A way of expressing hopes and fears

Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on September 07, 1999 at 03:51:56:

In Reply to: Re: Indian scarves. posted by Amy C on September 07, 1999 at 02:39:48:

There are a number of groups that use textiles to create sacred
spaces.... (think "chuppa" the Jewish wedding thingie). Textiles can
be are used to create a space apart from, or more special than the
usual household space, to avert evil, to invoke benevolant spirits or
ancestors. All that closely parallels henna, and the patterns are
frequently synchronous.
It's all women's household magic....women using exactly what women
have at hand. When women are excluded from participation in the main
religion (can't be priests, rabbis, imams, mullahs...whatever) women
tend to develop things of their own to extablish some sense of power
over their own lives and address their own needs, plead to the
deities their own grievances....they do little things to insure
fertility, the health of their children, their economic security,
their marital security.....they henna, they embroider, they weave,
they make mandanas, they maintain houwehold altars, they participate
in Zars, they wear talismanic jewelery....a thousand things....to
feel more in charge of their own destiny.

The lady may also just have wanted something lovely and cheerful for
comfort while laboring. Joy dispells demons!

Follow-ups:

• Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears Amy C 23:45:42 9/07/99 (6)
  • Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears Maria 22:27:23 9/08/99 (0)
  • Reclaiming pregnancy/birth Anon 17:20:02 9/08/99 (2)
    • everyone Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:14:35 9/08/99 (1)
      • Re: everyone Becky M. 19:41:14 9/08/99 (0)
  • Re: A way of expressing hopes and fears SeeSee 01:53:11 9/08/99 (1)
    • Shit. Last again. (NM) Amy C 17:35:24 9/09/99 (0)