Salem, Oregon Event

Description Submitted by: Alexis McKenna       Photos Submitted by: Tory Bowen

Unity of Salem devoted a full week to the Gather the women celebration. A unique program, designed around the suggested GTW themes was scheduled for each night of the week. (See photos below) Unity opened its week with a "kickoff event" entitled "together We Can." This was attended by men and women. some 150 people assembled in Loucks Auditorium, Salem Public Library to hear dynamic speakers and music. A description of Sunday's event, complete with photos and a schedule of the week's activities, made the front page of the local section in Monday's paper, The Statesman Journal.

Overall the week was a great success; average nightly attendance was between 50-60 women. As a group, the women felt moved and inspired. When it was over they were sorry to go home. Some representative comments from participants:

"Each night was a warm, nurturing, nesting place to come and be with other women."
"Fed each night in a different way."
"A growing, deepening experience for me."
"Felt oneness, especially in the shawl blessing."
"It was a quenching experience that fed my soul."
"Reaching out to all sisters of the world felt great."

<== Rev. Georgie Richardson welcoming participants
to GTW at Unity of Salem (below).
   

Candles lit for Women of the World. Each colored candle represented a different group of women (e.g., Asian women, Arab women, Latina women, Jewish women, etc.) One candle represented Women Otherwise Not Named. Each evening at Unity was opened by the lighting of the candles for the Women of the world)

Photos from March 5: An Evening for Forgiveness. Above is the team who facilitated the process of releasing and healing (Left to right) Lavonne Butler, Elaine Thomas, June Hadlock, Kara Driskell, Blythe Eastman, Rosie Daily.
The healing process was facilitated by the "Taking of the Shawl," a Native American tradition of Paiute origins. "Wearing the Shawl is coming home to the arms of the Earth Mother and being loved. The responsibility of Taking the Shawl is being loving given to others who have forgotten the Sacred Path or the way home."

Small group discussion during Visioning for the Future
Alexis McKenna, PhD., (above) facilitates An Evening of Purposeful Action: Visioning for the Future. Planting the Seeds of positive change we wish to see in the world.

Unity of Salem Singers providing musical inspiration. Left to right: Joanie Light, Kim French and Candace Norwood)


Pam Prichard leads sufi dancing in an Evening of Celebration : Moving Forward

Closing Ceremony:
One Word Prayer for the World

 
Each woman comes forward with her candle, lights it from the main candle, utters her one word prayer for the world and then places the lit candle in the sand.