Friday, January 16, 2009

The First Ever Cosmic Cowgirl Journal Entry


This morning I was searching for writings from the past and I found this amazing journal entry which ended up in my book, She Dances Between the Worlds, but it was the first ever Cosmic Cowgirl heart storming that I ever did...

Do you have one bare foot on the earth and one boot in the stars?

It has been said that wellness in this life is a matter of finding balance...
For instance… "balanced energy products now on sale at your local zen mart and all you have to do eat this super bliss bar, drink magic vitamin water, go to these classes and meditate on goodness, become your most empowered self in three easy steps, say the following mantra- or go to this church or that healer or therapist or guru or buy a journal... we know the story of commodified spirituality well by now. And it isn't that all these things haven't done us some good, certainly they have, but the thing is, for she who dances between the worlds, not one of these things has a sustaining impact. And has brilliant as she is - most of the material out there seems to feed her the message that it is her fault because she cannot stick with the program. With a healthy heap of low self esteem she is soon she is back at the sales counter hoping for a message she can believe - the distances between where she is now and the “balance” that is trying to get to and before she knows it anti-depressants are being recommended... All we have to do is look around at who we know - and the balanced heroes are few among us...because we desire to live out all aspects of ourselves and as we well know this can be dangerous...especially if our wild woman is surpressed for too long...

This galaxy wide group who must dance from foot to foot and it is very much about moving with grace and not about sitting still because she cannot live her life sitting down...not that she shouldn't rest more, in fact this journal is about getting the nourishment a woman needs through creativity, through exploring the language of the heart through word and image....
If you are still unsure if you are part of the Cosmic Cowgirl Connection,
the questions below should help you clarify...

When you were growing up did you feel a call toward being a nun --- and an exotic dancer (or a solid gold dancer)?
Within the same minute, do you wish you had a home of your own with a garden and a porch swing --- and that you could ride a hot pink harley davidson touring across the world in all-girl rock group called the Love Bandits?
When you buy beige because it matches the other things in your life do you secretly put the red slinky dress back and say "What would they think if I..."
Do you wonder if God is a woman? And are you willing to find out for yourself even if it means questioning everything you have been told?
When you see photographs of wrinkled up medicine women in national geographic with herbs in her pouch and flowers in her hair - do you wish you were her, even more than you wish you where a size 7?

Do you have a saviour complex even when you know it won't work?
On Halloween do you dress as a. gypsy queen b. a witch with leopard print stockings c. a rhinestone cowgirl or d. the Virgen de Guadalupe or e. any kind of nature spirit, fairy, angel or mythical being f. all of the above in one costume - well, on most days, cosmic cowgirls will embody at one moment or another, like all of the above. If you have answered YES!, or greatly considered by chuckling knowingly to yourself, to more than three, you are not alone. For more information about an upcoming event in your honor, please turn to the inside front cover where you will find a personal invitation to the Rodeo of the Soul. A party where prayer and passion will dance you between the worlds...

You are invited to the Rodeo of the Soul

What:

A Party Where Prayer and Passion Dance!
A Journey Where All Parts of YOU Are Included!
A Sanctuary For Your ArtistSelf to Create What She Wants!

Who: All the cosmic cowgirls and women who dance between two worlds
and for those who believe passionate expression unveils the genius within

(that labored accuracy constantly reminds us we are not)
inner peace is like the eye of the storm

Where: This event will be held at the very private, most sought after and and divinely delectable "The Extra Cream Cafe of Un-Broken Dreams"

The place where you order up what you want with how much you want and it isn't interrupted by the villons of shoulda coulda woulda - they hang out at the The Saloon of Sorry as where you have been so many times before and will probablly visit again, but not just now.

When: NOW.

Why: If you are holding this red-hot saucy juice filled action packed samba of an invitation in your hands then you have been chosen by your inner artist to answer the call and get yourself out of the closet and onto the dance floor.

What to Wear - Come as you are - pajama are encouraged, as well as painting smocks, and cowboy boots - but at some point during the party you may find yourself in need of some red shoes and or red cowgirl boots - there will be intermissions for the purchase of red shoes during the course of the journey.

What to bring: All the essentials are already provided courtesy of you, but for more details, look within for the creations materials list

Who will be there: Hopefully, if they followed the map - the parts of you that you don't let others see will show up in all their racous glory or all their meditative splendor or all their unveiled brilliance.

Warning: There are no critics on the guest list and so if you have one, no matter how intelligent, please leave them at the door. If any critic attempts to enter, they will be detected immediately by our self-care alert team and will be removed by a very large buff woman with tattoos. If this should occur, please step aside, and do not attempt contact as it could be dangerous to the pleasurable experience awaiting your arrival.

You are an Artist. And Artists create, invent, ponder and discover. If when you call yourself and artist you think immediately following, I am not, or so and so is but I haven't really...well I did take a class once...this is all a lie you and "them" have told you to keep yourself from what you really want to create, say, do and dream. Each of is a creator - this is why you must attend this soulful celebration - to explore your artist's self. If you already call yourself an artist and have claimed that identity, then you already know the why of this invitation....
Now really is the only time to do what you want. Even if now is carved out in fifteen manageable increments at first...In order to understand what Now means, we have to get it that Now is directly proportional to self-worth - so, if you do not value yourself you do not value taking time for yourself, which ironically is what could just help you to value you.
A special note to Mamas: You know what -now- means more than anyone - however it has most likely become the now associated with the needs of everyone else. If possible, let the children wait a little longer - it is better for them to say and see "Mommie is an artist" than just about any other title. It will not only be best for you, but best for them as they develop their own patterns of self-esteem and creative development.
Dedicated to two saints and two of my best friends

"Decide who you are going to be an do it on purpose" - Dolly Parton
A Patron Saint of the Cosmic Cowgirls

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Flock of Phoenix - A Writing for the Wild Ones

A Flock of Phoenix

You don’t have to know how to do it.
You just have to know you want to do it.
This is the time when women and work
rise together.
A Phoenix all adorned
in fire red and diamonds.
Ready to fly to her next destination.
We have worked the whole time.
But we have not always been paid
for that time,
or recognized for that time
We knew our work and words
were valuable.
Even though we were told
it was not. We still knew.
And some of us got lost in knowing
but not knowing what to do about it.
That is finished now.
Chapter over.
A new chapter has been written
by us, of course.
A new prophesy is being called out.
Women are wealthy.
Women are wise.
Women stand for each other.
Women share fire light.
Sometimes we stay in ashes too long.
Mourning for all that has been lost.
And mourn we should.
Because of the crimes. What is happening
to sons and daughters in our greater family
is unspeakable in the form of this page.
My words cannot wrap themselves around
the horror (that is another poem)
But we know
endlessly of the constant press of sad stories.
So, we who are able, must rise.
And make space for others to rise.
We who are able,
We who are able,
We who are able,
must chant our transformation chant.
Each of us makes up her own
fire rising song.
We sing the words out into creation.
And watch the sparks begin to fly.
Just because fire was used against us.
Does not mean we give up fire, no.
We have breathed fire and it is our ally.
Our legend is not one of only burning.
Although we have done that many times.
Our legend is one of rising.
Of flying.
Of taking wing from impossible ashes.
Dusting the gray from off of our fire red wings.
We extend a shimmering wing
And then the next.
We raise our heads to the light.
And the earth in her wisdom
pushes us from underneath.
And the air in her understanding
pulls us from above.
And up we go.
Free at last.
Leaving gravity to it’s daily chore
of holding all things in place.
Not us. Not today.
And as we soar we feel whole!
And to our complete joy,
our complete and utter jubilation
We find the sky full of radiant phoenixes.
Magenta Cobalt Gold and Green Ones
Purple Red White and Black Ones
Orange and Brown and Aqua Ones
A whole flock of Phoenix women.
And together we fly
on the wisdom of the shared flock.
Resurrected birds of glory.
Bright and beautiful, Bold and Dangerous.
Wild and full of hope. Brave and Abundant.
Join us, or watch us fly by.
But let us rise bird sisters
and claim our skies!
Shiloh McCloud ©2007