This is Malala Yousufzai. Last year on October 9 she was riding the bus back to her home in Northwest Pakistan when it was stopped by Taliban fighters. She was then singled out by the armed group and shot in the head. The group stated that they had targeted her for promoting “Western thinking”, ie: education for girls in the area where she lived.
Malala miraculously survived the attack and was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham, England where doctors worked to reconstruct her skull.
Just the other day she made her first live appearance since the shooting and while the left side of her face is rigid she spoke eloquently and with firm resolve as to how she intends to continue her campaign to educate children, especially girls. The Guardian has a video here.
I have so much respect and admiration for this brave young woman. She has resurrected from death, much like another historical figure who was crucified for his outspoken views on humanity. When he came back from the dead a whole religion rose in his wake. What does that say about Malala? Here she is, a young girl who only wants a chance to awaken to her full potential and to assist others in doing so too, when along comes a mob of fear-driven ignorant fools who only see her as a threat to their delusion of power.
Why is the Girl, the Maiden, seen as such a threat by so many cultures throughout the world? Because therein lies her Power. Even in our own Western culture to act like “a girl” is somehow an insult, a stab at one’s self esteem or feelings of capability.
Incidentally February 2nd on the Witches/Gaelic calendar in the Northern Hemisphere is Imbolc, the festival of the Maiden, and the goddess Brigid is honored at this time to bring about blessings for the coming warmer weather.
So this Saturday just passed, four of my closest female friends and I gathered at my local park and performed a ritual for Imbolc. It has been a tradition for the past six years and while the persons involved have come and gone, it is something I feel very attuned to and it is very empowering as to how to approach the unfolding year.
I cast the circle and called the Quarters and we burned incense on a hot charcoal. The incense was especially blended for the occasion, containing red sandalwood for wishes, juniper berries for luck, frankincense for protection, lavender for self love and cedar for expansion. Then a white candle was given to everyone (Imbolc was renamed “Candlemas” by the Christians and it is associated with the lighting of candles to keep the storms of winter away). White is also the colour of purity, potential and virginity; that is, virginity as autonomy, much like what Malala represents: a young girl who is taking charge of her own life and does not capitulate to a patriarchal paradigm of what a girl “should” be and do with her life.
We anointed the candles with cedar oil, passed them through the smoke of the incense and then lit them while saying a prayer including our Word of Power for the year. The Word of Power then enters the candle and every time we light it throughout the year we are reminded of our wish. A light to guide us on our way.
My Word of Power this year is NURTURE. Like Malala I wish to nurture my mind, body and spirit and inspire others to do likewise. Why not try it yourself? What is your Word of Power for this year? How is the Maiden a force of strength in your life?
flyingsorcha 