The Cliffs

by J. Courtney Sullivan

“There are no other examples of a woman-led religion in postcolonial America, besides Ann Lee and the Shakers,” Cora said. “I’ve wondered why not. But then, women are in sync with nature. Our cycles are linked to the moon, to the tides. Like them, we change two dozen times over, every month. What do men do? They don’t get to experience much of life. We gestate the babies and bring them into existence while the men try not to faint. It’s why they’re obsessed with extrinsic markers of success. And war! Taking life to feel some speck of the power we get from making life. You have to hand it to men,

Woman's Power

managed to convince us that the things that make women powerful are weaknesses. Motherhood is the most radical act in the world, and we’ve turned it into tapioca pudding. What’s more toothless, more invisible in this culture, than a mother?” Jane considered

Woman's Power

told Kanti those men could not comprehend what it meant to see and honor what Creator provides. Only the possibility for what it could become.