goddess wall stuff

[serene]

So I was talking in the rec.food.cooking chat channel on IRC, and something really beautiful happened. I will try to tell it without messing with anyone's confidentiality or anything, so forgive any vagueness.

Anyway, there's this really nice woman on rfc with some body issues (quick: name me ten women with NO body issues! No fair using dead women.). She's straight/married/monogamous-as-far-as-I-know, and very sweet. Anyway, she said to me out of the blue that she was going to send me a nude photo of herself. I said Wow, thanks, and if I can use it for the goddess wall, I'll be your best friend. She was happy/flattered, and then others in the channel asked if *they* could be on the wall, to which I of course said YES. [Important note: Goddess-wall pics don't have to be nudes, nor even photos -- sistercoyote sent some of her art. They just have to be something that says to you "I am a goddess." Yes, men, you're excluded. Get over it.]

Then someone else entered the chat channel, and the conversation went something like this:

Sweet woman: Hey, [newcomer], we're sending nudes of ourselves to Serene. Wanna join us?
Newcomer: Why would I want to do that to Serene? I like her!
Sweet woman: Well, I have some serious body hatred going on, and Serene's gonna help me get over it. I figure if someone other than my husband can look at my body and appreciate it, that's a good first step.

And then. THEN. A room (fsvo "room") full of women started talking about how bogus it is that society wants us to starve ourselves, and how hips are really nice looking, and how having a good attitude at any size can make a woman beautiful, and on and on and on. I wanted to hug them all. I wanted to hug myself! I wanted to just sweep them all up and caress away every mean, body-hating thing anyone ever said to them.

So.

The Goddess Wall is back on, in honor of this sweet woman, who made me remember why it is I am "out" about being happily fat. I could just cry. Aw, hell, there I go.

Comments

[karenthecroccy.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you had a goddess wall. What are you looking for in the pictures? Cuz ... I may have one for your wall.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me to edit the post to say this:

[Important note: Goddess-wall pics don't have to be nudes, nor even photos -- sistercoyote sent some of her art. They just have to be something that says to you "I am a goddess." Yes, men, you're excluded. Get over it.]

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

That really is very cool. :)

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what is the Goddess Wall all about?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I have a wall of art in my apartment (and in every apartment I've had for the last six or seven years) on which are representations of goddesses -- not religious ones, mostly, though there are some of those, but women and fairies and other things that represent goddesshood to me and my friends. It started with one photo that inspired me -- let's see if I can find it. Yeah. I'll put it at the end of this comment, but it's not worksafe, so don't click over to the web if you're at work.

Anyway, that photo went up on my wall, and then some fat fairies friends had bought me, and then a photo of my grandmother, and then photos and other art requested from friends. Interspersed among all the pictures and figurines are framed mirrors so that anyone looking at the wall can see herself up there among the goddesses.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Oh, and it started as fat goddesses, but then a thin friend wanted in, and I couldn't think of why not, so there you have it.

[kshandra]

Have I sent you anything yet?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Nope. I think I was supposed to poke you about a year ago. Oops. :-)

[kiya]

That, that, that is fucking cool.

You go Girl!

[tracytreefrog.livejournal.com]

Yes that is a great wall! Thought of sending a pick but maybe that would be weird?

Re: You go Girl!

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Not weird to me at all! In case it feels weird to you, I offer you these notes:

1) your brother can't get into my apartment;
2) it doesn't have to be a nude; and
3) fuck'em if they don't like it. :-)

Positive Body Image

[revcarol.livejournal.com]

Thank you for helping people of all sizes feel good about themselves. It's a very special gift that you share so openly. You're a good person, Serene.

Re: Positive Body Image

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*smooch* You're the best.

[jeliza]

That rocks. There is a collab I did with my friend javagoth for my thesis show here. If you like it, I'll send you a print. (it was four feet high at the show, but I have several 8x10s sitting on a shelf.)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

My standard answer is that if that's the image that says "Goddess" to you, I would be very honored to have it. I admit to being a little discomfited by it, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be perfect, especially if it makes you feel goddesslike when you look at it.

[hmms-sio.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful idea! Expect something from me in your mail soonest.
(and I like the rules)

--
Suus

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*bounce*!

[ailbhe]

That's a beautiful story.

I'm pregnant again! So I want to do this. I'll send you a picture when I get big enough. I wish I'd taken some when I was about to give birth to L. I may never look that *productive* again. Something about the whole baby thing makes me feel more goddesslike than mother earth. (That wanted to say than fucking Mother Earth. I clearly feel more strongly about this than I thought.)

I read that thread at google. Er, huh?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, please do!

How are you feeling this time around?

[ptigris.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should send a pic... *ponders*

[ptigris.livejournal.com]

Something with a sword would be kick ass.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

*HUGS YOU TIGHT*

This is exactly what I've needed to hear. I have an extremely difficult time accepting that my SO sees me as beyond beautiful when I find myself repulsive.

Thank you for reminding me that I can still be beautiful.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

You *are* beautiful, and I don't even have to see you to say that, but yeah, I get it.

Strangely enough, learning that I was beautiful took meeting a man for whom I wasn't fat (or buxom) *enough*. When that happened, I realized there are gonna be people out there for whom I'm too fat, too thin, whatever, but there are gonna be people for whom I'm perfect, and I get to be one of those people.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

this reminds me of the time I lived in an apartment where one large section of a wall was covered in 1 foot by 1 foot mirror tiles and I started with one or two pictures of me at various ages and states of undress and it turned into an incredible wall of pictures. they were all of me, but represented so many parts of who I was, including celebrating my beautiful fat body. my friends would rush to the wall every time they came over to see what I'd added. in those days, all I could do when I moved was take a snapshot of the collage, and I don't even know where that snap is.

I had no idea you had this wall, and I'll be happy to contribute.

I found one pic that Patricia Schwarz uses in her exhibit:

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I do want to make it clear that the above photo is copyrighted by Patricia Schwarz, so commercial use is prohibited.

thank you.

[smashingstars.livejournal.com]

I'm a little surprised that women from RFC said that. Because they can be pretty snotty on the Usenet group. I'm glad you got to experience them being genuine.

Do you have a link to your goddess wall or is it a personal thing?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I don't take pictures of it. It's intended to be part of my home, not a public display. And yeah, I feel like the rfc women are more real on the chat channel and a little less guarded. Not that I can spend all my time chatting, but it's been nice once in a while.