In her recent editorial in Matrifocus, Sage Starwalker lists these two great sites for managing, searching, and sharing scholarly references on the web. Thanks, Sage!
a system that assists researchers in managing, searching, and sharing bibliographic metadata; “…it provides the possibility to search on a distributed peer-to-peer network … (and) an easy way to share data with other researchers.”
One of the problems that has plagued feminist movements in the past is that one generation of “movers and shakers” has not found a way to communicate with the next generation. In this informative editorial Sage Starwalker addresses cross-generational communication through the use of social networking and other technologies. In order for us to keep growing and moving forward, we “elders” must find ways to bridge the gap and overcome any reluctance to meet our younger sisters in the places where they meet (probably on the internet). This article ought to be required reading for those of us who want to open such a dialogue.
Nancy Vedder-Shults takes notes at the ASWM Symposium
I want to thank the newly-formed ASWM (Association for the Study of Women and Mythology) for the wonderful conference they put on last Thursday.
When I walked into the space, I knew I was in the right place, because of the beautiful goddess banners made by Lydia Ruyle that hung around the room. It felt like a homecoming! They included Tara, Isis, and Mnemosyne, the Mother of the Muses who as Lydia says “is RE-membering Herstory.”
And when we took our first break, we left the space through a fabric Sheila-na-gig made by Lee Melchior and Susan Swope, that they had hung in the doorway after we arrived. How wonderful to be birthed and rebirthed through this “vulva” again and again throughout the day!!
About the 2009 Symposium itself: It was fantastic! Sid Reger was the M.C., and she started out by introducing Barbara Marx Hubbard’s term “vocational arousal” for passionate work, which was demonstrated by presenters throughout the day. Every one of them was enthusiastic about what she shared. Continue reading “Report on 2009 Symposium–by Storyteller Nancy Vedder-Shults”
When ASWM members met in Madison, WI, on the morning of May 14, we could feel excitement buzzing in the room even before the presentations started. Several women had just heard about the discovery of a Paleolithic goddess figure in Germany, and they were sharing her image on their phones and computers!
The Paleolithic Hohle Fels Figure
The story and image of the Hohle Fels figure hit the media just as we were meeting. Carbon dating suggests that this ivory goddess was made at least 35,000 years ago, making her one of the oldest sculpted representations of the human figure.
With the theme “Self and Goddess: Personal, Political, Spiritual,”ASWM’s second annual Symposium gathered more than 50 women from the Midwest, both coasts, and Canada. It was an exciting day of presentations and networking among women working to develop arts and scholarship concerning mythic women and goddesses.
Our keynote speaker was Egyptologist Normandi Ellis, author of Dreams of Isis, Feasts of Light, and other works that examine the significance of ancient goddess mythology to contemporary seekers.
To see a complete report of presentations, with photos of the event, check out the blog post by storyteller/songwriter Nancy Vedder-Shults.
As the informal “MC” for the day, I had the privilege of watching and listening to a wide variety of presenters, and of watching as connections were made that would outlast the day.
We met under Lydia Ruyle’s beautiful Goddess Banners
Thanks are due to all presenters and board members. I especially want to acknowledge the staff of the Goodman Atwood Community Center for all of their help—it’s a beautiful facility. And my heartfelt thanks to the women who helped with logistics, registration, and technical assistance: Nan Brooks, Daña Alder, Lia Treffman, and Sara Blackthorne.
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