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.
