The International Museum of Women is excited to announce the launch of the Imagining Ourselves Motherhood Exhibit, running from March 8 through the end of June. www.imow.org

Join us for four months of film, photography, literature, and art - as young women from more than 30 countries explore the nuances of modern motherhood. A part of the Museum’s highly successful Imagining Ourselves project, the exhibit will include contributions from Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, journalist Mariane Pearl, authors Rebecca Walker and Karenna Gore-Schiff, activist Hafsat Abiola, comedienne Jenny McCarthy, actress Julie Delpy, and singer/songwriter Toni Braxton.

art and text by Thalia Took:
used with her gracious permisson

"Know what you offer."

Benzaiten is the Japanese Buddhist goddess of Love, Beauty, Eloquence and Music, as well as a Sea-goddess. Her husband was a wicked dragon whom She reformed, and She is often shown riding one. Dragons and their smaller relatives snakes are sacred to Her and snakes are often Her messengers. She is said to prevent earthquakes and is worshipped on islands, especially the island of Enoshima. Benzaiten is originally of Hindu origin and is associated with Sarasvati, the Indian goddess of music and wisdom, and is sometimes shown with eight arms. Benzaiten is also linked to Kwannon or Kwan Yin, the sometimes female, sometimes male deity of compassion in Buddhism.