WOMANifesto! ©Marcia Singer, 2001, 2024
The outstanding women in my life inspire me to be the best me possible by role modeling authenticity. They dare to know themselves intimately, and share their unique gifts of caring and talents. Pop psychology counsels, “Just be yourself!” But it often takes years to learn how to express ourselves honestly, confidently, because most women (and men) are domesticated not to spontaneously open our hearts and share our truest selves. Instead, we learn to put on a show to win approval or ward off rejection. We conform or rebel against norms, searching for fulfilling relations. Thankfully, healthy role models do exist, and we do instinctively gravitate towards them.
I facilitated “crone” circles for years, so us older gals might better feel at home in our own skins, shedding sexism and ageism. Maya Angelou’s wise and sexy poem, “Phenomenal Woman,” helped: “It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.” She claimed her right to be her own fabulous self, inspiring my WOMANifesto ©2001, declaring my Right to Be fully who I Am:
1. I Am beautiful just as God-Is made me.
2. I am an eternal Being. Love is my essence, my power, flowing through me, as me.
3. My ability to be fully present is an enormous Gift, whether in giving or receiving Love.
4. I Am worthy and love-able by Design.
5. I choose the path of Integrity — another name for being fully, wholy who I Am.
6. I become wiser with age, living from a good, kind, awakened heart and mind.
7. As I ripen and mature, I offer nourishment to others by the fruit of my very Being. As I wither, I return to Source, enriching the collective soil.
8. In ageing, my “wise blood” runs through my veins, nourishing body and soul.
9. My wisdom allows me to bless each day, finding something to be thankful for.
10. Within my nature is a child, adult woman, matriarch and wise crone/elder — integral aspects of the Cycles of Life.
11. As a Feminine person I Am worthy of respect, dignity and goodwill; I carry myself accordingly.
12. By acting as if I deserve the gifts of well-being, I increase my experience of them.
13. I honor my need for hallowed, sacred time to renew myself on a daily basis via quietude, nurturing thoughts and activities.
14. I intend to see, hear and speak about myself and others with an eye for our special Gifts. I avoid gossip, putdowns, comparisons.
15. I regard each woman or man as a sister or brother in Spirit.
16. As I claim the right to enjoy Being myself/Self, I lose any fear of failing. I experience well-being flowing along with and through me.
17. My creative imagination expands and deepens as I become older, easily, responding to my desire, my need, my call.
18. I welcome my sensuality and sexuality as beautiful, sacred and mysterious facets that connect, heal, restore and creatively stimulate awareness of my Soul Nature.
19. The knowledge that I Am precious, loved and ‘safe’ to be alive, allows me to release the things of my life when it’s time: people, things, places, beliefs and practices, ultimately my physical form.
20. I give thanks that I Am Woman, and promise to love, honor, protect and nourish my special qualities.
21. I rejoice in Being just the Woman that I Am — unique, singular in all Creation. I celebrate myself more fully each day.
22. I support my Sisters to do the same.
23. Blessed Be Women.
Thanks for showing up and sharing your big, authentic hearts. Go Sisters, Bros!
Shining deLight, Marcia
