Writing Wednesdays: Inner Love and Walking in Faith

Writing can be a tool to reach deep inside yourself and bring small, dark hidden things to light. It's one of our greatest gifts as people to be able to bring ourselves healing, even if it often seems that the only "healing" can come from outside - from parents, from romantic partners, from friends, even from mediums, pastors, rabbis, or from the spiritual world.

The truth is that while the people in our world can help us, love us, support us, and hold us, our comfort and self love comes from exactly there - ourselves!

But how do we strike up a conversation with the weirdest, darkest, most hurt parts of ourselves? We talk to those parts. We hold them. We ask for help again and again, hopefully knowing that we are always walking with something larger that holds us.

Here's a list of questions to get you writing and thinking along these lines.

1) What do I need right now?

2) Do I feel supported within myself?

3) Do I feel supported within my close personal relationships?

4) If I don't, can I take responsibility for my own fears?

5) Can I see my own goodness? What does it look like?

6) Can I hold the parts of me that feel "dark" -- the parts that get angry, mad, hurt, ashamed. What do I do with those lonely parts? Do I hold them? Do I pretend they aren't happening? Do I push myself through my feelings and "try" to be "more spiritual?"

7) Just for today, just for this minute, how would it feel to unconditionally accept myself? The big parts, the small parts, all of the parts?

8) Set out tea and cookies for the small scared parts or the furious angry parts. What does this part look like? Does he or she have a name? How does he or she feel? Can I let this part of you simply have the floor?

8) What kind of space do you yearn to create? What kind of relationship with yourself?

9) What is your intention for the rest of your day?

10) What kind of hope and longing do you intend to fulfill tomorrow?

:)

May you have long and deep conversations with all parts of yourself.

A reminder: The Happy Ganesh Radio Show begins on blogtalkradio.com at 5/18 at 6:30 pm! Also, my schedule is starting to book up but I still have some spaces for phone sessions. I'd love to devote time to you. If you're interested in experiencing a reading or have questions, contact me here. Curious about what others have said? Go here, to read our testimonials.

Here's what a recent client had to say:  "I was amazed that you could give me specific dates for things that would come up in my life. You gave me a sense of calmness that  will keep me on track." - H.M., South Florida.

Til next time,

Marissa

 

New Moon in Taurus

[caption id="attachment_48" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New Moon in Taurus on May 2/3"][/caption]

It's been a quiet week at the HG blog but today we are back to make up for the lost days during the week.

We're going to head into our New Moon in Taurus on May 2/3. As always, the New Moon brings us chances to manifest new starts in the month and will only last about 2.5 days. With a New Moon in Taurus, we can create positive change around the following issues and questions.

• money


• values


• self worth and self esteem


• the connection between money and abundance in your life


• What does abundance mean to you?


• What are your personal values?


• feelings around femininity and beauty


• creating beauty around you


• getting involved in some kind of an artistic project that brings value or meaning to you.


• property or real estate - and their personal meaning for you

Take advantage of this powerful 2 day burst of energy. Want more? Consider a personal reading.

And remember to get your questions ready for the Happy Ganesh blogtalkradio.com show on May 18th!

 

Til next time,

Marissa

Happy Easter (and a late Happy Passover!) to All Those Who Celebrate!

**More YoutubeGoodness. If you're viewing this in an email, please click through to the blog.)

Dear friends,

Let Snoopy do his happy dance.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it.



Happy Passover to those who celebrate it --- a little late on that one!




Happy holidays from HG.

Love
Marissa

Weekend Update: "Happy Ganesh" Coming to Blogtalk!

***This article contains Youtube videos! If you're reading this in an email, please click through to the blog to experience the videos!***

[caption id="attachment_191" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="On 5/18, Happy Ganesh Radio Comes to Blogtalk for the World's First Radio Show All About Astrology - and Writing/Publishing!"][/caption]

Starting Wednesday May 18, 2011 at 6:30 pm, Happy Ganesh comes to Blogtalk Radio! This is the first show on the web to merge the worlds of astrology AND publishing/writing. Love astrology and want to write? Already a writer and curious about astrology? Just plain love both?

Join me for a solid hour as we talk about what's happening astrologically (and intuitively), and what's happening in the publishing world! We'll take questions by email or live in the Blogtalk chat room for the astrology portion of the show! From astrology to writing and back again, join us on Wednesday, May 18th!

The HG Radio show will focus on

• weekly astrological themes


• live audience questions from the chatroom -- about either astrology, intuitive answers, or publishing. This means that I'll answer any question that you have for free.


• writing and how to create


• publishing and what's up in the publishing world


• Expect live interviews with writers and publishers -- and astrologers and intuitives!

AND --- remember that we're also sponsoring The Movement Within on CBS's The Sky Radio on 5/2 at 6 pm!!

Orson Welles Was on The Radio, Too

All this radio talk reminds me of the classic 1938 Halloween "H.G. Wells/War of the Worlds" Broadcast by Hollywood writer, director producer and genius Orson Welles, when Welles and his Mercury Theater company accidentally convinced the entire country  that we were being attacked by aliens from another planet. America didn't realize that they were listening to a radio broadcast based on a classic sci-fi novel, and Welles vastly underestimated the potential hilariousness of the situation.

Of course this would never fly today - like Orson's alien spaceships! Oh, we'll be here all week! Since this was before Youtube, major newspapers in the country reported that we were being attacked by aliens.  Yes, really. I mean, major newspapers. ( Think about that.)

[caption id="attachment_192" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="One Giant Leap for a Sci-Fi Classic, One Hilarious, Anxiety-inducing Panic Attack for America."][/caption]

In the pre-social-networking era of the 30s, Welles single-handedly had the entire country in an uproar and actually had to hold a press conference to, um, let Americas know that we were not about to be killed by an intergalactic war.

The whole point of this little historical tidbit was to promise that Happy Ganesh is not responsible for any similar confusion and will do our best to avoid accidentally creating a national incident. ;-)



However, here's Orson, accidentally making broadcasting history and inciting the country to have a massive, massive panic attack.

 

Happy weekend (and Happy Easter!) all.

- M

Fun Fridays: Happy Birthday Taurus!!

 

Countdown to the Happy Ganesh CBS RADIO Spot: We proudly sponsor  The Movement  Radio (starting 5/2, 6 pm, The Sky Radio) Countdown?: 14 days.

Note: This post has YouTube videos in it! If you're reading this from an email, please click through to the blog to experience the Youtube videos

Happy birthday, Taurus!

You're loyal. You love creature comforts. And nothing blisses you out more than a trip to the spa or curling up in the recliner. You give stubborn a new name. But no one understands more about money - how to spend it or save it - and the connection between values and cash.

Here's some Taurus traits and some famous Taurus Sun Signs who exhibited them. (And if you know you have planets in Taurus, celebrate your Taurus side!)

1) Stubborn and Romantic

Shakespeare (April 23, 1564): While his several Gemini planets gave him the undisbuted  gift of poetry that would make him a legend, his Taurus sun would have made him a stubborn romantic with a gift for making money.

Here's Joseph Fiennes playing Mr. Shakespeare in the 1998 film, Shakespeare in Love.

 



2) Love for music.

There's a funny connection to Taurus and the arts. Taurus (and Libra) are both ruled by Venus, making them artistically talented. Here's two very different Taurus women. Cher and Enya, singing their hearts out.

Here's classic 70s Cher, singing "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves." (Let's just focus on the genius that is Cher and ignore the yellow fringe, shall we?)

 

 

Here's Enya. Her melodic, atmospheric music totally works with the sensuousness of Taurus energy.
Here, she's singing "Only Time."





3) The Long Haul

Taurus ruled people also are in it for the long haul. They don't spook easily and they don't give up. They just don't go away.

For example, Shirley Temple was a child star known for her adorable ways and riot of curls (hello, young Taurus). However, when she was much older, she harnessed a fine business sense. Wiki said about her "She sat on the boards of many corporations and organizations including The Walt Disney Company, Del Monte Foods, and the National Wildlife Federation."

There's that connection between money and values. To me, this is one slice of a classic Taurus journey - from dimpled beauty to a major powerhouse of money and values.

Here's Ms. Temple at the age of four in The Little Colonel, changing the values of 1930s America very slowly. Shirley Temple broke the color barrier when she danced with legend Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, making them the first interracial dancing couple in American history. According to the IMDB, "this scene was cut when the film played in the southern United States."

Classic Taurus - forcing people to take a look at their values - in this case, a four year old girl helping to tear down racism.




Happy birthday Taurus.

Until Monday,
Marissa

Writing Wednesdays: Three Common Writing Myths - and What to Do About Them

[caption id="attachment_30" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Gazing into the world of words. Where to start?"][/caption]

 

Here's three common writing myths. Call them myths or call them fears, sometimes they stop us dead in our tracks.

 

Some of my favorite writing quotes to keep us inspired during the last few days of Retrograde. Did anyone's computer blow up yet? No? Good. Let's keep creating!

Did you miss my last writing post on how to keep going when you just want to strangle your muse? No? Go here. And that's the thing about writing. As Colette said, "Writing creates more writing." In other words, the more you do, the more you want to do.

Writing is like jogging. You swear you'll run again. You really will.

But at 6 am, things are blurry and the outside world is dark and overrated.

But if you can crawl over the prone body of your dog/cat/partner/husband/wife and pull on your shoes and actually get outside in the first place, you're halfway there. 90% of starting is showing up.

Writing is the same. You swear you're a writer. You are. Really. And can I tell you about my story? It's amazing! But the world will never know it if you have it locked inside your head. Just like you'll never be a jogger if you sit on the couch day in and day out, watching Oprah. (Nothing against Oprah. She does wonders for the soul. Her book clubs are great. But no one ever lost weight watching Oprah. No one ever wrote a book watching her, either.)

Here's the thing.

If you want to write you have to

WRITE.

Period. The End.

Three Common Writer's Excuses

1) "I don't have the time. I have kids. I have a job. I have a family."

You drive your kids to softball games that take hours. You go food shopping for your family. I understand. I know, I know. It's a lot. And it's so easy to look at all those words on all those pages and just whine "But look at all of this! And I bet this writer is famous! That's why they have the time!"

Here's the thing. No one starts out famous. Most writers either have day jobs unless you're Stephen King, and even the famous ones have kids. For them, writing is a job. And one day, we'll be there. But for now, consider this.

* You're worth five minutes a day, right? Five minutes. 300 seconds. In five minutes, write whatever comes into your head. Write it anywhere. On a napkin. Inside a small notebook. Anything. This small act will help you get to know yourself. At the end of a month, you will have about 150 minutes worth of writing. Discover your soul and your mind. Write.

2) I don't know enough grammar. I was terrible in my english classes.

Worry about grammar later after your month of daily, five minute writing sessions is up. For now? Just begin. Please. Some of the most amazing writers I've known have been students I met when I taught college level prep classes. My students knew nothing about grammar but they knew how to express themselves. And that's where you begin. Expression.

3) Every writing teacher I ever had said that I should not write how I talk. That's the only way I know!

Then write like YOU write.I have news. Sometimes, teachers lie a little. Some of the best literature comes from directness. Hemmingway wrote short, direct sentences. ("The dog walked down the street.") That's it.

See above. You sit your butt in the computer chair and you don't move a muscle until you have five minutes worth of writing. Just go. Run. Just begin.

Here's some quotes to get you moving.

And if you're not a writer, these wonderful quotes apply to any creative project. We look to others to learn, to follow, to understand. To see how to move along on our own path. To learn how to let go. Here are some of the most inspiring quotes I know. Enjoy, friends.

First, let's start with the Man. Ray Bradbury is currently pushing 100. He's still a one-man powerhouse who started writing in the 50s and never stopped. Best known for Fahrenheit 451, about a totalitarian society in which books are burned (and if you're caught with one, you go to jail), he's also known for Something Wicked This Way Comes, about two childhood friends and a haunted carnival. Most of all, Ray has a ZEST and PASSION for writing that makes me want to sing, dance, and scribble long into the night. All of his below quotes are from the fabulous Zen in the Art of Writing.

The Ray Bradbury Quotes

When honest love speaks, when true admiration begins, when excitement rises, when hate curls like smoke, you need never doubt that creativity will stay with you for a lifetime - Ray Bradbury from Zen in the Art of Writing

Time is there. Love is there. Story is there.

If you are writing without zest, without love, without gusto, you are only half a writer.

-----

Here's some other great ones.

There is more than enough! - Unknown

Magic Happens -- Unknown

Energy rightly applied and directed can accomplish anything - Nellie Bly

Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds. Shine. - Buddha

At times, it is necessary to go over the top. How else can we get to the other side? - Kobi Yamada

I am here to live out loud. - Emile Zola

You can't lead a calvary charge if you think you look funny on a horse. - John Peers

---

Happy writing. Enjoy the time connecting.

Magical Mondays: "Tricking the Goddess" in Poetry on the Vine; The Last Blog

[caption id="attachment_184" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Poetry on the Vine with "Tricking the Goddess"!"][/caption]

Because this is magical. Because women getting together to express their creativity is something to celebrate! Here's some promo posters and write-ups for Poetry on the Vine, a one-night event where I'll be reading selections from my forthcoming book Tricking the Goddess. If you're in the area, come on out!

Poetry On The Vine:   Three Uncommon Varietals

 

Kristin Berkey-Abbott            Shefali Choksi                         Marissa Cohen

Kristin Berkey-Abbott reads from her works: Whistling Past the Graveyard (pudding house – 2004) and I Stand Here Shredding Documents (Forthcoming from Finishing Line Press).

Shefali Choksi reads from her Recently published work, Frontier Literature

Marissa Cohen reads from her forthcoming collection, Tricking the Goddess.

Hollywood Vine

2035 Harrison Street

Hollywood, Florida 33020

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, here's a local write up.

Kristin Berkey-Abbott, Shefali Choksi, and Marissa Cohen: Dr. Kristin Berkey-Abbott reads from her latest I Stand Here Shredding Documents, Dr. Shefali Choksi shares pieces from Frontier Literature and Marissa Cohen reads from her forthcoming debut collection Tricking the Goddess. Berkey-Abbott and Choksi teach at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Cohen is the founder of HappyGanesh.com. 7 pm. Hollywood Vine, Hollywood. Call 954-922-2910 or visit www.hvine.com.

------------------------------------------

Also, last Friday was my very last co-host gig for Bob's Blazing Tarot Blog. This was a hard decision for me to move on, but its been a wonderful year and a half that I've sat with Bob Decker for ten minutes every Friday, talking about tarot cards and astrology. He's truly one of the best hypnotherapists that I know and a wonderful reader. To learn more about Bob, click here.

All good things must come to an end. Here's our last blog.

 



Photo Credit: Quixote206