Ask Your Mama

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more.

*Ask Your Mama™

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Spirituality and Didn’t Know Who to Ask™

by ©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

A Question of Occupation

Dear Mama Donna,

I can’t turn on the TV anymore, because I get so upset listening to the news and the manipulative commercials. Is the world going to explode or implode or just shrivel up and die? It is so depressing out there. What can I do to feel better?

So Upset in Chicago

Dear One,

You are not alone. We are all upset. But for once, the News has some good news! I am referring, of course to the Occupy Movement that has swept the nation, articulating the cares and concerns of us all. These populist movements here, in Europe, in Canada, started with the Arab Spring, which excited people everywhere about the real possibility of being able to truly make change in the world. Egypt, especially, inspired a global response to the peaceful occupation of Tahrir Square by huge, diverse crowds.

Wherever we live, we all know how it feels to be exploited, manipulated, and robbed blind by the devious and greedy powers that be. And people everywhere have had just about enough, thank you very much.

Even though many of us might feel "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore," the tenor of this movement is not angry or violent. Occupy Wall Street is not a rally, not a temporary gathering, but a town hall, public forum, a community meeting place where the previously silent voices can at last be heard.

Sp pitch a tent and occupy your own center, your own deepest, most authentic, most ethical, most articulate self, and speak your truth out loud and often. There are signs in the NYC subway that exhort us , "If you see something, say something." Well, we have seen what we have seen, and now it is time to say something about it.

I guarantee you this will make you feel much better. And you will be encouraging others to speak up, as well. Through your good example.

With blessings of peace and abundance for all,

xxMama Donna

*********************************************

* Unofficial Commissioner of Public Spirit of NYC. - The New Yorker

* For 35 years Ms. Henes has been putting city folk in touch with

Mother Earth. - New York Times

* Part performance artist, part witch, part social director for planet earth.

- The Village Voice

* Globally significant theater-in-the-round. - Brooklyn Bridge Magazine

* The woman is balanced. - Paper Magazine

* Solstice Sister. - TimeOut New York

* The Original crystal-packing mama. - NY Press

Donna Henes is an internationally renowned urban shaman, ritual expert, award-winning author, popular speaker and workshop leader whose joyful celebrations of celestial events have introduced ancient traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies to millions of people in more than 100 cities since 1972. She has published four books, a CD, an acclaimed Ezine and writes for The Huffington Post, Beliefnet and UPI Religion and Spirituality Forum. She has created and officiated public ceremonies for two mayors and a governor and serves as the ritual consultant on Hollywood films. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately called,maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, NY where she works with individuals, groups, institutions, municipalities and corporationsto create meaningful ceremonies for every imaginable occasion. www.DonnaHenes.net