Resources of Beauty

This is where I’ll post material that inspired a Musings essay and/or are currently consuming me. I also may post the video, music or article that highlights a component of the theme for the week.  These resources became essential in our quest of redefining beauty and gathering the courage to seek further, broader, more collective goals…En route to Bliss. Keep checking back, I’ll be adding new material often. What can I say? There are so many forms of inspiration in which The Muse manifests…

Empowerment

Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher

As our society undervalues essential qualities such as intelligence, wit and creative spirit, today’s girls stifle their natural impulses and suffer low self esteem. Accounts from girls in the trenches today offering parents, adolescents, teachers, friends advice on ways we can resurrect Ophelia’s lost sense of self.

Cited in Musings Essay: Other Queens: Molly Ringwald, Stewie and Me

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

Pay attention to your inner voice. Be alert to the signals your own body sends out in order for us to protect and preserve ourselves. We already know many of the survival skills to protect our bodies; however, let’s use our instincts to protect our physical, emotional and soulful selves as well.

Cited in Musings Essay: You Already Know

Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons

A look into the little-known world of aggressive bullying amongst girls. There is a female code that has been established, and if a girl performs outside of these rules, she is at risk of physical, emotional, and psychological torture handed down by her peers. And most the time said damage is bestowed and suffered in silence.

Cited in Musings Essay: Aphrodite and Kristen Go Against The Code

Psychology, Case Studies

Are empathy and compassion becoming endangered concepts? Certainly it is under-appreciated and taken for granted. What happens when we lose the capacity to understand or care about others’ feelings? Is this the root of cruelty? Important, essential topic in today’s environment–especially in the age of stalkerazzi and the anonymity-breeding internets.

Cited in Musings Essay: A Stew Review, and Stew Anew Pt IV

Creativity & Bliss

The Hero Within by Carol Pearson

We are collaborators in the evolving species and our universe, in our personal and collective journeys. Integrate and learn about the patterns in human relationships and motivations. Take the journey in discovering the hero within.

Cited in Musings Essay: Thoughts Amongst Wanderers Part 2

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The artistic impulse does not reside in the chosen few. We all are creative beings. The more we embrace our naturally creative sparks, the more authentic and content we are as humans.

Cited in Musings Essay: A Creative Life IS Personal

Zen and the Art of Making A Living by Laurence Boldt

Drawing from wisdom of art, religions, philosophy, anthropology and science, this book serves as a gentle guide in designing the life you want to live…creatively, wholly, as yours. Helping you find the ability to work to live, instead of live to work.

Cited in Musings Essay: A Creative Life Is Personal

Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss

We are here. What can we do about it? What agreements have we made with beloveds, soul mates, our higher powers, and ourselves?

Cited in Musings Essay: A Moo Mission: KStew & Vogue Inspire Seeking the Global Soul

Beauty and Esteem

Getting the Pretty Back by Molly Ringwald

Pretty is a “state of mind”, says Molly, the Quintessential It Girl of 80’s movies. The Muse for late, Great John Hughes reminds us that our most beautiful moments are when we are most confident in ourselves, despite fashion sensibility or age.

Cited in Musings Essay: Other Queens: Molly Ringwald, Stewie and Me

A Woman’s Worth by Marianne Williamson

An unbiased though spiritual point of view on women in today’s society. Themes of intelligence, career, love and spirituality are explored while offering support to readers seeking guidance on chosen paths.

Cited in Musings Essay: Finding Your Voice and the Courage to Sing Loudly

I Am An Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler

Dear Emotional Creature: I believe in you. I believe in your authenticity, your uniqueness, your intensity, your wildness.  I love your restlessness and your hunger. You are our greatest natural resources. ~Eve Ensler

Cited in Musings Essay: Strawberry Confidence and a Little Help From My Friends

The Curse of The Good Girl by Rachel Simmons

Having courage or  intelligence is no longer a reason for alienation and fear. Find the courage to raise your voice. Find the confidence to recognize that being genuine is equal to being good.

Cited in Musings Essay: Acceptance of The Good

Love and Relationships

Love and Awakening by John Welwood

Cited in Musings Essay: Redefining Learnings of Love

Literary Enrichment 

Veronika Decides To Die by Paulo Coelho

A  young woman is bored with her life, despite possessing beauty, talent, a fulfilling job and a bevy of admirers. She swallows a handful of sleeping pills in efforts to end her soulless, rote life, only to wake up and discover she had not succeeded. Not fully, anyway. Veronika finds herself committed to a local mental hospital with a weakened heart and an expiration tag on her living days. This provocative, resonant prose questions the meaning of “madness” and celebrates vitality and anyone who does not fit into the societal “norms”…i.e. OTHER. Every day is a renewed opportunity to live. Unhindered.

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Restless wanderers seek direction and hope amidst drugs, jazz, and poetry, staving off feelings of post-war disillusionment. Dean, Sal and Marylou are on a quest for self-understanding and home.

Cited in Musings Essay: The Journey is the Risk…and The Reward

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.” Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams.” ~From The Alchemist

Fair Philanthropy

Causes and charities I’ve endorsed within Musings essays and in my 3D life. Check your local listings for organizations and agencies supporting philosophies and causes in which you believe. Click on the banners for redirects.

Fandom Fights Mental Illness

Fandom For Sexual Assault Awareness 

Covenant House for Kristen’s Birthday 

Red Cross Disaster Response and Relief