Today is V- Day.

Valentines Day. Perhaps you have been the recipient of hearts and flowers? Have you ever thought about why hearts and flowers?

What might you have that is pink or red with petals? What else is heart shaped – uh-huh!

“The shape we call a heart – whose symmetry resembles the vulva far more than the asymmetry of the organ that shares its name – is probably a residual female genital symbol. It was reduced from power to romance by centuries of male dominance.” Gloria Steinem, foreword to The Vagina Monologues

Yup. Valentines Day is a commercialised celebration of the vagina! Look again, at every shop and mall, festoned with beautiful, blossoming, life giving yonis!

This is a reason why today has been annointed V-Day – to mark a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

Started by Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues. Women around the world perform these moving monologues, celebrating all aspects of being a vagina owner, and donate their proceeds to the V-Day movement.

Our women’s group did a private reading of the monologues about a year ago – it is one of our treasured highlights – it pushed many members to face fears about reading aloud, of saying the word “vagina” aloud, of facing traumatic memories…. we wept together at points… but most of all we laughed a lot.

Have you read, seen, or performed the Monologues? It is my ambition to perform them next year for the 15th anniversary. For more on V-day check out http://www.vday.org . The Monologues are available in my A-store, along with lots of other inspiring women’s books.