Poster:	sassenach1970
Date:	2009-03-14 13:03
Subject:	The Beginning of Shakti North Shore
Security:	Public
Mood:	creative
Music:	"Cloudbusting" Kate Bush

Hello, Ladies

Hope you all are well and writing. I've been on a long-term hiatus while getting adjusted to life on Cape Ann.

I'm happy to let you all know that the spirit of Shakti lives on with a small group of women who met at a little coffee shop called Trevi in Beverly, MA. If you are local to the area and want to meet with us, we welcome you. I am hoping to add some new members to our infrequent online community and I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Be Well,

Chris Mellen

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-05-22 15:13
Subject:	Wednesday 5/21/08
Security:	Public

The topic last night was a double. Some people couldnt decide what they wanted to write about, so we chose "Open Jars" or "Speak the Truth"
A decent group of 5 people this week.
Next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel.

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-05-14 19:07
Subject:	5/14/08
Security:	Public

The topic tonight was "The Devil Said"
Have fun and see you next week!!

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-05-07 19:29
Subject:	5/7/08
Security:	Public

Our topic tonight was "Everyday she walked through the desert with her baby strapped to her back, wondering what to do..."
Yes, it is an oddly specific topic, and was a slightly difficult one for some us.
We had a decent group of 4 tonight.
C'mon ladies
Come out and do some writing

Next week, 5/14/08. 6pm at The Q

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-30 19:24
Subject:	topic
Security:	Public

The topic this week was "She wrote it down"
have fun ladies

Hopefully some more people will come out next week

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-23 19:06
Subject:	Shakti Wednesday - 4/23/08
Security:	Public

Our topic this week was "The lock doesnt work"
We were a duet tonight
See you all next week!
 

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-16 19:41
Subject:	April 16th
Security:	Public

The topic tonight was Rebel Princess
We were happy to have Liberty MacMillan writing with us tonight. 

So have fun writing with this topic, and we'll see you next week
**mine will be posted up after a few revisions

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-10 17:00
Subject:	topic
Security:	Public

The topic of last nights Shakti meeting was "Going where I've never been"

topics will be posted shortly after the meeting.
Have fun writing girls! 

Poster:	asthecrowflies
Date:	2008-04-10 09:08
Subject:	Worcester Shakti is back!
Security:	Public
Mood:	pouring coffee on it

(x-posted)

Shakti (Worcester) was great last night - it was awesome to get back into the swing of it with such great company of women.

A quick note - we'll continue to meet on Wednesday nights at the Q, but the time will be changing. We'll be meeting now from 6:oo - 8:oo instead of at seven. My dear Ladies Who Write, I hope to see you there next week ♥

4/9 topic: Going Somewhere I've Never Been

Reservoir

Because someone took an economist's advice. Because someone drew up the plans. Because someone called it legal. & someone hired the engineers. Someone revised the plans. Someone invoked eminent domain.

Some people packed up & left. Some people had money in their pockets & somewhere to go.

Someone posted notices. Someone planned a party. Someone set up the lights, hired bands. Someone put up a PA on the hill. We came out of the basements. We had to come up when they broadcast the warning. We came out of the basement at dusk. Someone threw the switch. Some people came to look.

You need a wrench for this.
You need to expect nothing can be saved. Someone said, Nothing can be saved! Someone said, Drown it!

Someone covered the drains all up. Someone opened a fire hydrant.
You need a wrench for this.
Who can afford a wrench but a man with nothing to lose.
Who can afford a wrench, living in this town.

The basements went first. Someone took offense how it always happens foundation first.

I don't know this town anymore.
Didn't used to look like this.

Someone said, It isn't home anymore. Someone said, I've never been here before. Someone said, You never will again - it's not on any map anymore.

Someone drank whiskey and sang a wet song. Someone laughed as the tide was born and the drowning courthouse left a wake. Someone cried but didn't dry his face.

Michael took a rowboat out to a rooftop. Something hollow met him on the surface. Michael climbed a fourth floor balcony & waved the fiddle over his head.

Someone threw a wrench. It sank to the bottom with a wail like drought, sank down & down four storeys. Someone said something & I missed it.

& the water found its own level then.

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-09 22:16
Subject:	Shakti!!!
Security:	Public

So, the decision has been made.
Shakti will officially be meeting at The Q on Wednesday nights at 6PM - 8PM
We moved it up an hour for family people.

Good small group this week, but more of you should be coming!
So come on down next week and hang out with some good words

See you all next week!

Poster:	psyches_task
Date:	2008-04-09 20:16
Subject:	Here it is! Southwest Shakti Bookmark!
Security:	Public

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-09 10:27
Subject:	Tonight's the night!
Security:	Public

Ok, girlies. Tonight we start back up with Shakti! 7pm at The Q (see previous post for directions). 
Bring a creative mind, something to write with, and a date book. At this meeting we will decide what night of the week would be best to having a permanant time. 
We have a new prompt list and everything!!

So come on down tonight and have some fun writing in a new environment. 
Hope to see you all there

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-06 18:14
Subject:	Attention gals and guys
Security:	Public

Shakti will still be starting on Wednesday April 9th at 7PM at The Q.
Heres the thing. There is another workshop going on wednesday nights at The Q. So, our first meeting will be at the aformentioned time and place, but some with a schedule book to see what other times we're available. We'll also talk to the other group who meets on Wednesdays and see if they are cool with us being there, and if not, we'll pick another day. 
So come on down ready to do some writing and we'll see what comes out of it. 
I'll post up again later in the week as a reminder. 
Hope to see you all there

Actually, if you plan on coming this week, leave a comment so we can gage how many people we'll have and how much space we'll need to kidnap. 
Thanks ladies.

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-04 00:39
Subject:	YAY!!!
Security:	Public

Ok girlies (and a few guys). WE ARE BACK ON!!

We are officially starting back up on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 7pm-9pm
We be located at The Q, 362 Chandler St, Worcester MA
It's at the end of a brick building, on the corner of Lovell St and Chandler
BEWARE! The street its located on is a one way street going in the wrong direction. Turn at Leo's Pizza and go to the end of the parking lot, and there it is! Pay attention to the signs on the side of the road, because the sign for The Q is tricky
There is free Wi-fi, bottomless pots of coffee, and a hugely ginormas selection of teas.

So bring your pens, pencils, markers, crayons, notebooks or laptops and write with us.
Sou has a new list for us and everything.  

If you need better directions (sorry if these arent good) click this link
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=362%20Chandler%20St,+Worcester,+MA

Or, just look on mapquest or google or something. 

See you all on Wednesday!!!

yay!!!!!11!!1

Poster:	psyches_task
Date:	2008-04-03 19:10
Subject:	Southwest Shakti News!
Security:	Public

Hi all!

Today I ran a Shakti workshop for CUPSI here in Albuquerque. It was great!

I feel so blessed and thankful for this opportunity. Thanks d_flores5150!

We have a great group of women who attend Shakti here, and I wanted to post two updates.

1. sashash and I have designed and are distributing Shakti bookmarks to interested women who want to attend the workshop.
I will try to get an image of it posted here so you all can see.

2. Southwest Shakti women have created a list of topics/prompts following asthecrowflies's example, and I thought some of you might want to see it or use it for writing inspiration.

( Southwest Shakti Topic List 2008 )

I am very happy to hear that Shakti in Worcester will be starting up again!
I have been telling everyone Worcester is where it all began.

Peace, love and light,

Jessica

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-04-02 01:45
Subject:	hey girlies!!
Security:	Public

I talked to Emilie, and she is cool with letting us use The Q for Shakti
Sou, she said Wednesday nights are good, but if another night is better, let me know and I will ask her. Monday night they have the musicians open mic, so Mondays are out.

Yeah for Sakti coming back!!
Either me or Sou will keep you posted on the date we're starting back up

Poster:	psyches_task
Date:	2008-03-30 11:07
Subject:	foreshadow
Security:	Public

When Julian Po stepped on my foot, it didn't hurt
as much as let me know he was there. Sort of like a handshake
without the exchange of sweaty germs and eye contact.

I remember the trembling puddle he had just invaded. The smudge of dirt
he had left on my big toe. The glass of water that lost its surface
tension when he shook the cafe table.

Twilight arrived and ushered out the white hot sun and escorted in the pitch
found on the ocean floor. I shook the day off, grading the sun
like a block of cheese onto my salad.

Twilight also woke up shadows. Tugged at their arms to lure
them into the foreground, where they will be framed as normal.

Julian's shadow kept talking long after he did. I thought it needed re-dubbing.
I sensed the whole city was fluent in French and here I was frantically thumbing
through a Larousse, my pace unsuitable for conversation.

The shadow was more fluent than me. I almost named it Jacques.
I tried to find its eyes to make contact, to stare
it down and show my dominance.

I grew angry and threw an elitist vocabulary at it like I would a pile
of sticks at a raging fire. Like they taught me in grad school.

When my lips began to chap from so much yelling, I felt my shoulders sink
back into my shirt. This was not a battle I would win. I told myself to let it slide.
Maybe Jacques had a bad day. Let him win.

I almost didn't forgive myself as I kicked the shadow
just as Julian's mouth came back focus.

"Would you like to come to dinner?"
"Yes," I said.
Stunned to see I could speak French, after all.

Poster:	liz_o_fashiz_o
Date:	2008-02-17 19:23
Subject:	hey ladies...and a few guys
Security:	Public

Liz-o here. Is anyone interested in getting Shakti going again? I really miss it, so if you are interested, let me know. I think Emilie would be ok with us using The Q space to do it. I would love to get it going again. 
Laterz

Poster:	psyches_task
Date:	2007-10-01 13:33
Subject:	from the southwest chapter of shakti...hope this is okay to post
Security:	Public

when i am facing east, the rain comes
easy: words i've near forgotten pool
on melted popsicle sticks, the door jams
on the shoe my mother gave me, i dream
of being thirteen again.

east is the eden i resist
most noticeably. it is the way my hair grows
and it is the temperature
of my sigh.

i left her and now she calls
me; every time i sit down
at a restaurant, every time i take soup
off the stove. she doesn't understand
my intentions, whispers rumors
to my neighbors, tells the dog
to bite my leg.

i face east to appease
her shivers, to help her new crops
grow.

i am no longer the girl my mother
carried; my name has split
and hyphenated, all my rings
have turned to squares.

but when i am facing east, i kick
around the puzzle, and toy
with the idea of putting the past
together again.

i push corner to fit middle,
just enough to see the bigger
picture, soft focus
then there is the crack of bitter
lovers, and all the dog-eared
goodbyes.

tuesday arrives,
and now i see the trail
before me- i walk free-
willed toward the western
hurricane.

Poster:	chameleonsdream
Date:	2007-07-24 13:54
Subject:	Last Saturday's subject was...
Security:	Public

..magnetic words. There were only three of us there (blame the gorgeous July afternoon) so we had a nice long time to write. This is the poem that I started there and have been playing with off and on since..

A Rare Romance

You called it a rare romance, this
mind meld you think we have,
the intimacy of sharing sparks
that travel over ether through the stars

a rare romance it is
that's got me wondering

how do you tell when romance is well done?
It's not like throwing spaghetti at the wall
al dente romance - maybe
it might stick, might make a swirly pattern
that might make the same kind of sense
as spent tea leaves in the bottom of the cup.

Truth is, no matter how much I pretend my gypsy past
is more immediate than stories that were already old
when my grandmother told them,
I've never had any special talent with tea leaves.
I only excel at making meanings out of nonsense
when it comes to our relationship, and even then,
it only makes sense if you pretend it's like
magnetic poetry -
something mysterious and meaningful
jarred loose by cosmic forces,
the Delphi oracle opening her eyes
whenever you open the refrigerator door

truth is, no matter how many times I opened the door to you
leftovers were all I ever found -
Thursday's chocolate heart served up
with a side of your last girlfriend's favorite flower,
pancakes and whipped cream in a bedroom
where the feminine touch was created by someone else's style

and maybe the problem is that I've been
working with leftovers so long, I've forgotten how to write my own recipes
let myself be stuck with seasonings from your old lover's spice rack,
confined myself to writing novels with a magnetic poetry kit
your ex-wife didn't bother to take with her when she left.

Truth is, there's nothing rare about this love story
we're both well done, long past our expiration date
and all we bring to the table is flavors that were married once
to someone else's palate.

So how about we throw out all the cookbooks
we both own and write a new one
where the recipe for romance starts with
anything but roses, and we improvise the menu for tomorrow
with nothing but a nod to yesterday?