30/30 Poetic Vision Day: Nisa Kinsley

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.

In honor of this month, Naropa’s Jack Kerouac School is launching its first annual 30/30 Poetic Vision, featuring daily poems by JKS students, staff, and faculty. Our community members were asked to contemplate and engage with text as visual and audio mediums. What forms emerge in the 21st Century? How has technology changed the way we view, perform, and transmit poetry? These are a few of the questions that will be explored over the next thirty days. We hope you’ll join us on this journey.

Jack Kerouac School. WRITING THINKING BEING. The experiment continues…

Meet Nisa Kinsley - Writer, Dancer, and Spiritual Practitioner

Changing Crow & Co would like to introduce the poet, Nisa Kinsley. Nisa is working on a collection of short stories that may decide to be a novel instead. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and Poetics from the Jack Kerouac School at Naropa University. She currently works as a Writing & Wellness consultant for a coaching organization that guides writers in higher education. Nisa has a dedicated Yoga Practice and is inspired to elevate her consciousness in this lifetime.

The Creator is found in the Consciousness of the individual. #CosmicConsciousness pic.twitter.com/XmmewdSgiJ
— Nisa Kinsley (@14writer) August 12, 2014

 

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Rex Avian by Nis A Kinsley with Anne Waldman, Allan Andre, and Rachel Melville

"Princess in Tijuana @ the U.S./Mexico Border"

Reading by Denise Kinsley

Pure Beauty

Shanti Hum : I am Peace. @PeaceLoveBeanie @LoveP_E_A_C_E https://t.co/SugHDIOloC #Day3 pic.twitter.com/XYqOycXoNV
— Nisa Kinsley (@14writer) August 13, 2014

Anaïs Nin on Lou Salome Nietzsche and LSD: youtube.com/watch?v=a72IyI…
— Nisi A. Kinsley (@14writer) February 23, 2013

Review by Denise Kinsley of Making a Novel by Gerard Gavarry published in bombay gin Literary Journal

Making a Novel explores Gavarry’s revolutionary approach to language in Hoppla! 1 2 3. He takes three objects for his novel—a coconut palm tree, a cargo ship, and the centaur—and creates entire worlds around them. With these in mind, Gavarry then uses the deuterocanonical Book of Judith as a frame, writing the story of this biblical heroine from the perspective of an adolescent male character named Ti-Jus. Well versed in etymology, the scientific understanding of things, words and proper names issued from ancient Greece, Gavarry applies his knowledge to create new jargon and description for his novel Hoppla!. For example, in the first “panel” of the triptych, Gavarry uses the scientific name for the coconut palm, coco nucifera, and its flower, spadice, as the root for slang when one of Ti-Jus’ teenaged friends expresses annoyance as he tries to open a door while the train is moving, “What the Nucifera!” Another youth replies mockingly, “Spadices, dude, spadices!” Gavarry explains: 

 This language is a jargon of sorts, or something resembling jargon. Understood only by insiders, it comprises various borrowings, distortions, and wordplay, all having some connection to the coconut palm.

 Together with language, art, myth (personal or historical) and memory, Gevarry shows us that the possibilities are endless when writing a novel, and the most fascinating parts are the discoveries (from either accidents or the subconscious) the writer makes along the way. Making a Novel presents different ways to look at language, history and synchronicity. Gevarry refers to the synchronic events as “pleasant surprises”:

The times when suddenly a writer discovers that the hand of fate has worked in his favor. Or at least, this is his impression when, upon rereading his text for the umpteenth time, he suddenly apprehends an unexpected meaning or connotation, a stubborn echo of his own personal story, or a resurgence of some implicit theme he believed to have buried deep in the subtext; and likewise, while doing some research, he comes across a word he never knew existed, but which he immediately recognizes as the one he needed to complete a certain sentence.

READ THE REST: http://bombayginjournal.com/2012/03/07/gerard-gavarrys-making-a-novel/

The Voices of Women in a Hidden World

THE KITCHEN SISTERS are launching a new NPR multimedia series exploring the hidden world of girls. Stories of coming of age, rituals and rites of passage, secet identities—of women who crossed a line, blazed a trail, changed the tide.

Call the NPR Message Line – 202-408-9576. Tell your stories and ideas. Share your photos, audio, video at NPR.org. The Hidden World of Girls series began on March 22nd.

The stories of girls and women are stories to be heard.

Have a listen.

The Mellifluous Voice of Gillian Welch

I saw Gillian and Dave play the other night at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. What a show! The crowd was great and the Dylan covers were a nice surprise. I am a big fan of Gillian, and she mentioned a new album. Finally! Here's a song that is sure to be on it:

What Binds Us

"... I stare at twists of ancient links,
And gaze to chains of double helix.
In-between cracks of stone,
I’m lulled away to find filaments anew
or something in the dust bowl of my skull
Searching the imagination for subtle clues.
Encoded upon the spider’s silver armor,
Intricate memories are woven,
And the slow itch builds.
The metallic flow rushing to the surface,

So slowly at first that it is mistaken for a breeze-
a needed fix.
Waiting in the wings for something to flutter by..."

"... The longing marrow slowly tearing,
At what was trapped within bright creation.
Under my skin I feel,
Where coursing warm waters are
Moving along by burning determination.

Heart rate quickening- yearning,
To see your toothy smile.
So what binds us you and I? ..."


From What Binds Us by Nisa West

Rae Indigo and Her Words

Rae is a talented young writer now emerging on the scene. She has a great style that reminds me of some of the late greats. She is one to watch, listen to and read:
... He had found his talent, one hot summer’s night, when he had spent his last toonie on a pint of cheap beer, and had to borrow another one to catch the bus home. This was his gift, and it dawned on him on the long ride home. In the space in between, while he was looking for a way to hold his body so that the jarring of the bus, shock-less and old, wouldn’t shake his scar the wrong way. The ease with which he had been handed that coin, a shared handshake between two brothers helping each other get through one more week in this hard-knock life. What camaraderie, what mirth, what secretive joy had taken seed in his heart. Oh! The ease!! He was reborn that night, with the quiet enthusiasm that a child gets when they peek at their Christmas presents weeks before the unwrapping. His scar gifted him all the tools he had ever needed.


From The Toonie by Rae Indigo

Some Interesting Poets Found Here

Our Lady of Guadalupe Today

On this day in 1531 the Virgin de Guadalupe was sighted by a humble man named Juan Diego at a place called Teypeyacac, in what is present day Mexico City. She asked Juan Diego to go to the Bishop and petition him to build a temple for her at the foot of Tepeyacac. The Bisoip was suspicious of Juan Diego and called for proof. The Virgin told Juan Diego to climb to the top of Tepeyacac, where he found flowers growing completely out of season. He wrapped the flowers in his cape and brought them back down the hill to the Bishop, The Image of the Virgin appeared on the cape. The Bishop was humbled and set out straight away to build the Temple.

On this day millions of pilgrims come from all over the world to Mexico City to visit the Virgin de Guadalupe. Skeptics are quick to point out the unlikely coincidence of the Virgin's appearance on Tepeyac, the very site of an Aztec temple dedicated to Tonatzin (earth goddess, mother of the gods and protector of humanity) which had been devastated by order of Bishop Zumarraga.

When she touches you, she begins to purify everything in your life. You fully become your chipahualiztli, the radiant innocence of your True Being. You lose your perceived need to use power to get what you want. Struggle ends. With her, you go through a true re-birth. The essence of her is so vast, yet she's the core of our being. She's inside, outside and all around us! She is the Great Mother, Earth Mother, Divine Mother, Goddess!

On this special day, all of Mexico, and all Mexican sons and daughters on the other side gather for the celebration of the Virgin. An endless parade of pilgrims from the country’s four points appear at her Basilica with their flowers, songs, chants and prayers. They stream in processions led by indigenous dancers, to every church named for her. Wreaths of flowers adorn the signs of streets, neighborhoods, and towns bearing her name. Religious orders, churches and the millions of men, women, boys and girls named for her are especially joyous, as they share her special day.



The nation releases an immense sign of tenderness and experiences a profound expression of Mexican roots and essence and love for Our Lady, Virgen Maria de Guadalupe.

By the early hours of the morning of December 12th, in every niche and cranny Mexico, the burst of fire crackers is heard and their brilliant lights crown this great fiesta dedicated to the Mother of all Mexicans... Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Please read these books for some interesting insight into her world: The Aztec Virgin by John Mini and Goddess of the Americas by Ana Castillo.

Celebrating Death and Rebirth

I love this time of year. The time when everything slows down and people begin to go inward. As I gear up for my hibernation season, my creative side is begging me to spend more time alone. It is time for me to experience another Death cycle, and so today I celebrate my loved ones who have passed, moved on to other dimensions, etc... by embracing Death. I found an artist that has shown me my Muse in a painting. This is the painting I will look at this fall. Whenever I feel scared about dying, I will look to her.

She reminds me that in order to go through a transformation into Rebirth, one must first go through the transformation into Death. I am looking forward to the experience. I'll let you know how it goes. It will include a Stone Lodge at the end of the month that I'm preparing for already. In the meantime, here she is, in all her glory:



Painting by Julie Zarate

Online Writing Groups

If you are looking for some constructive feedback on your writing I recommend Writer's Cafe. It is an online community for writers that works the same way as say, a writing group meeting at a cafe. If you want to publish online, enter contests, join writing groups, and meet other writers- most who give useful feedback, then this is your place. It is also possible to advertise your work for a fee. Let me know what you think of this new online writing community. And for those of you who are really serious about getting feedback from other writers, check out Scribophile. On there you will see a lot of works in progress such as chapter books and collections. Happy Writing!

Marina Petro and her Beauty

I feel inspired to paint! Marina Petro has an eye that inspires. I have enjoyed looking at her work and I hope all of you do too. Enjoy the Beauty...

Marina works primarily with oil on canvas. Her “Zone Series” paintings are rendered with mixed media on canvas. Paintings range from visionary and cosmic landscapes to realistic landscapes, still life, and abstract works.



She has created an exclusive line of greeting cards and fine art prints of her original artwork. Visit her blog for more.

Russ Tomlin- Friend of the Crows

Russ Tomlin captures crows in a unique way. The images he creates with his camera make me think the crows are willing and happy to pose for him. They seem aware of his presence, his love of their beauty and of Nature. I'm convinced he is a dear friend to a circle of crows living along the Oregon coast. Russ Tomlin also has an eye for the beauty found in flowers, stones, shells and the sea. Have a look at his work on Flickr. Enjoy the soaring, loving, bowing, friendly crows that are so much a part of his artistic world...

Crows and Dragonflies

Griselda has created an alchemy of passion with the dance between her crows and dragonflies. "Dragonfly Medicine is pure alchemy that connects us with the power of color and the ability to tap into our creative spirit to achieve anything we want to experience in life", explains Griselda Tello, "Crows have been regarded as wonderful totem animals, the keepers of Sacred Law and protector of the ancient records. Crow Medicine is honoring the self, stand in your truth and out of denial...always honoring the present and look at the past with gratitude and forgiveness."

California painter Griselda Tello is internationally renowned, her work represents over 40 years of painting and teaching experience. She is a self representing, full time professional artist. She was born in Tulancingo Hidalgo, a town near Mexico City where she began her formal training as a landscape painter under the guidance of her artist mother Kasandra Martell.







To view more of her work and to purchase her exquisite art visit Griselda's Etsy gallery.

Ingrid and Her Crows

I have recently come across a talented artist that I felt like sharing with all of you. Her name is Ingrid Blixt and she likes Crows... She is from Romania and brings with her work the life experience of a different cultural environment, which offers a distinctive characteristic to her art work.

"...the human dimension defines my interest and represents the main inspiration source. My travels around the country and also visiting back with my home country offers me a great source of inspiration, as well as my everyday experiences and interactions with people."


Although drawing is her primary medium, the variety of techniques and materials she uses in her work meet on interesting prepared surfaces, exploring the great resources of mixed media. She is also a talented photographer. I hope you enjoy her work. Let me know what you think. And visit Ingrid's Etsy site to have a closer look at more of her art.

New September Exhibit

Jane Wertz will be showing some new photos this September at the Pannikin 510 N. Hwy 10 in Leucadia, CA 92024. See you there!

Oh and I found a great, recent article from the New York Times. It's all about Leucadia and the Pannikin!