Author: Ananda Leeke

Thriving Mindfully Coach + Author + Artist + Human Design Doula

Watch Ananda’s April 8th author talk @9pm EST on UStream.tv – “Poetry as a natural medicine for the soul”

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Hi all,

Join me for an author talk about poetry as a natural medicine for the soul on April 8 from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST on Ananda Leeke Live! UStream.tv.  During the talk, I will share how I use poetry in my work as an artist-in-residence for Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts and excerpts from my new book That Which Awakens Me.  Click on the link to watch the author talk: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live. If you miss it, you can always watch the video.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the power of poetry,

Ananda

Day 7 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating the jazz music of Billie Holiday & poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou

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Greetings,

Today, I listened to  some of jazz singer Billie Holiday’s greatest hits while I practiced yoga.  What a sweet jazzy treat!  Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” led me to a book of poety by Dr. Maya Angelou.  I read Angelou”s poem “Africa” during breakfast.  Click on the Cinchcast audio blog below to hear me read Dr. Angelou’s poem. I also share my poem “Luxor, Egypt” which is included in my new book That Which Awakens Me.

What does Billie Holiday’s music remind you of?

Have you ever traveled to Africa or visited a museum with African art?

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Mine is: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Meditation. Melodies. Mysteries.

Read a poem, listen to some jazz, and find one way to honor Mother Earth.  Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the wise woman Dr. Maya Angelou,

Ananda

Day 6 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating the sacred jazz of Alice Coltrane and poetry of Alice Dunbar Nelson

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Spiritual Teacher and Jazz Musician Alice Coltrane
Poet Alice Dunbar Nelson

Greetings,

Yesterday, I recorded an audio blog celebrating the sacred jazz music of Alice Coltrane and a new poetry anthology called Black Nature which features the poetry of Alice Dunbar Nelson. I read Dunbar’s poem “April Is On The Way” and my poem “The Word Green” from my new book That Which Awakens Me. Click on the Cinchcast blog below to hear my reflections. Enjoy!

What does the month of April remind you of?

Here’s my six-word memoir from yesterday:  Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Metaphors. Improvisation. Nature.

Do you have a six-word memoir to share?

Read a poem, listen to some jazz, and choose one way to honor Mother Earth! Enjoy your week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for nature poetry and sacred jazz,

Ananda

Day 5 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating Dr. King and his teachings on love

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Happy Monday!

This morning I went walking … speed walking.  During my walk, I thought about the sacrifices Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made for so many of us.  When I returned from my walk, I read Nikki Giovanni’s poem “The Funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.”   Giovanni wrote the poem on April 9, 1968. Click on the Cinchcast audio blog to hear me read the poem.  I also read my poem “The Word” from my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery.

What is your favorite word?

Here are six of my favorite words:  Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Soul stories unfold.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Dr. King and his teachings on love,

Ananda

Day 4 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Honoring Easter Sunday, U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan, and Dr. King’s Assassination

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Happy Easter Sunday!

I started my morning with poetry about intention and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Listen to my audio blog below that celebrates U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan’s poem “Intention” and my poem “1968/2008” about my family on Easter Sunday in 1968.  My poem comes from my new book That Which Awakens Me. Enjoy!

Do you have a six-word memoir that expresses how you feel today? Here’s mine:  Poetry. Jazz. Earth.  Resurrect my soul.

How did you celebrate Easter?

Have a great week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for poets like Kay Ryan and leaders like Dr. King,

Ananda

Day 3 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating poet Tim’m West during National Poetry Month

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Greetings All,

In honor of National Poetry Month, I thought I would share several videos featuring my brothalove poet Tim’m West.  Tim’m is an amazing creative soul.  He has been a major inspiration in my work.  I wrote about Tim’m in my new book That Which Awakens Me. Check out the videos below featuring Tim’m and me reading a poem about Tim’m.  Enjoy!

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Mine is Poetry.Jazz.Earth. Baptize me today.

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for poetical souls like Tim’m,

Ananda

Listen to Ananda’s interview w/ Faith Dow, founder of Acts of Faith blog, about her use of social media to support her books & biz

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Happy Saturday!

My social media sistalove Faith Dow, founder of Acts of Faith blog, interviewed me this morning via Skype and Cinchcast.  We talked about how I use social media to support my books That Which Awakens Me and Love’s Troubadours, and business. Faith also asked me about my writing process and career transition from attory to author.  She gave me a new title to marinate on: lifestyle guru.  I like the sound of it. What do you think? To learn more, click on the Cinchcast audio blog below. Enjoy!

Be sure to follow Faith on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/actsoffaithblog. She is an amazing lady who serves as an editor, media critic, social justice advocate, and creative professional who uses technology and social media to empower women and children.

Have a great weekend!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for social media sisterhood connections,

Ananda

Celebrating Black Nature, the first-ever anthology of nature writing by African-American poets

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Here is a great video that promotes Earth awareness and poetry.  It features the March 19th Symposium on the First Anthology of Nature Writing by African-American Poets.  It celebrates Black Nature, the first-ever anthology of nature writing by African-American poets.  It was edited by poet and Professor Camille Dungy. Dungy teaches at San Francisco State University. It is long! So get ready for a wonderful juicy experience! Enjoy!

What do you think about nature?

Day 2 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Awareness – Celebrating Duke Ellington’s Jazz, Ethelbert Miller’s Defintion of Poetry, Poetry of Ntozake Shange & Twitter Poetry

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Happy Friday!

I started my morning with yoga, meditation, and Reiki.  My sun salutation practice was truly juicy.  I listened to jazz musician Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown and Beige CD, a jazz symphony written for his first concert at Carnegie Hall, on January 23, 1943. I discuss Black, Brown and Beige in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. His composition “Come Sunday” featuring Mahalia Jackson plays a key role.   Click on the YouTube video below to listen to a part of the CD.  It is one of my favorites!

Did you know Ellington’s full name was Edward Kennedy Ellington? He was born on April 29, 1899 to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington in Washington, DC.  He lived a long, creative, and fulfilling life as a pianist, composer, and band leader.  FYI He led his band from 1923 until his death on May 24, 1974.

I also read a poetry quote by my literary mentor E. Ethelbert Miller that reminded me of Ntozake Shange’s Nappy Edges poetry book.  I included Ethelbert’s quote in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery.  Nappy Edges was the first poetry book I bought during my freshmen year at St. Elizabeth Seton High School (1978).  Shange’s poetry inspired me.  I discovered her creative work while watching her chorepoem for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

Click on the my Cinchcast audio blog below to hear Ethelbert’s poetry quote, Shange’s poem, and my Twitter poetry (an excerpt from That Which Awakens Me) Enjoy!

When you think of jazz on a Fridays what songs come to mind?

Do you have any favorite poems about music? If so, what are the titles? Who are the poets?

Do you have a six-word memoir for Friday? My six-word memoir is Poetry. Jazz. Earth.  Shange. Duke. Gaia.  What do you think?

Have a great weekend!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude for Shange’s poetry, Duke’s jazz, and Gaia’s planet,

Ananda

Listen to Ananda read poetry from her new book That Which Awakens Me as she launches her 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, & Earth Day Awareness on BlogTalkRadio

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Happy April! Happy National Poetry Month!  Happy Jazz Appreciation Month! Happy Early Earth Day (4/22)!

Today marks the beginning of “30 Days of Poetry, Jazz,  & Earth Day Awareness,” my online campaign that promotes National Poetry Month, National Jazz Appreciation Month, and the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.  From April 1 to April 30, I am using social media and six-word memoirs to share jazz inspirations, poetry, and reflections about Earth Day and green living.

Here’s my first six-word memoir for April: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. My Soul Necessities.

Do you have a six-word memoir for April, poetry, jazz, or Earth Day awareness?  Share it in the comment section below.

This morning I recorded an author chat on BlogTalkRadio which celebrated jazz, poetry, springtime, Cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, green living, and Mother Earth (in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day).  Several poems discussed neo-soul singer Erykah Badu, jazz singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, jazz musicians Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonius Monk.  They were published in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery.  Click on the the BlogTalkRadio widget below to hear my 15 minutes of poetry.

Who are your favorite poets?

What are your favorite poems?

Who are your favorite jazz musicians and singers? Any favorite jazz songs or CDs?

Who are your favorite green living activists?

Enjoy your day!  Make it a poetic, jazzy, and green living kinda day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for poetry, jazz, and Mother Earth,

Ananda