Blog No. 188: Keb' Mo Put a Woman in Charge, Van Jones on Biden, Tree of Life Symbol
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Keb'Mo: Put a Woman in Charge Featuring Rosanne Cash
Keb'Mo wrote and released the song Put A Woman In Charge back in 2018 and dedicated it to his mom, a powerful and strong leader who died at the age of 91. Featuring Rosanne Cash, it is as relevant today as it was back then and will no doubt soon become the theme song of the Kamala Harris campaign.
Van Jones:
“This is the difference between a politician and a leader." so says Van Jones commenting on President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential election. Jones is in my eyes one of the true humanitarian journalists of our time...His instincts are so aligned with mine--he seems to always hit the right tone for me when reacting to current events in real time on CNN or elsewhere.
Van Jones has been at it a long time. If you would like to read more about him, here is an NPR piece from 2017 where he espouses love rather than hate as a reaction to the racial tensions of our time and another article about him I found interesting from Yes Magazine..
Tree of Life Symbol
The Tree of Life is a widespread archetype common to many cultures, religions, mythologies, and folktales. It represents, at times, the source of life, a force that connects all lives, and the cycle of life and death itself throughout history.
In some cultures a sacred tree was said to bear fruit that could grant immortality to the one who ate it. In Chinese Daoist mythology the pantao is a peach that ripens once every 3,000 years and is the food of the immortals. In Norse mythology apples of immortality are grown on sacred trees guarded by the goddess Idun. In the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, both the tree of life and the tree of knowledge are said to grow in the Garden of Eden.
In Mexican culture, Trees of Life were traditionally used as a gift for newlyweds as a symbol of fertility and abundance and evolved over the years with images of Mexican culture and history, including decorating Day of the Dead altars to remember past loved ones.
The three day workshop I led at Rancho La Puerta last week used the Tree of Life as a jumping off point for us to create our own versions of this sacred tree. Rancho La Puerta has an extensive collection of Arboles de la Vida.
Photo of the Week
Charity of the Week:
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.