Woo Who?

When 2 of the people who know you best (my husband and mother in this case) don't understand the name of your blog, you may have gone awry. The reality is that I spent quite some time choosing the name and it is perfect for me and my purposes, so it will stay and I will try to explain myself.



I'm assuming the biggest hurdle would be "Woo". Even if this word has meaning for you, it may not be the meaning it has for me. For me, woo is a global term to describe all of the magical forces in the universe. Magic has been a powerful, guiding force in my life.


For example, twice in my life, I have been honored by the "routine" magical experience of growing an entirely new, complex, unique human being inside of my body. While some may argue that there is nothing magical about this process, citing all of our scientific understanding of embryonic and fetal development, I feel no need to create a false dichotomy between magic and science. Much of what we understand scientifically, for example how our world evolved, is profoundly magical.


I have also experienced magic that is unknowable on this plane, such as my deep connection to God and a concrete moment of hope I was given on a dark, hopeless night.


As I delve deeper into the world of energy healing, I have an opportunity to experience magic on a routine basis. It is amazing to watch people free themselves of burdens that that have marred their lives for years, with an intense, but relatively simple process. Recently, I helped a client relieve some chronic pain in 15 minutes of energy work. After we were done, she looked at me with total sincerity and said "are you a witch?" I took this as a compliment.



At this point, we have to ask the question: but why the word "woo"? Let me explain.


The first reason is because I want to reclaim the word. Woo is a word that has frequently been used to dismiss, demean, and belittle believing in things outside of the mainstream. I believe it is important to embrace words that have been used in a pejoritive manner to control and oppress people. For example, I have long celebrated the bitch aspect of womanhood. It is important to own a "bitch hat" and know when to use it. There are times that a woman needs to be clear, firm, unwavering, solid, and even at times, unkind, in order to protect herself or others. Being a bitch in these instances is an admirable thing. And also, even though it still makes me flinch a little, and I am only in the stage where I say them in my mind, I am working to embrace the words pussy and cunt. For the simple reason that I'll be damned if a part of my body, a part I like very much in fact, is a bad word. The same idea is true for "woo", I will make this word, that is used to demean something near and dear to my heart, my own.


The second reason is a simple play on words. Woo rhymes with you. The best way for me to love you, and all of humankind, is to love woo, and all the wonderful and powerful things that means.


And just in case the "girl" part was the confusion...well, I have a cunt.