Favorite Things
Current FAVORITE favorite–Nuru Kane’s Sigil. I do not think I have ever heard music so searingly divine. I feel it throughout my body–an erotic high-charged flow. His voice is molten honey with some cayenne pepper mixed in, and the music is deliciously complex and simple at the same time. Can’t recommend this highly enough. If you are feeling at all lifeless or sluggish, this will charge your battery.
www.virgographics.com If you like my site, and are thinking of doing your own, Joan is the person to contact. She is incredibly creative and easy to work with, and her prices were the best of many I checked out. She has been supportive of me in this process in a way that was critical. I can’t recommend her work highly enough.
Beautiful, thought provoking prose, poetry, photography. Occasionally features David Duncan, one of my favorite authors. Check back issues for his articles.
www.sankaijuku.com the site, unfortunately does not give much of a sense of this group’s work. Of all the performances I have ever seen in my life, be it symphony, dance, rock concert, or drama, I have never seen one as awe-inspiring or moving. I felt altered for days after watching them move. And felt this wild desire to follow them around the world. They only come to the states once every 3 years, I think, and it looks from their site like it may be this year.
www.billherbst.com
Bill’s site has a great monthly newsletter to give you a sense of the big picture of what’s going on with the planets as they relate to all of us for the month. He also has moon of void of course calendar which is very helpful if you use that for planning. And his readings are high octane!
www.astrology-psychotherapy.com
Another wonderful astrologer you may want to visit with is Ro Loughran. Words I would associate with Ro’s readings–juicy, curious friendly child, sense of wonder, saturate. What i mean by that last is that I feel saturated in a planet or sign after talking to Ro in a way I might not have before. She really dips into the energies in such a nice, full way. And by curious child I do not at all mean she is childish, but rather that her approach is fresh and lively, rather than having a feeling of trying to impress. She really is a delight to do a reading with.
www.herondance.org Heron Dance has a lovely selection of writings and music and art honoring the earth and all its beauty.
http://shannaphilipson.blogspot.com/2006/06/its-sensory-thing.html This is a lovely site for those interested in autism or wanting to connect with the ideas of someone who is engaged with the dynamics of it everyday in parenting her daughter.
www.earthgroovz.com a site that’s just getting going, but offers some lovely earth-oriented jewelry and the intent to add more earth-friendly items. and some great links, including one for natural incense.
These people are angels, putting all their money and energies into the animals at their sanctuary. Dawn and company have a new book out full of wonderful stories about all their furry and feathered friends and the wisdom they have to share with us.
www.yamunabodyrolling.com
www.netfitco.com
Both of these are sites for the rubber balls that I find so wonderful for bodywork. The Yamuna calf balls are actually really good for the feet also–to stand on them while balancing against wall and do movement in that position.
Smithosonianmag.si.edu
Smithsonian Magazine–about everything you never even imagined knowing, but once you do you are fascinated and enriched by it. Everything from articles about the disappearance of the banana as we know it to the loves of Matisse.
www.thelunapress.com
This site has the lunar calendar that I have used for years. It is a beautiful spiral that shows the waxing and waning of the moon. I lost the last two pages of this year’s, and I have felt like something is not qutie right, being without it. Being able to look every day at the moon’s cycle represented in this simple way just feels like an important part of my world.
Rooibos chai–I looked for so long for a really good spicy tea that does not have caffeine and that isn’t all icky sweet with anise. Finally found it at Upton Imports, which also has the most amazing selection of green teas I”ve ever seen.
www.uptontea.com
Vosges chocolates–I love it that these people have not been confined by any boxes in their chocolate ideas. Though wasabi may not be my choice for truffle filling, I love it that it may be for someone. However, the white chocolate with Cointreau and macadamia nuts IS for me. www.vosgeschocolate.com
www.photonlightguitars.com
This site has dvd’s of lumia–the gorgeous light artworks that I raved about in a prior posting after visiting a Smithsonian exhibit with them. ( SEE Sept 10 posting ). The possibilities are great for using this undulating light to facilitate body unwinding. Also check out the Thomas Wilfred site mentioned on this site. Wilfred is the artist whose work I saw at the SMithsonian.
Artwork of Linda Richards–Her work combines delicately and lovingly rendered details of this beautiful earth, such as feathers and leaves and spiders and hawks combined with celestial images. Touches the heart and soul. You can view her work at www.massoniart.com
www.ortizstudios.com Robert Ortiz”s furniture is so beautiful that each piece is a work of art. Combining Japanese and Shaker influences, the spare but sensuous curves and lines engage the eye and spirit.
Elias Lonsdale–
831-425-3134
Elias does not have a link–or even a computer for that matter! But if you want an astrology reading that takes you straight to your deepest, most expansive self, then give him a call. If you don’t walk away from the talk feeling more whole and hopeful I will be surprised. He puts into words things you know at a deep level, but may not be able to express.
Currently Reading:
James Tipton–all of his poetry, but particularly Letters From a Stranger–absolutely the most erotic poetry i have ever read–is molten.
Pregnant Darkness–Monika Wikman–really fascinating interweaving of alchemy and Jungian concepts.
Daimonic Reality–Patrick Harpur–Is helping me be in some liminal world that is neither “real” or “not real”.
The Star of Kazan–Eva Ibbotson–A lovely feel good story. I have looked forward to it so much every night that I do not want it to end. Few stories have ever given me such a cozy feeling–like The Wind in the Willows.
Old Nancy Drew books–not the new improved. The old Nancy was my heroine as a child and still is inspiring to me. Nancy is never bored or intimidated, and follows her gut.
Books I read again and again:
James Tipton–Letters From a Stranger–Incredibly passionate and sensuous poetry–after reading him, some of my other favorites can look a little “in the head” and pale by comparison.
Isabel Allende–Aphrodite (if you feel dried up or uninspired, read her juicy prose. Or if you feel juicy already, reading her is a great way to revel in it.)
Patiann Rogers–Firekeeper (gorgeous sensual poetry)
Rainer Maria Rilke–Book of Hours
Wallace Stevens–Selected Poems (some of the most sensuously evocative phrases I’ve ever read)
Jane Hirshfield–All of her poetry, but especially “Every Happiness Ringed by Lions” and her latest “After”. Somehow combining the dark and the luminous.
Jalaja Bonheim–The Hunger for Ecstasy—not your average view of god,but one I can relate to.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes–Women Who Run With the Wolves–Too bad it got so hyped to the point of becoming the focus of jokes. It is just an incredibly beautiful and insightful book–-moved me along my path many years ago.
Thomas Moore–Dark Eros–Known more for his “Soul” books, which I also like, this one delves into areas that made many people uncomfortable but which I think are very helpful in giving insight into shadow and and acceptance of it.
Diane Ackerman–everything she writes except her poetry. Brilliant mind, poetic prose without being purple or precious. Very strong.
David Abram–Spell of the Sensuous–about engaging the senses to live fully
Eva Ibbotson–Which Witch–riotous and dark, but not in a bad way. Example that makes me laugh out loud every time I read it , “The Shouter twins were still quarreling when they got to the depot, but they stopped when they saw, standing on the pavement beside the bus, a small brown coffee table. “It’s her again,” said Nancy. “Silly old crone,” said Nora. “I’ve got a good mind to stub out my cigarette on her”, said Nancy, who as usual had one dangling from her lips. They glared at the squat, round table which seemed to be swaying a little from side to side. “Tis a pity when they go simple like that,” said Ethel Feedbag. She had loaded her pig onto the trailer and now came over and prodded the table leg with her Wellington boot. The coffee table was in fact a very old witch called Mother Bloodwort, who lived in a tumbledown shack near a disused quarry in the poorest part of town.”
Kindred Spirits–Jesse Wolf Hardin–Juicy passionate writings on the earth and our relationship to her.
Wood–the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy. If I could be any artist, I think I would choose to be him. His work is so satisfying to me, actually engaging the natural world in such a personal way, partnering it in creation.
DVD—-Andy Goldsworthy’s DVD “Rivers and Tides”. It is so beautiful and moving that I am shaken every time I watch it. Death/rebirth/the flow.
On the CD player regularly:
Jeff Beck–Rough and Ready–Would bring the dead to life. I dare anyone not to get their mojo going listening to Situation. His guitar is a force of nature. And Bob Tench’s vocals are raw sexy.
Antony and the Johnsons–I am a bird Now. His voice some mixture of drag queen and angel, while riding a magic carpet.
Bela Fleck–Perpetual Motion–Exquisite banjo artistry
Ali Farka Toure–everything he’s done. Love him, love him. His West African rhythms put me in the grooviest of zones.
Toumani Diabate–Featured on Ali Farka Toure’s last CD. And just as mesmerizing. “New Ancient Strings”
Oumou Sangare–Oumou–more West African rhythms. Luscious strong voice.
Susheela Raman–Salt Rain–gorgeous, hypnotic
Emmylou Harris–Red Dirt Girl and Stumbling Into Grace– Emmylou is my all time favorite favorite.–I’d love to write like she sings.
Omara Portuondo-Buena Vista Social Club–mellow and rich
Led Zeppelin–Presence—love dancing to “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”—Big thinks I’m ridiculous
Tommy Bolin–Private Eyes—Old, not oldies, rock. A kind of sensuous mellow groove, full-bodied like one of the songs “Sweet Burgundy”
Joshua Bell–Poeme–brilliant, passionate , and poignant violin
Allman Brothers–Idlewild South-old bluesy rock
Lou Reed—Berlin—complex, textured rock, wicked guitar and amazing drums
Martin Simpson–Cool and Unusual–INCREDIBLE guitar work. Gorgeous.
Animamina–Trancy, sit and write and dream music.
Chocolate Genius–too cool to describe. i love his Black Yankee Rock. Is not really rock, not folk, not jazz, not blues–very sexy/groovy.
Bodywork Music:
Sheila Chandra–ABoneCroneDrone
DJ Cheb–Shri Durga
Lisa Gerrard–compilation I made from several of her CD’s including Dead Can Dance ones
Hookah Cafe–various artists