Author: Ananda Leeke

Thriving Mindfully Coach + Author + Artist + Human Design Doula

Ananda celebrates International Women’s Day with woman-centered poetry!

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Happy Monday!  Happy International Women’s Day!

Today is really special for me.  International Women’s Day always reminds me of my trip to the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women held in September 1995 in Beijing, China.  My trip to Beijing was one of the most powerful experiences in my life.  This morning, I discussed my trip during my author talk on BlogTalkRadio.  I also shared woman-centered poetry including two poems I wrote while attending the conference in China.  Click on the link to listen to a recording of my show (12 minutes): www.blogtalkradio.com/anandaleeke/2010/03/08/author-chat-with-ananda-leeke.

Who are your favorite women poets?

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day?

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for women’s power, passion, and progress,

Ananda

Research on Black male privilege for my next novel Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two

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Greetings All,

I have a confession to make.  I LOVE doing research for my next novel Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two.  YES YES YES I LOVE RESEARCH especially with the Internet …. blogs, YouTube, Twitter, podcasts, Facebook, Myspace, and web sites.

Today, my love-fest for research took me to NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin (I listen to the show five days a week! Love it!).  While listening to today’s show via podcast, I was introduced to Dr. L’Heureux Dumi Lewis who talked about Black male privilege.  After listening to the show, I visited Dr. Lewis’ blog and watched a YouTube video featuring his keynote address on Black male privilege at his alma mater Morehouse College (the same school my main character Symon Allure attended during his freshmen year) in February.  See video above.  That keynote address convinced me to include a discussion about Black male privilege in my novel.

What do you think about Black male privilege?

Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the Internet,

Ananda

Soul Babies by Mark Anthony Neal: What I am reading now for research supporting my next novel Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two

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Greetings All,

Today, I started reading Soul Babies by Mark Anthony Neal (one of my favorite Black male feminists and authors …. Loved his book New Black Man).  Click here to learn more about Neal and his work: http://newblackman.blogspot.com.  I am reading Neal’s Soul Babies as research for my next novel Love’s Troubadours – Symon: Book Two.

So why am I reading this book? Well, it all started when Tulane University professor and author Shayne Lee referred to the main character Karma Francois in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One as a “post-soul” woman in his interview with me on my Talkshoe.com radio show on November 9, 2009: www.talkshoe.com/tc/15820 (see past episodes archives).   Lee’s Amazon.com book review also makes reference to the term. See below.

“Great artistic efforts do more than just entertain, they enlighten. Love’s Troubadours was highly entertaining, but also challenged me to explore the greater context of the world around me, which is in my humble opinion the hallmark of great art. I learned much about my own strivings and angst while perusing life through the eyes of a hip, chic, post-soul, educated yoga-loving, highly spiritual Black American Princess named Karma. There are no canned characters in this masterpiece, only complex women and men dealing with the vicissitudes of life through their inimitable postmodern brands of spirituality and social perspectives. Karma teaches us much about perseverance as well as about self-transcendence and spiritual consciousness. One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is its fresh appropriation of black middleclass sensibilities. Karma is an intuitive and progressive woman and her tastes and interests reflect a mélange of black middleclass tropes often unexplored in contemporary cinema and books. Ananda Leeke fastens our consciousness to a world of black female sophistication, and depicts Karma as an apotheosis of urban-chic and self-transcendence. Leeke takes us on an entertaining and enlightening journey as we watch an incredibly complex protagonist like Karma navigate through the matrices of her personal reformation, negotiate transitional changes, overcome family and relationship challenges and emotional angst, and emerge as a more evolved and emotionally whole woman. This is a well-written book and a fascinating look at an underrepresented portion of contemporary black middle-class life and spirituality.”

Shayne got me thinking about the type of people I write about in my Love’s Troubadours novel series.  So I did a google search for Neal’s definition of post-soul. See below.

“the political, social, and cultural experiences” of blacks born “between the 1963 March on Washington and . . . the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke challenge to affirmative action in 1978.”

After reading the definition, I realized me and most of my characters are post-soul!

When I saw the cover of Soul Babies featuring Soul Train dancers, I hollered because Soul Train was one of my favorite shows growing up in the 70s.  It was a religion for me to watch Don Cornelius and the Soul Train guests and dancers.  They taught me how to dance and dress (at least in my imagination cuz’ my mother would not allow me to wear some of the clothes!).

What do you think about the post-soul definition?

What were your favorite memories from the 70s?

Do you listen to 70s music? If so, who are your favorite artists and groups?

Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude, and SOOOOOOUUUUUULLLLLLL,

Ananda

Ananda gives an author talk on the March 4th episode of Ananda Leeke Live UStream.tv @9ppm EST

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Greetings All,

Celebrate National Women’s History Month on March 4 by tuning into Ananda Leeke Live! from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST for an author talk about the power of the sacred feminine, goddesses, sisterhood, feminism, and womanism in my artwork, poetic memoir That Which Awakens Me, and debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One.  I will also discuss her new book project Sisterhood, the Blog: Soundbytes from the 21st Century Woman’s Online Revolution.  Click here to watch the live show: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live.

FYI – If you miss the live show, you can always watch a recording: www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the Sacred Feminine,

Ananda

Happy National Women’s History Month – Celebrating the Obama Women with a poem from Ananda’s new book

Posted by on in African American Women, National Women's History Month, That Which Awakens Me - A Creative Woman's Poetic MemoirLeave a comment

Greetings All! Happy March! Happy National Women’s History Month! 

The 2010 theme of National Women’s History Month is “Writing Women Back into  History.  Click here to learn more: www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php. 

Who are your sheroes? 

Desiree Rogers & Valerie Jarrett

Susan Rice

Lisa Jackson

Today, I am celebrating my sheroes called the “Obama” women.  They are the African American women serving in President Barack H. Obama’s Administration.  Last year, I wrote a poem about the “Obama” women and included it in my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self Discovery (available on Amazon.com – http://tiny.cc/7uFsg).  See the poem below.

Do you have a favorite Obama woman?

My three favorites are Valerie Jarrett, Desiree Rogers (who will be leaving her position as White House Social Secretary in a few weeks), Susan Rice, and Lisa Jackson. Click here to read a Washington Post article about the Obama women from March 2009:  www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/17/AR2009031703744.html.

Enjoy your day and week!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for women who paved the way for me to be who I am today,

Ananda

POEM – Copyright 2009 by Madelyn C. Leeke

 
Sista7: The Obama Women

 
When I checked my email this morning, I had a message

from my father, a 24/7/365 supporter of President Barack H.

Obama.

Daddy’s email greeted me with positive news.

It was a Washington Post article about the brilliant, bold, and

beautiful Black women in the Obama administration.

What a way to start a Wednesday in March during Women’s

History Month!

The article profiled the Sista7.

Valerie Jarrett, a Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President

for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison.

Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary.

Susan Rice, United Nations Ambassador.

Cassandra Butts, deputy White House counsel.

Mona Sutphen, the first Black woman to serve as deputy chief

of staff.

Lisa Jackson, the first Black person to head the Environmental

Protection Agency.

Melody Barnes, the first Black woman to run the Domestic

Policy Council.

 
 

 

They represent something new in Washington: the largest
contingent of high-ranking Black women to work for a

president.

Trailblazers is the word that captures it all for me.

These phenomenal women have emerged from the margins of

American society to the position of gatekeeper in one of the

greatest countries in the world.

Each one is a household name in my life.

Tracking their efforts on the Internet is one of my favorite

things to do.

Watching them in action inspires me.

They have become an affirmation of what’s possible for Black

women in America.

That’s why I claim them as my sheros.

That’s why I continuously celebrate their presence, passion,

and power.

May we all do the same.

 

 

Celebrate March with Ananda’s events – Free creativity coaching, author chats, yoga, NYC art exhibit & DC Book Reading

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Greetings All,

March is about to happen in a few days. Mark your calendars for my upcoming events.  I am participating in a NYC art exhibit on March 11 and having a book talk and signing on March 14 in DC.  Please see the dates below.  Hope you can join me!

Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, Gratitude, and Joyful expectations for a fabulous March,

Ananda

Ananda’s March Events

1. Celebrate National Women’s History Month on March 4 by tuning into Ananda Leeke Live! from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST for an author talk about the power of the sacred feminine, goddesses, sisterhood, feminism, and womanism in Ananda’s artwork, poetic memoir That Which Awakens Me, and debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One.  She will also discuss her new book project Sisterhood, the Blog: Soundbytes from the 21st Century Woman’s Online Revolution.  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live

2. Listen to Ananda honor International Women’s Day with woman-centered poetry and reflections on March 8 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anandaleeke

3. Practice online yoga with Ananda for 15 minutes on March 10 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. to honor National Women and Girls HIV/AID Awareness Day. http://stickam.com/anandaleeke


Ananda Leeke’s wire sculpture “Erzulie’s Black Heart”

Photo Credit: Leigh Mosley (the greatest photographer in the universe! – www.leighmosley.com)

4. Come see Ananda’s wire sculpture “Erzulie’s Black Heart” at the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s exhibition “Wearing Spirit: Aesthetically Personifying the Feminine in African Sacred Traditions” from March 11 to May 24 in New York City.  The opening reception will be held on March 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visit www.cccadi.org.

5. Attend an author talk and book signing for Ananda’s new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery on March 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Historical Society of Washington, DC,  801 K Street, NW at Mount Vernon Square metro. She will also discuss her debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One. Visit www.historydc.org.

6. Calling all creative women!  Join Ananda for a free creative coaching session on March 25 from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. EST that explores the nine blocks to women’s creativity. Ananda will use creative coaching exercises in her new book That Which Awaken’s Me to guide the session. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ananda-leeke-live

7. Take a deep breath and experience Ananda’s free kind and gentle yoga Meetup on March 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Malcolm X-Meridian Hill Park in DC. The class will be dedicated to National Women’s History Month, National Women and Girls HIV/AID Day, and National Nutrition Month.  http://yoga.meetup.com/584.

Black women, depression & Ananda’s novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma Book One

Posted by on in African American Women, depression, Love's Troubadours - Symon: Book Two2 Comments

Susan L. Taylor

Happy Thursday!

Today, I read Linda Villarosa’s article “When Depression Strikes the Black Superwoman” on TheRoot.com.  It features Susan L. Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence (www.essence.com) and founder and CEO of the National Cares Mentoring Movement.

Linda Villarosa

Villarosa writes,

  • The 21st century has been good for many black women who have followed in the footsteps of women like [Susan]Taylor and [Terrie] Williams. Two of the world’s most visible and accomplished women are African American—one in the White House, the other on daytime television. Black women are going to college and starting businesses in record numbers. We’re also hammering away at the glass ceiling and more of us are rising into management positions. And a few, like Ursula Burns, the CEO of Xerox—and subject of a glowing New York Times profile last week—make it to the very top. But success can come with a price. We’re the first to arrive and the last to leave as we grind through 10-hour work days. We’re the ones everybody relies on—first at work, then after hours during the second shift of home and family time. We work ourselves almost literally “to death” especially now during this economic storm. Or for some of us, we “feel” like we have to continue to be the “superwoman.”
  • Even as our collective accomplishments have bubbled to the surface, the pain is often simmering just below it. Certainly many of us have found happiness and joy in our lives, whether singled or partnered, mothers or not, with or without that high-status, six-figure career. But too many others are lonely, sad or angry—and too proud or too afraid to talk about it.

Here are several key comments Taylor made in the article.

  • “My sadness and depression came out of giving myself to my career before I would give myself to myself… Everything for Essence; nothing for me.”
  • ““I sought help, and everything began to unfold.”
  • “Hiding sadness makes you more and more sad because it closes you off to your healing.”
  • “Giving voice to what you’re feeling is part of the healing.”

These four comments really hit home with me.  They made me think of my own journey and the journey of my main character Karma Francois in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One (available on Amazon.com –  http://tinyurl.com/yfxtqyq).  Karma is a thirtysomething Oakland-born BoHo B.A.P. (Bohemian Black American Princess) with Louisiana roots and urban debutante flair. Love’s Troubadours begins with Karma’s life in an uproar. Her relationships and the museum curator career that she struggled to form in New York City have crumbled, leaving no viable options to rebuild. Relocating to Washington, DC, Karma struggles with denial, depression, and debt. A lack of full-time employment opportunities forces her to craft a gypsy existence as a Jill of Many Trades: yoga teacher, art consultant, and freelance curator at Howard University Gallery of Art. Unable and unwilling to appreciate these jobs as gifts, she wallows in a pool of lost identity-and doesn’t see a way to keep from drowning. When she looks in the mirror, Karma sees a woman whose choices have dishonored her true character. Now, for the first time in her life, Karma must learn to see herself for who she really is.

What do you think about Black women and depression?

Enjoy your day!

Peace, Creativity, Joy, Compassion, Gratitude for healing,

Ananda

Celebrating Black History Month with Dehejia Maat’s new book of poetry Deep Rooted Soul Sista Poems

Posted by on in African American Women, Poetry3 Comments

Greetings All,

My sistalove friend Dehejia Maat is a multitalented woman.  She shares her gifts as an actress, artist, poet, singer, yoga teacher, mother, and spirit woman. She recently published Deep Rooted Soul Sista Poems.  Her book is available on Amazon.com:  http://bit.ly/aNbzkt.

Guess what? Dehejia also released a fantastic CD entitled Melanin Wine (Earth Mix) which is available on Amazon.com: http://bit.ly/couuRI.

Dehejia currently serves as the theater director for the Dragon Box Theater in D.C. She established the No Goddess Left Behind writers workshop.  Her current projects include The Joy of Billie Holiday (an original one woman show) and The Yes That Leads to Infinity (her second book of poetry).  Click here to learn more about Dehejia and her creativity: www.dehejiamaat.com.

Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dehejiamaat.

You can also join her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/dehejia.maat.

Check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/dehejiamaat.

Here are some of my favorite YouTube videos featuring Dehejia.  Enjoy!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for the creative spirit of Dehejia Maat,

Ananda

Open your heart with my kg yoga life practices show on MomTV today!

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Greetings All,

Open your heart this week by taking my kg yoga life practices class on MomTV. This morning I pre-recorded today’s show. The theme is opening your heart with love (prema in Sanskrit) and compassion (karuna in Sanskrit). Click here to watch the show (approximately 24 minutes): http://stickam.com/m0mtv78.

Be sure to join me on March 17 at 8:00 p.m. for the next kg yoga life practices class on MomTV: http://stickam.com/m0mtv78.

May you have a fabulous day opening your heart to the love and compassion inside of yourself! Dwell in it all day long. Tomorrow pass it on to someone else!

OM Love OM!

OM Compassion OM!

Peace, Creativity, Love, Compassion, and Gratitude for an open heart,

Ananda