That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery – Page 3

Happy June! Where I’ve been blogging … Join me for my June 12th book reading in DC

Posted by Ananda Leekeon June 7, 2010June 8, 2010in Book Readings, Yoga, yoga for computer usersLeave a comment

Happy June All!

I know I have been missing in action on this blog for awhile. Where have I been? Twitter and my Facebook Fan page have captured my attention a lot. I have also been posting audio blogs on my Cinchcast page. I will do a better job of posting blog entries this month!

This week I am gearing up for DC Digital Capital Week. It begins on June 11. I am teaching a yoga class for computer users on June 12th at 10:00 am. It will be held in Malcolm X Park in DC. Click on the link for more details: http://yoga.meetup.com/584.

Join me for my June 12th book reading which will be held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Washingtonia Division, 901 G Street, NW, Room 307 (Washingtoniana Division’s Program Room), Washington, DC (located at Metro Center Station and near Gallery Place Metro Station). I will talk about and sign my new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery (2009 – http://amzn.to/7zGkGI) and debut novel Love’s Troubadours: Karma – Book One (www.lovestroubadours.com – 2007 – http://amzn.to/bWKCvw). FYI – My books are also available on Amazon.com (http://amzn.to/d4RwQN).

I will be giving another book talk and signing on July 10 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Flow Yoga Center (www.flowyogacenter.com), 1450 P Street, NW (located several blocks from Dupont Circle Metro).

Hope to see you on June 12th and/or July 10!

Recap from 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness – Listen to Ananda’s audio blogs from April 24 – 30

Posted by Ananda Leekeon May 5, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

National Poetry Month 2010 was amazing! My 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness celebration gave me a chance to rediscover some of my favorite poets and poems. I also discovered new poets and poems. I had big fun recording my audio blogs and posting them on Cinchcast, Twitter, and Facebook each day. Just in case you missed listening to them, I have included a list of links for the period of April 24 to April 30 below. Enjoy!

Links for my audio blogs with poetry for April 24 to April 30:

April 24 – Listen to Ananda share Langston Hughes’ poem “Earth Song.” She also shares her poem “Let America Be Green America Again” from her new book That Which Awakens Me: A Creative Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/51699
April 25 – Listen to Ananda share Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem “Recommendation.” She also reads her poem “People of Color Sangha” in her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52053
April 26 – Listen to Ananda share Margaux Delotte-Bennett’s poem “Crossroads.” She also reads her poem “Mantra Meditation” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52591
April 27 – Listen to Ananda read Thomas Sayers Ellis’ poem “Stayed Back.” She also reads her poem “Episodes in the Life of a Brazen Careerist.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/52699
April 28 – Listen to Ananda share Yael Flusberg’s poem “optical illusions” and her poem “Life Outside of Starbucks on 16th & U on a Rainy Saturday.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53110
April 29 – Listen to Ananda read Alan King’s poem “At Selam’s.” She also reads her poem “Love Cafe” from her new book That Which Awakens Me. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53520
April 30 Part 1 – Listen to Ananda read Derrick Weston Brown’s poem “Ol’ Man Strength.” She also reads her poem “Our Kind of Blue” from her new book. http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/53988
April 30 Part 2 – Listen to Ananda read Toni Blackman’s poem “Freedom Piece.” She also reads her poem “21 Drops of Inspiration in My Creative Bucket.” http://www.cinchcast.com/anandaleeke/54137

Day 12 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Langston Hughes

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Listen to me share Langston Hughes’ poem “In Time of Silver Rain” on April 12. I also read my poem “Wake Up Call #24” from That Which Awakens Me.

Today’s six-word memoir is: poetry. jazz. earth.divine wakeup calls.

Share yours in the comment section. Enjoy!

Day 11 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Lucille Clifton

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Listen to me share Lucille Clifton’s poem “Generations” on April 11. I also shared my poem “wake up call #9” from That Which Awakens Me.

My Sunday six-word memoir was: poetry.jazz. earth. weaving creativity’s oneness.

Did you have one?

Enjoy!

Day 10 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness – Celebrating Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 12, 2010April 12, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Click on the Cinchcast button below to hear me share Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem “Berrying.” I also share my poem “All Souls” from my book That Which Awakens Me.

Read my six-word memoir for Saturday: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Reflect. Rejoice. Reconnect.

If you have one, share it in the comment section. Enjoy!

Day 9 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating Sufi poet Rumi

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 9, 2010April 9, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Greetings,

It’s day 9 0f my 30 Days! So today I started my morning with yoga, meditation, and poetry by Sufi poet Rumi. Click on the Cinchcast audio blog to hear me read one of Rumi’s poetry about love and art. I also read my poem “Loving You” from my new book That Which Awakens Me.

Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Here’s mine: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Listen. Dance. Heal.

Enjoy your weekend!

Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Rumi’s love of poetry,

Ananda

Day 8 of 30 Days of Poetry, Jazz & Earth Day Awareness: Celebrating Poetry as a natural medicine

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 8, 2010April 8, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

Photo Credit: http://njculibrary.wordpress.com/2008/04/page/2/

Greetings,

It’s day 8 0f my online campaign “30 Days of Poetry, Jazz, and Earth Day Awareness.” It’s turning into quite a journey. I am falling back in love with many of my favorite poets, jazz singers and musicians, and green living tips. I am also using this 30 day process to deepen my yoga and physical fitness practice.

What are you doing this month?

Anything fun planned?

Any new projects?

What about travel plans?

This morning I got up early to prepare for my author talk about “Poetry as a natural medicine for the soul” on Ananda Leeke Live via UStream.tv at 9:00 p.m. (EST) tonight. John Fox’s amazing book Poetic Medicine kept me company. Fox is the founder of the Institute of Poetic Medicine. I discovered his book and work during the 15th Annual Society for the Arts in Healthcare Conference held in 2006 at Northwestern University’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Both have mentored me as an artist-in-residence at Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts over the past four years. Last year, Fox visited Smith Farm and facilitated a poetry healing workshop for the artists-in-residence. It was so powerful. That experience convinced me to include a section on the power of poetry in my new book That Which Awakens Me.

After I ate breakfast this morning, I recorded an audio blog featuring an excerpt from Poetic Medicine. I also read a Navaho blessing poem and my poem “Poetry Thursday” from That Which Awakens Me. Click on the Cinchcast button below to listen to my blog.

Do you think poetry is a natural medicine for the soul?

Here’s my six-word memoir for today: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Phrases dance naturally. Please share yours in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

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

Ananda

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

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 7, 2010April 7, 2010in Author Talk, PoetryLeave a comment

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

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 7, 2010April 7, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

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

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 7, 2010April 7, 2010in 30 Days of Poetry Jazz & Earth AwarenessLeave a comment

ALice%20Coltrane — Spiritual Teacher and Jazz Musician Alice Coltrane

Alice_Dunbar-Nelson — 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