Archive for September, 2017
Fall Equinox 2017
Last Friday was the autumnal equinox, marking the end of summer and the beginning of fall. A time of harvest, of relaxing, rejoicing and enjoying the fruits of our labor.
It is a special time of year. The air is crisp, it’s smell unmistakably autumn. It is an opportunity for deep reflection and appreciation for the beauty of the Goddesses of the harvest season.
“Autumn is the second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus
“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” Humbert Wolfe
I invite you to celebrate this sacred season.
Inequality
There are plethora of inequalities; social, cultural, religious, racial, economic and gender, to name a few of the obvious. The inequality that caught my attention this week is the gender pay gap.
Google is under federal investigation for it’s alleged pay discrimination against women. And a class action lawsuit has been filed against Google Mountain View on behalf of women employees.
Although the gender pay gap has narrowed since the 60’s and 70’s, it still remains steady at 20%. Women comprise almost half of the work force. Women attain more college and graduate degrees than men, according to the Institute For Women’s Policy Research. https://iwpr.org/issue/employment-education-economic-change/.
The long term affects of this policy of systematic prejudice is stunning; amounting to thousands of dollars of lost income over time, as is well documented in the article, ‘The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap’, http://www.aauw.org/research/the-simple-truth-about-the-gender-pay-gap/. And CNN Money, http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/04/pf/equal-pay-day-gender-pay-gap/index.html, has an excellent report on the ‘5 Things to Know About the Gender Pay Gap’.
It will be interesting to track the process of the suit against Google as they have the deep pocket resources to wage a prolonged battle. A battle that will no doubt bring to the forefront the specious argument that one of the primary reasons for the gender pay gap is that women take time out to have children, therefore interrupting their opportunities for advancement (equal pay).
To achieve equity, I propose that women consumers be granted the exclusive right to receive a 20% across the board discount on all purchases of goods and services. After all, it only seems fair.
Precious
I have a recent blog post using ‘Precious’ as the word of the week (January 15, 2017). Current, unprecedented and catastrophic events have brought ‘Precious’ resoundingly into my consciousness… what is of great value, to be deeply cherished; treated with great care and respect.
As we hear repeated over and over by survivors of devastating fires, floods, earthquakes and other cataclysmic events… ‘I/we have lost everything, but we are alive.’
This week we have squarely before us the opportunity to reflect and embrace gratitude for what is most precious in our lives.
“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.” ~Walter Anderson
“Your problem is how you are going to spend this odd and precious life you have been issued. Whether you’re going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over people and circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.” ~Anne Lamott
Weather
The power of extreme weather is profoundly affecting millions of Americans. The south is drowning in a sea of polluted water dumped by Hurricane Harvey. The west is ablaze with raging wildfires, stretching from Washington to southern California.
Loss of homes, of precious resources, of lives and of normalcy is unprecedented. These are indeed trying times, and trying times elicit the best and the worst of human nature.
“We should expect the best and the worst of mankind, as from the weather.” Luc de Clapiers
“The signs of climate change are visible across the nation, from the drought-stricken fields of Central California to the flooded streets of Michigan. Extreme weather is turning people’s lives upside down and costing communities millions of dollars in damaged infrastructure and added health care costs.” Frances Beinecke
“I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature.” Paulo Coelho
Resilience, spiritual strength, love, compassion and faith are demanded of us all during these difficult times.
