And Still I Rise

The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.
:::::::::::::::::

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious, the desire to reach hearts is wise.

Maya Angelou, American writer, poet, performer, autobiographer, and much-loved sage died today. Her life affirming work is a woven tapestry – her testament – of bravery, courage, love and compassion in the face of cruelty, violence and emotional hardship.

Maya was an Aries, with Jupiter conjunct Sun opposite Libra Moon both in square to Pluto in Cancer as focal planet in a T-Square.
Having both luminaries tied up with metamorphic power was no small matter – struggles with working positive changes in conscious / subconscious states leaves very little peaceful ground to rest.

Pluto forces change in spirit/intuition, leadership/withdrawal in the home/family as well as tribe and close partners. Her opposition falls on the 3rd/9th axis.
An eternal student of life, she spoke out for all silent women struggling everywhere. Through her words, the trauma she saw and felt was translated into hope and faith for countless others trying to make their own way to the light.

Plowing forward with creativity via a trine from Pluto to Mercury/Venus conjunct in Pisces is the higher ground where she took flight. Pisces is the sign of inspired art, music and dance, also poetry.
When Maya was the victim of violence at the tender age of eight, she (understandably) went mute for years. This can be seen in a tight Mercury Venus conjunction square Saturn Rx in Sagittarius.
Here is also found the silver lining, a neighborly woman gave her books to read. Young Maya, through reading and exploring other worlds, began to blossom, she discovered and cultivated her life-long love of the arts.

Saturn Rx trine Neptune Rx in Leo, are both inspired, creative fire signs, and with the addition of Mars in Aquarius conjunct descendant opposite Neptune rising in the first, we have an artist with not only a sharp mind, but also a freedom loving woman who while writing of her own innate feminine power, challenged women the world over to stand tall and proud in their power as well.

She had the focal Pluto quintile Chiron – she healed through teaching others how she rose above her own tragedies, so they might do the same.

Phenomenal Woman

By Maya Angelou 1928–2014

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.
:::

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
:::

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.
:::

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.
:::

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

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