The WELL: inkwell.vue.218: Francesca De Grandis, "The Modern Goddess' Guide to Life"

#91: Linda Castellani (castle) Sun 17 Apr 11 18:07

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:07:00 PDT

Thanks for the update. [Read entire topic]

#90: Rip Van Winkle (keta) Fri 15 Apr 11 21:02

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:02:00 PDT

Was just speaking to Francesca recently and I thought WELL folks might be interested in an update.

She did move from San Francisco to rural Pennsylvania. Her health problems continue, but she's published two books, is finishing another, did a spoken word album, paints, blogs and teaches.

Most of her teaching now is by telephone conference call. Modern shamanistic adaptation. (Personal review: my favorite thing about the conference call method of teaching is that it allows for deep listening and holding silence. We're such an interruptive culture, and I've come to notice how much that's done by visual cue. In a conference call class, you never know when another participant is done speaking, or is just pausing, so there are delicious silences.)

The other cool thing she's doing is painting and showing/selling online. See link below.

I know the etymology is all wrong, but as a punster I've always enjoyed thinking of Pennsylvania as meaning "The Writer's Beautiful Place" - get it - *PEN*-sylvania (groan!) Now I know someone who's made my bad joke come true.

So here's a rundown of current Francesca de Grandis links:

Main website: http://www.outlawbunny.com/

Ye olde Wiccan website: http://www.well.com/user/zthirdrd/WiccanMiscellany.html

Art: http://www.etsy.com/shop/outlawbunny Wild wonderful silk painting, beautiful beadwork, and eclectic other stuff.

Blog: http://www.outlawbunny.com/blog/

Newsletter: http://www.outlawbunny.com/newsletter/

Classes: http://www.outlawbunny.com/classes/

New Books: The Ecstatic Goddess - - Wild Meditations, Lyrical Rituals, and Earth Sexuality for the Pagan Heart http://etsy.me/dNBrgL This is self-publishing at it's best: it's as if your brilliant professor/writer/teacher friend said, "Let me tell you what I *really* know," and shoved a bunch of poems, notes and stories into a big manila envelope and sent them to you.

Be a Teen Goddess: http://bit.ly/edLU4N Readable by an actual teen.

Spoken Word Album Bardic Alchemy: http://etsy.me/aW0Cgm I haven't heard, but Francesca is so enthused about it - and thrilled she actually DID IT - that I'm sure it's wonderful.

>When spring comes, I will walk down the hill by my new home, past the seed farm, and onto the Ernst Trail. I wonder what will be there.

So this is what she found... [Read entire topic]

#89: Cynthia Dyer-Bennet (cdb) Fri 16 Jul 04 10:45

Fri, 16 Jul 2004 10:45:00 PDT

Francesca, thank you so much for joining us, it's been a pleasure. And thanks to you too, Dave, for so ably leading the conversation. This topic will remain open indefinitely, so even if Francesca has to bow out to rest her wrists, others are welcome to continue talking as long as you like. [Read entire topic]

#88: Francesca De Grandis (zthirdrd) Fri 16 Jul 04 10:07

Fri, 16 Jul 2004 10:07:00 PDT

Luisah Teish*s awesome example has inspired me for many years. If any of you don*t know her books, check them out.

K, loved what you said re folk culture and growing up. Exactly!

This topic has been so amazing for me. Thank you everyone! (That includes you lurkers who joined in silently. Thank YOU for cradling the space with your presence.) Dave always blows me away. And K*s recent comment, well, I am always happy that so many of us reach similar conclusions. We need to see our hard won realizations mirrored by other people*s. I wish I could stay on since you*re keeping the topic going. However, Computer use is not for me. I am doing these two weeks despite doctor*s opinion. (*Bad* patients live longer.)

Body weak, spirit strong. Thank you all--this is not rhetoric--for keeping that spirit strong with this fabulous conversation. You are Gods and Goddesses all!

Have a great time with the topic. Anyone who posted (except Fart King) or visited, stay in touch. I mean that. And if you are on my emailing list, please post my e-newsletters here. It is no subsitute for me getting to read your posts, but it will at least make me feel I am contributing a little something.

Speaking of which: http://www.well.com/user/zthirdrd/WiccanMiscellany.html is my site, which has among other things, articles and rituals. http://www.well.com/user/zthirdrd/InfoForm.htm gets you on my emailing list if you want my newsletters, and announcement of new books and classes.

However, after the newsletter that will go out in a day or so, I won*t do any mailings for six months. In a few weeks, I am stopping work and going into a major healing period until February. (Sigh, I live for my work. But I have to do this-->) For those six months, it*s healer heal thyself time.

I am moving to Pennsylvania to lay on the forest ground and pray, *Mother, do something with me. I need your help.* When the snow comes, I am going to climb under my comforter and sleep, and sleep--the way folks in the farming community to which I am moving have told me they do all winter. I am already housebound--for two and a half years now, because of my health--so a housebound winter is not intimidating to me. (I do get out for walks. They are part of my physical therapy.) And I grew up in snowy country.

When spring comes, I will walk down the hill by my new home, past the seed farm, and onto the Ernst Trail. I wonder what will be there. [Read entire topic]

#87: Rip Van Winkle (keta) Fri 16 Jul 04 08:49

Fri, 16 Jul 2004 08:49:00 PDT

Let's see how many more visits Francesca is willing to do. [Read entire topic]

#86: (rosebud) Thu 15 Jul 04 19:37

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:37:00 PDT

Yay! I have enjoyed reading this topic. In fact, if it had to end I was going to suggest that we needed a goddess conference. [Read entire topic]

#85: Cynthia Dyer-Bennet (cdb) Thu 15 Jul 04 18:28

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:28:00 PDT

Absolutely! The topic will remain open for conversation indefinitely, so please feel free to continue. [Read entire topic]

#84: David Gans (tnf) Thu 15 Jul 04 18:01

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 18:01:00 PDT

Keep going! [Read entire topic]

#83: Rip Van Winkle (keta) Thu 15 Jul 04 17:20

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 17:20:00 PDT

ack! your host is now torn three ways...

this is the time when I'm supposed to casually mention that we've been at it this for two weeks now, and the Inkwell spotlight will be moving on...and thank our guest...and encourage everyone to stay on and talk awhile amongst themselves...while making wrapping up noises and tucking away loose ends...

but, damn, this is getting good - and I have so much to say, and I'll bet Francesca does too...

but I'm supposed to go out and see Farenheit 911 tonight...

...what's a god to do!?

Well, I'll start with #1 and remind all you readers that if you have anything you're burning to ask, now's the time to do it. Remember, if you want to know, probably somebody else does too. (NOTE: Offsite readers can email <inkwell-hosts@well.com> with your comments or questions)

Now, off to the movies... [Read entire topic]

#82: from KERRIDWEN (tnf) Thu 15 Jul 04 16:31

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 16:31:00 PDT

KERRIDWEN writes:

Hi again!

As to working through the books, I also see a secular therapist. Most people who have lived through the abuses (incest, molestation, parents are both alcoholics, my past drug/ alcohol abuse, etc.) are going to need help in any way they can find! : ) I*m glad I have so many different forms of support.

On the flipside of my upbringing (ahem, moved out at 15), I really have no need up *scaring up* folk traditions. My father*s family is Irish. They (grandmother) moved in the late 1800*s to an area called the Irish Wilderness. It*s in Missouri. They had no electric, no running water, no modern conveniences until the late 1960's. They cooked on a woodstove, farmed, and hunted even after electric was brought there-who wants to wire a house? I was raised on a modern family farm. Hungry? I can go kill something, dress it out, and cook it for you. Before killing it, I*ll give thanks to the animal*s spirit and once killed, assist it on. While I*m preparing the food, I*ll work what you most need (putting it *in* the food). My mother*s side were Russian Jews. They came over around Civil War time. They lived with the freed blacks (where Jews *belonged* then). My great-grandmother was a Healer and people came to her. She read your tea leaves and my aunt will read your cards-I can too. I was *raised* with folk traditions from the Irish and the Jewish/ Kabbalah.

I*m the daughter of an Ozark Hillbilly and proud!

I don*t mind at all if someone comes along and spreads how I was taught-it*s better than adults not knowing that cheese is from milk, milk is from cows, and cows need to be watched for pink eye (what? I know...). This August Eve, my daddy*ll go out and cut down the corn. If you ask him why, he*ll say, *It*s how it*s done.* I wish more people did it. And yes, he*ll leave a few stalks up *for Them.* What harm in honoring all the things we receive and create?

False senses of power: that never helped anyone, now did it? Real power: true knowledge of the things one can do; we all need love but ain*t nothin* gonna fix you but you. Choices: 1) be afraid of what someone else might do to you THEN run out and holler down anybody or 2) look inside at your fears and find what caused them. Is it something that happened years ago that*s still echoing in your head? Is it something you never even experienced but were told was *going to happen if?" THEN look for the things you can do for yourself. I know there*s something. Change it.

I*m always sad for people who are so afraid. I think that*s why I like laughter so much! Despite my moniker, I*m seen as the gal who*s *easily amused. And I like that! I also like the Protective Mother Cerridwen that I can be.

We can be anyone we want to be. The book can help us see who we are and who we might like to be more of. Did I mention it*s fun? Blessings Kerridwen [Read entire topic]