~Hello Butterflies~ It’s been such a while since my last post. I really wish this was a post about good news, (don’t worry that is soon to come!) but unfortunately, as usual my wings are in a tizzy and … Continue reading
After reading an article on the Women In The World site about a blog called The Everyday Sexism Project, I became inspired. The Everyday Sexism Project is a blog site created by actress and activist Laura Bates. The purpose of the blog is to allow women post stories of the … Continue reading
Greetings Butterfly Nation! I hope all is well where ever you are today. Everything was well for me until this article got my wings in a bunch. Apparently, women are to blame for failed marriages. Yep, it’s all our … Continue reading
We just might have to give Ms. Jolie Monarch status for this….. Inspirational Butterfly, Angelina Jolie is opening a school for girls near a highly refugee populated area in Afghanistan. Here is the story from US Weekly: “Angelina Jolie is putting … Continue reading
Happy Monday #ButterflyNation!! It’s been a while since my last post, and honestly I didn’t plan on posting this soon in the week; but there comes a time when a Butterfly has to say what’s on her mind. You know, … Continue reading
We only have a few hours left to vote for TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year”, and our first Monarch Butterfly, Malala Yousafzai is on the nominations list!!! Join me us as we continue to support the … Continue reading
Tomorrow is 12/12/12 and by now everyone has heard of the Mayan prophecy about the ‘end of the world’ taking place in the month of December, 2012 on either the 12th, the 21st or the 22 (using the 12-12-12 … Continue reading
The Shoshone “Ladies Fancy Shawl Dance” Butterfly Legend
Many, many years ago when the Earth was still quite new, there was a beautiful butterfly who lost her mate in battle. To show her grief, she took off her beautiful wings and wrapped herself in a drab cocoon. In her sadness, she could not eat and she could not sleep and her relatives kept coming to her lodge to see if she was okay.
Of course she wasn’t, but she didn’t want to be a burden on her people so she packed up her wings and her medicine bundle and took off on a long journey. She wandered about for many days and months, until finally she had gone all around the world.
On her journey she kept her eyes downcast and stepped on each stone she came to as she crossed fields and creeks and streams. Finally, one day as she was looking down, she happened to notice the stone beneath her feet, and it was so beautiful that it healed her sorrow.
She then cast aside her cocoon, shook the dust from her wings, and donned them once more. She was so happy she began to dance to give thanks for another chance to begin her life anew. Then she went home and told The People about her long journey and how it had healed her.
To this day,The People dance this dance as an expression of renewal, and to give thanks for new seasons, new life, and new beginnings.
The shawl in the Fancy Shawl Dance represents the butterfly’s wings, the fancy steps and twirls represent the butterfly’s style of flight. This is another reason you will sometimes hear the Fancy Shawl Competition Dance referred to as ” the butterfly dance.”
I’m so excited to announce the launch of an exciting new community for women and young girls-The ButterFly Bridge!
Many issues plague women and girls today. Insufficient Healthcare, HIV/AIDS, Violence, Prejudice, Gender Inequality in Employment and Education, Civil Rights Violations, Sexual Exploitation,-and the list goes on. But not all of these issues affect all women. In fact, many women may have only experienced one issue as it pertains to civil equality.
Some issues go beyond gender inequalities and expand into racial discrimination. And beyond that, age discrimination. Beyond that, religious discrimination. And even further still, sexual orientation discrimination. These sub classes of discrimination not only prevent women from reaching their full potential, but also divide women within our own gender group.
The women’s rights movements that have taken place all around the world have only scratched the surface of women’s issues. That is why we are seeing a resurgence of gender inequality. While the social justice movements of the past have been successful, they have not addressed the totality of the female “race”.
It is time to close the gap; the Butterfly Bridge hopes to do just that!
There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of communities and/or organizations around the world that support women in various things; And we LOVE them all! Our mission is to introduce women, from all racial, national, and religious backgrounds to one another and connect them in hopes of creating a stronger support system for women everywhere!
This blog site will serve to inform, encourage, enlighten, educate, support, introduce, connect and ignite women all over the world in the fight for gender equality and women’s rights.
Inspired and Enthused,
Steen 🙂
The Butterfly Bridge 