ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers's topics - tribe.net

tap tap is this mic on?

2008-07-29T02:14:02Z

Hello... is there anybody out there?

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 6 replies

Therapy

2008-07-25T01:16:57Z

Iron lies softening in the withering
heat, nesting in coals
and awaiting with patience (or not so much)
that signal shade, the
brightness that ventures just shy of raw sunlight
but only appears
in the oak-shuttered shade of the smithy.
My hammer falls to
no shimmering, sword-movie shower of sparks,
but a satisfied
if strangely muted thud, which means “yes” in the
language of iron.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Back to THIS tribe!

2007-12-23T01:33:12Z

Heyall...

I have been so busy putting things together in my move to Harbin
and before that trying to push ELYSEUM into the form it's in now
that I've not been showing up much on this tribe here. I feel guilty
for this. I've peeked back at the writing posted and I'm very touched
and impressed!

Well, now that things are settling in my life
and I have REGULAR ONLINE ACCESS
I will be more of the moderator I used to be!
I also intend on posting stuff of my own.

So happy to be back in here!

Love,
rR

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 3 replies

The HIPPIES meet the HIPSTERS @ Harbin!

2007-07-28T05:09:45Z

Hey y'all! We got it going on!
If you haven't been to an ELYSEUM event at Harbin
this would be a great one to see!
(We also have the Oakland Slam team
at Harbin on Wednesday, 8/1)

ELYSEUM Synergy: The Hippies Meet the Hipsters!

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

3pm to 5pm

@ The Harbin Library

Harbin Hot Springs

18424 Harbin Springs Rd.

Middletown, CA 95461

The ELYSEUM Writers Wordshop has been going strong now for three years since it started in San Francisco. Every week a dedicated group of writers continue to join one another for writing exercise, critique and community at the Marsh Theater Cafe. The group has flourished in the City, boasting a number of published and award winning poets, novelists, journalists and publishers.

When the group’s founder, slam poet Russell Reza-Khaliq (Gonzaga), moved to Harbin Hot Springs nine months ago, he brought with him the seeds of ELYSEUM. Composed of both residents and guests of Harbin, a new group was cultivated in these fertile and creative grounds, overflowing with insight, passion and spirit.

Now, for the first time, San Francisco ELYSEUM and Harbin ELYSEUM combine for a special reading performance at the beautiful, picturesque Harbin Hot Springs featuring

Crescent Magazine publisher Kristine Anja Page

c|net journalist Emily Shurr

short story humorist James Saltzman

horror novelist Scott Brown

science writer Dr. Bosco Ho

Along with special guests from both ELYEUM writing communities.

We begin the reading with an open list. We encourage and invite you to participate. Please sign up early. Donations appreciated.

Harbin Hot Springs

http://www.harbin.org

ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes and Writers

http://www.heroesandpoets.org

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

eating...a poem of our times...

2007-04-01T22:46:54Z

Eating

we are feeding today
on the bones of ancestors
and the wings of angels
we are feasting at the table
of guests
who have left the abode
drinking the wine of tears
shed for us
by those in the past
who saw the future
we are all forked
spooning out our love
cutting the bread of days
with a knife of impatience
we are grilling our eyes
with the sights of our world
tell the chef that the meal
is burning
please pass me the salt
that i may pour it into the wound
which also functions
as my mouth
djones 3/23/07

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

upcoming open mic...

2007-04-01T22:39:16Z

we ate little red studio seattle are going to start an open mic in april...hit me up for details if you are in the pnw area...the site addy is www.littleredstudioseattle.com
xo
ultra low frequency

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

lrs style...

2007-04-01T22:31:42Z

Nasty Woman

I want a nasty woman
One who drinks, smokes
Does drugs
And fucks
At the drop of a hat
One who thinks
Coffee
Is an appropriate
Late night drink
One who engages
In public displays of affection
Not because it’s cute
But because she’s horny
I want a woman
Who can say
I want to fuck you
Not fuck with you
One who is not put off
By dirty dishes, laundry
Or the fact that I’ve
Just run out of toilet paper
A woman with a
Pornographic
Sense of humor
A woman who thinks panties
Are for pussies
Has one, uses it
But rarely if ever covers it
I want a woman
Nasty enough to reach down my pants
Grab my cock
Look at me and smile
A woman who tells me
Racist jokes
Filthy jokes
And likes it when I talk about
My nigger dick
Going into her honky pussy
One who understands
Computers, cars and guns
Knows why each is necessary
And has all three
A woman who fucks
With the lights on
In front of open windows
One who doesn’t apologize
For her menstrual blood
Who fucks me right after work
And doesn’t shower afterwards
I want a
Nasty woman
But it seems
There are no nasty women
So maybe I should get
A man like me

DJones 4/29/05

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

little red studio art-a-thon...24 hours of art making madness...

2007-04-01T22:25:31Z

Picture a night of creative mayhem: painters, sculptors, dancers, live models, aerialists, and poets – all creating and performing for 24 hours straight! Come revel with us, as we stretch our creative wings in our sumptuous, juicy new digs.

Experience a delightful 24 hours (or any portion of that) of erotically-fueled creation and performance that will widen your eyes, deepen your hearts, and excite your senses as only a Little Red Studio event can!

This event promises to be an incredible experience for you to witness this band of gifted artists and performers create their art on-site and then present it for sale.

You can even purchase opportunities to join in! Commission a poem to be written for you, your lover, or the two (or three, or four…) of you. Model for an artist or a body painter or sit down with a sketchbook or canvas yourself. Commission a dance, an aerial piece or even a piece of music! The possibilities are endless, bound only by your imagination.

Every hour, on the hour, you'll delight in seeing the fruits of the artists' labor. Periodic auctions will give you further opportunities to share in the creative process as a patron.

Other activities to entice you will include a Brunch from 10am to 12noon and a Closing Ceremony at 7pm on Sunday. For a one-time (4 hour) entry, you'll pay $25. For a Full Patron Pass, which gives you the freedom to come and go (or stay the whole time!) as you please for the entire 24-hour event, you'll pay only $50.

You can purchase tickets at the door or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets : www.brownpapertickets.com/event/14089

Come play with us, celebrate with us, and share in our creative magic!

www.littleredstudioseattle.com

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

MC MAGIC

2007-03-10T18:27:26Z

Hello beautiful engines!
Mission Control has a long deep secret that needs to be kept from Polly and Scott. While they are away March 11th this Sunday till Wednesday the 21st we would like to do some magic! Along with hands to make the magic happen, money is always appreciated to help with the flow. Trucks and massages will also be greatly appreciated. Dump runs will need to be made along with wood, supplies and love being hauled. We have some light projects that would be joyous to do around MC and be much appreciated by MC.
There is also one huge project that would be just orgasmic if we all could get it done by the time they came back. The floor in the long hall way needs to be stripped and painted yet again. The floorplay would start on the 18th with stripping of the paint that is already there. The more hands the merrier and only the universe will know how long it will take so we would like to give it the better portion of the day to do. Monday the 19th would hopefully will be and easier day of painting the floors. Tuesday will be used as a buffer day incase there needs to be any touch ups or extra coats.
All projects must be done the 21st before they get home from MAUI. They will be coming home with only days to get ready from KS that Saturday the 24th and the following Saturday (31st) will be a big party so it would be great if they could come back to clean and freshness to decompress to and start preparing for the future.
Please offer up your gifts, skills, and powers to MC. MC is a living organism that needs maintaince as much as the rest of us and what better time then while the CATS are away in MAUI!!!!!
This list below is just a brainstorm of some of the things that could be done. If you have some thing special you would like to do or have things you would like to donate to the cause please free feel to contact me so we can discuss making it happen. bucknermuriel@yahoo.com (805)878-2163
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Just doooo ittt

Polly and Scot go on the 11th

Little projects around MC 11-15th

Bathroom décor-ocean/undersea/mermaid theme: bring shells, water paintings, blue things, ocean themed soaps, and bath accessories.

New glow stars for the blue room ceiling, bring stars and glue
Repotting plants for smoking patio, donating plants for patio Creating flower decorations, get more flower garlands from Mission St. Creating interesting paint decorations for the front steps, maybe subtle gold stars on the stairs? Find new stools for the bar, donate stools? Go on a lab coat hunt in thrift stores for our Crushlab needs.
Build shelves in storage area
Clean storage-need master organizer
Donate plastic tubs for organizing
Get hammock for pillows
Fung shei the bar space and making good shelves under the bar
Move fish tanks
Clean back stairs
Build bike rack
Scrub front door area
Deep clean the carpet
Donate art
Go through lost and found, keep, donate throw away!
Build wooden cross that can be broken down, for flogging
Put hooks up in bathroom

Painting floors project.
Scraping paint on 18th
Do primer on 19th
Do paint on 20th
Pray for Dry weather
Polly and Scot 21st

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

octavia butler.....

2007-02-28T06:25:07Z

might be of interest...

http://www.carlbrandon.org/tribute.html

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

desire

2007-02-09T02:18:54Z

Tiptoe

Contagious laughter
Then my body fills with a strange sensation
As you walk away
I stumble towards you
And catch myself off guard
Something got warm
fresh
Unexpected
Your gaze teases me
Burnt into my memory
And I
Tip
Toe
The
Line
Balancing with one leg up
I dip my toes in
And watch the water ripple from my perch
All senses tell me not to fall
I bite my lip
And contemplate how you would taste
Just one
Quick
Sip
Ahhhww
I want to devour you
Then move on
Senses hit
So I balance
Painfully pulling myself away from the water
Reining my desire
Body on fire
Intrigued
Affected
Taste buds entertained
As I tiptoe in circles around you
Can you hear me whisper your name?

How do you wear your desire?
Are your eyes closed?
Or open….

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

a moth who drank the tears of sleeping magpies

2007-02-04T04:56:26Z

a moth who drank the tears of sleeping magpies

Laurie Corzett in libramoon's Observatory

Saturday 03 of February, 2007

Molly Ivins (her last column)

Stand Up Against the Surge

The purpose of this old-fashioned newspaper crusade to stop the war is not to make George W. Bush look like the dumbest president ever. People have done dumber things. What were they thinking when they bought into the Bay of Pigs fiasco? How dumb was the Egypt-Suez war? How massively stupid was the entire war in Vietnam? Even at that, the challenge with this misbegotten adventure is that WE simply cannot let it continue.

It is not a matter of whether we will lose or we are losing. We have lost. Gen. John P. Abizaid, until recently the senior commander in the Middle East, insists that the answer to our problems there is not military. "You have to internationalize the problem. You have to attack it diplomatically, geo-strategically," he said.

His assessment is supported by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the senior American commander in Iraq, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who only recommend releasing forces with a clear definition of the goals for the additional troops.

Bush's call for a "surge" or "escalation" also goes against the Iraq Study Group. Talk is that the White House has planned to do anything but what the group suggested after months of investigation and proposals based on much broader strategic implications.

About the only politician out there besides Bush actively calling for a surge is Sen. John McCain. In a recent opinion piece, he wrote: "The presence of additional coalition forces would allow the Iraqi government to do what it cannot accomplish today on its own — impose its rule throughout the country. ... By surging troops and bringing security to Baghdad and other areas, we will give the Iraqis the best possible chance to succeed." But with all due respect to the senator from Arizona, that ship has long since sailed.

A surge is not acceptable to the people in this country — we have voted overwhelmingly against this war in polls (about 80 percent of the public is against escalation, and a recent Military Times poll shows only 38 percent of active military want more troops sent) and at the polls. We know this is wrong. The people understand, the people have the right to make this decision, and the people have the obligation to make sure our will is implemented.

Congress must work for the people in the resolution of this fiasco. Ted Kennedy's proposal to control the money and tighten oversight is a welcome first step. And if Republicans want to continue to rubber-stamp this administration's idiotic "plans" and go against the will of the people, they should be thrown out as soon as possible, to join their recent colleagues.

Anyone who wants to talk knowledgably about our Iraq misadventure should pick up Rajiv Chandrasekaran's "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone." It's like reading a horror novel. You just want to put your face down and moan: How could we have let this happen? How could we have been so stupid?

As The Washington Post's review notes, Chandrasekaran's book "methodically documents the baffling ineptitude that dominated U.S. attempts to influence Iraq's fiendish politics, rebuild the electrical grid, privatize the economy, run the oil industry, recruit expert staff or instill a modicum of normalcy to the lives of Iraqis."

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"

Semper Memoriam

To find out more about Molly Ivins and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

electric dreams manifestation

2007-02-04T01:40:07Z

Hey Visionaries,

Electric Dreams, Emerging Visions #6,
is now online at:

http://emergingvisions.blogspot.com/

be there

Electric Dreams Manifestation

I'll see you in your dreams
other Autumns, other Springs
after the changes have made us
what we have been becoming.
I see you seeing me seeing you
in dreamtime.
If I greet you,
on the other side,
see me in my dreams. ...

Submissions will be solicited again in the latter days of March 2007
for Emerging Visions #7, Sacred Earth
expected to emerge after the ides of April

~ old issues are available in the archives ~

Share and Enjoy

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Blues4Kali- Inzane ExperiMental MetaFaction

2007-01-04T15:08:16Z

A quirky, satirical tale of self-realization, rejected world-views, and general madness on the west coast of the US before and after it slips into the sea at the end of the Kaliyuga.
Three parallel buses hurtle through discontinuities in time, space and dimension associated with the catastrophic climate changes accompanying the end of the era of Kali, the Indian Goddess of death and rebirth.
Using a shifting-perspective internal narrator, Blues4Kali uses graphic metaphor and symbolic structure to convey ideas about this pending cataclysm and the crumbling civilization facing it.
The plot pits two opposite visions for the future beyond the posited Flood; that of the Karma Alliance Light Institute, an ultra-vegan endeavor urging radical population control, and H.O.S.S., a Crowleyesque, dark-magic outfit of speed-addled S&M enthusiasts who supply annual underground barbecues in the desert, called Roasted Man.
The narrative transcends time, place, and propriety to demonstrate the many levels on which Dark Mother Kali struggles against the Gods of Monotheism and patriarchy, struggling for control of the values of the future, and, ultimately jettisons eight centuries ahead to find that oppression has again overwhelmed freedom in the society founded by the descendents of KALI.
A complex boundary-blurrer that respects no genre, but freely picks between them, Blues4Kali is a study in collective and personal values as we mount the handbasket to Hel. Be ready for a mind-bending journey to the Neverpoint, where all meaning converges on singularity.
Entire eBook available at www.blues4kali.com
Artists of all stripes: please check out the Blues4Kali Scholars-Hip Program for your free copy of Blues4Kali
www.blues4kali.com

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Hi I'm new...

2007-01-04T08:02:11Z

I feel silly writing a typical "hi my name is..." introduction, so here's my best piece of work instead. :) To put it into context, I'm a dancer also... Anyway, I'm enjoying reading all your posts, some really amazingly talented artists here! I look forward to attending a workshop as soon as possible!

Muse

Destiny crushes me to your bosom
Your heartbeat calls me
Moving as you command
This long journey
Stretches endless
I fall towards painful ecstacy
Toward what lies within
Naked
Breathless
Trembling
I tear my dreams through flesh
I stare into the crowd
Blind
Through a thousand lifetimes of tears
Searching for a glimpse of your eyes
Kneeling here in a sea of bloody memories
Pleading
Screaming
Drowning in sweat
I am broken
In this moment between worlds
My soul returns home
So close at last
You whisper our name.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

morphing the muse

2007-01-04T07:55:13Z

It’s not that I have a fear of the age I have become
Its only that I haven’t practiced/nor did I vision it and here I am
After so many years as the younger;
Curious student, promising, moldable, muse.
A vessel open and wanting..following in shadows
Attracted mentors sexual and intellectual
I took notes along the way …the little key words etched invisible along the creases of my palm.

Those things I fear
I do not name

That is right...
I do not name
the fear...
I do not name....
rather now (choice)
I dance the other way
And into the arms, tattood and tight…
encircling the narrow waist of my newfound muse;
the younger, promising and erotic.
Seeing the inside out outside
through the window which has become passage

Morphing the muse now….
sending the fluttering of moths just above
and inside yoni…
the power of the taken

free flow
free fall
free thought
free

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

Inching toward the solistice

2006-12-16T11:17:27Z

Arising as the
slow echo of night
fades into this new yellow life.

The winter wind works
to claim the air
leaves green tongues
violently slapping
the bottom of swift gray clouds.

If it were not
for the occasional
bird,
I would be
the bright
and delicate.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Share your poetry!

2006-12-15T19:27:51Z

Hi everyone. I would love to read more of what you've been working on lately. Please share

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 3 replies

Beauty, Truth and Bibliomania

2006-12-15T18:01:43Z

by

Justice Putnam

"Why do you have four books by Bukowski?" she seemed disturbed as she closed The Most Beautiful Woman In Town.

"I'd have more of his opus," I answered, "I'm slowly re-building my library.”

"But I don't understand, you like Bukowski?"

"Sure," I responded, a little tentative, not quite understanding her question, "I've always been attracted to his writing style. He is very spare."

"But Bukowski is a misogynist and you have four of his books!" she pointed at my bookcase. South Of No North, Factotum and Women, plus the one she was returning to the shelf indeed totaled four.

I thought of all the other books I used to have, lost now from bad love affairs and bad finances. I used to have all of Will and Ariel Durant's tomes, even a rare, Mansions Of Philosophy. I had all of Jack London's books and stories. I had all of Cooper's Leather
Stocking Tales. I had most of McMurtry's work from the sixties and seventies; All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers prominent among them. I had Edna St. Vincent Millay's poems and stories. I had H.G. Well's Outline Of History. I had everything by Virginia Woolfe and Janet Flanner. I had obscure poems and letters by Gertrude Stein. I had most of Phillip K. Dick, Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. I had most of Clifford D. Simak. I had a first printing of The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre by B. Traven.

I had everything by Hemingway. I had everything by Orwell; including Down And Out In Paris And London. I had all the works of De Sade and Thackery. I had a dozen volumes of Eugene Field. I had Dickens and Marlowe. I had Melville, Chaucer, Defoe, Voltaire, Swift, Virgil, Plutarch and Donne. I had all the English translations of Mishima. I had Kobe Abe's Woman Of The Dunes.

I had volumes of Dryden, Pope, Shakespeare and Spencer. I had Balzac and Fante. I had Baudelaire and Fitzgerald. I had poems by St John Of The Cross and essays by Annie Dillard. I had all of Henry Miller. I had some of John Rechy. I had volumes of Linda Paston and Marge Piercy. I had some of Sharon Olds and all of Jack Kerouac. I had all of Gary Snyder's work and volumes of Eric Hoffer. I had Kahil Gibran and Rilke. I had Ovid and Nietzsche. I had Berkeley, Hume, Kant and Ghandi. I had Autobiography Of A Yogi by Yogananda. I had the Kama Sutra and the Upanishads. I had The Analects and The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. I had Byron. I had Percy and Mary Shelley. I had Ten Days That Shook The World by Jack Reed and I had volumes of Emma Goldman. I had Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and volumes of Faulkner. I had God and Man at Yale by William F. Buckley Jr. and I had The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey.

"I take Bukowski's work," I began, though I feared she was having none of it, "to be stories and characters that show us how not to be. He is taking a snapshot of life as it is, in all of its dirt and grime. In its violence, bigotry and selfishness. But I don't take his life of the gutter milieu to be a blueprint or affirmation of bad behavior."

"Oh," she said, pulling out a volume of the Alexandria Quartet, "you have Durrell. Now this is beautiful."

© 2004 by Justice Putnam
and Mechanisches-Strophe Verlagswessen

(This piece appeared in the Berkeley Daily Planet and Arts and Letters International)

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

Submission for elyseum online journal

2006-10-25T18:43:05Z

I'm starting an online Elyseum journal.
It should be fast, a little sloppy, and fun.
I hope every one of you Elyseum members submits something.
To make it easy, all submissions should be short (500 word limit).
Open till Tuesday November 7th.
To submit, post a new topic to the Writer's Worskhop Buletin board "Submissions for online publication", or click: http://www.crescentmagazine.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=submission;action=po st;title=StartNewTopic .
(Unfortunately, you have to be a member of the bulletin board to submit, ask Anja)
The tentative name for this issues is "Elyseum Shorts", better suggestions welcome.

I'll be editing it with Russel, and everyone is welcome to post comments to spruce up submissions on the board.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

trip to Church of Saint John Coltraine

2006-10-19T05:27:22Z

Hey yall.
So church of coltraine services are on this sunday at 12 o' clock
it is located on 1286 Fillmore Street @ Eddy
Who would like to attend. PEACE!

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 3 replies

change in TOU soothes concerns we had

2006-10-16T21:27:46Z

about posting work here I do believe.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

Workshop on "Publication" This TUESDAY

2006-09-19T14:45:07Z

ELYSEUM Workshop:
The Practice of Writing

Theme: PUBLICATION

Hosted by: Cake

We'll cover topics such as:
- web vs print
- submission process
- where to send your work
- marketing yourself and your work
- desktop publishing

Tuesday, 9/19 at 7pm

Held at The Marsh, 1070 Valencia St. btwn 21st & 22nd
in San Francisco

$15 Suggested Donation

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Volunteers for the Expo this Saturday?

2006-09-14T23:35:49Z

Hi y'all!

If anyone wants to help us out attending our table on Saturday
(any time between 11am to 6pm)
Let me know. We could use the help.

EXPO FOR THE ARTIST AND MUSICIAN
put on by
INDEPENDENT ARTS AND MEDIA
Saturday, Sept. 16th
SomArts
www.artsandmedia.net/about/

Contact me here or phone:
(510) 467-3303

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

lunar lather

2006-08-12T12:10:00Z

la la la la la

http://people.tribe.net/960f5c76-1c8f-4dcd-b832-72dc8a7f9554/blog/d7dc67c2-45fb-41c5-a922-cba49b516fb8

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

cosmic power

2006-08-08T01:53:24Z

I ran across this today....ELYSEUM related...powerful image...whoa nellie..
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.users.bigpond.com/mihelakis/gallery/1152x864/celestial-Elysium.jpg&imgrefurl=http://halcyonic.gfxartist.com/artworks/30817&h=864&w=1152&sz=357&hl=en&start=35&tbnid=YO6ZcH3EIeemvM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcelestial%2B%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D100%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DN

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

sexaudible.com internet radio/erotica/spoken word

2006-07-31T01:06:14Z

Hey this is Craig (from Pleasanton/Oakland-CA), im trying to spread the word about sexaudible.com internet radio station (yes its free), especially since it applies to this group :P

If anyone has any suggestions/feedback about the site or station, or ideas on working together, send me an email!

"sexaudible is the world's first and only radio station dedicated to all things sex. sexaudible was launched January 15, 2006 with the intention to bring entertainment, education, and an overall open attitude toward human sexuality. "

(SexAudio Theatre) show includes professional spoken word adult erotica of varied subjects, sexual orientations, fetishes and more.. (Discreet Confessions) during this exclusive sexaudible show, you will hear listener-submitted stories of real life sexual experiences. We invite all of you to phone in anytime and tell us your steamiest stories and fantasies.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

I have a confession to make...

2006-07-28T07:07:55Z

Writer's Digest offers a frequent Tips and Updates e-mail service that always includes a Writing Prompt, something to get you writing. The latest one went like this:

You've been living a life filled with lies and it's time for
you to come clean. There's one lie in particular that's been
eating at you and you have to make right. Start off your response
with: "I have a confession to make. I never really . . . " and
explain the harm the lie caused and how you intend to rectify it.

I've posted my confession below, though admittedly I don't explain how I intend to rectify it. And I was also admittedly influenced by Jim's latest story. I didn't plan it. It just happened.

Anyone else want to confess?

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 4 replies

grassroots writing excersise

2006-07-26T18:49:22Z

I am reminded of a lawn bed. A perfect lawn. A dense rich stretch of bluegrass without a speck of yellow cut to an even length, just enough to grow between your toes and stop at the bottom of your ancle. Under, A man made carpet of nature tendrels of grip microsopic in a fine web like a child’s scribbling with a ink pen. It takes work. Riding on giant cutting machines and pruning the chaft and looming over patches of weed with dry cracked hands. But in time, you lie in bed of tamed green with eyes shut and warm in mid-day sun.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

An Oil Lamp turned Low

2006-07-22T21:35:00Z

http://people.tribe.net/justiceputnam/blog/d8069ebd-14e0-4b75-8602-6043d8a493c5

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

New ELYSEUM Workshops Sparking Up!

2006-07-22T01:20:22Z

We completed our last quarter and are about to start up the next.
Last quarter was INTENSE.
Things got so incredible that we are going to make THREE new workshops
in three different locations on three different nights.

Tuesday: San Francisco (the Farm)
Wednesday: Palo Alto (Printers Inc. Cafe)
Thursday: East Bay (location TBA)

This is in response to the requests of many of you out there
who have wanted to come to the ELYSEUM workshop
but couldn't make it into the city.
(also, we simply had too many people showing up
to the one weekly workshop in SF)

Please post here or contact me
if you are interested in any of these workshops.

Also, keep your eyes open
for our daylong Kavya Yoga retreat at Prakasa Ma
our "Wild Children of Whitman" Weekend Journey in Bodega Bay
and our huge FunRazor party at Illusions in Palo Alto.

-SENSEI

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 5 replies

Mislabeled

2006-07-16T18:17:55Z

http://people.tribe.net/960f5c76-1c8f-4dcd-b832-72dc8a7f9554/blog/204901ad-7aaa-49f6-a8fd-294b3b9b7136

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

"Step the fuck off!!"

2006-07-16T12:18:58Z

http://people.tribe.net/sensei/blog/e66d3266-79cc-462b-95be-b2b36bbd0773

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

What Makes a Good Story?

2006-07-13T01:22:29Z

I've now spent a few years writing, and I have at least the beginnings of answers to a lot of questions about this craft. I've been able to address many basic technical issues, I think I understand the basics of how words work (at least in prose), and I'm even starting to get a handle on creating interesting characters. I even have some idea of what I want to say with my writing, and what sort of of styles and forms I'm attracted to.

And yet, this weekend I suddenly realized that I have no answer at all to the question "what makes a good story?"

It's always refreshing to suddenly discover how ignorant you are.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 10 replies

Late Dated Rope Ride (my intro poem)

2006-07-09T06:37:55Z

Awakening the Infinite Flight

If I Should Before I wake,
may I find a new and better way to live
Another drop in the Great Ocean
I've used my body, my brain,
and my heart,
to find my way back
From whence I came
To the swirling infinite energy, a Giant Vat
Swimming with all under the material surface
Where the mysteries evade time and space
The heat will defy gravities drag
draw me upward, like a hawk's thermal ride
I will once again ride the skies
And fall back into the next vehicle
That best serves to evolve my eternal spirit
Let the new sideways dual circle of life
Spin spontaneously
Take me where the sun shines warmth upon me
The Great Mother Earth becomes my nest
As I burst through the soil
along side another familiar blade
named Walt!
Every day is a new birth of my spirit
the frameless, stardust memory
the gradual awakening of my godling nature
the expression of my soul's manifestation
my new mission of a new creation
Maybe its time to rebuild Eden
On Earth
Maybe such a vision, such a destination
Might end the need to die.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Speaker Speaking Speaker- fresh from the workshop

2006-06-28T20:25:41Z

How is it that I can be I
When You keep teasing
slip step touching corners
my brain liquefied mystic
tumultuous mutual movement
my heart stuck in my throat
as pulsing paces are matched
You Are Incredible
I am humbled

How is it that I can be I
When You keep teasing
the you in me taunting
impossibilities are true but not
scared seconds replaced by
gratitude for kind actions
let be what may be
laughter my philosophy
my dark vision
isn’t what it used to be
in finite liquid matter
I can breathe

How is it that I can be I
When You keep teasing
the bass still rich in my ear
bouncing through my sternum
shaking down my spine
subsequent movement understanding
though my beating heart aches
reading your interest fading
I am joyous

How is it that I can be I
When You keep teasing
life begets life begets
movement flowing on
lifetime divine
my karma credit card slides
matters are resolved rectified
equivalent energy exchange
I can see the magic
secrets behind these eyes
Yes
I am blessed

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

share your bookshelf with everyone, online

2006-06-28T18:06:28Z

http://www.librarything.com/

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

The Elysium Midsummer Festival. The Fusion of Communities Continues.

2006-06-27T15:13:12Z

Hey all of you folks!

"If you believe in coincidents, then we have a great one here!
If you believe in synchronicity, then this won't be too much of a surprise."

SENSEI
Bearing similarities and differences, from our community to yours, we would like to invite you to The Elysium Midsummer Festival in Southern California.

To live a fulfilling life is to understand that paradise can exist every day. Let our vision of Elysium become yours. Come and be a part of our dream July 14-16.

The Elysium Midsummer Festival is the next stop on our journey to enlightenment and creating new bonds within our unique community. The weekend of July 14-16 will be the one you will remember and don't want to miss!
In a beautiful remote location, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, you will share in a relaxed, friendly, natural setting with amenities that will allow your time here to be as easy and enjoyable as possible. Every site will have access to water, electricity, bathrooms and showers. RV hookups will also be available in a limited quantity. With your help we want to take you to the land of beautiful people, music and scenery. You will experience an eclectic mix of Southern California musical talents, performers, art and creativity. All performances will be on the main stage, situated under the canopy and magic of a 100-year-old oak tree! The site is accessible by any type of vehicle, on a private campground reserved exclusively for us to come together and create an unforgettable experience!

For performances, art, directions and tickets go to www.elysiumfestival.org

The Elysium Festival is less than a month away we want to make sure everyone will make it! Unfortunately space is limited and tickets are selling out fast. In less than a week tickets will go to Tier 2. Be sure to get your tix and secure your camp site now and then it’s smooth sailing until the festival; our goal is to make everyone’s experience at Elysium as easy and enjoyable as possible!

We’ll see you there!

Fire in Your Soul

Katya

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

arrigato :-)

2006-06-27T07:41:09Z

Hello, all ...

Thank you all very much for making this way-too-shy person feel welcome in your group. I enjoy writing, but it's not something I push (kind of like music -- it comes out by itself, and I find that if I push it, if often either doesn't work or comes out sounding too derivative of something i've done before). Still, I do want to develop any nascent writing skills I have (such as they are), and i'm glad i've managed to find such a talented and thoughtful group of people who share these endeavors.

Is it recommended that I post work here, or on the Elyseum board?

Regards,

John

Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
http://www.fallingyou.com

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

BOSCO HO where are you?

2006-06-23T23:30:47Z

Hello everyone on Elyseum tribe. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you (mind, heart and soul) through your writing. However, RIGHT now I'm interested in connecting with a fantastic writer named BOSCO HO. Don't let the name fool you he is Australian. He's funny and fun and said he would go to Pink Saturday with me to tear it up.

So where are you at Bosco? Reveal yourself.

thanks

Amanda

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 7 replies

Summer Solstice Events

2006-06-21T19:45:18Z

There were a few announcements last night about things going on this evening. Particularly, there was the Garden Of Memory at the Chapel of The Chimes, an event with dozens of musicians playing throughout the grounds:

gardenofmemory.com

I think I also heard mention of a bonfire on the beach -- anyone remember the specifics?

- Jonathan

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Workshop Bios!

2006-06-16T02:38:27Z

MAN we look GOOOOOOD!

Check us OUT!

http://www.heroesandpoets.org/workshop/aboutmembers.html

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 4 replies

Workshop Location: The FARM

2006-06-14T21:18:05Z

We have FINALLY settled on a spot!
(at least until we finish this quarter)

We are now going to be at a wonderful loft
being offered by a wonderful woman
who is known as Celestial Grrl here on tribe.

We have had issues with the staff at the place we used to meet
(well, I guess one person doesn't really constitute a staff...)
And now we find home in a historical locale.

The Farm is legendary
in the underground arts scene
and the loft we will be in
is simply exquisite.

If you intend on attending
please contact me via tribe
and phone.
I will be happy to give you
the address and direction.

c (510) 467-3303

Yes, we still meet every Tuesday
at 7pm
and the Workshop has been AWESOME!

Look out for our upcoming events and retreats!

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

Monday Night Write tonight @ Bean Bag Cafe, San Francisco

2006-06-13T00:00:43Z

Hello all. For a few weeks now I've been spending my monday evenings, sometimes with friends, writing at the Bean Bag Cafe, 601 Divisadero at Hayes, starting at about 7 PM.

I suspect this will become a regular thing, and I'd like to encourage others beyond my circle of immediate friends to show up. I know there are a lot aspiring writers out there, and I know one of the most difficult things is the discipline. We can help with that. Nothing motivates quite like peer pressure and coffeee.

Plus it's fun to hang out with writers, and I'll critique your piece if you critique mine.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

rain

2006-06-12T06:53:04Z

Hello, all ...

I wrote this awhile ago ... opinions welcome. I want to get more involved in this group, and will try to make Tuesday's meeting, assuming someone can tell me where and when :-)

***

Rain.

Rain pours from the leaves of the tree above it, like hundreds of soft-yet-cold fingers poking. It's fur saturated, it shivers in the night. It doesn't wonder why -- it can't -- but the synapses in it's brain speak of sadness, and this permeates it's every thought. It is not blessed (or cursed) with a gender, it is at most none and at least both, and though to it this means nothing, it somehow knows something is wrong. It's mouth suckles at air, it's lungs inflate shallowly like a balloon with a bad leak, and this sadness persists.

Like most newborns, it's eyes are not yet open. It tries to huddle, to find the warmth of siblings and mother, yet it's miniature claws find nothing, it's tiny legs barely move, and the rain continues to pelt it's tiny body. Slow exhales from miniature nostrils produce a sorrowful whine, a fragile heart beats erratically, a chest rises and falls frantically for moments eternal, the mouth opens as a nearly silent yet profoundly sad cry escapes, too weak to touch the ears of innocents who neither know nor care. An owl hoots from above, unaware of the suffering below.

... and still it rains.

A lightning strike, far too close, had scared the doe off as she was preparing to nurse her new offspring. Something inside her had warned her that things were not as they should be after the birth, but this was her only child, and her maternal instincts had just drowned out the dissenting thought when the bolt struck the tree that was their shelter from the storm. Widened eyes, a bright
flash and the crash of thunder shocked her, and her legs involuntarily swept her away, leaving her malformed child behind, alone in the night.

That was hours ago -- hours that marked their departure by the ever-shallower yet increasingly laborious breathing of the newborn. The heart which drummed erratically then beat much slower now, tiny nostrils which only hours ago hungrily took in as much air as the tiny, defective lungs could handle, now flared less and less. Miniature legs which vainly tried to propel it to his mother now barely moved, and the mouth and tiny tongue which hunted for milk a short while ago was now nearly motionless. Life, however short, was escaping.

A sudden scurry brought a nearby predator, bent on feeding on this dying whelp, but the scurry was met by another, much larger. A harsh cry rebounded off of the forest trees as the frightened predator ran off, and a large set of black eyes peered down at the newborn, recognizing it instantly. The doe lay down, positioned herself, exposed a nipple for her only offspring ... but the pup
didn't move, it's energy almost completely drained. The doe nudged the pup closer with her nose, then again, and the newborn slowly opened it's mouth and weakly latched on. It then opened it's eyes, met the gaze of it's mother ... and expelled it's last breath.

The end.

Regards,

John

Falling You - exploring the beauty of voice and sound
http://www.fallingyou.com

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Sensei's Writing Online...

2006-05-18T20:55:04Z

It was requested at the Weekly Workshop that I post my writing online.
Here's a little list o' links to some sites that have my stuff on it:

Why I Teach: "It Ain't Taffy"

http://www.sfartscommission.org/WC/who/200104_russell_gonzaga.html

"One Nation Under Allah"
-my post 9/11 article for Colorlines about Islam in America
(reprinted numerous times)
ps. Do me a flava flav and send off a positive comment at the end!

http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story5_3_03.html

"Ex-Catholic Fix"

http://members.tripod.com/infliptration/ex.html

"Eternal Arousal: a PostModern Troubadors Journey"
My article on Spiritual Sexuality

http://www.extatica.com/articles/Reza-Khaliq_R_EternalArousal_1.htm

"The Worst Thing" video recorded by DJ Lamont at the mighty FINGERSNAPS reading

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2686815750647162002&q=fingersnaps

That's just some of what I've done.
Go ahead and let me know what you think.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

A child crys in the dark and other rants

2006-05-18T00:01:39Z

Transposed from a journal entry recently....

Like thunder under a red light
Like blood spilled on the floor
I look inside me
I move in time
I choose my eternity like this
The blood boils
The skin melts
I feel like I am falling apart
Why is it always... Like this?

The child crys in the dark
For no one to remember his voice
I scream into nothingness
The child crys in the dark

The darkeness crys under
A blue sky
The moon shines bright in the night
And I wait..........
In the cold night
Watching the smoke drift
Into the cold bright light

The child in the night
Freshly scarred arms that mean nothing
I scratch and I bite and I pull
At nothing
I can lose myself in this
I run into the night
Under the blood of the dark red night
The moon drifts and fades behind
The veil of blood

Why is it always...... Like this?
Why can't the answer ever be no?
To the dark red light
Under the the thunder of of the dark red night
It's always the same
I hide behind this veil
Of the thunder of emotions
That come cascading down

Why is it always like this?

I hate this. I am always torn to the anger, to the darkeness that lives inside of me. I feel like i am laughing darkly. Drifting into the world waiting for the end to come. It's like some sort of cosmic joke. The carpet , being pulled out from under me. I come crashing down falling into the darkness of the tide of emotion that becomes love that becomes hate and try to own what i am what i feel and she can only tell me all things pass. What is that to me? Does she think i dont know that? It's like walking on a field of eggshells and being a giant unable to tread softly. Unable to walk gently and open my heart and my sould and is all i want is a little something. A kiss a touch a reasuring glasnceand i am met mostly with silence. She says i dont know what to say. I feel like an embryo tossing into a sea of chaos unable to borne ont the shores of life. it's like ice in my heart. A shadow world of emotions i dont know. Screaming at the unfairness of it all. Screaming at the world i am forced to live this liife in where everything and nothing feels like a cold death of silence. Name my name into my heart. Who am i ? What is this that i am forced to sit in? And love for what it is and what it will become. Feeling like my own siamese twinunable to seperate from who i am and what i will be. I sit and smoke in the cold with the cold white of the moon to guide me by. How do i tread in a field of gently breakable stones this uneven path this given game what is this? I scream against the unjust of it all. I tire of this burden why do i feel like i should have never been born?

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Dragon poem

2006-04-28T01:51:24Z

Here's a new draft of that Dragon exercise we did two weeks ago. Enjoy.

Dragon Tattoo

The jaws surprised me,
peeking out of a green snout.
Eyes without iris,
Ears perched upwards like
a spearhead on a face of scales.

Smiling, it rose out the back
side of her torn pants, tattooed
on white freckled skin. She
hides it on the small of her back
under a blood red shirt.

She says:
Everyone has dragon tattoos.
True, perhaps.

Sometimes, I see them.

On the arm of an old sailor, a yellow
dragon leaps out of his right sleeve.
The tail slithers down his arm and
twists like a question mark.

A crimson dragon spreads
wings beneath the false breast
of an actress. Glitter surrounds
those intricate claws.

A black dragon covered with
sweat on the belly of a man in a
black suit. The tongue extends
out of a hungry mouth.

Everyone has dragon tattoos.
Perhaps it’s the way they hide
under your clothes, tugged safely
for months before they show
their teeth,

while others remain invisible,
hiding under the skin for years
till an artist carves it into life,
in time, on the best
patch of skin.

Dragons in waiting,
will they ever be seen?
Will they have wings? will they
breathe fire? Or will they sleep
in the cave of our bodies, aching
to be created, conquered,
calmed, kissed?

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 4 replies

Oakland Poetry Slam

2006-04-10T23:51:25Z

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 3 replies

funny how

2006-04-09T08:03:42Z

funny how we get to this place
over and over and over again
like an episode worn out
from too many reruns
funny how things sometimes change
same things but somehow different
like our bedroom's been
rearranged

isn't it sad
soo soo sad

yet doesn't it feel kinda good
like a 2nd, 3rd maybe 4th childhood?

we say we just can't go thru
"this" again
yet we set ourselves up to jump thru
this ring of fire
why we still can't understand

destiny?
it ain't maintenance free
"sweet pea"
or
"hunnie"
do we have to make a choice?

you say you wanna walk the fence
just a little while longer
what fence anyway?
and how does that make us stonger?

Crazy
some may say
call me a fool
and that'd be ok .

:-p

*

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

Smile

2006-04-04T19:39:29Z

Karen inspires me to put up here something that I wrote recently while waiting for a friend. :) I don't usually do poetry and I have spent a little time working on the syllables and rhythym but I don't think I technically have meter down.

A smile and a quick glance away
marks the moment of our first contact;
Why am I afraid to convey
the sight of you makes me react;
A smile--oh that smile.

Your smile taunts me with thoughts of biting your lip.

A smile prompts me to try to find
the courage to stammer, "Hello";
I wonder if anyone would mind
anyone with the power to just say, "No"'
A smile--oh that smile makes me think of more.

Your smile taunts me with thoughts of your hand on my hip.

A smile leads to thoughts so diverse:
how hot it would be if we necked,
the positions we could rehearse,
for with practice our movements we could perfect;
A smile--oh that smile makes me want much more.

Your smile taunts me with thoughts of you holding me with your firm grip.

A smile can be only a smile
so I will just blush and demur,
Intensely hoping all the while
that my smile countenance does confer
A smile--oh that smile...

I'm longing for more than just your smile.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 3 replies

FUROR SCRIBINDI: Spring Workshop Series.

2006-04-03T01:18:28Z

ELYSEUM’s Spring Writers Workshop Series.
FUROR SCRIBINDI: “the Rage of Writing”

Commemorating and inspired by
the noble life and work of Octavia Butler,
ELYSEUM starts this spring series off
focusing on her methods and work philosophy.

Facilitated by award winning writer and educator
Russell Reza-Khaliq Gonzaga
and featuring extraordinary guest facilitators,
the inspirational ELYSEUM Writers Workshop
is a wonderful chance to super-charge your creativity,
enhance your skills,
finish that manuscript
(or get one started!)
and connect with other writers
who are serious about their craft.

Our workshops start with stimulating writing exercises
that are geared toward
sharpening your writing and observation skills.
Then, we help one another by reading
and giving positive feedback on our works.

We have found a home at the wonderful
Marsh Cafe (next to the Marsh Theater).
Meetings take place weekly.
You don't have to attend every single workshop
but we do have a private list serve
where we read and work on our writing.

While ELYSEUM is rooted in Erotica
This writers workshop is open
to writers of ALL genres and forms.

Free for a first session.
$10 per single session.
$35 for a month*
$90 for a full 3 month series*.

*includes access to ELYEUM’s
private online bulletin board.
(Work/trade/barter is negotiable)

the ELYSEUM Writers Workshop
Tuesday nights, 7pm til 9pm
@ the Marsh Cafe
1070 Valencia St. (between 21st and 22nd)
SF CA 94110

“Take classes and go to writer’s workshops. Writing is communication. You need other people to let you know whether you’re communicating what you think you are and whether you’re doing it in ways that are not only accessible and entertaining, but as compelling as you can make them. In other words, you need to know you’re telling a good story.”

-From “Furor Scribindi”
by Octavia E. Butler
(6-22-47 — 2-24-06)
Recipient of the Hugo, Nebula
and the MacArthur Foundation Awards.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Butler

ELYSEUM is
a Paradise for Heroes and Poets.
elyseum.tribe.net/

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

poems inspired from V for Vendetta

2006-04-01T02:17:37Z

Went and saw V for Vendetta the other night.
Wow! What a provocative movie!
Definitely stirred the brain to think, and create.
A couple poems wrote off that edge, right after.

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

~ the end game ~

lucid fiction
slippery reality
evolutionary impulse
intelligent design
wake from the dream
go make a movie
escape this matrix
to find the one
smiling in absolute bliss at death

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

~ Change agent ~

Forgive or forget?
Care to repeat?
Read your history lately?
Seen which way the stars are leaning?
When are we going to get there?
Let's hope your evolution matches your intelligent design.
When it comes time to drink the kool-aid, and pull the lever,
are you with us or against us?
How much do you want change?
Remember, there's always at least three choices in every moment.
But you only get to choose half the time.
Relax and enjoy, as you to, will be on the other side.

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

From Chaz

Stay tuned for surreal images coming to match them from Tantra

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

OCTAVIA ESTELLE BUTLER: 1947-2006

2006-03-24T20:14:44Z

Octavia Butler, 1947-2006:
Sci-fi writer a gifted pioneer in white, male domain

By JOHN MARSHALL
P-I BOOK CRITIC

Her father was a shoeshine man who died when she was a child, her mother was a maid who brought her along on jobs, yet Octavia Butler rose from these humble beginnings to become one of the country's leading writers - a female African American pioneer in the white, male domain of science fiction.

Butler, 58, died after falling and striking her head Friday on a walkway outside her home in Lake Forest Park. The reclusive writer, who moved to Seattle in 1999 from her native Southern California, was a giant in stature (she was 6 feet tall by age 15) and in accomplishment.

She remains the only science fiction writer to receive one of the vaunted "genius grants" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a hard-earned $295,000 windfall in 1995 that followed years of poverty and personal struggles with shyness and self-doubt.

"People may call these 'genius grants,' " Butler said in a 2004 interview with the Seattle P-I, "but nobody made me take an IQ test before I got mine. I knew I'm no genius."

Butler's most popular work is "Kindred," a time-travel novel in which a black woman from 1976 Southern California is transported back to the violent days of slavery before the Civil War. The 1979 novel became a popular staple of school and college courses and now has more than a quarter million copies in print, but its birth was agonizing, like so much in Butler's solitary life.

"Kindred" was repeatedly rejected by publishers, many of whom could not understand how a science fiction novel could be set on a plantation in the antebellum South. Butler stuck to her social justice vision - "I think people really need to think what it's like to have all of society arrayed against you" - and finally found a publisher who paid her a $5,000 advance for "Kindred."

"I was living on my writing," Butler said, "and you could live on $5,000 back then. You could live, but not well. I got along by buying food I didn't really like but was nourishing: beans, potatoes. A 10-pound sack of potatoes lasts a long time."

Steven Barnes, another African American writer, knew Butler during her early writing days in Southern California and later in the Washington when he and his writer wife, Tananarive Due, lived for a time in Longview before returning to Los Angeles. Barnes saw Butler's confidence grow along with her reputation.

"Octavia was one of the purest writers I know," Barnes recalled Sunday. "She put everything she had into her work - she was extraordinarily committed to the craft. Yet, despite her shyness, she was also an open, generous and humane human being. I miss her so much already."

Due added, "It is a cliche to say that she was too good a soul, but it's true. What she really conveyed in her writing was the deep pain she felt about the injustices around her. All of it was a metaphor for war, poverty, power struggles and discrimination. All of that hurt her very deeply, but her gift was that she could use words for the pain and make the world better."

Due believed that Butler came to feel deeply at home in the Northwest after she relocated here with 300 boxes of books. The anonymity of her life in Seattle suited both her artistic devotion and temperament ("I always felt a deep loneliness in her," Barnes said). But Butler did become a frequent participant in readings and writers' conferences, especially Clarion West, which played a crucial role in her own start. She also served on the advisory board of Seattle's Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.

A few friends did get to see the relaxed Butler away from her infrequent moments in the limelight, including Leslie Howle, who took her to see the recent version of "King Kong." Howle describes the writer as "one of the most fun people to be around, with an acerbic sense of humor and a keen observer of human nature."

Butler was a confirmed non-driver who would chat with other bus passengers or with neighbors who gave her rides when she trudged home with bags of groceries, as neighbor Terry Morgan did.

"The first time I picked her up, she took me into her house and autographed a copy of one of her books," Morgan said. "That was a great 'thank you,' especially since I am an African American and we felt a common bond. But it was also obvious to me that writing was her life."

The MacArthur grant brought increasing visibility to Butler and allowed her to buy her first house, where she tended to her ailing mother until her death. (Butler's survivors are two elderly aunts and many cousins in Southern California.)

But the MacArthur grant also brought daunting pressure. Three years later, Butler published "Parable of the Talents," winner of one of her two Nebula Awards in science fiction. Then years passed without another new novel, as projects in Seattle "petered out." Characters and ideas went nowhere and her blood pressure medication left her drowsy and depressed.

The frustrated artist - who first turned to writing at 12 after the sci-fi movie, "Devil Girl from Mars," convinced her that she could write something better - battled worries that "maybe I cannot write anymore."

But at long last, an unlikely vampire novel rekindled her creative fires and brought a burgeoning joy to her craft.

"I can't say I've had much fun in the last few years, what with my version of writer's block," a relieved Butler recalled in 2004. "Writing has been as difficult for me as for people who don't like to write and as little fun. But now the well is filling up again with this vampire novel."

Butler's death means that "Fledgling," published last fall to enthusiastic praise, will likely stand as her final novel, to the great disappointment to Butler's many fans and friends who expected more work.

"The only consolation in losing Octavia so soon," stressed Due, "is that she must have known her place in history."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/books/260959_butlerobit26ww.html

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 15 replies

don't laugh

2006-03-24T16:51:34Z

I am sharing an incredibly dated piece of my own editoria. I found it as I was riffling thru papers to try to discover my passport, but I felt I should share it. It is my earliest and most visceral response to Jeff Buckley (specifically, the song, "So Real." It is no way autobiographical, but I couldn't help but dive into its erotic possibilities...)

...I have not felt such things in a long time, the capacity to languish in the ecstasy of obsession, but I can't help but revere him (Jeff Buckley) for capturing the feeling so poignantly, so perfectly, with his beautiful voice and guitar mastery:

"Let me sleep tonight
on your couch
And remember the smell and fabric
of your simple city dress"

You can sense the vast space between the lover's attention to this detail, and the beloved's indifference to the dress - a "simple," comfortable garment that hangs in the closet, collecting the overall fragrance of skin, hair, perfume, and soap - until the beloved decides, on a whim, to wear it out on a walk with the lover - some friend, some acquaintance.
Perhaps the lover took the whole afternoon and evening to work up the nerve to grasp the dress's hem between his thumb and forefinger...perhaps it was an accident: she stumbled, he reached out a hand for support and, missing her arm, caught a handful of green silk, and the swish of the fabric between his fingers, the vibration of the pile as it pulled across his fingertips, made him long for the feel of it against his face, his arms, his chest, his thighs...
Perhaps it was a hot, humid, August evening, and the exhertion of the walk, and the frenetic, nervous conversation made them perspire, and the heavy summer air carried her casolette up to him at the precise moment of the touch of her dress's hem, and for a moment his senses were assailed by her physical presence - the touch, the smell, the sound of her voice and laughter, the gleam of her teeth in the moonlight, the taste of the wine they drank earlier.
And perhaps, since his life until that moment had seemed like someone else's life, like someone else's dream, and had never captured his sensibilities so completely - perhaps this was the first *real* moment of his life.

Wow - that took me back.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

yay for last night

2006-03-18T23:17:38Z

I really enjoyed being able to share my work with everyone who showed up last night. sorry i ran out so quickly, but I wasn't feeling well, and needed to be up by 7am this morning to go to work.

thanks to everyone else who shared their work last night. it was great.

ktm

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

St. Patricks Day ELYSEUM Volunteer, Work/Trade list for 3/17

2006-03-17T16:31:33Z

If you are volunteering or work/trading for this event, please respond in this thread
and write down what you prefer to do. I will confirm with each of you.

Scroll down to the end to see a brief description of what that duty entails.

-cash (Jim)

- 2nd cash backup

-volunteer and talent coordinator (Amanda)

-photography (Mari)

-set up (2 or 3 people) 6 to 8pm:

-bottom door (security): 10 to 12midnight

-top door (charter/greet): 8 to 10pm

-top door (charter/greet): 10 to 12midnight

-walk around host/usher*: 8 to 10pm

-walk around host/usher*: 10 to 12midnight

-bar check 10 to 12midnight:

-bar check 11 to 1am:

-clean up (next day)

+++++++++++++

CASH (aka Clipboard ONE)

Handle the money and the comp list
(including volunteers and talent)
This is a Work/Trade postition for the ELYSEUM Workshop.

VOLUNTEER AND TALENT COORDINATOR (aka Clipboard TWO)

Wrangling the volunteers and checking in with talent.
Informing volunteers of where they need to be and when.
Finding the relief volunteers when shifts change.
Also, handling the sign ups for the open list.
(This responsiblity may be divided with someone else
who is in the Workshop for work/trade at Amanda discretion)

PHOTOGRAPHY

Taking pretty pictures of all the pretty people (-and Jim as well...)

SET UP

Arrive early to help decorate and arrange furnishing/seating
for the reading.

BOTTOM DOOR (SECURITY)

Check people at the door. Make sure they are here specifically for ELYSEUM.
Also, be ready to help in removing people who aren't adhering to the charter.

TOP DOOR (CHARTER/GREET)

Greet our guests after they've give donation.
Run the charter ("house rules") by them
and be sure they agree to them before they enter.

WALK AROUND HOST/USHER

Your primary responsiblity will be to show the guests where everything is.
You will also be keeping an eye open and cleaning up trash and messes
as the evening goes by. If they have booze to check early in the evening
(before 10) you will be labeling their bottles.

You will also be checking in with the Top Door persons,
the Bottom Door persons and the Bar Check if they need a break or whatnot.

BAR CHECK

We do not serve alcohol. We only check wine or beer of the guests.
You will monitor the bar area and keep an eye on things in the lounge area.

CLEAN UP

If someone can help clean up the next day, that would be great.
If it is a terrible mess, we will have to hire someone as well.

EVERYONE VOLUNTEERING

Should pitch in to help each other.
We will need to do a quick breakdown of the front room
after the reading/performance so we can transition smoothly into Party Mode.
Cleaning up as the night goes on will be everyones responsiblity.

Oh yeah... we are going to need a microphone stand and a music stand.

Again... many hands make ligher work!

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 24 replies

God is Change (Octavia Butler)

2006-03-14T01:06:06Z

All that you touch
You Change.
All that you Change
Changes you.

The only lasting truth
Is Change.

God Is Change.

EARTHSEED: THE BOOK OF THE LIVING

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 2 replies

VICTIMS OF GOD (Octavia Butler)

2006-03-10T01:02:43Z

"A victim of God may,
Through learning adaptation,
Become a partner of God.

"A victim of God may,
Through forethought and planning,
Become a shaper of God.

Or a victim of God may,
Through shortsightedness and fear,
Remain God's victim,
God's plaything,
God's prey."

EARTHSEED: THE BOOKS OF THE LIVING
by Lauren Oya Olamina

(From "Parable of the Sower"
by Octavia Butler)

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

WORSHIP OR YEILD? (Octavia Butler)

2006-03-10T00:42:09Z

We do not worship God.
We perceive and attend God.
We learn from God.
With forethought and work,
We shape God.
In the end, we yeild to God.
We adapt and endure,
for we are Earthseed,
And God is Change."

EARTHSEED:
THE BOOKS OF THE LIVING

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

POSITIVE OBSESSION (Octavia Butler)

2006-03-10T00:38:20Z

Prodigy is, at it's essence,
adaptability and persistance,
positive obsession.

Without persistance,
what remains
is an enthusiasm of the moment.

Without adaptability,
what remains may be
channeled into destructive
fanaticism.

Without positive obsession,
there is nothing at all.

EARTHSEED: THE BOOKS OF THE LIVING
(Parable of the Sower)

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

3/7 Workshop.

2006-03-07T05:09:48Z

Heya!

Just a quick heads up on the 3/7 Workshop
and what to expect.

Jim and Anja will be showing each of us how to use
the private online bulletin board
(I could use a LOT of help!)

I'll lead in a writing excercise or two
and I'll discuss the future of ELYSEUM
the events, retreats as well as the workshop
(I will need to hear feedback on this stuff)

I also want to nail down work/trade exchange
as well as editorial policy for the ELYSEUM section
in Crescent Magazine.

Hope to see ya!

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

Workshop

2006-03-01T23:36:08Z

Last nights Workshop meeting was FANTASTIC!

I am so happy with the huge turnout of great people!

That cinches it: The ELYSEUM Workshop will be held
Tuesday of EVERY WEEK at the Marsh Cafe.

Of course, we will have our ELYSEUM Performance
EVERY MONTH
and
we are putting together the first ELYSEUM Writers Retreat.

YeeeOWZA!

Thanks to all who showed up
and those who wanted to, but couldn't
Come on in next Tuesday.

As we discussed last night
I will be locking things in by the next two meetings.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

the new ELYSEUM Writers Workshop!

2006-02-27T03:15:20Z

There has been overwhelming interest in sparking up the ELYSEUM Writers Workshop again.

I'm trying to get the first one going. I will ask Alexandria if she wants to help out again (as she did last year)
but she's very busy and very pregnant (yay!) so we might not be able to have her grace us with her lovely presence
and her expertise.

I have spoken with the people at the Marsh Cafe (Valencia @ 20th) and they would love to host.

I already have six people who have expressed a strong interest in this.
Anyone else?

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 6 replies

Not Sure If I'm Still Here

2006-02-20T07:10:32Z

I pressed a button that I thought meant "exit this tribe for now" and instead I think I might have unsubscribed. I hate the new TRIBE.

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 4 replies

DUI

2006-02-11T05:05:10Z

My DUI

Out here
rolling up and welling ocean
rounding moon mother
releasing energy inside
without opening
or closing

Shredding darkness
illumier
unfolding
light like
liquid
to drench
the soul
awakening
again
urges
primodial
and raw.
i am a moonchild
out here
tribal hunting
totem searching
and
driving under the influence
of almost full moon
mother
intoxicated
and
glowing.
glowing.

celestialgrrrl

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 1 reply

My Valentine To Woo

2006-02-08T04:45:34Z

This Love is my deep wound.

Notice this now for it is critical
to my every breath;

I treat my wound with careful
and deliberate affection

I crave this wound,
this bleeding
red real love.

celestial
grrrl

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

Rainer Maria Rilke

2006-02-02T04:24:47Z

http://fractalvideo.com/HTML/TGCFV.html

film trailer....playing next week over in Oakland

Don't know if posting this here is acceptable and if not Sensei please redirect but this may be of interest to others who do more than linger in poetics...
Poetry and poetic visuals...looks more than interesting to me....love it

celestialgrrrl

http://www.verticalpool.com/dvd.html

posted in ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers - 0 replies

ELYSEUM: a Paradise for Heroes & Writers's topics - tribe.net

*tap tap* is this mic on?

Therapy

Back to THIS tribe!

The HIPPIES meet the HIPSTERS @ Harbin!

eating...a poem of our times...

upcoming open mic...

lrs style...

little red studio art-a-thon...24 hours of art making madness...

MC MAGIC

octavia butler.....

desire

a moth who drank the tears of sleeping magpies

electric dreams manifestation

Blues4Kali- Inzane ExperiMental MetaFaction

Hi I'm new...

morphing the muse

Inching toward the solistice

Share your poetry!

Beauty, Truth and Bibliomania

Submission for elyseum online journal

trip to Church of Saint John Coltraine

change in TOU soothes concerns we had

Workshop on "Publication" This TUESDAY

Volunteers for the Expo this Saturday?

lunar lather

cosmic power

sexaudible.com internet radio/erotica/spoken word

I have a confession to make...

grassroots writing excersise

An Oil Lamp turned Low

New ELYSEUM Workshops Sparking Up!

Mislabeled

"Step the fuck off!!"

What Makes a Good Story?

Late Dated Rope Ride (my intro poem)

Speaker Speaking Speaker- fresh from the workshop

share your bookshelf with everyone, online

The Elysium Midsummer Festival. The Fusion of Communities Continues.

arrigato :-)

BOSCO HO where are you?

Summer Solstice Events

Workshop Bios!

Workshop Location: The FARM

Monday Night Write tonight @ Bean Bag Cafe, San Francisco

rain

Sensei's Writing Online...

A child crys in the dark and other rants

Dragon poem

Oakland Poetry Slam

funny how

Smile

FUROR SCRIBINDI: Spring Workshop Series.

poems inspired from V for Vendetta

OCTAVIA ESTELLE BUTLER: 1947-2006

don't laugh

yay for last night

St. Patricks Day ELYSEUM Volunteer, Work/Trade list for 3/17

God is Change (Octavia Butler)

VICTIMS OF GOD (Octavia Butler)

WORSHIP OR YEILD? (Octavia Butler)

POSITIVE OBSESSION (Octavia Butler)

3/7 Workshop.

Workshop

the new ELYSEUM Writers Workshop!

Not Sure If I'm Still Here

DUI

My Valentine To Woo

Rainer Maria Rilke

tap tap is this mic on?