Bear's Blog

Recently two icons of female empowerment passed from this realm. They couldn’t have been more different, but both broke through the societal constraints of the time. They were at the leading edge of the Woman’s Liberation Movement; like so many other “movements” of the late 1960’s and 70's, it was about a radical shift in consciousness. Underneath it all was the astrology, and we’re currently living under the same stars. Tumultuous times once again… leading to breakthroughs in our evolution?

Gloria Steinem was a writer, political activist, and feminist organizer. She authored many books and is best known for creating Ms. magazine. Here is her 1987 Ms. magazine "Women of the Year” tribute to Dolly Parton:

"Country or urban, songs like 'Working Girl' and '9 to 5' have become anthems for the millions of women flooding into the paid labor force…All this has been accomplished with her country accent intact, and a populist taste for tight, bright clothes that emphasize—and never apologize for—a body that is mythically female... she has taken all the ridiculed modern symbols of femininity, from makeup and platform shoes to wigs and false eyelashes, and infused them with humor and a conscious power.”

Dolly’s charitable foundation focused on literacy, education and disaster recovery in the impoverished Appalachian area where she grew up. Later her “Imagination Library” gifted millions of books to young children in many countries. She also helped fund early stage Covid research.

Gloria's mission to empower women and girls grew to include inequality across gender and race around the world. With others she created numerous political and educational organizations that helped put women in elected office, and was active in Pro-Choice and Equal Rights Amendment legislation. She founded Take Our Daughters to Work Day, the first national day devoted to girls! She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor) by President Obama.

Her legacy lives on, even as these hard fought rights are being stripped away. The Christian Nationalists currently dominating our government want women barefoot and pregnant - unable to vote, get a “professional” degree, or make basic decisions about our bodies and lives (or have as many cats as we like!)

For a glimpse into the politics of feminism of the time, watch “Mrs. America”. It follows the political battle over the Equal Rights Amendment (STILL not ratified by Congress!) and how Phyllis Schlafly orchestrated the partnership between Reagan and the conservative Christian “Moral Majority”. 

Finally, from Meg Benedicte (an astrologer and new age teacher):

“...the global collective also moves through bursts of consciousness shifts. For the past 60 years, we've been spiraling upward in human evolution and conscious expansion. This has birthed an alternative global timeline, the New Earth…The Cosmic Blueprint for 2026 is "transformation," and this year's astrology, numerology, and energetic patterns all point to a global reset. All the outer generational planets are switching signs, entering zero degrees in a new direction. We are in the Quickening, the rapid acceleration of awakening that has been building for more than 60 years.”

Always,

Peace, love and healing -

Bear