You’re invited: The Goddess Tarot app blog tour!

It’s summertime, so I’m currently on the road until mid-August. During this time, I hope to catch up with family and friends who live on the West Coast. Nonetheless, I have my semi-trusty laptop with me and will be posting periodic updates.

Along with this, I’ll be visiting blogs in August to celebrate the launch of The Goddess Tarot app. Already, I’ve gotten some press for the app — check out this article on Brokelyn.com in which I am queried about how to make an iPhone app. But for the tour, there will be much more: articles, interviews, even a podcast, along with giveaways galore!

Without further ado, here is a list of the blogs taking part in The Goddess Tarot app tour:

Monday, August 3rd — Tarot by Arwen

Tuesday, August 5th — New Age Journal

Thursday, August 6th — Only Tarot

Monday, August 10th — The Tarot Dame

Friday, August 14th — At Brigit’s Forge: A Blogue by Lunaea Weatherstone

Tuesday, August 18th — Art NYC: Marshall Sponder on the NYC Art Scene

Thursday, August 20th — Joanna Powell Colbert’s Gaian Tarot blog

Saturday, August 22nd — Owl’s Wings: The Blog of Beth Owl’s Daughter

Tuesday, August 25th — Elizabeth Genco

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BTW, if you haven’t downloaded The Goddess Tarot app yet, here are links to download the free Lite version and the paid Full version. You can find out more about the app’s features and visuals here.

Though it’s only been on the market for a week, already The Goddess Tarot app is garnering great reviews on iTunes. Here are excerpts from what people are saying about the Full version:

I’ve gotten a few tarot card apps so far and none of them can touch the Goddess Tarot for beautiful layouts and smart interactivity. It even has an animated shuffle — so clever!… Be sure to get the full version which has a variety of layouts.”

“Even if you’re not into tarot, this deck is for you. The artwork is enchanting. This is one of my most favorite decks and now it’s even better.”

“This cool app did not disappoint! As well as giving good readings — uplifting without being fluffy — there is also the opportunity to learn about the belief systems and goddesses from all over the world.”

“Kris Waldherr’s lush visuals and intuitive programming make this one of my favorite apps.”

“Beautiful images and soulful interpretations! It offers me a sense of wonder and magick — and it’s conveniently available in my iPod.”

Learn more at GoddessTarot.com.

GODDESS TAROT LITE VERSION	GODDESS TAROT FULL VERSION

• Filed under blogs we read, events, friends and colleagues, giveaways and raffles, goddesses, mythic living, publications, retail therapy, tarot and oracles | 5 Responses

Creativity Friday: Interview with Women of Wisdom founder and author Kris Steinnes ~ and book giveaway!

I’m very pleased to have Kris Steinnes as my guest for this edition of Creativity Friday. Kris has accomplished some amazing things to further the empowerment of women everywhere. She’s the founder of the Seattle-based Women of Wisdom foundation, as well as an author and editor of a new book which bears the same name. In Kris’s involvement with WOW, she has brought together women leaders from many fields to share their experiences. Their ultimate goal is to build a world in which women’s voices are heard and feminine wisdom can be lived to its fullest.

(Full disclosure: I was fortunate to be a workshop presenter at Women of Wisdom a few years ago. It was a wonderful experience!)

Women of Wonder: Empowering the Dreams and Spirit of Women reminds me in some ways of Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, one of my favorite works of art. Just as The Dinner Party showcases the contributions of women throughout history, Women of Wisdom showcases the art and words of the numerous inspiring women who have presented at WOW. Besides Kris, these steller contributors include Isabel Allende, Marion Woodman, Brooke Medicine-Eagle, Nicki Scully, Frances Moore Lappé, Angeles Arrien, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Judith Orloff and Riane Eisler. Their essays and poems are interwoven with beautiful art and design.

My interview with Kris is all about her experience working on Women of Wisdom; ways women can carve out sacred space to nurture their creative spirits; and her hopes for the future of the Divine Feminine in our society.

You can purchase the WOW book at www.wisewomanpublishing.com. Heads up: some bonus gifts may still be available when you purchase from the Amazon link on their website.

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Kris Waldherr: One of the things which interests me is women’s creative processes, especially when it comes to making books and art. I read that you worked on Women of Wisdom at two writers’ retreats, one of which was in Sicily. Can you tell me about your experience? Were there specific inspirations which arose out of this situations which wove their ways into Women of Wisdom?

Kris Steinnes: I went to Sicily for a sabbatical from Women of Wisdom, and my life in Seattle! I planned to start writing the book and I did begin there. It was inspiring to just be away from everything where I could start to focus on the project. I transcribed a couple of the talks, and I also wrote some beginning pieces about how Women of Wisdom started, etc. It was a place to wind down and look out my kitchen table at the ocean, walk the beach and plan the book. I can’t say anything I wrote there is in the book – it was more what I call pre-writing. Nine months later I attended Christina Baldwin’s writing workshop on Whidbey Island, Washington. That was very inspirational to be with thirteen women writers and Christina is so good at creating sacred space and doing circle work. We met each morning and evening and did writing exercises, but the best part was having 36 hours of silence where we all worked on our writing pieces. I wrote the first chapter there which shares the experience of entering into Women of Wisdom and it just flowed from that sacred space inside of me. I have to say it turned into two-three chapters when the book was actually finished but it felt so good to complete that at the retreat. The last day we each had thirty minutes to share our writings and get feedback from everyone, which focused on the positive aspects of the writing, not a critical critique so we were all validated for our work. Amazing work was completed by everyone in those five days.

KW: A follow up: For women who perhaps don’t have access to writers’ retreats, what advice can you give on creating a sacred space to nurture their creative endeavors?

KS: After my writing retreat with Christina Baldwin life got busy again as it was Women of Wisdom conference time. So I knew I needed to create some space for me to write and get out of my house. I rented a space that was available from a friend and it was in a complex that had gardens around it, so when I took breaks I could be out in nature. I could go just for four hours a day and be away from home, phones and internet so I could really focus on the work. That’s what I knew I had to do. I know not everyone can, so I suggest you find a place in your home away from phones and anything that will disturb you. I’ve heard some advise to do it first thing in the morning before the day gets started. I’m not a morning person, but I know I don’t make it to the gym unless I do it first in my day, so I think writing can be like that. Some people it’s best late at night – it can be quiet then too. Create a place that’s for writing only and create an altar in the room. Turn off the phone if you have to, shut the door, whatever you need to do to focus. I called on the spirit of the Goddess Sophia to be with me and felt she guided me. It took discipline and it helps to have deadlines!

KW: Though your writing is featured in Women of Wisdom, you also shaped the book as editor. The book includes contributions from some major women authors, experts, and leaders, such as Riane Eisler, Isabel Allende, and Jean Shinoda Bolen. What was involved in editing such a stellar group of women?

KS: They were presenters at the Women of Wisdom conference and I chose them to be in the first book as I knew they had powerful messages for women. First we had to transcribe their talks, and then edit them to be the correct length for a chapter in a book, and to take out all the aside comments – people don’t talk as they would write. So I had to focus on what their message was and take out extraneous stories that didn’t support the message, while keeping the essence of their talk intact.

KW: Was it hard to decide what to include in the book? Was there anything you had to leave out because of space constraints that you wish you had been able to include?

KS: It wasn’t hard, but I did have to choose who would be in the first book. Some people I had been in touch with and knew they would want to participate. There were three that didn’t get in that I would have liked to have had, but they weren’t able to edit or approve their chapter in time. They will be in the second book. In the end the book got so large that the ten I have was just enough.

KW: Do you have a favorite contribution in the book? If so, which one and why?

KS: I think they’re all good. They all have a different perspective of the Divine Feminine. I love Angeles Arrien’s talk about finding meaning, magic and enchantment in our lives, and Jean Houston is always so inspiring, I love her work. Jean Shinoda Bolen’s work on the importance of circles is great, and Riane Eisler and Barbara Marx Hubbard give us important information about partnership and co-creating our world. They’re very thought provoking. And one of my favorites is Marion Woodman, who is such an inspiration and spokeswoman of the feminine.

KW: As a book designer myself, I appreciate how seamlessly your book’s text is integrated into its art and design. It’s a real outpouring of creativity and inspiration. What was involved in shaping the book’s design and art? Did you go into this with a clear vision of how the book would look? Or did it evolve gradually?

KS: I wanted it to be a full experience of the feminine and art, poetry, stories have always been an important aspect of Women of Wisdom conferences that I knew I wanted to include that in the book. All these artists, musicians and writers have been involved in the conference, whether a presenter, a participant, or a market vendor and I’m so glad they are a part of the book. It was very synchronistic how I found the book designer, as I received an email from someone from our community recommending Drai just when I knew I needed to find someone to do the book cover. I looked at her website and liked her work, so when I contacted her, I found out she actually had been to Women of Wisdom before, even though she lives in Denver. So she understands who WOW is and was able to create a book that reflects that. I chose the art and poetry to go with each writing so that it fit with the theme of that chapter.

KW: I understand that Women of Wisdom is the first of three books underway from the WOW foundation. What can we expect to see in future books? What role will you take in creating them?

KS: I hopefully will start the second book this next year. I’m getting inquiries from people who have read the book and want to submit their writings on the feminine, which is great. So I see it being more talks from WOW presenters and again art and poetry, and I’ve had experiences since writing the first book, that I’ll write some chapters as well. It will be like the first one, but probably less about the conference and more about the Divine Feminine and our experiences with Her. I’m open to people submitting art, poetry, songs and their stories of the Divine Feminine in their lives to include in the book.

KW: This book is a real labor of love, reflecting your many years of involvement as the founder of the Women of Wisdom foundation. The roots of WOW were founded in a women’s spirituality conference that took place in 1993. To say the least, both the foundation and the conference have grown considerably since then! In your book, you write that Women of Wisdom is “a path of experiences linked together through the commonality of women and spirit on a journey seeking the Divine.” What do you envision to be the future of the Women of Wisdom foundation? How does your book support and play into this vision?

KS: I have always envisioned WOW circles in other cities, and would love to consult with groups in other cities to put on a WOW conference there, perhaps license the conference to others. We receive emails from people who ask where is there a group like yours in my city. The book is supporting this, as now after the Amazon campaign women from all over the country are reading the book and are finding out about the WOW conference. We even have people in Europe who have the book now. That’s just thrilling for me to know this important work is going around the globe. I hope many of them will come in February to the conference. If anyone wants to apply to give a 3 hour workshop they are welcome to. The deadline is August 15th and they can download the application and information from our website – www.womenofwisdom.org. We can’t pay travel for these presenters, but it’s a great way to come to the conference, bring your work to Seattle and share with other women.

KW: My experience has been that our creative endeavors transform us as much as we hope they will transform others. How did working on this book transform you as a creative woman? How do you intend for your book to transform the world?

KS: I’ve been transformed and continue transforming through Women of Wisdom. I find as she grows, I grow and visa versa. I’ve learned so much about myself, the Diving Feminine, the power of a women’s community, women’s circles. I created a circle form of leadership and that’s how we run the organization, through our council circle. I’ve always been creative as I used to work in clothing design but now my creativity is moving in other new directions – being a speaker, consultant, writer, workshop leader, not just an organizer of a conference, so I’m going through a big growth phase with this book. My intention for the book is to bring the feminine consciousness to the forefront in our world so there’s a balance between male and female energies (I’m not speaking about gender here). I want to empower women to find their voices and to lead the life they’ve always dreamed of.

KW: Finally, what is the message you hope women take away from your book?

KS: My wish is for women to feel empowered to speak up and become leaders as we need more women leaders. But most importantly they’re the leaders of their own life so I hope women will take the time to rediscover what their dreams are and realize that they can still achieve them.

Also I feel the most important message is honoring and respecting our feminine gifts. I give workshops for women to find the places inside themselves where they aren’t honoring the feminine within them. We’ve been brought up in a world that doesn’t honor the feminine, and it’s up to us to change that as it begins within. So my hope is women learn to respect and honor their own feminine and know that it’s okay to express it because the world needs it now, our young women need to know the feminine is valued. When we do that we’ll begin to see it reflected in our world, and others will show the respect and honor that the feminine deserves. It’s important to explore when we silence Her and to create a safe place for Her to come forward. We need to share our gifts and our wisdom, and we are more able to do that when we feel validated and honored for our feminine gifts. When that happens we truly will find the freedom to live fully and then there will be the balance that is so needed in our world now.

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Kris has generously offered to raffle off a beautiful copy of Women of Wisdom to one blog commenter—thank you, Kris! To enter the giveaway, the rules are simple. Just leave a comment below by midnight August 2, 2009. The winner will be announced on August 3rd on this blog. Good luck to all!

In addition, here’s information about the upcoming18th Annual Women of Wisdom Conference, which takes place in Seattle Feburary 11 – 15, 2010. Special guests include Joan Borysenko and Donna Eden. Learn more or sign up for their enewsletter at www.womenofwisdom.org. If you have any questions for Kris, contact her directly at her blog or via e-mail: ks [at] wisewomanpublishing dot com.

• Filed under creativity, friends and colleagues, giveaways and raffles, interviews, mythic living | 18 Responses

defining moments – a resurrection

One of the blogs I read is Elizabeth Genco’s; Elizabeth is a writer who’s also fascinated by the mythic. She’s just written a thought-provoking post on defining moments which reminded me of a similar post I wrote approximately two years ago.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to resurrect it from my archives, in answer to her request for others’ defining moments. Enjoy!

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I’ve been thinking lately about defining moments. (Maybe this phrase should be written with a capital “D” and “F”, to underscore their importance.) My life lately feels a bit like this right now. For the most part, things are in a welcome state of peaceful equilibrium, like the Balance card in the Goddess Tarot. I tell myself to remember this peaceful state and to cherish it. Having sold Doomed Queens, watching my daughter grow up into a beautiful little girl, feeling connected to a supportive community around me — it’s all good. I want to capture this defining moment, like a snapshot to be pulled out of my memory at will.

Though other defining moments I’ve experienced haven’t always risen out of contentment, they are equally important to me. They’ve helped me to figure out exactly I am, what my path should be. We all experience these moments, these quick-brilliant flashes of mythic living that illuminate our lives. What’s tricky is to recognize them for what they are before they fade into yet-another-detail to be cataloged.

One true story: I think I’ve mentioned in the past here that I lived for a year in England after I sold my first book. It was one of the most magical years of my life — it was the first time that I was able to devote myself entirely to art. And I was living in one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen, surrounded by intensely creative and gifted people.

Sometimes it was hard. Even with a book contract, I still worried about making a living and whether I’d be able to sell future books. I also worried that my art would be beautiful enough to move people as I’d like it to. Would I’d ever be able to reach the artistic goals I yearned for? I pondered this intensely, wondering if I’d chosen the right path. Art can feel like an indulgent proposition, when so much of the world is in trauma.

And one day, the answer came to me when I least expected it.

Of all places, it was on the Underground, London’s equivalent to the NYC subway system. I was in London to show my portfolio around, in hopes of alleviating my ever present “can I make a living as an illustrator” anxiety. Though the Underground was crowded, I managed to score a seat — much welcome, since I was tired from walking around the city all day. I settled in, keeping my eyes low and body tucked tight, to avoid any contact with strangers.

Suddenly, I heard a woman’s voice. “You must be an artist.” Sitting next to me was a middle-aged woman, neatly dressed in business clothing. She continued, “I usually don’t do this, but look at your hands — they’re so long and graceful. You must be an artist.”

Stunned, I nodded yes.

The woman said nothing else to me during that crowded train ride. But what she said was enough.

And what about you? What defining moments do you value?

• Filed under art and words, be-mused, blogs we read, mythic living, the art world, the world around me, travels | 3 Responses

Creativity Friday: noting inspiration

In my last Creativity Friday, I wrote about the balancing act of being a writer as well as an artist. Today, I’d like to take note — literally! — of where some of my art and writing ideas came from.

I recently came across this array of old post-it notes when I was moving files into my studio:

Believe it or not, these post-its contain phrases and ideas that spurred several projects into existence. As you can tell, I scrawled them while probably caught in the middle of some activity that didn’t allow me to get to my journal in time. (Hey, when the Muses speak, I transcribe immediately.) From the looks of my handwriting, I suspect I was either (a) mid-dream, (b) walking somewhere in a hurry, or worst of all, (c) stuck at a red light while driving.

(I find driving really inspiring. Weird, huh? It seems to clear out my brain, making room for creativity to strike. But I know it’s not the safest environment for jotting down notes.)

And how about you? How do you “catch” inspiration when it hits? I know journaling is popular, but sometimes ideas arrive at not-such-neat moments when you happen to have a notebook at hand. I’d love to rely on my memory, but it’s unreliable when it comes to retaining flashes of inspiration — sort of like trying to channel a dream after my first cup of joe in the morning.

Anyway, click here to read an annotated version of these post-its, along with a list of the publications they’re referencing.

• Filed under be-mused, creativity, lover's path, mythic living, publications, the art world | 7 Responses

my dinner with Ariel

My post this week about 25 things about me generated a few comments regarding my daughter Thea’s proclivities for all things female and finned. To recap:

1. Yes, she really does believe she’s a mermaid.

2. She’s convinced that we live in a water castle. When she climbs up our stairs, she calls it a waterfall.

3. She says I’m her mermaid mommy (especially when I wear a blue dress).

4. Strangest of all, sometimes she drags herself around the carpet, with her legs (aka fins) “swimming” behind her. In a twisted way, her landbound locomotion reminds of Christina’s World until she jumps up and declares, “I can walk on my fins!”

But Thea’s behavior is all age appropriate. You see, she’s only three.

How did this come about, you might wonder? A blogger recently wrote about the snubbing of fairy tales in British society. We’ve never been like that — I’m definitely of the Bettleheim school that exposure to fairy tales is a good thing for everyone, not just children. Though Bruno Bettleheim is far more of a Freudian in his interpretations than I am, I do think fairy tales allow us to work through whatever is playing now in our subconscious theaters. So we read Thea lots of fairy tales as well as allow her to watch dvds of said stories. On the aquatic side, she’s seen Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid more times than I can count.

Yet it’s difficult to separate the influence of fairy tales from natural inclination. From the time of her birth, Thea’s always loved fish and water. If she was in a bad mood, a long swim in the bathtub would set her right. We also gave her the middle name of Delphine — dolphin.

That written, it was clearly The Little Mermaid movie that sparked Thea’s devotion to All Things Mermaid and Ariel. How intense is Thea’s identification with Ariel? Well, she gets very upset when we call her Thea: “MY NAME IS ARIEL. I’M A REAL MERMAID.” (Yes, that’s shouting.) I think that one of the happiest moments of Thea-Ariel’s life when when she was given an “real” Ariel costume (which she would wear it 24/7 if she could). Hey, I can even convince her to eat mussels and salmon and other squishy seafood that most preschoolers wouldn’t touch, even with a cupcake bribe. After all, they’re “mermaid food.”

Because of this all-Ariel-all-the-time, Thea-Ariel has been given several beautifully illustrated books showcasing the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Though I’m a purest when it comes to fairy tales — I infinitely prefer Grimms to Disney — I haven’t the heart to read them to her without some seriously editing.

Eventually my daughter will learn the folkloric truth: Ariel doesn’t get the prince, but she does get a soul. But for now, I want to support her belief that it’s possible a three year old from Brooklyn can be a mermaid.

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The above art is of Benzai Ten, a Japanese goddess of happiness who lives under the sea. It was published in my book The Book of Goddesses (Abrams).

• Filed under be-mused, mythic living, new projects, the art world, the world around me | 10 Responses