Laurel Leaf, The Ultimate Feminist
I've been thinking a lot about all the ways I was told I was too much and not enough at the same time. How, for a long time, those insidious messages dimmed my light as I shy away from my "muchness."
I wish I could say my story was unique, but millions of other women suffer from the same cultural wounding, absorbed thousands of years ago and passed down through the female ancestral line. After reading Elizabeth Lessor's newest book, Cassandra Speaks, I wondered if the wounds of the origin stories, such as Eve, Pandora, Gallenta, and Cassandra, grow more profound with each generation they are passed down to.
It's a cultural taboo to speak your truth as a woman. Those who dare to stand in their worth have often been dismissed, as far back as Apollo cursing Cassandra.
If you don't know the story, the short version is; she was a profit who caught Apollo's eye. However, she did not love him back, and that pissed him off. So instead of revoking her divine prophetic powers, he added the curse that nobody would believe her, despite the truth of her words.
Mixed media collage, feat. found images of Cassandra, Apollo Butterflies, Laurel Leaf
This curse of Cassandra is still in our lineage thousands of years later. Many women (myself included), accustomed to never being believed, adopt the malformed coping mechanism of not speaking up at all.
The silencing of women, gaslighting each of us into believing we don't know our own truth, is so insidious we don't even know it's happening. So many of our mothers, grandmothers, cousins, and aunts don't even realize they've bought into this inferiority myth.
One of the tips and tricks I use to speak my truth (even if my voice is shaking) is Laurel Laurel. To me, she is the ultimate feminist, helping the world become a more authentic place through those who seek her.
If you are at all interested in finding out how Laurel Leaf or other essential oils might help you speak your truth, I'd love to offer you a complimentary discovery session. During our session, we can get very clear on what self-love looks like for you. Then we will look at how coaching and essential oils can support you in finding your own unique voice.
Jaclyn McCabe
Author