{"id":2639,"date":"2018-01-07T23:35:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-08T04:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/?p=2639"},"modified":"2018-01-07T23:36:27","modified_gmt":"2018-01-08T04:36:27","slug":"wise-women-also-came","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2018\/01\/wise-women-also-came.html","title":{"rendered":"Wise Women Also Came"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"pexels-photo-773119\"<\/a>I came across this beautiful blog post and poem at Sanctuary of Women<\/a> by Jan Richardson. I found it profoundly beautiful. It reminded me of the times I\u2019ve written of the damage we inadvertently do to all when so many of our spiritual stories are male-centric. We need spiritual stories of men AND women. We need examples and role models of all types\u2026 so that all types can identify in an integral way with the great examples that have preceded us as spiritual giants. It\u2019s why I continue to ask us to challenge stereotypes and traditions we may be falsely clinging to when it comes to priesthood powers and gender.<\/p>\n

I have always been a lover of the nativity story and have a personal collection of creches that hold much personal meaning. My favorite by far are ones that break gender stereotypes. For example, the one where Mary sleeps while Joseph holds and plays with the baby. Or the ones where Mary is proudly \u201cwith child\u201d and not hiding her pregnant state \u2013 as it was not considered all that \u201cladylike\u201d of a thing ironically enough not that long ago. I hope all have enjoyed a holiday season that provided insight or a service opportunity or something of value to you. And I hope we can all look to a 2018 that will be more inclusive of all of us and the many facets that make us individually unique \u2014 especially when stereotypes of gender, age, orientation, race, culture, religious preference or non-preference, body type, etc. can be respectfully challenged. Warmly, Natasha<\/p>\n

Wise Women Also Came<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wise women also came.
\nThe fire burned
\nin their wombs
\nlong before they saw
\nthe flaming star
\nin the sky.
\nThey walked in shadows,
\ntrusting the path
\nwould open
\nunder the light of the moon.<\/p>\n

Wise women also came,
\nseeking no directions,
\nno permission
\nfrom any king.
\nThey came
\nby their own authority,
\ntheir own desire,
\ntheir own longing.
\nThey came in quiet,
\nspreading no rumors,
\nsparking no fears
\nto lead
\nto innocents\u2019 slaughter,
\nto their sister Rachel\u2019s
\ninconsolable lamentations.<\/p>\n

Wise women also came,
\nand they brought
\nuseful gifts:
\nwater for labor\u2019s washing,
\nfire for warm illumination,
\na blanket for swaddling.<\/p>\n

Wise women also came,
\nat least three of them,
\nholding Mary in the labor,
\ncrying out with her
\nin the birth pangs,
\nbreathing ancient blessings
\ninto her ear.<\/p>\n

Wise women also came,
\nand they went,
\nas wise women always do,
\nhome a different way.<\/p>\n

Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST can be reached at\u00a0natashaparker.org<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0runs an online practice,\u00a0Symmetry Solutions<\/em><\/a>, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the\u00a0Mormon Mental Health<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Mormon Sex Info<\/a>\u00a0Podcasts, writes a regular column for\u00a0Sunstone Magazine<\/a>,\u00a0is the current president of the\u00a0Mormon Mental Health Association<\/a>\u00a0and runs a sex education program, Sex Talk with Natasha<\/a>. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS\/Mormon clientele.
\nRead more at http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2018\/01\/what-makes-faith-transition-so-painful.html#FxWoMj6wUFU1qATi.99<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I came across this beautiful blog post and poem at Sanctuary of Women by Jan Richardson. I found it profoundly beautiful. It reminded me of the times I\u2019ve written of the damage we inadvertently do to all when so many of our spiritual stories are male-centric. We need spiritual stories of men AND women. We […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":2640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158,45,48,79,80],"tags":[159,104,46,92,29,110],"class_list":["post-2639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gender-roles","category-gospel-teachings","category-mental-health","category-self-esteem","category-womens-issues","tag-gender-roles","tag-latter-day-saint","tag-lds","tag-mental-health","tag-mormon","tag-womens-issues"],"yoast_head":"\nWise Women Also Came<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I came across this beautiful blog post and poem at Sanctuary of Women by Jan Richardson. I found it profoundly beautiful. 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