Mads - Always On Top

I guess when Like a Virgin came out I didnt realise that I was a willing subject to subconscious media messages. I had the Madonna leather wrist bands and the Madonna lace to tie up my hair.

Ive read that Madonna was inspired by Elvis the Pelvis and lets face it, she has sure done a good job at some pelvis action of her own.

Madonna has balls. There is no doubt about it she has used her sexuality to always keep her on top. She has climbed and climbed all the way up and stayed there. She is a creative artist and a kick arse business woman.

And the irony is that all the world likes to expose her weakness, her inner little Catholic girl crying out for her mum, her real mum - madonna snr, who died when she was only 5. Leaving her to try and win the affections of her preaching papa.

Im wondering is there a co-incidence that Madonna came into this world, with an inner desire to be on top, 'to own New York' the commercial centre of the world, and be a figure head admist the growing politics of our post feminist world?

She certainly has taken the 'inner masculine' models of success to the extreme. A single minded aggressive, nothing will stand in my way obsession for fame. And never, ever laying down for anyone. Always on top.

Like the Virgin, for the very first time.

Salome

The Dance of the Seven Veils is most famous from the tale in the bible, known as Salome's dance.

After dancing for Herod Salome asked for St John the Baptist's head (as requested by her mother) and he was executed.

Salome was seen as an evil seductress.

The Dance of the Seven Veils goes back far further in history. In Sumeria the temple ziggurats followed the sacred number 7, based on the number of planets that were visible to the early astrologers/astronomers. The Goddess Ishtar was associated with the number 7 and each veil from the priestess dance was a Gateway to her Mysteries.



Here is the Sumerian temple of Ur.


This illustration below was created by Andrea Beardsley for Oscar Wilde's play, Salome.


The ancient art of bellydance is not just about seduction. Its not just about wiggling your boody for some booty. Its an art of storytelling. Where the core heart to the story is about 'creation' or 'procreation' wink wink, it interweaves amongst an expression of identity.

Im curious about this dance of seduction. Just how does someone dance this ancient art form, woman or man, for good. And not evil. To feel confident in oneself without making their audience, their victim.

who's in charge?

To play like a man you have to fight like one. If you have ambition, if you want success, you need to join the Art of War.
Today I am wondering if to be a career woman and be taken seriously means I must hunt like Athena, warrior woman, the weaver of intellect. What happens if I want to wear a dress? Does that make me weak?
Are the masculine and feminine languages of business coming together as one?
Im a post feminist, and I do see women around me that embrace true femininity. Can I stand up in business, ask for my booty in return, with no need to play war or play weak.
I am wondering right now how I can play like a woman.
What does that look like?