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May. 8th, 2013 @ 10:39 am Pursue it to the ends
Current Mood: thoughtfulthoughtful
Current Music: Eye of the Tiger
I'm playing with prose poetry or flash essay or something here.


Pursuit

As Americans, we have the right to pursue happiness. Chase that flitting, delicate butterfly easily blown to ground. Happiness is a white lace dress, beautiful but neither practical nor durable. Easily torn and stained. As time goes on, happy becomes yellow and crumbles and often the memory is brighter than the experience.

While pleasure is sensuous desire sought by those unafraid of sin. She is a jeweled, dark burgundy, velvet gown with a dangerous side slit exposing flashes of flesh. Pleasure is physical satisfaction and is sometimes cruel and base as nature. It’s a really good shit when you need it or the burn of ginger in a dark chocolate cake. Watching karma kick someone’s ass or the house of cards fall after you told them to use glue.

Joy is what I seek. The laughter through tears emotion. It’s doing good for someone for no reason and doing good for yourself at the same time. Joy is the old, fat goddess lifting her skirt above her waist and doing a bawdy dance to make the sun goddess come out of the cave. Joy doesn’t care if she is laughed at, life is to be lived and the sun must shine.
About this Entry
Froggie
May. 1st, 2013 @ 02:33 pm Book Release Day!
I'm very excited to have a poem included in this anthology. It's one of last things Patricia Monaghan finished before her passing. There is a book launch in Chicago on May 11th.


Available May 1, 2013:
Brigit: Sun of Womanhood
an anthology edited by Patricia Monaghan
and Michael McDermott
Brigit: Sun of Womanhood offers a holistic picture of Brigit from her beginnings as a Celtic Goddess to her role as a Christian saint. The contributors to this anthology hail from all parts of the globe—including Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Canada—reflecting the widespread influence of Brigit. Readers will be transformed by this inspiring collection.

This newest anthology from Goddess Ink is edited by Michael McDermott and Patricia Monaghan and features writers from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the US including Carol Christ, Sr. Rita Minehan, M. Macha Nightmare, Dolores Whelan, Joan McBreen, Matthew Geden, and many others.
Advance Praise for Brigit: Sun of Womanhood

Bright: Sun of Womanhood is an encyclopedic compendium of various aspects of the female spirit. Rather than being a daunting read, it is a delight from beginning to end. There is something for everyone - male and female alike - within these pages, from the casual reader who is simply looking for light entertainment to the empathetic scholar seeking to broaden an already wide base of esoteric knowledge. The authors wisely have laid down no dictum of beliefs. There is no dogma; no hard and fast perimeter. The book is as transparent and full of joy as the spirit it celebrates, yet it also offers a serious, thought-provoking journey that will leave no pilgrim unmoved. –Morgan Llywelyn author of Lion of Ireland and Druids.

This anthology is a deeply intelligent, wise, and alluring immersion into the living presence of Brigit, a creation of ritual space that is both ancient and immediate. ---Charlene Spretnak author of Lost Goddesses of Early Greece

This wonderful collection of essays, poems, reflections, mediations and scholarship brilliantly captures the complexity, richness, and fertility of Brigit’s traditions. For many disenfranchised by male separatist religions, Brigit’s traditions allow us to hear ourselves think, and to hear each other into speech in thealogical mode. This volume will further spread Brigit’s cloak around the world, wrapping her followers in the comfort of her compassion, and inspiring them to weave their own cloaks, nurturing them as they protecting our vulnerable planet, Earth. –Mary Condren author of The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion and Power in Celtic Ireland and a forthcoming major study on Brigit, the Cailleach or Wise Woman of Ancient Ireland.


Brigit, Sun of Womanhood, edited by Michael McDermott and Patricia Monaghan, is a comprehensive and compelling collection of fiction, poetry, essays and photographs that celebrate Brigit in all Her many manifestations as ancient Goddess, legendary Catholic abbess and saint, and modern-day archetype of the divine female. The stories shared in this anthology will delight and inform, whether or not one’s ethnicity is rooted in Celtic traditions. Like the color-drenched prisms of a finely crafted kaleidoscope, this book opens the reader’s eyes and heart to the magical, multi-faceted aspects of this Goddess’s legacy and the potent medicine She offers. Informative and entertaining, this anthology serves up a soul-quenching helping of milk and fire, poetry and ritual that’s sure to satisfy contemporary seekers. ---Mary Saracino co-editor of She Is Everywhere! Volume 3: An Anthology of Writings in Womanist/Feminist Spirituality (iUniverse 2012) and the author of the novel, The Singing of Swans (Pearlsong Press 2006). For more information visit: www.marysaracino.com.

Articles and poems included in this anthology:

Brigit, Sacred Virginity, and the Elements of Perpetual Energy --by Miriam Robbins Dexter
Brigit’s Litany --by Barbara Flaherty
The Great Bear Mother: A Journey with Brigit to the Ancient Dawn of Imbolc --by Jude Lally
Invocation to Brigit --by Ruth Barrett
In Search of Crios Bríde --by Barbara Callan
Magdalen Rising (excerpt) --by Elizabeth Cunningham
Forging --by Eileen Rosensteel
The Search for Bride’s Well --by Cheryl Straffon
Forging Finer Metal --by Barbara Ardinger
Brighde of the Isles --by Jill Smith
Goddess of Smiths --by Mael Brigde
Bride in Scotland --by Stuart McHardy
The First Keening --by Valerie Freseman
Brigit’s Runes in Sweden: The Völva and the Sun--by Kirsten Brunsgaard Clausen
Saint Bridget’s Day --by Matthew Geden
Bridget and Kildare --by Sr. Rita Minihan
Poem for Saint Bridget’s Day --by Joan McBreen
Growing up with Brigit --by Emily Stix
Brigid of Ireland, A Historical Novel (excerpt) --by Cindy Thomson
Bridget’s Mantle --by Bee Smith
Got Milk?: The Food Miracles of Saint Bridget of Kildare--by Kerry Noonan
Reworking of an 11th Century Irish Prayer to Brigit --by Erin Johnson
Brigit: Cailleach and Midwife to a New World --by Dolores Whelan
Dawn at Brigit’s Well --by Patricia Monaghan
The Feast Day of Saint Bridget and Other Stories--by Carol Christ
A Garden for Brigit --by Jenny Beale
My Blood Song --by Szmeralda Shanel
Take Back the Hammer --by Slippery Elm
The Hem of Her Cloak: How Modern Brigit Worship Spread into the Southern Highlands of Appalachia --by H. Byron Ballard
Fa La La --by Allison Stone
Sacred Tattooing: A Dedication to Brigit --by Phoenix Lefae
Brigit’s Light: A Break from Rain --by Kersten Christianson
Inspiration and invocation: Creating a ritual with Brigit --by Betz King
The Story of Brigit: A Conversation --by Ita Roddy
Bridey: From Personal to Global --by Aline O’Brien (M. Macha NightMare)
Brigit --by Annie Finch
Fire Will Make It Whole --by Sabina Magliocco
About this Entry
Froggie
Apr. 1st, 2013 @ 03:14 pm Mama Bear
Current Mood: melancholymelancholy
I think I should have learned this lesson a while ago but I keep doing it. Exposing my precious baby ideas to the wild world too soon. I have a creative idea and am so excited about the possibilities that I want to talk about it and revel in all the ways it could come into being and not even thinking I expose it to people who club that baby to death with logic and reason until it's flatter than a crepe and I don't want to do anything creative ever again. I have a couple people in my life who are really good at working with me when those ideas are cocky teenagers and need some sense and structure but should never be around the babies.

In other news hubby still has no job. It's been a long time to try to get by on my salary and his unemployment.

It's spring and I need something new.
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Froggie
Mar. 8th, 2013 @ 02:42 pm Book progress- reset
Current Mood: Excited
Current Music: Rockafeller Skank
Had critique group last night look over my book proposal. Have I mentioned that this group is wonderful? I'm learning so much about my own writing, receiving and giving feedback.

So I've been working on the book focusing on telling the stories of the fat ladies and putting them in context of American society as it has changed in the last 150 years. I've been so frustrated because I'm not an academic; I don't have the theoretical language or concepts down. Somehow I was convinced that I had to use that framework in order to be taken seriously or appear smart enough. The group has been telling me over and over that I should be talking more about myself, telling my story. I thought it was because they are all working on memoirs and I have a bias against memoir so I've been ignoring them. When it was really about protecting myself from exposure and playing small.

Even though in the proposal, I say that this book is unique because it's a book about freaks written by a freak. Well after being gently told/kicked in the butt again, this morning I got it. This book needs to be about me, my life as a fat lady. Trying to understand and deal with my experiences through the frame of learning about the historical fat ladies. This is my story as much as it is the historical ladies. I'm going to dump most of the academic focus and talk about it from my perspective. I need to play to my strength as a fat woman living my life big and bold, being a freak. I'm so excited and scared out of my mind. It will mean taking down the walls about being impartial (safely hidden) and also letting go of wanting to be seen as smart/educated by using big theoretical language. I am the expert on my own experiences and one of my experiences is being a public, professional fat lady.

Wheeee off to revamp all the things!
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Froggie
Feb. 26th, 2013 @ 01:53 pm Book proposal
Current Mood: annoyedannoyed
Current Music: Stormy Weather Lena Horne
After the initial rush of putting together the many pieces that I had already started on, the book proposal has taken a turn towards the slooooooow pace of one grain of sand at a time. But if I want to submit it to my writing group for feedback this month I need to get it together by Thursday.

I was planning on taking it to the local writing convention where they bring in several agents to hear proposals. But after trying to register and looking at the prices, I think I'm going to have to pass. They didn't put the fact that they are charging $15 for 8 mins of agent time anywhere on the website. Plus it's around $300 without staying at the hotel. I'm pissed cause I was really looking forward to it but now it feels like it's for people with more money than common sense. Phooey!

The really bad thing is that it was acting as my deadline for getting this proposal together. So I will keep the deadline and forget the conference. Nods
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Froggie
Feb. 21st, 2013 @ 03:04 pm Ch-ch-ch-changes
Current Mood: moodymoody
Current Music: Kisses Sweeter than Wine
My body is changing. I feel out of control. And angry. And proud then really ashamed of being proud.
Because of various factors like starting on insulin, swimming regularly, money being tight, and so on. I've lost weight and built muscles. My clothes are hanging on me which is the only indicator of my weight that I see regularly. I only get on the scale at the dr. My underwear falls off as I walk regularly. I feel better because the movement I am doing is making me feel better physically and emotionally.

But there is this shrill voice that is all "see! See! this is what you needed to do! Lose the weight! Join Weight Watchers! Measure, count, obsess! You can totally do it!"
And the sane voice in my head is all "Shut the hell up! This is normal and weight will fluctuate with the changes in activity and medication. Pay attention to the feeling not the numbers. Dieting is a tool of the patriarchy."
And the pissy voice says "Whatever! I can't afford new clothes and I'm sick of my underwear around my damn knees."

Sigh
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Froggie
Jan. 10th, 2013 @ 02:36 pm New critic group
Current Music: Carole King Smackwater Jack
Tonight is the first meeting of a non-fiction/memoir critic group. I'm really nervous. There is 5-6 of us and we are meeting twice a month. It's going to be a challenge to keep production high for me. But I need to get at least a rough draft ready for April. The women in the group are really sweet and we all participate in a Buddhist style writing class so feedback is based on compassionate listening. It shouldn't be a blood bath like my previous group experience. But what I'm worried most about is that I will be the hardest criticizer. Oh well, I just hope this works.
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Froggie
Nov. 12th, 2012 @ 03:36 pm For Patricia Monaghan 11-11-2012
Current Mood: contemplativecontemplative
The Bard fell silent today.
After battling dragons of patriarchy,
tending the wild places,
creating and teaching songs and poetry,
she earned her place as an elder
following her heart and the Lady.

The Bard fell silent today.
Leaving behind a dearest love,
many friends with hearts heavy.
Her scholarship vast and
storyhold filled with treasures.
But the Lady beckoned so

The Bard fell silent today.
She stepped over a threshold
to the Isle of After
to raised glasses of wine,
dancing with the Fair Ones and
the laughter of the Lady.

The Bard fell silent today
Her song continues on.
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Froggie
Jul. 10th, 2012 @ 03:49 pm (no subject)
Current Mood: bouncybouncy
Bodacious Beauties The amazing fat lady show!
Step right up! Meet five bigger-than-life women from circus history! Be amazed as these fat ladies expose more than just impressive measurements - a view of the world from atop the freak show platform!

I will be appearing at the Minnesota Fringe Festival in the beginning of Aug. Three more weeks! So excited! So overwhelmed! Almost out of exclamation marks!

Here's the website for more information.
http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/show/?id=2335
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Froggie
May. 21st, 2012 @ 03:26 pm If it's not one thing it's another..
Current Mood: okayokay
So I was heading out to go to work last Wed leaving my hubby in bed still sound asleep. And I walk down three of the steps out of my apartment when the board that I'm standing on breaks beneath me with a loud crack. I fall with my right leg through the steps up to my knee and land on my other knee on the fourth step. I can't pull my leg up because every time I try to lift my leg the broken board digs deeper into my calf and I can't get any traction with just one leg. The person cooking in the bar heard the board brake and said something to my mom and she looked out the window of the bar and saw my leg. She comes out and has to pull the board down so I can get my leg out. Then with her help pushing my leg up I was able to heave myself back up onto the steps. By then I'm shaking and shock is in kicking in. I hobble back up the three steps and wake my hubby who comes out of a deep sleep to a wife who is bleeding and in full on panic mode. His first instinct is to attack the thing that hurt me so he runs out on the porch to do something to the stairs? I have to stop him from opening the front door naked in front of my mom. He has me lay down to clean my leg up and to figure out if I should go to the doctor. There are just some scrapes and major bruising but I can walk so I think I should just ice everything and rest. Besides I was terrified to go back down the stairs at that point. He has to go to work so he has a friend of ours come over to take care of me. Which was good because when I landed on my knee, I twisted it and my ankle. So I can't do much more than walk to the bathroom to the living room then to the bedroom. She was sweet and got me food all day. I had some good painkillers left from my toothache episode so I zoned out with an ice pack for two days. Mom found a new handyman (I had asked the old one to fix the stairs over a year ago.) and he replaced the step that afternoon and had braced the stairs until he can get back to replace it all next week. I'm still in pain but back at work and am feeling better.
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Froggie