Читать книгу The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women - Gail McMeekin - Страница 13

My interviews fueled my mission to help women recognize and express their creative powers. For years, I have seen talented, accomplished women as clients and watched them deny or downplay their abilities and achievements. For some, childbirth remains the only safe realm of female creativity. Yet we women express our creative selves with every business idea brainstormed, every garden planted, every family member or friend comforted, every outspoken word voiced, and every feminine value expressed. Sadly, the creative impulses of too many women are asleep—dormant or unacknowledged.

That's why this book is exclusively about creative women. Even in today's world of post–women's liberation, our challenges are still formidable.

A playwright knows that what is most private in her heart of hearts is also the most astonishing.

—TINA HOWE, PLAYWRIGHT

We continue to be stifled by a host of factors that cause us to censor our inner voices and follow someone else's dream. That's why this book serves as a remedy. It will both affirm and jumpstart your creative power and guide you on your journey of risk and triumph. By reading the compelling vignettes of your imaginative sisters, noting their solid advice, and completing a series of practices called Challenges, you will be roused to spread your creative wings and ascend to new heights. As we go into the twenty-first century, the world needs the collective power of a feminine Renaissance. Perhaps that is why there are more girl babies being born this decade. Invoking the creative awareness of large numbers of women has the potential to mobilize solutions for the staggering challenges of our time, as well as helping us individually to revel in fulfilling lives.

The women who volunteered to contribute their stories here shared their secrets in the spirit of abundance—believing that we all benefit from the self-expression of others and that there is enough to go around. They offered to be mentors so you, too, can grow. Creativity is a language that crosses all cultural and economic barriers. When our female ancestors sat in sacred circles, creative tools and spiritual practices were willingly taught and passed down to young women by their elders. Just imagine how many more women would have accessed their inner talents in this culture had we grown up in one of those circles of support. Alexandra Merrill, an educator and an artist who lives in rural Maine and works with women in groups, believes collaboration is the pathway to dissolving obstacles to the expression of female authority. Invoking creative expression in ourselves and others releases tremendous power in the extended women's community.

Be yourself. The world worships the original.

—JEAN COCTEAU, WRITER

Alexandra's work also emphasizes the value of making the most of our differences, whether they be about race, class, religion, spirituality, or economic, physical, or sexual orientation.

The women I interviewed for this “portable mentor” represent a variety of creative endeavors and have all created work I admire. To find them, I began with my own bookshelf and identified women who had served as “symbolic” mentors to me over the years. While many of the women in this book have publicized their work by writing articles and books, this is not just a book about women writers. The women profiled in the following pages represent such diverse fields as art, design, acting, ceramics, medical research, comedy, music, singing, photography, cooking, dance, psychology, and writing. Each of these women has found and expressed her creative voice as a way of finding self-fulfillment and, in several cases, fame as well.

My initial contact to these women was usually a letter explaining my vision for this book with a request for an interview. I had one cardinal rule, and that was not to chase women unless they responded that they were interested in participating. Only if they expressed an interest did I then call them to schedule a time to talk. This rule was tested numerous times. A telling example was when I received a rejection call from the assistant of a well-known artist, with the message saying that while this artist admired my project, she was much too busy with her own work to participate. I happened to mention this particular rejection to an e-mail buddy of mine who wrote back and said that she knew this artist's aunt and that she could definitely get me an interview with her. I thought it over but declined. This artist had set her boundaries and my commitment was to respect them. Boundaries are such a key lesson in this book that challenging them seemed out of line.

With that said, all of the women in this book volunteered their time and insights in service of your creative growth and development. It has truly been a group effort.

Creativity is like a great receptive womb.

—LYNN V. ANDREWS, WRITER

As a second part of the process, I told every woman that even though her interview would be taped, she would have final sign-off on her story and her quotes. All the women were thus protected by my commitment to confidentiality and accuracy, and the book includes concepts connected with specific women only with their permission. As a therapist for more than twenty-five years, there was no other way I could comfortably do this. Several of the women were shocked but most appreciative that I kept my word. Not everyone I interviewed has been included. After sorting through enormous piles of transcription pages, I selected interview material that best illustrates the important lessons, sacrifices, and conflicts about being a woman with a passion to create in this culture and at this time in history. These women have enriched my life, and my wish is that their wisdom will enrich yours as well.

The following women participated in this project, sharing their creative secrets and pathways to success:

 Marilou Awiakta: Cherokee/Appalachian poet, writer, activist, and author of Abiding Appalachia: Where Mountain and Atom Meet; Rising Fawn and the Fire Mystery; and Selu: Seeking the Corn-Mother's Wisdom.

 Barbara Baekgaard: Co-president of Vera Bradley Designs, a multimillion-dollar international company that specializes in quilted cotton luggage, handbags, accessories, tabletop settings, and women's and children's clothing.

 Sarah Ban Breathnach: Author of the bestseller Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy; The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude; and Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self. She is also the publisher of the new Warner Books imprint The Simple Abundance Press, as well as the president and CEO of Simple Abundance, Inc., a consulting firm, and the founder of the Simple Abundance Charitable Fund.

 Jan Brett: Award-winning children's book author-illustrator; her three most recent books are The Hat, Comet's Nine Lives, and Armadillo Rodeo.

 Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D., A.T.R.: Creativity workshop leader, trainer of health care professionals, and author of ten books, including Recovery of Your Inner Child, The Creative Journal, and The Power of Your Other Hand.

 Michelle Cassou: Artist and founder of the original approach to creative painting described in her book, Life, Paint and Passion, also cofounder of The Painting Experience Studio in San Francisco.

 Barrie Dolnick: Founder of Executive Mystic Services and author of The Executive Mystic: Psychic Power Tools for Success; Simple Spells for Success: Ancient Practices for Creating Abundance and Prosperity; and Simple Spells for Love: Ancient Practices for Emotional Fulfillment.

 C. Diane Ealy, Ph.D.: Creativity consultant, workshop leader, author of The Woman's Book of Creativity, and co-author of Our Money, Ourselves: A Guide to Redesigning Your Relationship with Money.

 Diane Ericson: Artist, teacher, coach, and designer using the company name Revisions, which features workshops and products for the art of designing; also a contributor to Threads magazine and co-author of design workbooks.

 Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.: Jungian analyst, poet, scholar, cantadora (keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition), and author of the bestseller Women Who Run with the Wolves, The Gift of Story, and The Faithful Gardener. Estés is also a social activist for the “voiceless, the helpless, and the oppressed.”

 Carol Frenier: President of The Advantage Group, Inc., a marketing company in Vermont, and author of Business and the Feminine Principle: The Untapped Resource.

 Rosette Gault: Inventor of paper clay, international ceramics expert, and author of Paper Clay and Paper Clay for Ceramic Sculptors.

 Shakti Gawain: World consciousness teacher and workshop leader, publisher, and author of Creative Visualization, Living in the Light, and Creating True Prosperity, in addition to numerous other books, audiotapes, and videos.

 Joline Godfrey: Founder and president of Independent Means, Inc., a company devoted to the development of the economic power of girls, and the author of Our Wildest Dreams: Women Entrepreneurs Making Money, Having Fun, Doing Good, and No More Frogs to Kiss: 99 Ways to Give Economic Power to Girls.

 Janet Hagberg: Cofounder of the Silent Witness National Initiative, a domestic abuse reform organization, and author of five books, including The Inventures: Excursions in Life and Career Renewal; Real Power; and Wrestling with Angels: A Spiritual Journey to Great Writing.

 Deborah Henson-Conant: International visionary harpist and jazz musician/composer/performer.

 Loretta LaRoche: Internationally known speaker who combines stress management with humor, president of both The Humor Potential and Loretta LaRoche and Company. LaRoche also did two award-winning PBS specials, The Joy of Stress and Humor Your Stress, and is the author of Relax, You May Only Have A Few Minutes Left.

 Brenda Laurel: Vice president of design at Purple Moon in Mountain View, California, and a twenty-year entertainment software and technology research veteran who creates meaningful entertainment experiences for girls.

 June Levinson: Ceramist, art dealer, and jewelry designer.

 Donna Milani Luther: Creative arts teacher, Montessori principal, and national workshop leader.

 Chris Madden: Designer, owner of Chris Madden, Inc., host of her own television show Interiors by Design on HGTV; frequent guest on Oprah! and the Today Show; author of thirteen books, most recently A Room Of Her Own: Women's Personal Spaces, Chris Madden's Guide To Personalizing Your Home, Bathrooms, and Kitchens; weekly columnist for Scripps-Howard News Service; and a creative consultant to Bassett Furniture Company.

 Alice Aspen March: Workshop leader, speaker, author of The Attention Factor, and creator of the Emmy-nominated television documentary, Latchkey Kids.

 Alexandra Merrill: Women's group process teacher, artist, and community organizer.

 Pam Moore: Partner and consultant at Synectics, Inc., an international consulting company specializing in innovation headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 Patricia Miller: Co-president of Vera Bradley Designs (see Barbara Baekgaard).

 Maureen Murdock: Core faculty, Pacifica Graduate Institute, photographer, and author of Father's Daughters: Transforming the Father-Daughter Relationship; The Heroine's Journey; The Heroine's Journey Workbook; and Spinning Inward: Using Guided Imagery with Children.

 Leslie Neal: Dancer and choreographer, artistic director of Leslie Neal Dance, Associate Professor of Dance at Florida International University, and creator of “Inside Out—Expressive Arts Workshops for Incarcerated Women” at Broward Correctional Institution in Florida.

 Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.: Associate chief of the Human Physiology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, assistant professor at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and author of Strong Women Stay Young and Strong Women Stay Slim.

 Virginia O'Brien: Career and communications coach and author of Fast Forward MBA and Success on Her Own Terms: Tales of Extraordinary, Ordinary Business Women.

 Sigrid Olsen: Owner and creative designer of Sigrid Olsen, the international fashion design firm.

 Rebecca Parris: Internationally known jazz singer, singing coach, teacher, and lecturer.

 Christina Pickles: Emmy Award-nominated actress for her role as Judy Geller in Friends. She recently appeared in the films The Wedding Singer and Nerds in Love IV. She is a frequent television guest star, acting teacher, and screenwriter.

 C. C. H. Pounder: Emmy Award-nominated actress who plays Dr. Angela Hicks on ER and has also starred in theater and films, including Bagdad Café, Prizzi's Honor, Postcards from the Edge, and All that Jazz. She is also a jewelry designer and co-owner of Banji Face Jewelry, which makes one-of-a-kind Afrocentric jewelry with a European flair, as well as cofounder of a cultural museum in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa.

 Joanne Rossman: Scarf and women's accessory designer, antique dealer, and writer.

 Cathleen Rountree: Writer and educator, visual artist and photographer, cultural mythologist and film historian, and the author of On Women Turning 40, On Women Turning 50, On Women Turning 60, On Women Turning 70, The Heart of Marriage, and Cinema and Psyche: How the Movies Mirror Our Minds. She is currently completing a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and Psychology.

 Alison Shaw: Landscape and editorial photographer, known for her photography of Martha's Vineyard, and author of Remembrance and Light: Images of Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Summer, and a children's book, Until I Saw The Sea.

 Barbara Sher: Career consultant and author of the bestsellers Wishcraft, I Could Do Anything if Only I Knew What It Was, How to Live the Life You Love, and her new book, It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now.

 Lydia Shire: Renowned chef and owner of Biba's and Pignoli's, two of Boston's finest restaurants.

 Lesley Irene Shore, Ph.D.: Licensed psychologist and author of Healing the Feminine: Reclaiming Woman's Voice and Tending Inner Gardens: The Healing Art of Feminist Psychology.

 Sidra Stone, Ph.D.: Internationally known teacher, psychotherapist, and author of The Shadow King: The Invisible Force That Holds Women Back. With her husband, Hal Stone, Ph.D., she co-created the Voice Dialogue technique that is described in their bestselling books Embracing Ourselves, Embracing Each Other, and Embracing Your Inner Critic.

 Marilyn Veltrop, Ph.D.: Transformational coach and guide to business leaders, as well as cofounder, with her husband, Bill Veltrop, of PathFinders, a consulting company.

 Barbara Waugh, Ph.D.: Manager of worldwide personnel, Hewlett-Packard Labs, Hewlett-Packard Company; former director of Center for Women and Religion, Graduate Theological Union; board member for State of the World Forum; associate for Global Fund for Women; and a social activist for diversity issues as well as initiator of numerous creative projects.

 Lynne Waymon: Professional speaker, networking guru, and author of 52 Ways to Reconnect, Smart Networking, No More Cold Calls, and How To Fireproof Your Career.

 Carmella Yager: An artist and painter whose work has been exhibited widely and purchased for both public and private collections, she also teaches at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and North Shore Community College in Massachusetts, in addition to conducting private studio lessons and painting retreats.

 Marcia Yudkin, Ph.D.: Writing and marketing consultant and author of nine nonfiction books, numerous audiotapes, and an upcoming PBS series on amateur musicians.

The intent of this book has always been to share the inspirations of these remarkable creative women with you, as sisters, in a guidebook format to spark your creative unfolding. May these secrets direct you, your daughters, and nieces, and all the women of future generations toward your voice of creativity, urge you to follow where it leads, and help it flourish. The planet needs our collective feminine creative energies. Let us dare to share our knowing.