Being a woman is hard enough at this point in time, (thankfully, not quite as hard as in the past,) it would be even more fretful if we didn’t have supportive men in our lives. I think it’s important to take notice and be grateful for them. After all, “What you think about, you bring about.” We want a world filled with more loving, supportive, nurturing men and fewer sexist, raping bastards.  In the future, I’d like to create a Red Tent event celebrating feminist, supportive men. When I meet guys like that, my confidence in humanity is renewed. Seeing a room full of them would help bolster our outlook on life! Plus they might dig the acknowledgement and then want to be even more supportive!

It's important who you surround yourself with:
I am fortunate to have such a man in my life. My husband and life partner for 18 years has been our homemaker and stay-at-home dad ever since our first child was born. We have been so blessed to have one of us be able to stay home to help raise the kids. My husband has been completely supportive of my goals and dreams -- something that is often taken away from women by their husbands. Despite his fears of feeling “less of a man” for taking on this role, and abandoning his own career aspirations, he has persisted and provides a great life for our family with his many talents.

Noticing other supportive men and appreciating them:
Throughout my life, I’ve met men that have been pro-women’s empowerment, but never have I met a man as feminist as Mojo Mustapha.  I also don’t think I’ve ever met a man who majored in Women’s Studies in college like Mojo did. Since 2004, Mojo has been building an Eco Feminist Tourism business called Hedonisia in Hawaii where besides empowering women to manage the land, the community manages web projects that focus on women’s reproductive, economic, physical and intellectual empowerment. If you are ever looking to take a vacation in Hawaii on a limited budget, you might want to look into volunteering there in trade for lodging.

• Here is a portfolio of their EcoFeminist Entrepreneur Web Projects. Interns can work on these sites as part of their duties. Tasks would include editing, writing, research or creating micro-documentaries for our Feminist Entrepreneur projects.
• Or if you'd rather trade for physical labor and tending the earth, here is a link to their Jungle Queen program.
• And if you’re not on a limited budget and this sounds intriguing and you want to support it, I highly recommend staying in one of Hedonisia’s eclectic lodging spaces.

I can’t wait to go myself! Please visit their website and explore all they have to offer: https://www.hedonisia.com/.  They even have a Moon Garden in a gigantic crater where you can pay homage to your cycle and connect with nature while feeling like you’re in mother earth’s womb. Needless to say, I am quite impressed with the work Mojo is doing and I think you’ll be too. We need more men like this in our world.

Supporting organizations that encourage men to respect women:
Also, check out the He For She campaign for the advancement of women initiated by UN Women. Its goal is to engage men and boys as agents of change by encouraging them to take action against negative inequalities faced by women and girls.

 June Red Tent
We started summer by paying tribute to the season’s associated element fire, and how it plays out as passion and sexual energy in our lives.

• Sophia Treyger, a Radical Pleasurist and Intimacy Coach, was our special guest. During the circle part of the evening, she walked us through an exercise, taking us on a journey within. The experience allowed us to tap into and become more aware of our pleasure centers. Sophia is a wonderful woman to work with if you’re feeling blocked in that regard or want to take your pleasure further. Visit her website.
• During the sharing part of the circle, we started to hear a commotion outside. Someone reminded me that it was the evening of the Naked Bike Ride. We paused the circle and ran over to the windows and watched for a while as a bunch of naked people rode by on NE Broadway. It was the perfect addition to our evening! J
• After the circle, we scarf danced to “That’s The Way I Like It,” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
• Powerful sister goddess Arkady Brown joined us for our June Red Tent as well.  Arkady is a Fine Art Boudoir photographer and talked a little about her yoni project. Her work was very fitting for the theme of our Tent! Check out her beautiful photography on her website and FB.

 
Pop-Up Red Tent Fundraiser
Taking steps towards my vision, I created this event to get a taste of what a future brick and mortar could be and look like, and to help raise funds towards the manifestation of it. There were massage and body workers; various readers such as tarot, astrology, hand analysis, intuitive, etc.; henna tattoo, treats, prizes and entertainment: belly dancing with The Gypsy Caravan, stand-up comedy with Barbara Holm, and live music with one of our Red Tent sisters, Sara Michelle Taylor. We had games where women could earn more raffle tickets and many participated. One of the games involved being a little creative and now I have a folder of awesome drawings and poems the women created! (See pics below.)
It was so much fun! The event not only raised money, it gave me valuable experience and info to help build a successful business.
 
2nd Annual Goddess Swim Fun Raiser
Remember when you were in high school and you just hung out with a bunch of girlfriends doing fun summer stuff? That’s the main reason I created this event. The second reason is to raise funds for various things. Last year it was for a scholarship fund for Moondays Red Tent tickets. This year it was for furthering the advancement of the brick and mortar.

• The weather cooperated again this year! The swim happened to be during one of the weeks we had record breaking heat, so the evening was the perfect temperature for swimming.
• We had a blast playing volleyball in the pool.
• When it got dark, we made a fire in the fire pit and some of us went skinny dipping.
• The moon was almost full and when it got dark, it had come up over the horizon. You could see it if you were in the pool and looked up over the fire pit and between the branches of the sumac tree. It was magical being in the water, gazing at the fire and the moon.
• We had some yummy treats including fresh bruschetta, toasted ravioli and Bloody Marys.
• Everyone seemed to be deeply connecting with one another, relaxing and enjoying themselves.

The next event this summer is the August Red Tent. It falls on Women’s Equality Day! Hope to see you there.