Woman’s Way of Knowing

Posted by LeeAnn on May 23rd, 2011 at 08:00am

I love this picture. Can you imagine the skill required to ride side-saddle as opposed to straddling a horse? I have played with riding side-saddle in my life – on a very broke horse in the confines of an arena in jeans.

Who’s bright idea was it that women could only wear skirts? I have to laugh at our culture at times or I would cry. Why is it that groups of people insist on making rules for other groups of people? (Rules that they themselves don’t follow?)

Part of the journey into Soul Country℠ is contemplating the rules that I have unwittingly agreed to follow. One of the developmental tasks of adults is to develop our own philosophy of life rather than live the hand-me down version. There is a time of questioning family, religious and cultural rules.

Challenging our ways of knowing and entertaining different ways of knowing is a journey towards connection with our Soul. Authority has been misused in our culture. Authority has been used to maintain power, money and control.

The word authority comes from old French word meaning the power to enforce obedience. In modern times it meaning includes:

AUTHORITY is a power or right, usually because of rank or office, to issue commands and to punish for violations

The word “authorize” means to give permission to or empower. When I think of my journey in life, I realize that I have to discover my own way of knowing. I must become versed in my own internal language and way of knowing that is connected to beingness, listening, inclusivity and in contact with consciousness. I find I have to take time for my knowing to arise and that means slowing down and waiting rather than be pushed into a snap choice or decision.

In a culture that places high value on rationality, efficiency, competiveness and superiority, it can be difficult to step out of group thinking and go within. If your life is to be your own, then you must begin living an original life rather than an imitation or carbon copy.

Life calls us to express our own unique, creative version unfettered by the collective dysfunctional family pattern. Families work hard to keep members within the generational bounds. Cultures do the same thing.

Who’s knowing are you living? Are you willing to follow your own knowing even if it raises a few eyebrows and maybe a voice or two? It’s your life. Are you waiting for permission?

On the trail,