The Hashtags
Portals to Love
Dreams, Femininity, & Power
On a Saturday in Boston in the fall of 2021 I led six students and their families in a walking workshop - an experiment in "freedom dreaming." We immersed ourselves in art and architecture that articulated female strength. Our learning objective - What happens to your definition of power when you immerse yourself in "powerful worlds of women."
We threaded through the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, femme murals at Ruggles, the South End (the world's largest Victorian neighborhood outside of London), and ended up at The Revolution Hotel, a renovated YWCA. Each walker received a small bag with a few ribbons. Their instructions were to gather objects that they found along our route that represented power.
After five hours of immersion in a dreamy female power infused afternoon and drinks on the patio, I led them in a reflection. I asked five the students that remained to take our their collection of items and a ribbon. I offered them six mins to ....
"Weave your Reflections on Power."
They wove their ribbons, objects and stories into the evening. Each student shared what they created to reflect their defintion of power.
Here are a few YouTube Videos - 1 min clips - of what they said.
Dev - Color and thoughts are power
Alena - A ribbon held by many can create "huge" power
We left the patio and spilled out into the summer night. They were dazzled by the day. I could tell. A lightness poured over their faces and chatter.
We wove our way home. I led the students the students through the public gardens so they could find their way up through Boston Commons to Park Street to take the "T." They need to take the red line over the Charles River back to school and home.
I left them at the boundary between the Commons and Garden - the exact spot where Pope John Paul had spoke decades ago. I pointed out the site to Alena who had recently walked the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella in Northern Spain.
"A place of love and power."I said.
Alena smiled and joined her companions crossing the Boston Common.
I turned back to return home solo. Right before the bridge over the Duck Pond I came upon this gathering of young people, balloons and rose petals. A young group of friends were preparing a space for a surprise marriage proposal.
I texted the students barrelling their way back to Harvard Square, I sent these photos.
"Look what's happening now on the bridge you walked over. You opened up a portal to love and power!"
And in the following weeks, we opened more portals to love and power - a tremendous force. I opened a door for these student to perceive life in a new way.
These students opened a door for me. They showed me that I have the ability to wield everyday magic with knowledge, curiousity and love. These are the keys to magic. They are everywhere. You need to be open to seeing them.
Portals That Opened for Me....
which led to music...
New - Glitterati
The Apron Manifesto: What if one garment could change your world? | Suzanne Hamill | TEDxBoston
The Apron Manifesto: What if you made the world?
Start a Campfire (Love Light Symphony)
Dev
which led to more keys, more doors and more music
Over the next year a tremendous waterfall of music, murals, and a manifesto poured out of me. I gave a TEDx Talk about "The Apron Manifesto"which I wrote about joy and power embedded in feminine creativity. I started an organization experimenting with untapping human creativity to find a collective peace. And what is more marvelous? I've written, performed and recorded an outpouring of music - three albums and 100's of unrecorded tunes.
The process has been revelatory. Some things are too painful to talk about anymore. Most things are impossible to explain. The ties that bind were cut for me. My art is a way to weave a new life. Now I work mostly with lines of light - a light that cannot stay. (song on Soundcloud - WIP)
What is power to me?
Knowing that you have walked
through a refiner's fire.
Believing that you are loved.
Holding the key to your own heart.
Listen to the music...
Learn about the Apron epiphany
https://www.theapronmanifesto.com/
Learn about the Dream Tank