.
Embedded in this principle is the idea that we give from our overflowing love, that we are generous because it is our joy to be generous. And, when we are giving freely, it IS a joy. The biggest problem comes when women are expected to give against their will. But moments where we can give with our whole hearts are a complete and utter joy.
At my birthday Full Moon on May 6, I shared with the entire Temple a ritual around this principle of joyful giving. I shredded dollar bills, added those shreds to a never-ending miraculous bottle of oil gifted to me by Priestess Colelea, and made offerings to Oshun, writing her a love letter with all of the ideas listed that we'd like to see in a co-creative, sustainable, generosity-based economic structure in this world. I mentioned during the ritual that this matriarchal gift economy of the ancient future would run parallel to the regular economy, but always undercover. A non-exclusive and yet self-secret layer of magical abundance that is directed by those who know how to find their way into it. An aware society of beings like that could shift the overall prosperity consciousness of humanity in time, gently and with compassion.
You know how sometimes, you focus on something closely enough and it starts to manifest?
This week, I received notification that my company, The Sacred Well, which provides for the Mt Shasta Goddess Temple, received a $5000 grant from the Red Backpack Fund of the Spanks Corporation by Sara Blakeley. I sent out my monthly newsletter today (you can read it and sign up for it here if you like) with more information about how we intend to use the funds.
We will:
a. purchase products from local women vendors. This process will begin immediately to inject much-needed cash into our local craftswomen's businesses.
b. offer local businesswomen a free series of 3 video sessions about how to launch and maintain an online social media-based business.
c. help us hire women to finish off the project of leveling the ground and ensuring the safety of our backyard Kuan Yin shrine, where we will then host women artisans in weekend outdoor Goddess Markets this summer, beginning in late June.
This grant is going to allow us to do so much good in our area. And it is going to help keep us right where we belong: here in Dunsmuir, serving our community.
Look at what the founder of the Red Backpack Fund had to say about this grant she created:
“My hope is that this gift will help alleviate some of the pressures caused by this horrible pandemic. Twenty years ago, I started Spanx with $5,000 in savings, and I see this as a time to pay it forward. Small business is the backbone of our culture. I know what it’s like to be a small business owner, and I want to provide some relief to these entrepreneurs during this time,” said Spanx Founder Sara Blakely.
You know what that sounds like to me? Matriarchal Gift Economy of the Ancient Future! Women looking out for each other, and the world! Women giving when there is nothing expected in return, and being joyful about it, not forced into it! This is the world I want to live in, and the world I try to create within the walls of our Temple. I can't necessarily get the whole world to hear this message, but I can set up a caring little world right here, where this is our truth. Hopefully, that is a step in the right direction.
I have already reached out to several local women business owners to talk about their products, I am meeting with a female gardener/landscaper this week to get the backyard project going, and I am ready to take this next step in how our Temple can serve the women of this area in the best possible way we can.
If you are local and you'd like to help our with the garden, please let me know. If you are a local craftswoman who would like to be included in this project, likewise please text me at (510) 355-7912 and I will be happy to discuss next steps.
May all goodness come of this. Huge thanks to Christine F of Indiana who suggested we apply for this grant, and who cheered us on, and many thanks to Sara Blakely and the Spanx corporation, for this generous grant that came at just the right time to encourage us in our beliefs.
In Service,
Yeshe