Saturday, December 29, 2007

The Moon is Her Beauty Mark - A Writing By Shiloh

“The Moon is Her Beauty Mark “ A call to remember our Mother
By Reverend Shiloh Sophia McCloud

Have you seen our Mother? When she sees all her little children running to her she opens her gigantic arms and gathers us up like chicks. Back in her arms again, worlds appear, disappear, and reappear upon the rise and fall of her breasts. Her honey milk flows and flows and we are nourished. It tastes so sweet.

Trees spontaneously spring from her, for she is a tree of life to all those who embrace her. And those who embrace her are blessed indeed. Guardian oaks grow from her shoulders—pillars of strength for her children. Her breasts are orchards full of fruit for every single one of her little ones. Golden apples tumble from her armpits. Delicious fruits fall into our little pink mouths. The rust-red madrone of her calves is as smooth as silk for sliding down from volcano peaks through green and gold hillsides. She laughs brilliant, red, succulent pomegranates and you can see her bright teeth are flowering dogwood. Her womb, our warm red bed.

Can you hear our Mother singing? Birds are born upon her song. Redwing black birds, and opal-white doves, and red breasted robins, and purple-sapphire ravens fly right out of her songs! My favorite song is the redwing black bird symphony - all black with flashes of red winging a community of sound. I think seagulls are Mama’s favorite. Children in the midst of cities love their sound—it lets them smell the sea even while playing on a blacktop playground. Mama likes the vultures too—taught them their own sacred song of silence because they are ones willing to be death’s gardeners and fertilize garden earth. Mama much honors those who are willing to clean up after death. There is no where Mama is not.

Do you smell the scent of our Mother? That intoxicating scent of cinnamon and gardenia flying from her skirts as she moves upon her sandy shores, leaving footprints of frankincense and myrrh. Aloes spring up in the wake of her footsteps. When it is dark we can still find our way by smelling her trail. Smell the cedar? Smell the pine? Smell the redwood musk? Smell the sea? We are getting closer every second. There! See how her cypress hair blows to one side? And pink rose petals flutter from her ears lobes like shimmering pearl earrings.

Do you feel our Mother? She feels so comforting. Let us practice the wonder of living life in tune with the seasons and moons of our Mother’s body. Let us knit dresses of her cherry blossoms and dance again the dance of the unbroken circle. Let us rejoice, and sing again in circle the songs of liberation and freedom! You remember don’t you? How we sang the soil, the seed, the rain, the sun, the harvest? Remember how dragonflies circled our mother’s head in a multi-winged halo? The butterflies made crowns for our heads also, happy to rest there even while we played hide and seek between the worlds. Then we swam in rivers thick with salmon swimming against our thighs. Feeling so good is being a part of our Mother’s world. There is never a time when she is not with us, only seasons when we ourselves are either aware of her or not. But she is always there.
Let us celebrate our Mother’s body! And her skin that is every color she ever made. Amazing! Isn’t she? The rainbows and stardust of her skin make me want to cry. Like when her skin shines sky-blue, then new-leaf-green, then sun-yellow, all in the same day? My favorite days are the deep umber brown when her skin glows from the inside out. Most of the time she is as black as black can be. I heard we all used to be as black as she. Her ebony skin is the galaxy, the milky way scattered across the velvet blackness of her back; along her spine, infinite constellations, infinite pathways of wisdom; the moon is her beauty-mark.

Remember that time when we thought we were lost, but she gathered up our tribes in her ochre-red body and carried us safely across the abyss? Then came her days of glowing cobalt blue and poppy orange—those days of healing old wounds with her balm of new life. Her flaming heart transformed our fears. Then we praised her and touched her cheeks and hands, and rubbed the souls of all her feet with olive oil.

She has other kinds of days too - when we cannot recognize the colors at all - times when she is righting things that are wronged. We know our Mother is made up of love, and we also know she is fierce beyond all imagining. The sea is her medicine bag. Her fault lines her drawing board. Her skies are her tool box. She is the designer of everything. There is much suffering, and she is teaching us how to endure - how to create and sing our way through it. When we act without her guidance, we behave like motherless children. Remember when she got so mad, and told us how we misunderstood and misused her son’s medicine? How we take goodness and find ways to use it for harm? But that is a story for another day. (sigh)

Haven’t you felt her presence in the stars of your own bones? She lives in the marrow of the bone, as well as the granite of the stone. You can find her in the nectar of the hummingbird’s beak and in the pollen fuzz on the honey bees’ tiny feet, in the mist over the lake, in the purple of your favorite summer dress, and in the scale of the mermaid. She is in the spiral curl of the fern, the flower in the cracked city sidewalk.
She is the wind in our hair when we ride the wild horses of our dreams. She is Our Lady of Everything.

We find her image in honor of her everywhere. Those of us who know her, cannot help but make words and art as greetings cards for her. From her cosmic dressing room she emerges, in the colors and shapes and signs of her peoples and lands. Sometimes she has many arms and legs, sometimes she slays the demons, sometimes she beats the drum, sometimes she descends, sometimes she flies, always, she births. Always she loves. Always she forgives. She is the mother of all and of everywhere. She is the Mother of God. She is the Mother of us. Through her, all comes into being and in time we are taken back into her body. We may dream of what she does with us from there, but who really knows? We could say she is one, we could say she is many, we could call her by a hundred million names, or we could just cry out MAMA! She answers to all of her names.

When we surrender and let her love into our heart, it often comes in as a wave washing us awake! We can feel our hearts glow with golden sunbeams as our prayers take on form. Our wishes taste sweet in our mouths. She who knows everything there is to know gives us good ideas for our work. Her work. To work in her service is good, the very best. She makes us love folks we don’t even know. She creates in us an unreasonable desire to end all suffering. She teaches us how to set our boundaries by showing us how to honor hers. When she reaches out for us, we choose dancing instead of sleeping. We must acknowledge that it is, was, and ever shall be the milk from the breast of the divine that feeds our souls. And we cannot cease from telling the others about her ways.

Come with me, let us go together now to our Mother’s kitchen, her other children are gathering too— she wants to tell us something very important. Let us go! When we get to her casa, she will show us what we need to know for this time, this place. Like how to weave peace shawls out of our chaotic ideas. With her in our lives, we create medicine art. We sing creation songs, dance, paint, pot, bake, play, make love, write, pray and plant orchards. Her fruits become our fruits. Her Wisdom informs our hands and opens our hearts. Through Mother Wisdom’s pathways, we will transform. We are healing. Everything we need to do, is possible. Faith is our practice. There is hope!

Smell the smoke from her fire? We are here! Look, there, over the hill! There she is now, seated at her front door, shucking corn for supper. Tapping her brown toes to the blues. Isn’t she magnificent?

Reverend Shiloh Sophia McCloud
1-888-385-6866 shiloh@mcn.org
www.colorofwoman.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Heart of the Visionary Weekend Based on our new e-book! With Shiloh McCloud and elizaBeth Benson-Udom



For Details and sign up got to: http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com

Twas the day after Christmas...Journal Entry




Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, all was quiet and sweet and filled with the warmth of love. Kitty sitting on the red couch. Tea in our cups and and red green and gold lights twinkling. And I am sure, pumpkin pie for breakfast! The ocean is roaring and the light is returning. I think one or two minutes has been given us by the Sun as of this moment.

Well this year, we spent the Holy-Days just me and my husband Isaiah. We did things that are hard to do otherwise, like work on our wedding photo album (from 13years ago! - we have little ones but I want a big fancy one) and Isaiah made me six curtains for my gift - they go in my studio. They are light pink, hot pink, pale green and bright yellow - victorian parisian. And I painted on a Jesus Icon with milagros all over the edge,and then I sat by the fire an drew new images for the next edition of Heart of the Visionary. Isaiah made dinner on Christmas, and I made it on Christmas Eve. And Isiah played guitar while I read out loud from the Bible. Our nativity is up all year around, but we lit red candles around them.

This is our first year of rebelling from over gifting and over spending and - even being with family. It isn't that we didn't want to be with them, we missed them so much - but we wanted to create days that honor what the spirit of Christ-Mas is about for US. On Christmas Eve we visited a Mary grotto on Harold Street that was just installed - with rock all around, with water flowing down around her into the pool of water, with roses everywhere. Then we prayed in the Catholic church for ourselves, our family and everyone. We drove all over our town and into the woods and over the hills because Isaiah is a real estate agent now (I call him special agent) and we are getting to know this coastal beauty. The gorgeousness of this place is astounding, and I am grateful to live here.

I got to talk to a few of my beloved Cosmic Cowgirl sistas and make plans for when we will get together, we have the Workshop in January, and then the Cosmic Cowgirls Conference in March. Due to an overwhelming request, we have decided to make day one of the workshop visionary painting...the changes are coming faster and faster these days...and we have scheduled a new paining weekend in Mendocino!

I hope that this day, for all who are returning to work, including me, is blessed. That all feel peace and comfort. That all have experienced gratitude and hope.
http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Cheif Laughing Cloud Chronicles - Solstice and Kitty Canut


Two wonderful folks from Houston, Texas came into the gallery last night with wine in paper cups. They told me they wanted to spend Christmas alone and so came to the village of Mendocino to get away. I saluted their choice. I wished them a Happy Solstice and they asked, What is that? We don't have Solstice in Houston. I laughed and they said that everyone in town and on the radio was talking Solstice and they have never heard of it. I said that Northern Californians think everyone does what we do, he said, I am sure we have that in Texas too...she wanted a print of my painting, between the worlds, and so he joyfully purchased it for her and both commented several times, we have never seen anything like this before (the gallery that is).

My days at the gallery are filled with the interesting "stuff of life" conversations all day long. The sacred space makes people cry, laugh and share their stories as if we are life long friends. With the cheer of the people in my town, welled up in my heart - in walks Sue (Bayou Starbutch) with a Christmas tree she has cut fresh of the family land, Terra Sophia. The tree, whom I have named Sadie, is gorgeous and ready for her jewels. We give thanks for her life, AND because the forest needs to be thinned, we feel grateful for her life, and sad too.

So we brought her home, and after a big bowl of homemade spaghetti, we put her up into a stump Sue has carved as the base. Sue and I stayed up late into the night putting on her earrings, necklace and glowing little lite shines. I decided I don't want a color coordinated tree - I want every color. I put Indian bells from the gallery and a pink angel nestled in the branches. The ritual of the tree has it's roots in many traditions, and for me, it is a part of honoring the Tree of Life that
sustains all of us. I love to sit by the fire on my red velvet couches with my cat, drink tea, bask in the red and green twinkles of Sadie and write or read. Like right now that is what I am doing!

I read this morning from a book called Women's Ventures by Shosanna Alexander, about the woman who started the Pendleton Cowgirl Company, Polly Helm. Her story about how she got started is so inspiring that I cried as I read it to Sue. Continually, affirmations about why we do the Cosmic Cowgirls, and why that name, becomes clearer and clearer. She says: "These pioneer cowgirls must have been among the earliest female athletes in this country." Try to link below if you want to read the section, it is on page 61 - otherwise search the book title and you can find it that way. I am new to this kind of media so I don't know how to connect all the dots. And you can see a picture of Kitty Canut, otherwise known as Katy Wilkes, who inspired Polly to get started. And it just so happens...that my mom has had this same image of Kitty framed and mixed in with family photos of my and my sisters and brothers as if she was one of the family. And in some magical way, she was.

http://books.google.com/books?id=DE0eqbN3A0gC&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=katy+wilkes&source=web&ots=ib4dsCsNPA&sig=QidCwRnQog-0RXhXqcNia_f2-R8#PPP1,M1

Each of IS the hero of our own story. There is no other way to look at it - there is no getting out of it. We are the star of our own show - so the only thing is, will we choose to shine - or will we dim our light? Will we show up, or will we show down and let our fears keep us from acting powerfully on our own behalf? Fear has been getting a bad rap - for one thing - there are many things we are right to be afraid of - there are lotsa scary things out there. Fear alerts us. And the other kind of fear that has been on the spiritually unpopular list is also useful. When I feel afriad of something, it alerts me to the power and possibility of that 'whatever it is'. Fear then guides me to the heart of the matter to take a look around. With my little pink flashlight, I search out my fear - and learn and choose. Act or not? It is a power tool. Mostly, I choose to walk towars my fear, or side by side when it comes to my own legend. I know those cowgirls who rode broncos were afraid too - but they saddled up and got on, let their rhinestone cowgirl outfits shimmer and light up the dust of the rodeo with feminine charm. Today, I salute them - and thank my ancestors who were not afraid to ride in a male dominated arena.

Publishing independently feels to me, like how those cowgirls must of felt. Exciting. Scared. Willing. Brave. Defiant. Beautiful. You just know sometimes, that you gotta make it happen. And keep on riding in that rodeo of the soul. We fall off, we break down, we break hearts, but we keep on loving and riding into the sunset over and over. What else is there to do? Today I ask that question of you, and of myself - what is there to do, this day, that further and fortifies and magnifies, the legend of who we are?

And all the women said:

YAHOO!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

a few questions of the heart...


A few questions of the heart...

What are you grateful for today?
What sets your heart on fire?
Where are you finding peace,
that is just for you?
What project do you want to start?
What project can you let go of?
What words and images are in your heart?

All of us are creative beings, with gifts that long to be tended. I pray that each of us will give more to ourselves in the area of creativity!
When we nurture our own dreams, we gain the wisdom and the strength to support others with their dreams. Our dreams give off light, and they help light up the path so others can see more clearly!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Only You...

Only You...

Remember that no one can do what you do, the way you do.
And that what you do is needed, and wanted.
Remember that you have a unique purpose that has always lived within you.
And that it will continue to call on you, until you say YES!
Remember that saying YES will call upon you to become more than you are.
And that this is part of the bliss of life, to become the most YOU that you can.
Remember that the key is to keep going no matter what.
And that you can start and stop as many times as you need to.
Remember that unless you do this, you may always wonder “what if”
And that to try live a dream changes how we dream, even if we don’t reach it.
Remember that living a dream, is the journey, is the process, is the dream itself.
We are not waiting for a destination, but living each moment truly. As we are able.
Remember that it will sometimes seem as if forces are against you, they are not.
It is just that to get up enough speed to break through, we encounter obstacles.
Obstacles are our teachers, and actually train us for what is to come. Make friends with them.
Remember that a true vision will have a combination of you, and “them”.
It is the “them” that you work with or serve, or both, that will inform your process.
Remember that each step leads to another step. So that is why we have to step up!
It is more important than we can even know, how each flow, flows into the next.
When we move forward in our vision, an energy flows towards us at that moment.
And it opens up the next action, the next door, the next opportunity.
When we take a leap of faith, new territory opens up that we did not see before.
And we have access to information that was not ?previously available.
When we risk believing in ourselves, we will be amazed at the support that comes.
And we will recognize that doing this work, is what we were born to do.
When we remember that a life not lived, is not the life we want, then we choose.
And we choose powerfully not to turn back again.
We may fail. We may fall. We may even disgrace ourselves.
But what if we didn’t?
Would we be any more whole?
Only YOU can do what you are here to do.
This is your invitation from the cosmos.
So let us go out now, and live the life we were born to live.


Shiloh Sophia McCloud 2007 - Heart of the Visionary - Feel free to copy and share!

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Heart of the Visionary Workshop

Heart of the Visionary Workshop Sponsored by Cosmic Cowgirls Ink, LLC

A One Day Workshop for Awakening Entrepreneurs

Why:

From Shiloh McCloud...

I am deeply passionate about the process of empowering women to answer the call to their own life work! I have been working with women in and on their businesses for over eight years and have discovered that creating a VISION that is in alignment with our values as women is of the utmost importance to our health--spiritual, mental, physical and financial. In light of this, I am committed to doing whatever I possibly can, to support the dreams of women, becoming their realities.

Many of us have brilliant ideas, wisdom, passion, direction, drive, and even finances, but are not utlizing certain essential ingredients that will make the whole thing really work. There are tools, that have been developed by "traditional" business models, and adapted by women that shorten the distance between our ideas, and our actions. The new book and workshop, Heart of the Visionary is designed to guide women to MANIFEST - CREATE - VISION - PLAN - ENTER ABUNDANCE and ACT with principles, guidelines and creativity that activate the mighty river of their dreams. These tools allow that river, once flowing, to never ever have to stop again, and provide protection such that nothing and no one can prevent the power and beauty of the mighty woman who calls herself a visionary, an entrepreneur, from being passionately alive in the flow of her creative dreams.

We utilize the infinite pathways of right and left brain activity, paired with the heart of the visionary that lives within us to mobilize our access to the language that lives inside. The language that will enable clear, focused articulation of the WORDS that are needed to WRITE our visions and missions onto paper so that they might not only be shared with others, but provide a map for us to follow through the rough terrain of "making it". Our work can be Sacred. Holy. Inspired. Blessed. Especially when we choose for it to be that way, through the power and clarity of our intention.

The Heart of the Visionary Workshop intention is to support women to design a LIFE PLAN:

Create A Foundation For:

A Vision Plan

A Marketing Plan

A Business Plan

and

A Plan of Action

and of course,

A Celebration!

What:

The Workshop will be led in a women's learning circle format. Shiloh McCloud will facilitate the group process, and then women will work together in small round table groups to explore and write the foundations for their vision, marketing and business plans. This learning environment will be an opportunity to gather wisdom from the group - as well as to share your wisdom, in an atmosphere of committed others that all benefit from the powerful energy of women working together to fulfill our life purposes! This day is truly about creating an environment in which the seeds for your life work may be firmly planted using the template from the Heart of the Visionary Workbook as a guiding tool.

Who:

Three of the Heart of the Visionary Authors, Mary Mac Donald, elizaBeth Benson-Udom and Caron McCloud will also be facilitating section modules like: media, niche marketing, clients, pricing, press, mission statement, financials, and be available to assist in the round table heart storming forums. Shiloh McCloud, visionary artist, author and teacher will be facilitating the day, and calling us all to unreasonable love and action on behalf or our own life work.

Where: Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa 801 Bridgeway, Sausalito 1-800-288-0502 www.casamadrona.com

Cost to Attend: Workshop + Gourmet Lunch in sumptuous surroundings = $245

Since it is a one day workshop, lodging is not necesary, but if you would like to stay and make a spa day of the day you are not in workshop - we encourage you to make arrangements! Lodging for Friday or Saturday night must be orchestrated with the hotel. Tell them you are with the Cosmic Cowgirls group. Nurture yourself!

When:

Saturday, January 5 OR Sunday, January 6 - CHOOSE ONE DAY!

Workshop Schedule 10am-6pm (in-progress):

  • 9:30 Registration
  • 10:00 Opening Circle and Introductions
  • 11:00 Vision Plan
  • 12:30-1:30 Marketing Plan
  • 1:30 -2:45 Gourmet Lunch
  • 3:00 - 4:30 Visionary Business Plan
  • 4:45 Presentations of Our Visions
  • 5:30 Closing Circle
  • 6:00 Circle Complete!

Additional Directions and details provided upon registration. Questions: 1-888-385-6866

cwoman@mcn.org

Monday, December 17, 2007

HEART OF THE VISIONARY: A New Book from Shiloh McCloud and the Cosmic Cowgirls


Today is the beginning of Our Cosmic Cowgirls Blog! We just published Heart of the Visionary!
Help us tell the world!

The work of a woman visionary is to know the past, dream the future and take powerful action in the present. Shiloh McCloud
Introducing the HEART OF THE VISIONARY E-Book

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Order Information: http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com
Contact: elizaBeth Benson (925) 209-3908
Mary MacDonald 1-888-385-6866
Press e-Mail: bethbenson@mac.com
Information email: cwoman@mcn.org
Publisher: http://www.palmofherhand.com

SHILOH MCCLOUD PARTNERS WITH THIRTEEN WOMEN TO CREATE “HEART OF THE VISIONARY” TO LAUNCH AS AN E-BOOK ON 12/12/2007

Finally! A much needed workbook for entrepreneurial women designed to empower women to create and sustain a business in alignment with visionary values.

Mendocino, California, December 12, 2007. Innovative artist and author, Reverend Shiloh McCloud, famous for the healing power of her illustrated Color of Woman Journals and her vibrant woman-centric imagery, collaborates with other women to publish 'Heart of the Visionary', a revolutionary interactive workbook that guides women to create a vision plan for manifesting their life work using a right-brain-left-brain approach.

The Heart of the Visionary Workbook features inspiring illustrations, poetry, stories and creative practices as a backdrop for learning business basics and writing a visionary business plan. McCloud says the book is an invitation to do business as a creative, and even, a spiritual practice. She and the other authors focus the material on women's ways of doing business, which includes a call to create heart-based sustainable projects, that are strongly rooted in financial principles. She encourages women to make every effort to choose a work life that is in alignment with who they are. She says,"Women are good at creating extreme value, and meeting a need with that value - we are just not always as good at charging for it. This has something to do with how we value ourselves. We can do both - make good money and do good work! This book provides the 'how to' tools that make creating abundance for our works more accessible by providing a template that lessens the gap between 'the idea' and manifesting the idea. I believe that all people are called to a life work that is specific to them. If each of us could answer that call, we would create a profoundly more whole paradigm, not just for business, but for all of life!"

The research for this book is based on over a decade of Shiloh’s work and research with thousands of women, inspiring them through her workshops and books to realize their vision for their life work. She saw first hand what it meant to put the tools into the hands of the women, with instructions on how to use them! McCloud was so inspired by this work, and the results it provided that she wanted to make it available to as many women as possible. As part of her own journey, Shiloh McCloud is sharing her visionary business process by inviting women to be member-owners in a company dedicated to empowering independent media, and also by having them write and illustrate and receive compensation for their offerings. In the service of this dream, Shiloh founded Palm of Her Hand, a division of Cosmic Cowgirls Ink, LLC. Palm of Her Hand also published a collaborative card and poster line with Alice Walker and Shiloh McCloud earlier this year.

'The Heart of the Visionary' is truly a workbook in the sense that there are fill in the blank templates and journal exercises and creative actions and activities spread all through out the teaching and wisdom sections written by women entrepreneurs. Other topics include a manifestation process, a painting day, budget sheets, writing your personal legend, pricing formulas, how to write a mission statement, a marketing plan, defining your client, niche - or, as the book calls it, -who you serve-, and writings from a former corporate America woman on her journey down from the corporate ladder and her recomendation not to spend all of our creative energy for others gain, while we neglect our own creative selves.

“I wanted to create a business know-how workbook for women who are starting or wanting to improve their business,” says Shiloh. “Most of all, I want women to see that they CAN do business, that they CAN do it their way, that they do not need a ton of money, a lot of people, or even a traditional business plan to get started. I am hoping that women will see being an entrepreneur as a vital creative path that can empower us to live a life in alignment with WHO we are. When we are doing what we are here to do, the world becomes a better place for everyone. I define the ‘feminine business paradigm’ as a movement that stands for justice, ecology, beauty, abundance, service, fairness, spirit, uncompromising ethics, compassion based business choices and self inquiry. In this context, all business decisions are based upon wholeness for mind, body, and heart, with every single part of the process in alignment with our values as mothers and guardians of life.”

Shiloh McCloud, whose artwork has generated sales in excess of a million dollars, previously published five Color of Woman journal/workbooks, all of which are still in print, widely collected and used by tens of thousands of women as a tool for transformation through creativity. These books, originally conceived as tools for therapists, are being used by cancer survivor groups (Toledo Hospital), in women’s recovery programs (Pine Grove), as curriculum in school programs (New College and Mt. St. Mary’s), Aids Survivor Circles (Foothills Aids Foundation), and Native American Circles (Owen’s Valley Tribal Taniff), in women’s prisons, and girl’s educational programs. The list goes on and on! To see a few of the hundreds of testimonials and for more information about Shiloh’s work go to: http//www.wisdomhousecatalog.com.

Shiloh asks “What if the suffering we have experienced could be transformed into medicine and healing for others? What if women were actually able to financially support themselves through their creativity and teach others to do so? What if we have done enough healing work to enable ourselves and others to get on with the work of the visionary within each of us?”

Quote from the book:
“If you are a woman on a journey, considering possibilities for your life work, this book is for you. If you want to start a new business or if you already have a business you want to refine and improve, this book is for you. If you are a mom who wants to start a day care, or a woman who designs software, this book can reach you where you are. This book does not promise six easy steps to managing your business, or guarantee how to make your first million, but it does make those things more possible! If you are looking for a transformative journey, a creative space in which to define and develop your plans for your life work, 'Heart of the Visionary' is for you.”

One dollar from the sale of each book is to be donated to Girls Inc. a national nonprofit youth organization providing vital educational programs to millions of girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.

Palm of Her Hand is working with girls at Girls Inc. to create a teen rights of passage book to be released in early spring. Palm of Her Hand is also collaborating with other organizations to create a women's addiction recovery journal, and a Cancer survivor journal. They have plans in process for hundreds of other books in the coming years. McCloud says" Our intention is to create healing opportunities for women to empower and awaken themselves. The books are a guide, a place to start, but the real work happens from the writing and drawing of the women as they journey through the pages.

Authors and Illustrators include: Shiloh McCloud, Mary MacDonald, elizaBeth Benson-Udom, Caron McCloud, Shannon McCloud, Caterina Rando, Gennifer Mountain, Julie Lampros, Ama Zenya, Nancy Ballard, Sherri Morris, Nikiah Seeds and Sue Hoya Sellars.

Treat yourself, or a person you love, this holiday season and start your new year off with a new endeavor by ordering the e-book HEART OF THE VISIONARY. To learn more, order the e-book or the pre-release hard copy of the book, or sign up for the Heart of the Visionary workshops based on the book go to: http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com or visit the Wisdom House Gallery in Mendocino to see Shiloh McCloud’s art.

Heart of the Visionary Workbook Specs: $19.95 - 8.5X11- 244 Pages With Illustrations - Hard copy to follow in Spring 2008, as well as a Spanish version. Get ready to print your book by having a ream of thick white paper and a binder with a clear plastic sleeve for the full color cover.

Will you help us by forwarding a link to this blog? We are so very appreciative of folks who are willing to be a part of our grass roots effort to forward this press release onto your community. At this time, none of Shiloh's books are being offered through chain stores, or amazon.com in an effort to support the over 350 stores nationwide that carry her work. So getting the word out happens at a grassroots level. Thank you in advance!

May your own life, and life work be blessed! May you take a risk on behalf of what YOU want to do. May you ALWAYS include creativity as a part of your life. May beauty and transformation be guiding lights for your journey.

order your copy at http://www.wisdomhousecatalog.com/colorofwomanjournals.html

This Work of Women by Shiloh McCloud

Yes. It is time for a revolution of women and path,
women and money, women and business, women and art,
women and marketplace.
We do not choose to give away
our works for nothing.
We are not starving or frivolous artists.
We are creators whose creations
save lives, heal the world, heal wounds.
This work of women, priestesses and practitioners of every
kind is VISIONARY WORK.
Your work is vital. Essential. Needed. This work
of women must include creating livelihood. This is
not easy, quick, fun nor likely. This is not accepted
or encouraged. But this is what we must do:
Create and abundance revolution
We must create our own path.
We must create our own money.
We must create art.
We must create our own marketplace.
We must be compensated.
We are creating our own mystical cosmic luminous
overflowing BANK.
A bank that does not cause,
contribute or condone
the suffering of others for profit.
A women’s bank. Believe it. Create it.
Deposit into it. Draw from it.
Invite other women into it.
Enter the income stream in your little
golden boat and dream
and work and pray and play
and do not stop. Keep going.
It will almost always seem impossible.
But we will make miracles.
Miracle are organizing themselves around our dreams
our work, our visions,
right now.
Let us go out, armed with what matters
and the prayers of our grandmothers,
shining.

By Shiloh Sophia McCloud, 2008 Copyright - The Heart of the Visionary


Are You Wondering, Is This Book For Me? This book is for:

Women Who
are starting a new business
are thinking about starting and want to explore
visionaries who want to take their project to the next level
are creating projects that need to be run like mini-businesses
are going to college and want to treat their career like a business now
are thinking of leaving a corporate job
are in a corporate job and want to create a side business
are interested in turning ideas into income
want to improve their existing business
have been in business for a while and are ready to go to the next level
have a side business they know could be more profitable
need to create a business plan and want to create a business with heart!
desire to create a life work in alignment with their values
want to SEE what a business looks like on paper before beginning
want to quit their day job, but can’t yet
would like to create a vital life work
have always known there was a ‘greater work’ for them.
are rebellious and wild woman who cannot bear a traditional model.

Are you a woman with an idea and a desire to make it happen?

Then this book is for you.

http://www.palmofherhand.com

What is your wish?