The Weavers 4


The Weavers Gathered. A room full of women, supporting, sharing and working through trauma together…..

Close to one year ago, I attended a class called From Trauma to Triumph. It is based on the work of Penny Simkin, PT and Phyllis Klaus, MFT in their book When Survivors Give Birth. It was an intensely powerful weekend and I highly recommend this training to anyone who serves people around the childbearing year. According to the national organization, RAINN , 1 out of every 6 female bodied people in the US are the victims of rape or attempted rape. This means that if you work with women you will support someone who is a survivor of sexual assault. The RAINN website is an excellent resource for both information and support. Again, please consider learning all you can to help support these families.

Part of the class involved each participant declaring a gift that they would like to give every person who is the survivor of sexual assault to help them on the path to healing. As we went around the room, speaking our thoughts, I wrote down what each woman shared. I then asked permission from the group to someday write a poem about our intentions. This poem has since then been percolating in my soul and has finally come to completion. I share it here with the hopes that it can lend support and strength.

The Weavers

The Weavers gather

Time slips, faces shift, eyes stir

The Weavers remember

These textiles have been woven for eons

The threads entwine, are imbued with many prayers

Prayers to envelope the soul and shelter the heart

Generation upon generation has added their fibers

The Weavers gather

Time slips, faces shift, eyes stir

The Weavers protect

This cord brings in freedom; to be in a state of serenity

This cord gives the power to prevail; to conquer and defeat fear.

This cord brings hope; to believe and to trust

This cord gives wholeness; to be intact

The Weavers gather

Time slips, faces shift, eyes stir

The Weavers reflect

This strand restores strength to heal

This strand adds security from harm

This strand reclaims an ancient energy to empower

This strand emboldens courage

The Weavers gather

Time slips, faces shift, eyes stir

The Weavers revive

This thread gives consent; to approve or deny

This thread brings self-respect; for dignity of character

This thread gives love; for tenderness and attachment

This thread brings liberation; for them to soar above

The Weavers gather

Time slips, faces shift, eyes stir

The Weavers remember

The cloak is full; dark and starry, light and sunny

The cloak is brought by the Weavers

Draped around our shoulders to soothe and console

It has always been and will always be

The Weavers, they gather.

Image credit Aubre Tompkins


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