I'm not naive. I know how hard it is to get along.
I think as women and men become more conscious, the terms "woman/man" begin to lose meaning.
My years as a mystic have made me question almost all my assumptions. They've made me a proud I-don't-know-it-all.
I actually don't think we're more divided than we were. I think it's more evident. It's more evident because of the internet.
The part of me that is both a spiritual seeker and a social activist meet in this understanding of enlightened power coming from a deep, genuine well within each person.
I hope we have learned throughout centuries of revolution and reaction that it's really a shift in consciousness that we need. And I think there is a shift in consciousness among our human species. I think the human species is evolving, spiritually.
Many women hear the word "feminine" and feel like it's a noose around their neck. "Don't hold me to a mode of behavior because I'm a woman and you think this is how a woman should act," kind of thing.
I do think in general, women have a value system. And it's that value system that I think is feminism. Not "men are bad, women are good, let's get women empowered" - it's let's get this value system, which is about the capacity to feel and empathize with life, and therefore to protect it.
The real work of feminism is to empower a woman and to give her language to express a new value system for the world. The new feminism must create both the process by which we generate influence and the influence itself.
I pull from a place within me that has ultimate faith in the meaningfulness and beauty of human life.
I have noticed if I pull from fear or despair about the state of the world, I get tired, ineffective, afraid and sometimes mean-spirited.
If I pull from places of faith, joy and gratitude, then I have the wind of creativity behind me. And, my work in the world is much more effective.
We don't need anymore empowered people who are all about the ego.
We think that maybe feminism isn't appropriate anymore, since Western women have really made enormous strides. But check out the rest of the world if you'd like to not be able to sleep tonight.
See what's happening to our sisters around the world. I'm very interested in the protection of women globally.
It is such a teaching in itself for us, all of us, every moment when we're with anyone.
We don't need any more teachers. We don't. We need friends.
Even if your difficult time comes at you out of the blue - like cancer - even those times, opens your heart to the magic and power of life, and gives you this inner commitment to live every moment.
Beautiful quality that women have, which is we like to get together and gab. It's time to elevate that aspect of being a woman.
I heard the term "mamisma" when describing Speaker of the House [Nancy] Pelosi, how she was speaking from that place which is kind of like a strong mother. Like when your mom says like, "put that down!" you know that is coming from a place of both love and strength. And at this critical stage in human history we need both action and caring.
I really knew how to speak - from my female voice, that "different voice" that Carol Gilligan so presciently described many years ago in her groundbreaking book. Because if we try to speak in a voice that isn't ours, we lose our power.
Each one of us regardless of our situation, is in our search of our most authentic, vital, generous and wise self.
