August 15th, 2008
Outskirts of Antigua, Guatemala
House of the Three Graces

What a magic night 鈥 filled with great conversation, discussion, and delicious food! A group of friends and acquaintances came together to celebrate Maria鈥檚 book 鈥 Women: Metamorphosis of the Butterfly Effect in Guatemala. About 25 women and one man gathered in the living room of the three graces 鈥 three dynamic women who live in Antigua and share a lovely house together, a perfect place for such an event. Maria and I had just come from the Petatera meeting in Antigua organized by JASS , a global network of seasoned activists, academics and popular educators working on feminist movement building. We brought with us the abundant energy of the Petateras, women from Central America, Mexico and the United States who are collaborating on strategies for confronting discrimination and inequality.

Sitting in a big circle on comfortable sofas, chairs and steps, we first listened to Maria introduce the book and its personages, presented with the fun and flair and depth that they deserve. She described the struggles and contributions of several women who had been made invisible over the centuries, women who had challenged power and contributed to new paradigms of thinking and action. I read some excerpts from the chapter on Lucy to give people a taste of the book itself. Margie Thompson told about her butterfly photo exhibit inspired by its metaphor and the university course that she and Maria teach using its stories. Maria explained that the book is being transformed into a play that gives additional life and drama to the book鈥檚 characters and insights. Some people even signed up on the spot right there to attend its premiere performance in Costa Rica in November. Ailyn Morera, the director and script-writer of the upcoming play, read a scene between two of the female protagonists 鈥 鈥淢olly鈥 and Lucy - that left everyone laughing and pensive, all at the same time. Due to her career as actress in theatre, her ability to embody the characters was powerful. Truly a treat!

The audience spoke about how the characters and spirit of the book touched them and resonated with their own experience. An art teacher spoke about how one of her students was using butterflies as a metaphor of flight and new beginning to make sense of her life on the eve of her graduation; several women mentioned that they had encountered some of the women鈥檚 stories and places in their travels, a drama teacher found the book鈥檚 imaginary letters wonderful for her own work in trying to develop creativity and empathy in her students; one woman offered up the hope that her daughter would live a full and meaningful life and never be made invisible; another spoke of how the stories would inspire her in her social justice work; and still another woman in the group remembered her proud role as translator for Francisca Alvarez, Mayan woman who was featured in the book. In one special moment, threads of separate lives came together and reflected the promise and challenges of the group.

The power of resonance and the potential of the butterfly effect were clearly present that night. Ah, the circles and spirals of our lives! The people gathered in the House of Three Graces wove their individual and collective connections to each other and to the women celebrated in Maria鈥檚 book. The evening proved the power and promise of both the book and the play to tap the depths of people and to weave together communities of reflection and action.
Valerie Miller
JASS/Petetera,
Alas de Mariposa,
International Board