Sacred Journey to Ladyhood A Woman’s Guide through Her Write of Passage

Ladyhood is the greatest extension to the concept of being female. Thus, to most accurately define the concept of “Ladyhood,” it is important to understand each level which exists before it. This clarification is critical to conveying the hierarchy of the Ladyhood position, as the pinnacle of the female chain. The chain which exists is composed of three levels: female, woman, and Lady. Notice that being a “Lady,” will always be capitalized in this work, because of the respect in we will extend to the term. It is this ultimate form of femininity in which you, as the reader, are expected to obtain. The journey to Ladyhood will not be easy, but with the correct knowledge, you will learn to identify your innate ability to do so; this work is intended to guide you along the journey. So let us define all levels of femininity so that you can fully appreciate the essence of being a Sacred Lady. The first level within the chain to Ladyhood is the term “female.” Being a female, alone, simply recognizes the presence of biological factors. These factors are usually developed from the double X chromosomes that the female obtains at conception. The characteristics then are expressed both internally (the presence of ovaries, fallopian tubes and a uterus) and externally (presence of a vagina). At puberty, the female develops a relatively rounded body, which includes enlarged breasts, curvaceous hips, and a beardless face. Being female is the most basic of the identifiers and is determined at birth (before if the parents choose) and on most occasions is the characteristic that will remain with her until the day she dies. The next level within the chain to Ladyhood is the term “woman.” A woman is an adult version of a female. Usually, a female becomes a woman once they are “of age” (either eighteen or twenty-one, whichever one is supported by society). One would think that given that womanhood represents a major mile stone for females, there would be a greater emphasis on one’s transition from female to woman. Sadly this is not the case. Women receive no training in what being an adult female is about, seek little guidance in proper etiquette, are relatively shallow in nature, lack moral reasoning and are emotionally immature. They stay stuck in a vicious lifestyle, contaminated with egocentrism that offers few opportunities for creativity and growth and live life void of optimal functioning. Fortunately, there is a level beyond womanhood along this chain and it will be referred to in this book as “Ladyhood.” Ladyhood represents the epitome of womanhood. It, includes not only the physiological makeup of females in their adult years, but considers the way in which they manage their struggles, their strengths, their vulnerabilities, their desires, their inner and outer beauty, and their overall being. A Lady is one who speaks with accomplishment and poise. When she walks in the room, she radiates with both internal and external beauty, and this can be recognized by anyone around her. A Lady is not afraid to defy the norms and does so by creating an authentic aura around her; a Lady uses her knowledge to empower others. A female can become a woman, who then becomes a Lady, because of the way that she carries herself, because of the values that she adheres to, and the morals which she upholds. And while it is not expected that a Lady be perfect, a Lady is well prepared to identify her imperfections and use them to make a better version of herself. The combination of these attributes creates a magnitude of strength that a Sacred Lady uses to positively impact herself, her family, and her community with grace, humility, and perseverance. A Lady is always Sacred because she is spiritually divine. She does not see spirituality as a separate entity. Instead a Sacred Lady understands that the spirit lives within her. Leijssen (2008), provided the following description of the essence of being sacred. “The sacred is a quality of experiencing life. It has to do with value, depth, wonder, reverence, touching the soul or the life force. [Ladyhood] can be deepened and enriched, even transformed, when the sacred is invited and the spiritual dimension is addressed…” This will be elaborated upon more in the final chapter, but please understand that the mindset of having an internal sacred spirit is important when grasping each component along your transition into Ladyhood. Many people are often intimidated by the concept of “Ladyhood” due to various misconceptions that the term holds or has held in the past. Proper etiquette that was once considered “Lady-like,” often created a picture of woman in formal dresses, who drank tea, and stayed at home with a house full of children all day. Their only purpose was to serve their husband and children, while sacrificing their own dreams and aspirations. This mindset has since become dated and is not something that most of us wish to acquire. Thanks to the works of early feminist such as Mary Wollstonecraft (a published author and advocate for women’s education), Elizabeth Stanton (one of the first initiates of women’s rights and women’s suffrage in the United States), and Jane Adams (leader in women’s suffrage and world peace), we now have the abilities to pursue things such as higher education and professional careers. For “women", unfortunately the emphasis of taking advantage of these opportunities, has resulted in a sacrifice to their matriculation into “Ladyhood.” The reason that this is so is because those who choose to remain labeled as “women” have subsequently placed a lack of emphasis on their innate qualities of being a “Lady” in order to obtain things like power and wealth provided by feminism. This can be seen by the doctor who was so preoccupied with her career that by the time she realized that she wanted to have children, it was too late. This can also be seen in the corporate lawyer who is so concerned with improving her career that she willingly defends rapists so that they can be released into the community and rape again. This can also be observed in the “Independent Woman” who is so consumed with thinking about what people can do to benefit her that she forgets her moral obligation to do what she can to benefit and uplift others. With the plethora of scenarios such as these, one cannot help but think of how we have allowed the opportunity of feminism to redefine us in an unnatural manner. This perspective is not intended to be an attack on those magnificent “Ladies” who fought for Women’s rights, because a Sacred Lady should be appreciative of all opportunities provided for her. Rather, this perspective should bring caution to the women who have allowed the efforts of others to distract her from her natural born tendencies to be a Lady. This does not mean that a Lady should then resume her role to her husband and her children as her only position in life (unless she wants to), but it does mean that a Sacred Lady recognizes the balance between the importance of living an independent life with opportunity, while understanding fully, her capacity and responsibility to make a difference to others by using her innate qualities that make her a nurturing, divine creature. For the sake of emphasis, the terms “female” and “woman” will be referred to in this reading where the basic characteristics of being female are being referenced. However, “Lady,” “Ladyhood,” and “Ladiness,“ will be the most commonly expressed terms because this is the direction that this book is intended to steer its audience. With this, I introduce to you the concept behind the masterpiece: Sacred Journey to Ladyhood: A Woman’s Guide through her Writes of Passage.