There are but 25 Chinese characters in this verse, Tao te Ching's second shortest verse.

Here the amazing teaching about The Feminine Nature of Tao. Until now, Lao Tzu has refrained from any anthropomorphizing of Tao. But in this verse, he links Tao with the Feminine, the Mother, the Womb.

We start off with comparisons in 9 English translations for the Chinese word for woman (牝). Then we explore how deep this Feminine idea goes in Taoism's understanding of creation. Noteworthy is Lao Tzu's use of a feminine image/metaphor to convey this teaching.

Quote by Thomas Cleary, Immortal Sisters: Secrets of Taoist Women. Boston: Tambala Publications, Inc., 1989.

Tao still speaks. Thanks to Nancy Hastings Sehested for her voice and question. Artwork by Audrey Davis. The song “Put Your Roots Down” is graciously donated by songwriter and singer Molly Hartwell. The copyright for quotations from Tao Te Ching is held by Fortress Press.

May your days begin in peace, and become wombs for radical hope.