How can women change the world?

Women can change the world by owning their voices. We need our voices telling our stories in mediums that we understand and that resonate with us. We need these voices amplified.

We need the voices of young women and voices of our elders blended together in perfect harmony, painting a complete picture.

We need strong, loud, clear, powerful voices to speak truth to power. Voices that speak about identity and  issues of class, race, age, gender and health.

Voices that speak to the rich experience of being fully feminine-fully female, fully human.

We need more voices- we need every voice.

Voices that create systems, which offer solutions, that paint new visions, voices that expand conversations.

We need voices of inclusion and wholeness.  Voices that speak of healing and renewal.

We need voices of rage and pain- raw and real. Voices that challenge. Voices that confront.

We need women to speak up. Speak strong. Speak truth.

We need to speak for our sister if she cannot speak for herself.

Voices that speak to our collective struggle and our  shared victory.

We need new voices. Voices that we have never really listened to before. The voices that have been ignored and disdained because they were spoken in languages we did not fully understand or value.  These are the  voices that we have never really offered a stage or microphone in the past.

Voices that will create a new world through service and leadership through action and deed.

Together we to  need to reach deep down into our source, into our souls for voices that will never again  allow differences  to function as dividers or mandate who is greater than or less than in society.

Women will change the world when we feel safe speaking to, with and for the “Other”

Make no mistake, at some point in our lives we will all be the “Other”

Today recognize and  respect the foundation and nurturing framework women provide to family and community and the interdependence of women all over the world.

Today in honor of every woman that struggles to free her voice but can not just yet- I ask that you define yourself, name yourself, create for yourself and speak for yourself .

When our combined voices celebrate all which forms us, names, nurtures and sustains us, and teaches us uplifting ways to understand and  assert our-selves in the world we will fully stand in our power.

Our voice IS our power and silence is our enemy.

This post is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day ! You can read  more thoughts on this subject at  www.sophialeadership.com. While there please download Sophia Rises: Changing the World with Feminine Wisdom a free e-book. I was honored when asked to join this great project. The writers are artists, authors, dancers, musicians, yoginis, development workers, designers, leadership consultants, bloggers, and explorers of every kind. It is both beautiful and rich. Check it out and share it with the women in your life.