the renaissance negresse museletter: art | inspiration | community by Cassendre Xavier

renaissance negresse museletter/catalog February 7, 2012

2012-02-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

art | inspiration | community

brought to you by Cassendre Xavier

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
1) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
2) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
3) WOMEN’S WRITING & SPOKEN WORD SERIES UPDATE
4) WRITING/LITERARY UPDATE
5) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE CATALOG
6) BOOKING/CONTACT (HOUSE CONCERTS, PRIVATE/PUBLIC/CORPORATE AND/OR LITERARY EVENTS, ETC.)

=====================================================
1) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
Haitian/Chinese-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002. A musician, writer, actress, andvisual artist, Xavier (who sometimes works under the names Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls) says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2002) and the Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990. ["Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. `Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to `My dear, my darling, my sweet.'" [From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.]

2) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
For the latest news about the Black Women’s Arts Festival’s PARTNERSHIP WITH MOONSTONE, its PLANS OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA, and how you can SUPPORT THE BLACK WOMEN'S ARTS FESTIVAL, please read our latest Newsletter (dated February 4, 2012, please visit http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/4315 or http://tinyurl.com/6rl4xxz.

3) WOMEN’S WRITING & SPOKEN WORD SERIES UPDATE
For reasons similar to those stated in the Black Women’s Arts Festival’s latest newsletter listed in the previous section, the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series is on hiatus insofar as producing events until further notice, however we are still archiving the various video and print materials we’ve gathered since 2002. Please visit http://www.WomensWritingSeries.homestead.com or stay tuned to CX newsletters for further news and updates.

4) WRITING/LITERARY UPDATE
Cassendre is doing a lot of personal journal writing for self-actualization and the accomplishment of certain specific personal, creative, and professional goals. Currently she resigned from her monthly column commitment of Wisdom Magazine’s online edition. As with Skrewtips and the PGN columns, Cassendre’s columns ran roughly a year each. You may read archives of Cassendre’s Wisdom Magazine columns at http://www.tinyurl.com/CXWisdom.
When new items of Cassendre’s writing are available, they will be included in the renaissance negresse catalog portion of this newsletter.

5) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE CATALOG
Below are the places where you can find Cassendre’s various works for free, for sale, in various print, and recorded formats. Enjoy and thank you for your interest in and support of the renaissance negresse!
Below is the section about Cassendre’s music. Here is a brief bio of her music: “Described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade & Enya” (Steven M. Wilson, Borders Music), Cassendre Xavier has been performing her brand of jazzy-soulful acoustic pop in a folk/rock style since moving to Philadelphia in 1991. Her CD Live at Tin Angel garnered the high praise from Philadelphia City Paper music critic M.J. Fine who said that had live albums been eligible, it would’ve been number 9 of the “Top 21 Local EPs of 2007” (Jill Scott was number 21!). She has shared the stage with folk/rock greats Cheryl Wheeler, Toshi Reagon, John Flynn, Charlie King, and Pat Humphreys, among others, and been featured on Power 99FM, WXPN, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, among other local media. Also an award-winning community arts organizer, Xavier is the founder and one of the organizers of Philadelphia’s 6th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival. Her 8th indie release Capable of Love was released in January to critical acclaim.”
MUSIC CDs
Capable of Love (2009)
Live at Tin Angel (2006)
Beautiful (2004)
The Cassendre Xavier Collection, Vol. 1 (2004)
Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo (2004)
4OUR: A Cassendre Xavier Sampler (2003)
Live at Café Improv (2002)
The Whittenberg Sessions (2002)
The above titles are all available from CD Baby at http://tinyurl.com/CXCDbaby
MUSIC DOWNLOADS
Capable of Love (2009)
Live at Tin Angel (2006)
The above titles are available from CD Baby at http://tinyurl.com/CXCDbaby
They are also available from iTunes at http://www.tinyurl.com/CXiTunes
GUIDED MEDITATION CDs
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality (2007)
Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love (2007)
The above titles are available for $12 each or $20 for both (includes shipping in the USA). Send an email to cxmusic(at)gmail.com or send a blank self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Cassendre Xavier, POB 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204 USA to receive an order form.

PRINT AND EBOOKS
NEW!!! Cassendre’s ebooks are now available for donation only! That’s right, for a donation of any amount, you, too, can have an ebook in your inbox in a matter of hours (or minutes, depending on whether I’m online when you order!)
(Print book) Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: a Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook & Journal $18 (includes shipping in the USA) Order at http://www.cxbooks.eventbrite.com
(Print chapbook) This is What a Millionaire Looks Like: Inspiring Essays - a Curious Bookling ($7 includes shipping in the USA) Order at http://www.cxbooks.eventbrite.com
(Ebook) Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: A Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook & Journal (Donation of any amount) Order at http://www.cxbooks.eventbrite.com
(Ebook) This is What a Millionaire Looks Like: Inspiring Essays - a Curious Bookling (Donation of any amount) Order at http://www.cxbooks.eventbrite.com
You can also make a www.paypal.com “Gift” donation to cxmusic(at)gmail.com (be sure to remove the “at” and replace it with @).

VISUAL ART (TO VIEW)
From Cassendre’s official website, “I painted and/or drew these images between 1985 & 2005. I use acrylic on canvas; watercolor, markers, chalk, and/or pencil on paper. I am currently working on expanding my collection of paintings and drawings, including sculpture, and I hope to someday have a group or solo exhibit.”
To view, visit http://www.cassendrexavier.com/Visual_Art.html

COLLABORATIONS, ANTHOLOGIES & COMPILATIONS
Cassendre has contributed to various musical and literary projects currently available for purchase:
MUSIC
Joe’s Café, by Rupert Wates (2010 Bitemusic Limited) Cassendre sings Track 6 “Snow in New York”, an original Rupert Wates song. Listen /order CD/ download : http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/RupertWates1
Darimar Presents (2003 Darimar Records. Tracks 8 & 9 “Friend”, and “Life of the Party” original CX songs and performance) Listen / order CD / download: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/darimarcomp
BOOKS
Butch Cookbook , edited by Lee Lynch, Sue Hardesty, Nel Ward ((June 15, 2008 – TRB Cookbooks) Cassendre contributed a raw vegan dessert recipe. http://butchcookbook.com/detail2.php?photo=8 (That’s Cassendre’s author page with butchy pics. Click on “Home” for more info about the book and other contributors.)
Dykes with Baggage: a Lighter Side of Lesbians in Therapy, edited by Riggin Waugh (Nov 1, 2000 / Alyson Publications) Review / order: http://www.amazon.com/Dykes-Baggage-Riggin-Waugh/dp/1555835686/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328589486&sr=8-1 or http://tinyurl.com/6s267j8
We’Moon: Gaia Rhythms for Womyn (1999 / Mother Tongue Ink) Order from www.amazon.com or http://www.wemoon.ws
We’Moon: Gaia Rhythms for Womyn (2001 / Mother Tongue Ink) Order from www.amazon.com or http://www.wemoon.ws
When Falls the Coliseum: a journal of American culture (or lack thereof) edited by Scott Stein (Sep 7, 2001 / Free Reign Press) Cassendre received a wonderful Philadelphia City Paper review (by Karen Gross) for her several pieces in this anthology. Review / order: http://www.amazon.com/When-Falls-Coliseum-journal-American/dp/0970155417/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328589643&sr=1-1 or http://tinyurl.com/6lgac83

CXTV (VIDEO / YOUTUBE CHANNEL)
Cassendre has music, raw food prep, guided meditations, affirmations, humor, poetry, erotica, tomfoolery, shenanegans, and malarckey at her official YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/cassendrexavier or http://www.tinyurl.com/cxyoutube or at her official website at http://www.cassendrexavier.com/CX_TV.html

6) BOOKING/CONTACT (For HOUSE CONCERTS, PRIVATE/PUBLIC/CORPORATE AND/OR LITERARY EVENTS, ETC.)
Music booking email: cxmusic(at)gmail.com
Literary booking email: cxwriting(at)gmail.com

renaissance negresse Museletter is © 2012 by Cassendre Xavier. All rightsen reservenitzken. www.cassEndrExavier.com

rainbowimmin newsletter (dinner/concert Sun 4/10!)

2011-04-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

rainbowimmin newsletter: for womyn-loving-womyn of all colours in Greater Philadelphia

(a Cassendre Xavier Enterprise)

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Table of Contents....

1) GREETING
2) RAINBOWIMMIN UPDATE
3) NEXT RAINBOWIMMIN EVENT
4) BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
5) CREDITS AND OTHER PLUGGERY DEVICERY UNITS (AKA “SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION”)
6) FAREWELL BLESSING

Contents of Table...

1) GREETING
Dear wimminfolk!
I trust this letter finds you doing well :-)
I am thrilled to announce that for the first time in over 7 years, rainbowimmin is having an event and this release is also its first newsletter in a very long time!

2) RAINBOWIMMIN UPDATE
For years, I waited for “someone” or group to approach me to take over rainbowimmin, but no one ever did. I am no longer waiting and have decided to let go of the typical newsletter and/or event production model and simply find things I’d like to attend and post them as events. This reminds me that was the original idea and functioning of rainbowimmin to begin with – funny how as we “grow” we solo/ARTrepreneurs sometimes feel pressured to mimic other business models. We don’t have to do that. We can just do what makes us happy!

3) NEXT RAINBOWIMMIN EVENT
Gaye Adegbalola in concert!
Gaye was a long-standing member of Saffire: Uppity Blues Women (including blues piano-playing singer Ann Rabson, whom I had the pleasure of twice sharing the stage with).
Gaye is one of the first well-known singers to come out as a womon-loving-womon in the early 1990s, well before k.d. lang, Melissa Etheridge, and Janis Ian did, and for those of us black chyks who are always looking for examples of ourselves, Gaye is also melanin-enriched! You can learn more about her at www.GayeAdegbalola.com.
She will be performing at the esteemed acoustic listening venue the Psalm Salon, located in the Overbrook area of Philadelpia (accessible to SEPTA’s Thorndale/Paoli regional rail, and buses G and 65 among others.)

Further details:

Gaye Adegbalola sings at the Psalm Salon
Sunday April 10, 2011
8:00pm
Tickets $22 in advance (includes $2 service fee)
Psalm Salon
5841 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-477-7578
www.PsalmSalon.com

4) BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
For those of you who would like to meet and much before the show, I and a few of my friends will be meeting at a nearby restaurant before the concert. You’re welcome to join us, as this is an official rainbowimmin event. So, you’re actually very much wanted there!

rainbowimmin dinner (before Gaye Adegbalola’s Psalm Salon concert)
Sunday April 10, 2011
6:00pm
Saffron Indian Kitchen
145 Montgomery Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Ph. 484-278-4112
Ph. 484-278-4113
www.saffronofphilly.com (Please note their homepage shows their city as being “Ambler”, but that is incorrect. They are indeed in Bala Cynwyd. But you don’t have to take my word for it – call them if you want more confirmation!)

RSVP requested: Please email rainbowimmin(at)yahoo.com if you plan on coming. Thanks!

5) CREDITS AND OTHER PLUGGERY DEVICERY UNITS (AKA “SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION”)
rainbowimmin newsletter & events is a project of Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls). Cassendre, as she prefers to be called, is an award-winning multi-media artist and community/arts organizer who coined the term “renaissance negresse” in 2002.
Between a whole lot of naps, dates, tomfoolery, malarkey, and shenanigans, Cassendre is the founder, director, and, where applicable, multi-media performing host of the following, which are all projects of Cassendre Xavier Enterprises:

Serious Creature Music (Indie record label, established in 1994). Musical projects: http://www.Cdbaby.com/artist/cassEndrExavier. Guided meditations: http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE.

ARtivist Publications (Small press, established in 1995): Multi-genre feminist writing (mostly spiritual, uplifting, overall health-related, and humorous) with a black, New Age, eclectic pagan, sexy, LGBT-friendly slant. http://artivistpublications.homestead.com.

The Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Established 2002), a nurturing environment that celebrates women in the craft of multi-genre writing. Monthly reading at Moonstone Arts Center/Robin’s Books, in Center City, Philadelphia, featuring 2 female readers, and always including a Mixed-Gender Open Mic. Streams live, and only $5 Admission! Schedule and submissions: http://WomensWritingSeries.org.

Black Women’s Arts Festival (Established in 2003) Philadelphia’s 8th Annual - Thursday July 28th thru Sunday July 31sth, 2011 at multiple venues including the Rotunda, Moonstone Arts Center, and Big Marble Bookstore. Submissions and other information, such as how I can assist you in producing a BWAF in your neck of the woods, at http://www.BWAFphilly.org.

6) FAREWELL BLESSING
May you stay true to yourself in all ways.
May you continue to seek, be, and find community.
May you celebrate your life and all its joys.
May you receive all your heart’s desires, surpassing all your expectations – this, or something better, and may it be for the good of all.

~Cassendre

CONTACT US
Join the mailing list by sending a blank email to: rainbowimmin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. After you send this email, please add to your Contacts/Safe list: rainbowimmin AT yahoo.com (remove spaces and “At” – add @).
Email us (no events, please): rainbowimmin(at)yahoo.com
Visit our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rainbowimmin
Please, NO calls, texts, or emails to any other address other than what is listed here. Help a busy gal keep on the saner side of things, will ya? Thanks!

(c) 2011 by Cassendre Xavier Enterprises. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com.

ME! ME! ME! CX Museletter “Joy at the Psalm 4/2”

2011-04-01T14:27:00.001-07:00

ME! ME! ME! A Cassendre Xavier Museletter
The “Joy at the Psalm 4/2” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.)
Friday, April 1, 2011

A) GREETING
1) I WANNA BE ON THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW!
2) SINGING WITH RUPERT WATES!
3) DID YOU SEE ME ON THE “COMPUTER TV” LAST NIGHT?
4) BUYING TICKETS IN ABSENTIA
5) BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND DUELING FOR GUMMI BEARS
Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

A) GREETING
Howdy, folkseses! How’s it goin’?
Fine, here. I loves me some overcast/rain so I’ve been pretty tickled these last few days, but it’s challenging because the general population doesn’t feel so much enamored of this weather. I’ve gotta hear rain being slandered hither and yon most of the time when it rains and I’m tired of it, iffn’ ya wanna know the truth!
But Moi digresseth (aka “digressifieth”):
I am here to share a story:

1) I WANNA BE ON THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW!
So I’m busking the other day (Google it) and a new CX music appreciator stopped by to say how much he enjoyed my CD. He said, “You should be on...” and proceeded to list the latest talk shows. I responded, “Funny, ‘cause when you said that, the first thought I had was “Merv Griffin”. And he said, “Ohhhh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were that old!” High-larious! I thought about it later and realized why I had thought of Merv Griffin. Why had I gone so far back in my TV watchin’ experience? Surely, I have watched many shows, from Jimmy Kimmel to Craig Ferguson and so forth. I realized that Merv Griffin’s show was what I watched in my formative years as budding musician. I was coming home from school and watching his show, dreaming of the day I’d play that, or a similar stage. I merged myself with Diana Ross (later to be Sade, as most black female singers dream of being/like), for some reason always a huge ‘fro, and lights – always lights. I watched the Merv Griffin show, enjoying his curious combination of gaydar-alarming behavior and chyk-flirt-with-ism. He had chemistry with Zsa Zsa Gabor, dahling, and I thrilled when the always outrageous Grace “Grapes” Jones said, “Would you like a black lipstick kiss?” and planted one before I could squeal, “Omigod, a black woman is kissing a white guy on TV!!!” How far we have come, my friends. How far we have come.
But where was I??
Oh, yeah, some deud said I was old. But I am forever young at heart, so there!
Guess what I’m doing tomorrow?

2) SINGING WITH RUPERT WATES!
Saturday, April 2, 2011 8PM - $16/Advance, $20/Door
I'll be singing with Rupert Wates at The Psalm Salon, 5841 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19131, 215-477-7578 www.PsalmSalon.com . Rupert Wates online www.BiteMusicLimited.com, www.RupertWatesMusic.com, www.MySpace.com/RupertWates
I am so busy I haven’t taken the time to tell you this:
Rupert rocks. He is my friend and you should go because he’s a superb songwriter. I met him in NY in 2009. We’ve been friends ever since and I’m one of the many singers on his acclaimed project Joe’s Cafe. This is an album based on true stories of the American dust bowl era, whatever that is. History and geography are not so much my thing, but music? You’re damn skippy, and those songs are GOOD. I sing track 6 “Snow in New York” and it’s been getting play all over the world. Rupert and various musicians have performed this album live numerous times, culling local singers whenever he is able. I’ve sung with him in New York’s Metropolitan Room and now tomorrow.
Please know that you can watch the show live tomorrow from wherever you are, then anytime for free, because it’s archived!!! www.ustream.tv/channel/live-at-the-psalm-salon

3) DID YOU SEE ME ON THE “COMPUTER TV” LAST NIGHT?
If you missed our show last night at Ray Naylor’s, it also is archived. Visit the following link for details: CX singing with Rupert Wates on Ray Naylor's UStream internet show "Artists You Should Know About" www.RayNaylor.net
Incidentalment, Ray invited me to be his featured guest in autumn, so I’ll be sure to let you know about that rockin’ segment when it is schedulified (aka “scheduliated”).

I am very impressed with all this live streaming business. Another way cool idea is...

4) BUYING TICKETS IN ABSENTIA
The great Toshi Reagon (www.ToshiReagon.com) gave me the idea when around 2008 I noticed she not only hardcore plugs her shows (I didn’t have a naturally occurring need to use the beloved word “ass” in this newsletter, so of course I took the opportunity to put the word “plug” next to the word “hardcore”. See? I does what I cans :-), but she also encourages folks to buy tickets even if they couldn’t make it. A grand idea, that, being that she being a typical Aquarian (such as Yorz Trooli) has a wide breadth of fannery (aka “fannage”). Twixt MySpace, Facebook, and the newfangled Twitterocity, one has the capacity to have appreciators all across this green, green globe of ours. If someone in Arkansas wants to support our work, they can, simply by buying a ticket from afar.
And you can make your gift go further if you buy the ticket(s), then notify the venue that you’d like the ticket reserved for the artist you are supporting. Then we can offer those tickets to people we barter services with, or with human services organizations, such as homeless shelters. I’ve been at events before wherein some of the attendees were the recipients of such gifts. It’s a grand idea. $16 (the advance price of the Rupert Wates tickets) is not such a high number for most people, and it would do a great service to Rupert and us, as we not only fill seats but sell tickets for the venue as well. And the more people who appear, the more who are likely to either purchase CDs of the artists(s) or become fans.

5) BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND DUELING FOR GUMMI BEARS
Last thing, and I know I should’ve covered this in the “just the facts” section (the beginning), but the singers who will be with Rupert tomorrow: J.D. Malone, Craig Bickhardt, Gina (sorry, don’t know her last name), Stacey Lorin Merkl and myself, will not only be singing 2-3 songs of Ruperts, but in the 1st set, we will be performing our own songs – one each.
So, come to the show, watch us do our thing – what we were born to do. If you can’t be there, buy a ticket, or more than one ticket. Support the arts, and the arts will support you. Or something, I dunno. I’m bummed because I thought I was going to busk today, being a Friday and the 1st of the month and all, I thought it would’ve been a great day to do that, but alas, I may have missed my opportunity writing this here love letter to you good people. But it’s all good, as my people say (they do say that, you know. They really do! What? You dare to dispute me? You wanna take it outside huh? Fine. You take it outside. I’ll wait here and not pursue this matter any further as I really do prefer to avoid confrontation. So go ahead and put your little white glove back on, buddy, because I will NOT duel you, okay? Well, I mean, not unless by “duel”, you mean having a contest to see who can eat the most Gummi bears. ‘Cause that I could do. Seriously. And you wouldn’t have a chance. You’d be all cryin’ on your way home. Waaaaaah! Yep. That’s what you would sound like, ya jive turkey. Don’t get me started! Now where was I? Oh yeah!)
I shall do some writing and much needed napcatchuppage (aka “napcatchuppery”)!

Hope to see you tomorrow or at some future CX show.
Rock on with yourself that is oh so very, very....GOOD!
P.S. I just realized what I can do....practice for tomorrow show! Duh! :-)
P.P.S. And I have a hunch there might be some rewards for avoiding great numbers of people on a day notoriously known as “April Fool’s”, although it’s not nearly as ominous as “Mischief Night” :-)

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING
May you feel the glory and fullness of Life at every moment.
May you notice when you have a negative thought, and without judgment, put a positive thought next to it.
May you muster up the gumption to say the L word more often (love, love, love).
May you make loving yourself your top priority.
May this year harmoniously and joyfully bring you all your heart’s desires, surpassing all your expectations – this, or something better, and may it be for the good of all. And so it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Make yourself a beautiful day!

In art and community,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls)
renaissance negresse (musician, writer, visual artist, actress)
http://www.cassEndrExavier.com

Founder, Curator and Musical Host of the Women's Writing & Spoken Word
Series (Est. 2002) http://WomensWritingSeries.org (Next event: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 streaming LIVE from the Moonstone Arts Center, and featuring The Ignant Intellectual, and Brooke Strauss! $5 includes Mixed-Gender Open Mic!)

Founder & Director of Philadelphia's Annual Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003) http://BWAFphilly.org (Next event: Thursday, July 28th thru Sunday, July 31st, 2011 at the Rotunda, Moonstone Arts Center, Big Blue Marble Bookstore! Mid Submissions April 1 thru May 1!)

Ó 2011 by Cassendre Xavier. All rightsen reservenitzhken. www.cassEndrExavier.com.
Number of times the word “ass” appeared in this writing: 1. (I’ll do better next time :-)
To unsubscribe: Reply with “Remove” in the subject.
To subscribe: Send blank email to: cassendrexavier-subscribe@yahoo.com.

CX Sings Cash/Williams 2/23 & Other Upcoming Shows!

2011-02-20T22:15:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends: You often ask me where I’m playing. I’m usually very busy doing other things and these event announcements fall by the wayside. But I’m transforming my life a little every day, and making progress in all ways is a part of the success I am building and attracting. So, here’s a notice of upcoming appearances. I hope to see you sometime again soon in person :-) -Appreciatively, Cassendre

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8pm, No cover.
Hank Williams/Johnny Cash Tribute Show hosted by Kenn Kweder and Dani Mari

Triumph Brewing Company OLD CITY
117 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.triumphbrew.com
This is going to be a really fun show!

Featured artists and their set times:

8:00-8:15 Shawn Kilroy- Angel of Death & The Folksinger
8:15-8:30 Alec Stewart- Sunday Morning Coming Down
8:30-8:45 Dave Robins- I Saw the Light & Folsom Prison Blues
8:45-9:00 David Rowan- Hurt & I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
9:00-9:15 Cassendre Xavier – TBA , TBA (I likes to surprise my peoples :-)
9:15-9:30 Jon Houlon- Honky Tonkin & Beast in Me
9:30-9:45 Fishstick
9:45-10:00 Scott Kollman- Like the 309 & God's Gonna Cut You Down
10:00-10:15 Peter Stone Brown- Big River & Lost Highway
10:15-10:30 Adam Gregory- Ramblin Man & Would You Play With Me
10:30- 10:45 Reverand TJ McGlinchey- Cocaine Blues & Long Black Veil
10:45-11:00 TC Cole- 25 Minutes to Go & I've Been Everywhere
11:00-11:15 Josh Olmstead
11:15- 11:30 The Travelers- Walk the Line & Ring of Fire
11:30-11:45 Sunshine Superman- Jackson
11:45- 12:00 Eric Gershenow- Flesh & Blood & I Hang My Head
12:00-12:15- September
12:15-12:30- Jaime Olsen
12:30-1:00- Todd Zamostein
1:00-1:15- Neil Subramanya- Give My Love to Rose
===============================
Wednesday, March 9, Cassendre hosts, reads her writing, and performs
live music at the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series at Moonstone
Arts Center, 110A S. 13th Street (at Sansom St), Philadelphia, PA
19107 Tel 215-735-9598. 7pm – 8:30pm $5 admission includes featured
readers Lynne “Inner Light” Rabchuk, Maleka Fruean, and a mixed-gender
open mic. The event streams live at http://www.MoonstoneLIVE.com. For
ongoing submissions and more about the Series, visit
www.WomensWritingSeries.org.

=================================

Saturday, March 26, opens for women’s music icon Tret Fure at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County
145 West Rose Tree Road, Media, PA, PA 19070, 7pm, tickets $18 in
advance, $22 at the door, Student with ID $10, www.tinyurl.com/TretCX
or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/153187.

Thursday, March 31, sings with London-born singer-songwriter Rupert
Wates when he appears on Ray Naylor’s UStream internet show “Artists
You Should Know About”, which streams live at 8pm from
www.RayNaylor.net.
==============================================
Saturday, April 2, singing with Rupert Wates at the Psalm Salon, 5841
Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19131, 215-477-7578, 8pm, $16 in
advance, $20 at the door. www.PsalmSalon.com.

Cassendre has also been a raw vegan since 2005 and runs an on-going
raw vegan – green smoothie challenge on Facebook at
www.tinyurl.com/CXRawChallenge.

Cassendre is a columnist at Wisdom Magazine. Visit archives here http://tinyurl.com/CXWisdom (Source: http://wisdom-magazine.com/ArticleArchives.aspx?isLike=true&author=cassendre%20xavier)

Musical CDs: http://cdbaby.com/artist/cassendrexavier (also at iTunes, Amazon, etc.)
Guided Meditations by Amethyste Rah (aka CX) http://stores.lulu.com/cassendre
CX Direct (including books and guided meditations): http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com

My “Women’s Music” Bio:

Cassendre Xavier has co-billed with Alix Dobkin, Lucie Blue Tremblay, Toshi Reagon, Pat Humphries of emma's revolution, Ubaka Hill, and Anne Rabson of Sapphire: Uppity Blues Women. Under her Serious Creature Music label, she released 6 original recordings described as "a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya" (Steven M. Wilson, Borders), and her album "Live at Tin Angel" was honorably mentioned by Philadelphia City Paper's M. J. Fine as the number 9 of "Top 21 Local EPs of 2007". WXPN 88.5's Amazon Country host Debra D'Alessandro has said, "Her stage presence is one part sex kitten serenading in heels, two parts powerhouse kick-ass feminist troubadour poet. In concert with Cassendre Xavier, there is never a dull moment."
For more, uh, stuff, visit www.cassEndrExavier.com. Thanks :-)

renaissance negresse Museletter February 11, 2011

2011-02-11T00:56:00.000-08:00

renaissance negresse Museletter February 11, 2011

art | inspiration | community

brought to you by Cassendre Xavier

Friday, February 11, 2011

In this ediccione:

A) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
1) SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT EGYPT
2) JOAN HANNA & ANGEL HOGAN READING
3) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS
4) FACEBOOK WALL
5) THINGS YOU PROBABLY WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT
6) CX DIRECT MAIL ORDER FORM
Z) BUT DON’T BE MEAN

A) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
Haitian/Chinese-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002. A musician, writer, actress, and visual artist, Xavier (who sometimes works under the names Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls) says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2002) and the Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990. ["Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. `Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to `My dear, my darling, my sweet.'" [From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.]

1) SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT EGYPT
“There will be blood tomorrow, but I still have hope. I still have some hope left.” ~Amira Hanafi in Egypt. Please write to your representatives in America and ask them to stop funding Egyptian president Mubarak's regime. See if you can do it online if that’s easier. Thank you.

2) JOAN HANNA & ANGEL HOGAN READING
The Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series at Moonstone Arts Center presents Joan Hanna & Angel Hogan

Hosted with live music by Cassendre Xavier
Always Includes a Mixed-Gender Open Mic!

Saturday, February 12, 2011
7pm – 8:30pm
$5 Admission
Moonstone Arts Center
110A S. 13th Street (at Sansom St)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-735-9598
Streaming LIVE at http://www.MoonstoneLIVE.com !

ABOUT JOAN HANNA

Joan Hanna was born and raised in Philadelphia. She is the new Nonfiction Editor for r.kv.r.y.com. Joan will also be the new Managing Editor for Poets’ Quarterly, summer 2011. Joan's poems have appeared in: Common Threads and Moldicum, the premier issue of Glassworks and her nonfiction story “Breathing” appeared in the October issue of r.kv.r.y. Joan has a BA in Writing Arts and is completing her MFA in Poetry and Creative Nonfiction at Ashland University. (Joan says on her blog: "My soul has always been grounded in poetry which has tangled its roots in non-fiction. I took a chance two years ago, quit my job, went back to finish my BA in Writing Arts and found myself in an MFA program for creative writing at Ashland University in Ohio. Sometimes when you jump off a cliff you land in soft places that change your life. Welcome to my changing life." Read more at http://www.writingthroughquicksand.blogspot.com. Joan is also celebrating her birthday this week!)

ABOUT ANGEL HOGAN

Transplanted from a rural horse farm to downtown Philadelphia in her teens, much of Angel Hogan's writing is fueled by her non-traditional upbringing, which she describes as “a heap of multicultural embarrassments.” After studying Literary Theory at Bucknell University, Angel traveled cross-country with a Chow-pit puppy in a diaper, and spent time at her Mom’s home in the Yucatan. As a toddler, her favorite foods were coffee and pan-fried liver. Angel currently works at the University of Pennsylvania and lives in West Philly with her cat Mamacita, and Sauce! the dog. She is a storytelling champ with First Person Arts. See more at: http://angelhogan.com

ABOUT THE SERIES

The Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2002) is a nurturing environment that celebrates women in the craft of multi-genre writing. All are welcome to attend and participate in the Series' Mixed-Gender Open Mic. For submissions and schedule information, please visit http://WomensWritingSeries.com. Submissions only: http://WomensWritingSeries.eventbrite.com), email WomensWritingSeries(at)yahoo.com, call 215-436-9702 or send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to: Women's Writing Series, POB 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204.
=========================================================

3) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS
I checked and all is smooth sailing and running well with the submissions, available at www.BWAFphilly.org (where you can also learn more about Philadelphia’s 8th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival) or at the specific submissions page http://BWAF2011submissions.eventbrite.com.

4) FACEBOOK WALL

From my Wall at http://facebook.com/cassEndrExavier...

Confidence, enthusiasm & loving self & others is more attractive than physical appearance, intelligence, talent, or even money."~CassEndrE Xavier's on iTunes!

"Learning to trust your intuition is an art form, and like all other art forms, it takes practice to perfect." ~Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light

Doreen Virtue Official Fan Page: "Trust this world and your experiences within it. Have faith in yourself, including your gut feelings, dreams, and desires."

"Trust your first response, your gut feelings and instincts; trust yourself, then act accordingly." ~CassEndrE Xavier is on iTunes, YouTube, Amazon & CD Baby!

Did you know you can SMS Subscribe to 50 of your Facebook friends? Make me one(Go to Settings, Mobile) and get my wacky, oft-inspiring updates as text messages!

"All of life is a meditation, most of it unintentional." ~Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

I didn't log onto FB for days so I didn't see all the wonderful birthday messages on Feb 7 (191 to be exact). I am overwhelmed with appreciation. Thank you! I am even more motivated now to post inspiring things for you to read. Enjoy your day!

"Your thoughts and beliefs of the past have created this moment, and all the moments up to this moment. What you are now choosing to believe and think and say will create the next moment and the next day and the next month and the next year." ~Louise L. Hay

I just found out my guitar hero Gary Moore died on Feb 6, the day before my birthday. I had a dream of sharing the stage with him one day, as I did with the recently passed Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (bassist & music director of Hall & Oates). I am very sad and tempted to give up dreaming, but I know that's never the answer to, or lesson in any difficult experience. R.I.P. Gary Moore. You are already sorely missed. Incidentally, they both died at 58, of heart attacks (Wolk confirmed, Moore suspected), and in the month of February. 58 is way too early to die of anything.

I just saw someone I used to work with from 1994-1998. I told him that 2 days ago I turned 42. He said I look younger now than I did then. Score for raw vegans!

"Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve." ~Wilfred Peterson

SMS Subscription Awards (Frequent short status w/no link): Amira Hanafi in Egypt,Kelli Dunham,Steve Lower's Daily Philly Weather,Debra D'Alessandro,Paulo Coelho

"To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence." ~Mark Twain
Paulo Coelho says, "What other people think of you is none of your business."

"I take loving care of the earth, and the earth loves me in return." ~Louise L. Hay

Doreen Virtue Official Fan Page says, "Your intuition guides you through all situations safely, provided that you listen to it."

"To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you." ~Tony Dorsett

"Success means doing the best we can with what we have." ~Zig Ziglar

If God/dess is love and God/dess is everywhere why don't we see love everywhere? Because we haven't expressed it enough ourselves yet. Love is inside us. ~CX

"Even atheists recognize God when it's being expressed; they just call it other things: talent, love, compassion, brilliance." ~Cassendre Xavier is on iTunes!

Doreen Virtue Official Fan Page says: "You are a being composed of light, love, and intelligence."

"Up, up, up, up, up, up goes the spire of the steeple/God's work isn't done by God, it's done by people." ~from the Ani Di Franco song/CD "Up Up Up Up Up Up"

The more I buy Thank You cards, the more wonderful things happen for me to send them. I just performed and saw an old friend/former employer. He saw that in the years we'd been apart, I'd released 3 live albums and 3 studio ones. Guess how many CDs he walked away with? 7 (6 of my musical ones, which he purchased, and 1 guided meditation CD I threw in for free)! Guess who's getting a Thank You card next week? :-)

Ever want to call a friend but worry you might be interrupting them having sex? Once, in the Olden Days, I called a friend & spoke into the machine, “Hey. Hey, are you having sex? You’re having sex aren’t you?” then I wouldn’t shut up. Next day, he was a wee miffed. Turns out he *was* having sex & my hilarious monologue was a little less than helpful. Lesson: Turn everything OFF but your bootknockery partner!

Former Women's Writing & Spoken Word feature (and designer of the WWSWS logo, and my former co-worker at an independently owned academic bookstore) Amira Hanafi has decided to stay in Egypt and tell us all why. Please send her light, love, and your total support!

"Nothing attracts wealth like Thank You. (Not only material wealth, but emotional and spiritual as well.) Everything good loves a Thank You." ~Cassendre Xavier

"For more good in your life, give thanks &count your blessings often. Stock & often send paper/postal Thank You cards; they create miracles!" ~Cassendre Xavier

Doreen Virtue Official Fan Page says, "Your guardian angel continuously talks to you&gently offers advice&guidance. You need to quiet your body&mind to listen."

Malcolm S. Forbes said, "Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat." So,
single/recovering folks&survivors can look forward to the sweetness of healthy love!

People are often afraid to ask-the Universe/God, other people-for a favor, a job, love. Don't be afraid to ask! The worst that can happen is...you don't ask!-CX

I, the "Subway Siren" since 2005, am singing 3-6pm at Designated Performance Area #2 of Philly's Suburban Station, 16th & Market-Concourse near SEPTA Sales!

Paulo Coelho says, "Avoiding problems you need to face is avoiding the life you need to live."

"The fastest way to 'change' someone is to love them completely and unconditionally; accept them as they are, as if they will never change." ~Cassendre Xavier

Posted daily:
Steve Lower’s Daily Philly Weather and

“What are some nice things that happened for you today?”

5) THINGS YOU PROBABLY WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT
POETRY CHAPBOOK CONTEST UPDATE
The poetry chapbook contest for the Black Women’s Arts Festival will continue as soon as we (I) find one or two people to design the system of, and process submissions. We already have 3 poetry judges at the ready (Tara Betts, Tamara Oakman, and Stephanie Durann.

AFFIRMATION SONG ALBUM & GUIDED MEDITATIONS UPDATE
I’ve created a budget for the affirmation song albums I’ve been working on, as well as the last two Affirmations for Survivors guided meditation albums “Sexuality” and “Life Skills” to complete the series which began in 2007 with “Self-Love” and “Spirituality”. These are available in download and CD at http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE or in CD from me from http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com or by emailing cxmusic(at)gmail.com. These projects are gestating and waiting as the funds or other options are created. I’ll keep you postified (aka “posticated”)!

A STROKE OF LUCK
Around two weeks ago I posted on Facebook that I’d spent the day in the hospital being treated for what I thought were stroke or heart attack symptoms. Though the day was scary, starting with not being able to feel my fingers for several minutes and feeling weird cramps on the left side of my body, as well as chest pain and several of the “female” symptoms of heart attack, I was examined by at least 5 physicians, two nurses, and several technicians, was x-rayed, had bloodwork drawn, enjoyed hours of TV in the comfort and privacy of my own room, and learned that my symptoms were likely due to wearing my belt too tight (pinching a nerve that causes pain in my leg), acid indigestion/reflux, and my blood being low in potassium. Within hours I felt much, much better having received potassium at the hospital and since then I’ve been eating lots of yogurt (mostly from Trader Joe’s) sometimes mixed with a little molasses which also has tons of potassium as well as iron, calcium, and other things. If you have hypertension and or/are obese, I highly recommend doing the potassium thing to counteract the sodium intake. So, that’s it. No heart attack, no stroke, not even close to either, just scary-feeling symptoms. Oh, and in addition to upping my potassium, I must not lie down less than an hour after eating. Docs recommended also the website www.webMD.com for advice, not Google. And they said never to lie about when you have had onset of symptoms so you can get the drugs that will treat your symptoms, because you could make things worse. For instance, I’d Googled that if you’re actually having a heart attack or stroke there is a drug they can give you to stop clogging or something but it must be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. By the time I’d walked to two hospitals (to find one with an emergency room), it was almost 3 hours and I kind of fibbed about when I started having the symptoms. I cannot stay in the fibborial state for long, so I fessed up to my first doctor that I had lied, and he told me why that’s really not a good idea. Turns out if given at the wrong time, that precious anti-clogging drug could’ve caused brain bleeding. So, never lie about what’s going on with your body!

RAW VEGAN UPDATE
I’ve been low- or off raw for weeks, gaining weight and my eating is pretty out of control. I don’t really know why or what I’m doing or what’s going on, but I’m not worried about it too much. Everything comes in cycles, and I’m not going to make things better by being extra hard on myself. I expect the tide to come around in favor of my being healthier and exercising, but for now, I’m dealing with basic life skill things such as working and paying my bills. I realize there is no work without health, though, and I want to practice what I preach, so I know I will have to get on that soon. Or not. I could also stay sick and out of shape my entire life, and still enjoy life and work and art. It’s all good. No worries. Except that I am worried. And not worried. All at the same time! And I’m not really “sick”. I’m mostly healthy, just have some thingies that quite frankly a lot of Americans have. It’s just hard to be the Queen of Self-Care when there are so many other stressors in one’s life. But it can be done. And this is why I write the books and things about being healthy, because if I don’t, I don’t have much to be accountable for. For the last two weeks, I’ve thought: I need another book! (The last one: Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: a Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook and Journal, is available in print format at Arnold’s Way store, from me at http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com or by emailing cxwriting(at)gmail.com, and as an e-book at http://cxbooks.eventbrite.com). It has a chart in it for logging your progress in weight, diet, and even blood pressure numbers. I even used it back in the day when I was much more on my game. I plan to get back there again, step by step. It also has a list of black-owned raw vegan restaurants in the region, including two right here in Philadelphia!

LOVE, ROMANCE, AND TOTAL TOMFOOLERY
I’ve been private about the relationship thing for a few reasons, which I’ll probably say in my next or a future museletter, but doesn’t quite fit here. All for now. I hope I’ve addressed some of your curiositational devices!

6) CX DIRECT MAIL ORDER FORM
To view, print, and/or order CDs and books from me directly, please visit http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com, send a SASE to Cassendre Xavier, POB 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204, or email cxmusic(at)gmail.com.

Z) BUT DON’T BE MEAN
"Do whatever it takes to make your life more worth living. Anything at all. It can be illegal, immoral, unethical, or self-destructive.There’s only one rule to follow to make that kind of blanket permission work: Don’t be mean." ~Kate Bornstein, author of 'Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws' http://katebornstein.typepad.com

===================== Thank you, and good night :-) =================

renaissance negresse Museletter is © 2011 by Cassendre Xavier. All rightsen reservenitzken. www.cassEndrExavier.com

2/12 - Joan Hanna & Angel Hogan - Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series

2011-01-31T09:32:00.001-08:00

The Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series at Moonstone Arts Center presents Joan Hanna & Angel Hogan

Hosted with live music by Cassendre Xavier
Always Includes a Mixed-Gender Open Mic!

Saturday, February 12, 2011
7pm – 8:30pm
$5 Admission
Moonstone Arts Center
110A S. 13th Street (at Sansom St)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-735-9598
Streaming LIVE at http://www.MoonstoneLIVE.com !

ABOUT JOAN HANNA

Joan Hanna was born and raised in Philadelphia. She is the new Nonfiction Editor for r.kv.r.y.com. Joan will also be the new Managing Editor for Poets’ Quarterly, summer 2011. Joan's poems have appeared in: Common Threads and Moldicum, the premier issue of Glassworks and her nonfiction story “Breathing” appeared in the October issue of r.kv.r.y. Joan has a BA in Writing Arts and is completing her MFA in Poetry and Creative Nonfiction at Ashland University. (Joan says on her blog: "My soul has always been grounded in poetry which has tangled its roots in non-fiction. I took a chance two years ago, quit my job, went back to finish my BA in Writing Arts and found myself in an MFA program for creative writing at Ashland University in Ohio. Sometimes when you jump off a cliff you land in soft places that change your life. Welcome to my changing life." Read more at http://www.writingthroughquicksand.blogspot.com. Joan is also celebrating her birthday this week!)

ABOUT ANGEL HOGAN

Transplanted from a rural horse farm to downtown Philadelphia in her teens, much of Angel Hogan's writing is fueled by her non-traditional upbringing, which she describes as “a heap of multicultural embarrassments.” After studying Literary Theory at Bucknell University, Angel traveled cross-country with a Chow-pit puppy in a diaper, and spent time at her Mom’s home in the Yucatan. As a toddler, her favorite foods were coffee and pan-fried liver. Angel currently works at the University of Pennsylvania and lives in West Philly with her cat Mamacita, and Sauce! the dog. She is a storytelling champ with First Person Arts. See more at: http://angelhogan.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Self-described “renaissance negresse” Cassendre Xavier is an award-winning Philadelphia-based musician, multi-genre writer and community cultural arts organizer. Her 6 independently-released albums are described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade and Enya” (Borders Music Expert, Steven M. Wilson). She also creates spoken word guided meditation and affirmation recordings under the name Amethyste Rah and erotic writing under the name Amrita Waterfalls. The founder and director of the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series as well as Philadelphia’s Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (Est. 2003, www.BWAFphilly.org), Cassendre is a recipient of the Leeway Transformation Award for her work in art and change. For more information, please visit http://cassEndrExavier.com.

ABOUT THE SERIES

The Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2002) is a nurturing environment that celebrates women in the craft of multi-genre writing. All are welcome to attend and participate in the Series' Mixed-Gender Open Mic. For submissions and schedule information, please visit http://WomensWritingSeries.com. Submissions only: http://WomensWritingSeries.eventbrite.com), email WomensWritingSeries(at)yahoo.com, call 215-436-9702 or send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to: Women's Writing Series, POB 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204.

ME! ME! ME! A CX Museletter “Home Office At Last” ediccione

2011-01-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

ME! ME! ME! a Cassendre Xavier Museletter
The “Home Office At Last” ediccione, as it were. (If you will.)

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

(Control Freak Reading Instructions: Best to print this bad boy out and read it over the john, the “jane”, the breakfast table, or in the sack. It’s a long ‘un.)

A) GREETINGS
1) WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER?
2) HOME OFFICE AT LAST
3) RAW VEGAN UPDATE
4) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
5) WOMEN’S WRITING & SPOKEN WORD UPDATE
6) MUSIC UPDATE & CONCERT SCHEDULE
8) WRITING UPDATE & ARCHIVES
9) WHAT I’M READING & MY LATEST INSPIRATIONS
10) CX DIRECT PRODUCT ORDER FORM
Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

A) GREETINGS

1) WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER?
Since you can read my professional bio in my other museletters or online, I thought I’d take this rare opportunity to write a ME ME ME version from my heartal reggione, if you will. (As it were.) I’m basically your average Philadelphia-based Haitian-Chinese-American chyk who writes and plays music and is majorly into promoting community arts and culture. I’ve started a bunch of stuff, sometimes am actually not even completely broke in the process, and most enjoy sharing whatever I’ve learned along the way that helps me in the universal experience of life. My primary audience is creative people, and I believe everyone is creative, so that includes you! I was born under the sign of Aquarius, in the fair city of Brooklyn, New York, where, it seems all Haitians and other immigrants are required to be born (East Flatbush, baby!). The kind of work I most enjoy is performing onstage, meeting audience members after a show, recording albums of my own original (and a few covers) music and spoken word guided meditations, and running my own business(es). In 2002, I started using the term “renaissance negresse” to describe myself and any other black woman who works in 3 or more media. (It’s a controversial term for Americans for historical reasons, which I do understand. But with my French-influenced background, to me, “negresse” is a neutral word, which merely means black woman, and unlike “renaissance woman” who could be any color, it is melanin-specific. I stand by it. P.S. And hot stud Penn Jillette personally complimented me on it. So there!) I believe in progress, not perfection, that the journey is the destination, and that there’s no such thing as failure (although I also believe failure is your friend and guiding light). You probably met me at a show or in the hallowed halls of Suburban Station, where I sing and give out flyers of my work.

2) HOME OFFICE AT LAST
I’ve been living and working in Philadelphia since 1991. For my own creative and self-employed professional endeavors, I used to use the computers and internet of whatever day job I had, those at public/college libraries, or later, those at whatever sponsored office I had at the time. I’ve had two such official “sponsored” offices. The first was that of a friend, who allowed myself and Black Women’s Arts Festival co-organizer and former director Monica McIntyre to use her home office for much of the day when she was out – we had our own key and everything, and the second was the Midvale office of Resources for Human Development’s New Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator program, of which BWAF was a member from 2007-2010. Other than a few weak attempts in the early 2000s to have a home office, I really didn’t have much of an interest in having a computer with internet at home. I felt I didn’t want the hassle of computer viruses, and I believed at the time I couldn’t afford to pay the monthly internet service fee.
This all changed when I recently chose to resign from the New Beginnings program. After three years of trying to operate as a nonprofit, so many things happened to make it an uphill journey, that I realized things aren’t supposed to be such a struggle. It was a sign to leave. Once I accepted that, I realized I never wanted to be a nonprofit to begin with – I’d merely wanted an office and not to have to pay for it. What a revelation! When I got in touch with my feelings, I realized what I really, really wanted (as the Spice Girls sang), was to have my own laptop with wireless internet, and a cell phone with unlimited minutes and text messages. Things started coming together soon after that realization.
First, I was able to expand my plan to Unlimited Text messages very affordably, and while I don’t have unlimited minutes (yet!) I do have so many that right now every month I’m hundreds of minutes under my allowed usage. The unlimited texts allow me to post regularly, oh okay, hyper-regularly on Facebook, which, good or bad, does increase my visibility, and for a self-employed person, that’s pretty good marketing. I don’t just post what I’m doing professionally – I don’t like those Facebook accounts that only post the upcoming appearances of the person. I post what I’m going through, where I am, what the person on the bus just said, what I’m eating, how much I weigh, what my dating life is like, as well as beautiful inspiring quotes by people who sometimes aren’t even me! I’m sure many people have “hidden” my profile, but these same people, some of them, do check my profile to see what wackiness I’m up to. That’s better advertising than anything I could pay for – the sheer interest in my life and work. Not to sound self-congratulatory, I merely share this to show how one can be completely flawed, annoying, and still effective as a self-promoter – and this isn’t by design – I merely try to tweak my urgings, and make them work for Moi!
After doing some research, I learned I could get unlimited wifi service for only $40 a month from Cricket (www.mycricket.com), the least expensive I’ve found so far. That, plus a Dell Insprion laptop a friend gave me when she upgraded her computer back in 2007, and that I’d never used, makes it possible for me to be typing this from my kitchen table. Oh, also, what got me here was all the doors that slammed in my face when I sought another free “sponsored” office. I asked around, to various arts organizations and even individuals, and nothing panned out. I didn’t want to pay for an office for some reason, although I’m paying for internet service. Once again I took a look at the situation and asked what all the “No”s were trying to tell me. The universe answered, “You deserve your own office. It’s time. You’re a big girl. How long have you been doing this? Get on it!” So here I am. And I’m grateful. (Oh, the time frame from my last sponsored office to my home office? Nineteen days. Less than a month to a dream come true. I’m visualizing similar speed in growing my business and attracting my ideal mate!)

3) RAW VEGAN UPDATE
Since I last wrote ye, I was doing pretty well, was all raw until the holidays when I started incorporating more cooked foods into my diet after a date at a man friend’s house that ran a little, um, “over”. Let’s just say it started on a Monday night and ended that Friday. Hypothetically. Although I was prepared and had brought my Green Smoothie with me, by day 2 the Green Smoothie was just a far away dream, and in came the pasta, meat, and dairy of yonder past. I went from 206 to today’s 212 since Christmas day, whereas prior, on the raw vegan diet, I was losing 1-2 lbs a week. The last two weeks I have had almost no fruits or vegetables, not even cooked, as I was spending more time with this persun and not shopping for myself when I was home. I just got lazy, and honestly, the cold weather and holidays doesn’t make it easy to resist temptation when it’s in the form of a tall, sexy ass man with a fridge full of food. But, alas, he and I have just broken up (again! Oh the drama!) and hopefully the next few weeks will resemble some more balance. Who the eff knows. I mean, really. Whatever. See? The food you eat affects your brain. I’m sure if I had had some Green Smoothies this week, I’d have some nicer, spiritually high things to say about the matter. But all I have right now is pasta brain – whole wheat, brown, high fiber pasta, but pasta nonethless!

4) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
Submission info has been posted and available for weeks but none have come in, so I’m thinking there may be a technical problem. Also someone called to say she wasn’t able to apply online. This is one of the reasons I sacrificed part of my rent money to risk the purchase of internet access, so I can research the problem and fix it asap. Perhaps all is well, I’m not sure, as it is a major priority to get this newsletter out to you and look into the issue next (by Wednesday of this week any problem that exists regarding submitting online will be corrected). Only one way to find out – visit www.BWAFphilly.org! Also, our new contact info is: Black Women’s Arts Festival, POB 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204, Phone: 215-436-9702, Email: BWAFphilly(at)yahoo.com. Never let it be said!

5) WOMEN’S WRITING & SPOKEN WORD UPDATE
The Series has re-started with a bang (back in November 2010 after a 4-year hiatus. Founded by Cassendre Xavier Enterprises in 2002 and run til 2006) and is soooo much more pleasant to run now that it’s only monthly instead of twice a month and that instead of being free, there’s a $5 admission. Neither I nor the venue are rollin’ in it, but boy does it make a difference to see even one dollar as an energy exchange for your work and time. The event streams live on the ‘net and welcomes men and women in that there’s a mixed gender open mic and men can host. For more about this wonderful series, visit www.WomensWritingSeries.org. Next date: Saturday, February 12, 2011. (2 female features to be announced. Previous 2010-2011 features: November - Renda Rose & Ruth A. Rouff. December - Pat McLean & Carol Bond. January – Anne-Adele Wight & Debra Wright-Powell.)

6) MUSIC UPDATE & CONCERT SCHEDULE
Please note that I’m not singing at Mango Moon anymore, although the venue and I would like me to. It became necessary to end my working relationship with my former drummer, whose gig it was. I wish them all the best, and I highly encourage you to m/patronize the restaurant! www.MyMangoMoon.com.

On random weekdays or weekends, I can sometimes be seen performing at my new busking post – one that has much more visibility and heat!
The Subway Siren Suburban Station Tour continues – 3pm – 6pm, Designated Performance Area #2, on the concourse of Philadelphia’s Suburban Station, below 16th & Market Streets, near the SEPTA Sales windows. If you’re ever in the area, stop by for a smile, hug, CD, or all of the above!

You are among the very first to know that starting the next one on February 12th, I will perform music as the host of the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series! Usually I just share some of my writing before introducing the first name on the Mixed-Gender Open Mic list, but now I will include 2 songs. So, now every month, you know you can hear me sing at Moonstone! www.MoonstoneArtsCenter.org 7pm $5 Streaming live!

On Sunday, March 26th I’m opening for Tret Fure. You can buy tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com and learn more about Tret at www.tretfure.com. Legendary!

8) WRITING UPDATE & ARCHIVES
My book Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: a Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook & Journal, sold at my most recent appearance at Arnold’s Way’s monthly potluck. It is still available there, as well as online. (I haven’t checked stock at Essene Market & Cafe and Giovanni’s Room no longer carries CDs nor my books.) Visit www.cassEndrExavier.com or www.cxbooks.eventbrite.com for ordering info.

You can read my archived museletters/newsletters at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassendrexavier or www.cassendrexavier.blogspot.com.

My writing is also in various anthologies, available online, or in some stores. You can read more about these at my official writing site www.artivistpublications.homestead.com.

Although I took a wee break during the wild and wacky holidays, I do write a monthly column for Wisdom Magazine’s online edition. You can read them here:

9) WHAT I’M READING & MY LATEST INSPIRATIONS
Living in the Light, by Shakti Gawain
Love is the River: Learning to Live in the Flow of Divine Grace, by Ann Albers www.VisionsOfHeaven.com
Your Best Life Now, by Joel Osteen www.JoelOsteen.com
The Affected Provincial’s Companion, by Lord Braulove Swells Whimsy www.LordWhimsy.com
Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It: The Autobiography of Mae West
The Holy Bible (Particularly the specifics regarding the construction of Solomon’s palaces and temples)
Truth or Dare, by Starhawk
The Sparkling Lavender Dust of Lust, by Tee Corinne

10) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MY FRIENDS
If any of these folks’ bios or work interests you, please do more than read – please engage. Contact them – get on their email list, go to see a show, buy a product or service of theirs. We working artists live for our art and for life, which to many of us includes our various beloved communities, and we can’t go on without community support from people just like you. Help us continue to create work that inspires ourselves, and the world in general. Thank you so much!

Shandra Staley, dancer/teacher, massage therapist (Look at my Friends list on Facebook)

NASSUNNI, fine arts painter (Facebook)

Alex Kudera, novelist, author of Fight for Your Long Day (Atticus Books) www.AlexKudera.blogspot.com

Kelli Dunham, performer, lecturer, author, www.kellidunham.com

Cheryl Burke, poet, www.cherylb.com (Cheryl’s the girlfriend of my ex, Kelli Dunham, and Cheryl just last week celebrated 10 years of sobriety! And as if that weren’t fierce enough, she’s currently transforming herself into a completely healthy body, after a recent diagnosis of cancer. Please send this awesome survivor some love, even if that’s in the form of stopping right now to say a prayer for and hold a vision of her many years from now in total glowing sober health. We love you, Cheryl!)

Esperanza Cortes, fine artist (interdisciplinary), www.EsperanzaCortes.com Beautiful persun, beautiful artwork. Visit visit visit!

Traycee Lynn, poet, musician, publisher, www.phillycypher.com

Larry Robin, Moonstone Artist Center www.moonstoneartscenter.com Larry is really into promoting Frances Ellen Harper right now. It’s like he was chosen as a channel or something. He gets all googly-eyed and chatty about her like she was his girlfriend. Check it out!

Ignacio Rivera, performer, lecturer, www.ignaciorivera.com

Arnold’s Way Raw Vegetarian Cafe & Education Center, Lansdale PA www.ArnoldsWay.com, www.youtube.com/ArnoldsWay

11) CX DIRECT PRODUCT ORDER FORM
I’m pretty sure you can find the latest version of this either at www.cassendrexavier.com or www.cassendrexavier.blogspot.com. If not, well then I guess I’ll have to send another museletter out toot sweet, now won’t I? :-)

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

May you become better and better at receiving and promptly following your inner guidance.
May you believe you deserve the best life has to offer.
May you be surrounded by healthy love from friends, family, and sweethearts.
May you be guided by love and joy in your heart, and a willingness to serve.
May you feel blessed and abundant regardless of your health, finances, or circumstances.
May all your dreams and goals come true, surpassing all your expectations.
This, or something better, and may it be for the good of all.

Sincerely in art and community,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls)
renaissance negresse (musician, writer, visual artist, actress, award-winning community cultural arts organizer)
www.cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Director of Philadelphia’s 8th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (Thursday July 28th thru Sunday, July 31st) Now accepting submissions: www.BWAFphilly.org

Founder & Director of the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series at Moonstone Arts Center www.WomensWritingSeries.org

Recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award, which supports women and trans artists working in art and change. www.Leeway.org

Friend me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/cassendrexavier

Watch me on YouTube! www.youtube.com/cassendrexavier

Listen/buy downloads at iTunes! (search cassEndrE xavier)

Although I prefer you order from CX Direct (I get way more money that way), I also have product at CD Baby! www.cdbaby.com/artist/cassEndrExavier

Again, if not ordering from CX Direct, my guided meditation albums are available at http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE

Booking contact: cxmusic(at)gmail.com (remove “at” and replace with @) or call 215-436-9702.

Maybe now that I have my own computer and internet at home, I’ll write these more often and they won’t be forty pages long. Ya think? :-)

Copyright (c) 2011 by Cassendre Xavier. Please forward and include credit and subscription info: To subscribe, send blank email to: cassendrexavier-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Number of times the word “ass” was used in this ediccione: 1. Sad, but true. Will have to do better next time!

Apologies for any typos. As soon as I get a printer, and can therefore easily proofread my work, that kind of thing will be slimmed down to a minimum.

To unsubscribe, reply with “Remove” in the subject. Never let it be said!

renaissance negresse Museletter December 13, 2010 art | inspiration | community

2010-12-13T01:22:00.001-08:00

renaissance negresse Museletter December 13, 2010
art | inspiration | community
brought to you by Cassendre Xavier
Monday, December 13, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
1) GREETINGS
2) BREAKTHROUGH – ART / WORK
3) BREAKTHROUGH – RELATIONSHIPS
4) BREAKTHROUGH – SURVIVORS’ MOUNTAINTOP (INCLUDING HOLIDAY TIPS FOR SURVIVORS!)
5) BREAKTHROUGH – SPIRITUALITY
6) GREEN SMOOTHIE RAW BLOG
7) ALL ROCKSTAR CRYSTAL GALLERY SHOWS CANCELLED
8) EVERY THURSDAY AT MANGO MOON
9) FACEBOOK POSTS GALORE
10) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MY FRIENDS
Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

CONTENTS OF TABLE

A) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
Haitian-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002. A musician, writer, actress, and visual artist, Xavier (who sometimes works under the names Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls) says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2002) and the Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990. ["Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. `Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to `My dear, my darling, my sweet.'" � From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.]

1) GREETINGS
Peaceful psychic hugs to you, Dear Readers! I always appreciate this chance to share my journey in life in hopes that my lessons and observations assist you on yours as well!

2) BREAKTHROUGH – ART / WORK
I was telling a friend tonight that the last couple of weeks have looked like this for me:
No prolonged worrying about money. (I’m not made of wood – I worry when I’m broke, just like everyone else. But I learn to let go of the thoughts when they come, and replace them with thoughts of peace, trust, and abundance.)
Increasing self-care.
Focusing on service.
Being a very giving artist.
In just giving, giving, giving, trusting that all is well and will be taken care of, and also simultaneously working on increasing my self-care, I feel a sense of peace about my life. The more I give, the less I worry that I will receive. It’s math – a universal law of physics. What comes up must come down, and what is given must at some point return.
I hope my work continues to be helpful to some, but even so as I do it much of the motivation is my own healing, and that’s how I know I’m on the right track. I am becoming less and less aware of what I’m doing. Going with the flow, the mystery, with the feeling, with instinct. Ironically, as that happens I also get more clear about what earth laws I must follow for abundance, too. I’m getting more aware about what is needed to create a captive audience, what’s needed to be financially viable, and so forth, and what I’m doing right and what I need to fix.
Oh one thing I learned is that as you open your mind more and more to believing that your dreams can come true, things happen to show you material ways that can happen. For instance, I’ve always wanted to perform with multiple vocal harmonies and play both rhythm and lead. I saw Christine Havrilla performing last night and she used a loop system that did just that. It was pretty amazing. It’s called a TC-Helicon | VoiceLive Touch - Versatile Vocal Processor & Looper (which only costs around $500 Christine says. Part of my entire lifelong childhood dream – what I thought was so impossible, costs $500!)
One of the folks there told me that another artist, Keller Williams, uses similar gadgets also to sing with himself and create many layers of sounds, too. The first time I heard such things was in the late 1990s when Caryn Lin came to play Borders Bookshop when it was in Rittenhouse Square. She played violin and used loops sequences. One of these days I’ll actually know what that stuff is called. Christine said “It’s much cheaper than bringing a choir in!”

3) BREAKTHROUGH – RELATIONSHIPS
I treat people the way my father treats me - viciously. Been working on that – how critical I am and how quick to end relationships and shove people away. I also manipulate love in relationships the way my father manipulates his children with money and promises. I was telling a friend yesterday that I want to live my life as if I have nothing. I’ve relied on my accomplishments to keep people interested in me or want to be my friend. But if I had nothing to offer, I would have to be loving and that’s all that counts anyway. No one’s gonna come to my funeral because I let them feature in one of my events or because I sang at their house or at some venue. They’re gonna come because I gave them something of value, and the only thing of true value in this life is love. Love in its many forms and colors, from acceptance to forgiveness to encouragement, etc. So that’s my goal now – to be loving in all ways, and that’s not easy, but it’s totally worth it. Also it’s good to remember that all you have to do to be lovable is be alive. You don’t have to earn love or being lovable, just as no one has to earn your love. They should earn your trust over time, and you theirs, but love should be free and abundant to and from everyone. That doesn’t mean you stay in an abusive relationship, as I recently learned, just to prove how loving you can be. Sometimes we, as survivors (and I’m learning that almost everyone is a survivor of something, even only “life”) and lightworkers/healers tend to attract people who hurt us and we stay just to prove how strong we can be, and how “good” we are that we can see the good in others. (And we also sometimes do that, I think, from a deep-seated, not yet corrected belief that we aren’t good enough to have better.) Having just gone through something like that, and becoming the kind of person who has the kind of relationships I am now spiritually aware I am worthy of, I’ve had to see that in myself and start changing it.

4) BREAKTHROUGH – SURVIVORS’ MOUNTAINTOP (INCLUDING HOLIDAY TIPS FOR SURVIVORS!)
The more I admit my weaknesses, the stronger I am, because I’m then able to build supports around my weaknesses. For instance, I am considering applying for certain services meant to assist people like me to make life a little easier. In another example, when I realized I regress very significantly after spending time at my parents’ house, I decided to take measures to make my visits there safer and more comfortable for me. It’s still very very difficult, so much so that I’m seriously considering not going there at all for a very long time, but in the mean time I’m learning things like how many hours I can be there before communications become violent. Probably the best thing that’s happened to me lately is that I realized I, or we survivors aren’t as alone as we think we are. Even if you didn’t grow up with physical, sexual, spiritual, substance abuse, neglect, or dysfunction, almost everyone has had some significant challenge in life they’re learning to live with and overcome. The more we identify with one another, the more we can give and receive help in life. And it’s always nice to feel like less of an uninvited oddball on this wacky beautiful intense planet someone long ago chose to call earth!
By the way, I used to call this feature “Survivors’ Corner” but just now I decided to uplift us way, way, up – out of the corner into the middle of the room, out of the goddamned house into the streets shouting our truths, claiming our self-worth, healing ourselves, asking for help and receiving it, and eventually getting to the top of the proverbial mountain of joy-filled living. That is so sappy I myself am ready to vomit right now. But I also know when I’m down, I will go back to that phrase over and over again, thrilled to see it there in all its syrupy glory and truth!
And in case you’re wondering what qualifies me to speak of this issue, I’m the founder and former facilitator of Sisters Healing Together - a peer support group for women survivors of incest with a special focus on compulsive overeating at the William Way LGBT Community Center of Philadelphia 1996-1999. I also did a play called Sex for Survivors which ran for 3 days in Sept 2003 of the Philly Fringe Festival, and released 2 Affirmations for Survivors CDs/downloads of spoken word guided meditations. So there 
Holiday Tips for Survivors: Go with a friend or don’t go. Having a friend there cuts the spell/force field that sometimes feels like evil. I know that’s a loaded sentence, but some of you know I speak the truth of our experience. If the perpetrator is there, that’s what it feels like. If your parents live in the suburbs with limited public transportation and you don’t drive or have a car, go with a friend who drives, or arrange with a relative to leave when you want to leave. If the only relatives who could drive you tend to not leave on time, don’t go. If you decide not to go, don’t feel guilty. You can make alternate holiday plans. Follow the Jews is what I always say! Go to Chinatown for dinner and go see a movie with friends. Or take it as a day off. Stay home with Netflix. My idea of heaven? Murder She Wrote, Golden Girls, Diagnosis Murder, anything on the Hallmark Channel or Lifetime: Television for Women. All the crime shows, because the bad guys almost always get caught and the often female victims are almost always vindicated – and by the way Thank you Tyler Perry for writing in a justified stabbing death of a rapist in For Colored Girls. All my years of TV and movie watching I’ve never seen, or maybe haven’t seen enough of that kind of thing. All we’re treated to is footage of prisoners who are locked up for killing their abusers. But I digress. Holidays with the folks if you’re a survivor can be quite the challenge. Do all you can to get through it – including deciding not to go. Good luck and be good to yourself no matter what! I will be good to myself right now and say I am open to being invited to spend part of Christmas Day with folks as I’m not sure what I’m doing that day. If you’re going to the movies, or want to invite me over for popcorn and fluff TV, contact me by replying to this email or calling 215-436-9702! I also may create a Facebook event if I choose to go to the movies and invite complete strangers to join Moi. The heart will lead!
5) BREAKTHROUGH – SPIRITUALITY
Lastly, I wanted to share a bit of my spirituality, not because I feel it’s relevant to anyone, really, nor because it’s something I think should be public – it’s neither of those. I would really rather keep much of it private, but being so into visibility, and having suffered much growing up because I didn’t see many examples of people like me – whether that was black female fine artists, or black female singers who didn’t just play a tambourine, or black pagans, or hear or read about the Goddess or learn more about Angels, or openly non-heterosexual black people, or the open marriage/polyamorous relationship model, etc. all of these things – I am now a strong advocate for visibility of many kinds. So that said I would like to share that I’ve been really enjoying my spirituality lately, and found it very empowering. I would like to encourage everyone on a path that they are carving out for themselves: Believe what you believe. Do not wait or look for examples to prove to you that what you believe is correct. You may never find the proof, because certain things have happened and continue to happen to keep certain things from you. The only proof you need is what your heart tells you. Your instincts will lead you to do certain things, read certain things, go certain places and be certain ways. Do them. Do them all, and if you’re truly brave, write about them to begin keeping new records and teach them to re-kindle our stories. Invent things and expect them to last and grow, the way Kwanzaa was created. You have the power. You, in fact, are the power.

6) GREEN SMOOTHIE RAW BLOG
Weekly Weigh-In: 215 lbs. Last Week: 216. Orig: 238.
Thoughts, Feelings, and Stuff: I went to Arnold’s Way (www.ArnoldsWay.com) Saturday night with some friends. We enjoyed a lovely raw vegan dinner together, and I had my favorite Green Smoothie – a spirulina and cacao one. Soooo delicious!
My schedule is very busy and it’s hard to eat well, but I noticed it’s easier when I plan grocery shopping in advance. Also, support is essential, and I’ve been working on that.
I posted that I was seeking inspiring words and scriptures from friends, because I feel that as I get more raw and less of a food addict, I need all the help I can get to do some serious battle with fear of embracing more joy and the new, etc. One of my raw vegan friends Jon McGrath (who created the Philadelphia Raw Food Movement group on Facebook) said:
Hi Cassendre,

Sorry this email is late! I've been preoccupied with many things, including finals next week... but I hope this email finds you well. I didn't know which real email you use for personal stuff so I went with a FB message.

So I remember you asked about scriptures and other things I use to battle fear.

There are a lot of great Psalms about battling fear and relying on God. One example is Psalm 27. I recommend just going through them at checking out different ones. I don't know if you'r familiar with it, but most of the Psalms are written by David (who battled Goliath), and are in the format of a song or a poem. Most of them are David's raw emotions and his expression of those emotions directly to God.

Other things I do, which you seem to do as well, is communicate to people. If I'm feeling anxious or otherwise struggling in some regard, getting open with someone helps out a lot. It terms of being raw, if I am wanting to be all raw and am struggling with that, talking about it with someone generally helps. The key, I've found, is to talk about it as early as possible, and don't let the thought (whatever it is) incubate in your head.

Another thing I've found helps with being raw is building good memories around it. When I lived with Francesco [CX says: “Francesco Barone, who I co-billed with at www.TinAngel.com in 2006”] we would make it a point to make really good raw meals together and eat together, or sometimes go to the park, or kelly drive, or somewhere like that. Or we would have double dates and make raw food. One interesting aspect of our human nature in holding onto old ways of life, I think, is our attachment to the memories of those things. So build better memories of the new way of life! Doing this helped a lot.

Another thing I do, of course, is pray. Praying with other people is good. Also, if you're reading psalms, you can "pray through them", and change them as you see fit. Like start praying out a psalm, but then like expand on each phrase in your own words or add stuff in or whatever you want to do. This helps "get outside the box" sometimes with prayer.

That's all I can think of right now... I hope that helps! Also if you have more specific questions too, I'd be happy to tackle them since I'm not sure exactly what you needed.

Ttyl sista
-Jon
Duckling/Swan/Piece of God Chronicles (formerly Piece of Ass :-) – I’m gonna try being single for a while. Happens once every decade or so. As my self-esteem increases, so decreases my satisfaction with incomplete love affairs. Who knows what will happen next, but as I manifest my life partner, I am feeling more and more the need to clear the space thusly.
Rags to Riches Chronicles: It’s starting to be time for me to prove what I wrote about in my book Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: a Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook & Journal, that when you’re raw, nature makes sure you have all you need, and that includes money. In the meantime, I enjoyed many soft pretzels as highly economical bread and bagel substitutes, until my friend Linda Martin told me, well, I’ll show ye:
Posting for Better Health: I just ate 1 soft pretzel (bcz it's the cheapest bread/food) w/raspberry jam. (More to come in my next Museletter!)
Linda Martin responds: “It may be cheap, but it's hurting you. A lb bag of rolled oats from Nuts To You costs $0.69 and takes 90 sec to make in microwave.” [CX says: I thanked her profusely!]
Stay tuned, folks!
7) ALL ROCKSTAR CRYSTAL GALLERY SHOWS CANCELLED
I apologize for any convenience but due to scheduling issues beyond my control, I’ve cancelled all my shows there, but I highly recommend it at as a place to get your crystals, and many of the other spiritual services they provide there! www.RockStarCrystalGallery.com
8) EVERY THURSDAY AT MANGO MOON
Thai Thursdays with Cassendre!
Every Thursday 7:30PM-9:30PM No cover!

Mango Moon, Thai restaurant and bar, 4161 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127 Tel: 215-487-1230
http://MyMangoMoon.com
I'm performing my own original and a few cover songs with my drummer Rich Santucci (www.SantucciTrio.com). Join us and have a wonderful meal to lovely music!
9) FACEBOOK POSTS GALORE
Every week I post dozens of things on my Facebook Wall via my cellular mobile unit. I’ve decided to share some of them in my Museletter for posterity and those of you who are justifiably not playing on the Facebook playgroundal units! I put my full name after some of the quotes so that in case they’re re-posted it’s very easy to copy and paste the whole thing, to ensure the proper spelling of my name, which is, after all, one’s “brand”, if you will. (As it were :-)
Daily between 9 & 11pm I post: “What are some nice things that happened for you today?” I like to encourage folks to think about the good things that happen every day. It helps me, so I hope it helps others!
"Start failing now. You're not doing enough if your bureau isn't full of rejection slips-from publishers, agents, prospective lovers...etc.!" ~Cassendre Xavier
"Please be yourself. Please make your art, write your story, sing your song. Please say what helps you create. You can significantly influence an artist!" ~CX
Dying a full-face beard black may look half decent. Staining or penciling the visible skin underneath shiny? Not so much.
Just went produce shopping: kale, apples, limes, garlic. $5.39 www.Iovine.com
A pleasant rainy evening made enchanting by not needing to wear gloves,carry guitar nor wash off eye makeup. Also, got a letter from an inspiring artist friend.
Oh man, this is so my kind of weather - warm and softly raining. The better my self-esteem gets, the less sad I am when there's "no one" to "share" such splendid moments with. I recall learning of Oprah's "Parties for One", and get better at knowing that I am enough.
Want to rev up your social life? Send a generic "Hey watcha doin'?" text msg to 10+ people & make plans with those who respond soonest. ~Cassendre Xavier
Posting for Better Health: @6pm I drank a 24 oz spirulina-cacao Green Smoothie & ate a small plate of raw "spaghetti" ("pasta" is peeled zucchini, spiralized).
Cassendre Xavier is witnessing 2 opposite examples of coupling: one bickering loudly w/violent contempt & one sitting entwined, sharing the same meal & talking lovingly, softly.
"You give part of yourself away permanently when you do things for money, so select your work, and in some cases, relationships, carefully." ~Cassendre Xavier
“It's that time of decade to be single-not "Single & Poly", not "Single & Slutty", not "Single & Looking", just single.” – Cassendre Xavier
Someday receivng flowers may make me happier than folding lots of mine own cleane sockes,but I wouldn't bet on it.O blessed sockal units!How I loveth thyselves!
Dreamlogue & Interpretation in mere seconds-but first a reminder to incorporate night dreams into day living! Have a "dreamy" day. Blendage! (Aka "blendery" :-)
"Don't sell yrself short! Ur just like someone else I know&she's always selling herself short! Ur better than u think u are! Don't sell yourself short!" ~a fan
I tip buskers to keep my cycle of money flowing. I put 1 token in dapper Anthony Riley's case today, and 3 hours later a guy put 2 tokens in my guitar case!
Gratitudes: Paid my rent. Sold CDs. Anthony Riley tipped me $2. Opened my heart more w/forgiveness & love. Opened my eyes more. More value of self w/men&work.
..Who gets her dinner delivered to her busking station? A bitch Goddess Diva, that's who.(Why bitch? Bcz ur not a successful woman till biznessmen call u that.)
I'm a hust-loar, I'm a-I'm a hust-loar!
*Next Show* Wed Dec15, Private House Concert. Want this to be your place sometime in the future? Book in advance! cxmusic at gmail.com 215-436-9702 Pass it on!
just had a great house meeting. My suggestions to start&end w/smiles& gratitudes,have check-ins&end w/manifestation exercise w/a stack of real cash went well!
Working on "Life Skills" & "Sexuality" the last 2 of my Affirmations for Survivors guided meditation CD series is at times tough! Next I'll do "Rich&Happy" :-)
Book Recommendation: Angel Therapy by Doreen Virtue. Someday you'll be able to order cheap ass books thru my Amazon store in progress www.FabBookDeals.com!
just did the Morning Pages writing exercise from Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way:a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity". Apparently I want 100% romances.
"Our lives are the direct results of our powers of concentration. You can change what your life shows by changing your thoughts and focus." ~Cassendre Xavier
Restaurant gigs are the shiznit! Customers dig the music, buy CDs, like to talk to the musicians during breaks & the best part? Guaranteed payment from venue!
"I try to be around people who are happy with who and where they are in life." ~Cassendre Xavier
“Healthy self-esteem lets rejection sting, but not linger, and certainly not affect your entire day. Must the whole world adore your lovable self? Get back on that horse, bucko!” ~Cassendre Xavier
Oh, I am so glad to be accepting the ways I authentically am and prefer to be in the world. I am making friends of a like mind all over the place!
"What kind of artist does not strive for total honesty in her work? Not a very effective one, to be sure." ~Cassendre Xavier
W/the changing technology× nothing is as it was re: artist/self-promotion,but still do it for joy,in service w/love&expect great things 4 best results.-CX
Word of the Day: "Delervous." (Adj.) Something that feels (tastes, etc.) very pleasant but has unpleasant side/after-effects or consequences. "Delervous." ~Cassendre Xavier
is taking deep breaths and appreciating Charles Aznavour.
just did the Morning Pages writing exercise from Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way:a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity".Apparently I'm a very angry girl!
would really love an effin' punching bag right about now. Or to stand atop a mountain and scream. But I'm at my office with a co-worker right now. Wouldn't be prudent. And I can't stab the walls with an ice pick pretending it's someone's face as I did once at another job that had hidden walls where I could do that kind of thing. Dagnab it!! Tummy hurts.
“If God/dess is love and God/dess is everywhere why don't we see love everywhere? Because we haven't expressed it enough ourselves yet. Love is inside us.” ~Cassendre Xavier

10) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MY FRIENDS
Freshdirect Account for Kelli & Cheryl (Deadline to donate: Fri Dec 17, 2010, 11pm)
[Some of you may know my dear friend and former girlfriend Kelli Dunham is caring for her girlfriend Cheryl Burke who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in November 2010 and is responding very well to chemo. They are both under-insured freelance artists living in New York city. Their friends Mamone, Zoe, and Genne have created the following. Please read on and help if you can. I know hundreds, possibly thousands may be reading. If we all chip in a little, it will mean a lot!]
There are several of us in the Cantaloupe Attack Society that are pulling our resources together to set up Kelli & Cheryl a Freshdirect account for over the holidays. Many of you like myself will be traveling and spending time with family all over the country. Its hard when a significant % of your support system leaves town for a holiday and Kelli & Cheryl are still here with the same needs.

Freshdirect will allow their money... to go further, bodega shopping is pricey and known for small servings.

Even if Kelli orders cases of Diet Mountain Dew, they will be hauled up all of those flights of steps for them.

Freshdirect has a wide selection of local organic pre made veggie meals for Cheryl and meat ones for Kelli. Without so many people in town dropping off meals this could get them by until we all return.

Next Day Delivery as long as your order is in by 11pm

This is a complicated time of year to ask people for money, this is a confidential passing of the e- hat. No one will know how much who gave other than myself and I will not share that information with anyone. I will put a card together with everyones names that chipped in so Kelli & Cheryl do know who all helped to make this happen. Please send your donation to Helenmamone@yahoo.com (Riot Grrl Ink) will donate the paypal % that it takes so your donation will be enjoyed in full by Kelli & Cheryl.)

**Instructions:** Once you are signed into Paypal (if you don't have an account you'll have to set one up), go to "send money." In the "to" space, put Helenmamone@yahoo.com and then put the amount you want to donate in the amount box. Click the "personal" tab and make sure it's set to "gift." From there, just hit continue and follow the directions for how you want to pay and then hit 'send money.'

We will accept donations until the 17th of the month. Please email me with any questions and feel free to pass along to those that you feel would be interested ~ every drop in the bucket helps!

in rEvolution & Respect
Mamone
---------------------------------------------------
House & Garden Work by Laureen Griffin www.homework.laureengriffin.com Contact us for a free one hour visitation and home assessment. We will meet with you and put together an estimate. Our work is high quality at reasonable rates
Rasa Salon & Boutique, 62 W Manheim St (Mt. Airy/Germantown area), Philadelphia, PA 19144 (215) 668-6296
www.RockStarCrystalGallery.com
http://kitholmesmusic.com/
http://christinehavrilla.com/ -#1 Favorite Local Band of WXPN Amazon Country Host Debra D’Alessandro. (2nd Favorite? A certain “Cassendre Xavier”. Wacky!)

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING
May you easily master fear releasement.
May you claim your spirituality as your own.
May you be your own authority.
May you compare yourself to no one but your dreams for yourself.
May you always know you are loved.
May all your dreams come true, surpassing all your expections.
This, or something better, and may it be for the good of all.

In art and community,
Cassendre Xavier
Humyn, Being.
www.cassEndrExavier.com
© Copyright 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com
------------------------Ways to give back to the renaissance negresse-------------
Make a Paypal Donation: **Instructions:** Once you are signed into Paypal (if you don't have an account you'll have to set one up), go to "send money." In the "to" space, put cxmusic@gmail.com and then put the amount you want to donate in the amount box. Click the "personal" tab and make sure it's set to "gift." From there, just hit continue and follow the directions for how you want to pay and then hit 'send money.'
Beloved Old School Paper Mail: Send love letters, dark chocolate, French perfume and money orders PAYABLE TO: Cassendre Xavier, PO Box 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204 USA
Order CDs/Downloads: http://cdbaby.com/all/cassendre
Order CDs from CX Direct: http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com/
Come to see CX perform: http://cassendrexavier.com/calendar.html
Booking CX to Sing & Treating CX to Meals, Movies, Concerts Oh My! Email: cxmusic(at)gmail.com, Voicemail 215-436-9702
====================Please forward this message. =========================
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=======================Thank you for your time============================

ME! ME! ME! Cassendre Xavier Museletter December 5, 2010

2010-12-05T04:46:00.000-08:00

TABLE OF CONTENTS

~WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER?
~GREETING
~SOUNDTRACK
~LIFE IS HUGE AND INTENSE
~EMBRACING THE SHADOW
~www.SOULMATESECRET.COM
~FOR THE GRATEFULLY & GAINFULLY EMPLOYED OR OTHERWISE CASH-COMFY WHO EITHER ENJOY ALCOHOL AND/OR RESTAURANTS!
~CX DIRECT FOR ALL YOUR CD HOLIDAY PURCHASING NEEDS!
~WHO’S THAT BLACK GIRL SINGING IN SUBURBAN STATION?
~THE SUBURBAN STATION SUBWAY SIREN TOUR
~WHO WANTS A HOUSE CONCERT?
~FAREWELL BLESSING

CONTENTS OF TABLE

WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER?
“Cassendre Xavier is a multi-media healing artist based in Philadelphia. As a singer-writer, she spans the range of pop from folk to blues to rock; and her songs are rich in a soulful expression of emotions. Cassendre has a rich, sweet singing voice and entertains audiences with jokes and witty banter. She is a leader in the raw vegan health community and has facilitated support groups for survivors of abuse. Cassendre is an honored recipient of a Leeway Foundation Transformation Award for her work in art and change.” –from the Women in Transitions & The Survivors Network’s “Celebrating Survivors” event program October 29, 2010.

GREETING
Hi, there!

Glad to be writing to you once again. Hope you’re not bored by this :-)

SOUNDTRACK (what I listened to as I wrote this): Bossa Combo: Accolade, Charles Aznavour, Ubaka Hill: The Spiral Dance, Teena Marie: Passion Play.

==========================================================

LIFE IS HUGE AND INTENSE
Let’s see, what’s going on – life. Life is BIG. Huge. Really. Can’t get over how intense it is these days. Is it just Moi? Canst thou relate? Sheesh!

I’ve been doing a lot of work trying to maintain my good feelings, be less critical of self and others, and I’m doing a lot of work on fears and anger. I’m still posting what I eat on Facebook and making progress as a normal, healthy eater. Okay, that’s the positive language that I’ve learned is important to use. You read between the lines. Aaaargh!

============================================================

EMBRACING THE SHADOW
May I recommend Debbie Ford’s shadow work? Many of her books deal with the shadow and I’ve been working with some of her concepts. One of the great things that’s happened in my embracing my shadow is that I’ve gotten much more important work done. For example, instead of being upset with myself that I am addicted to Facebook, I just said, Okay. I’m addicted to Facebook. I accept that. What’s good about that, or what can be good about that? I then decided that before I log on, I’ll first update my website and/or MySpace calendar. My website’s calendar has been updated regularly for the first time in years. And that’s not because I’m addicted to Facebook, but because I accepted that I was and refused to beat myself up about it. Love the shadow is Debbie Ford’s whole thing about that. Another thing is that as I accepted more of my shadow parts I became more able to mend friendships and accept others’ shadows. Thanks to my friend Edie Weinstein for first telling me about Debbie, and for Arielle Ford, Debbie’s sister, for promoting her work, which I discovered through Arielle’s website…

www.SOULMATESECRET.COM
I highly recommend Arielle Ford’s work on law of attraction, which she used to manifest her successful business and now marriage. She married for the first time at age 44 and she and her husband have been happy their entire 12 years of marriage. Check it out and see if it resonates with you!

If you like this type of personal growth stuff, check out my articles at Wisdom Magazine’s online edition:
http://wisdom-magazine.com/ArticleArchives.aspx?author=Cassendre+Xavier or http://tinyurl.com/yh9e95c.

FOR THE GRATEFULLY & GAINFULLY EMPLOYED OR OTHERWISE CASH-COMFY WHO EITHER ENJOY ALCOHOL AND/OR RESTAURANTS!

Every Thursday, my drummer Rich and I are playing the Mango Moon, 4161 Main St, (in the Manayunk section of) Philadelphia, PA 19127 Tel: 215-487-1230. 7:30pm-9:30pm. No cover. www.MyMangoMoon.com. It’s a great place, and the website matches its wonderousness, and how nice Moon, the Chef is!

Very excited that later tonight I’ll be singing with a jazz trio for the first time ever. Drummer, bass, guitar, and a little female type (me!) singing some pop and rock tunes re-worked in the jazzular way. (I’m also bringing my guitar and will do a tune or two of Moi’s own!) Sunday, December 05, 2010, 5:30pm-7:30pm at Divan Turkish Kitchen & Bar, Corner of 22nd & Carpenter, Philadelphia, PA 19146. www.DivanTurkishKitchen.com. 215.545.5790. No cover.

On Tuesday, December 7, 2010 – 8:30pm
I’ll be singing at The Exchange. An evening of multi-media performance featuring: Cassendre Xavier, James Hearne, Ms Pain, Aleister Mraz. Upstairs at Copabanana, 344 South Street, Philadelphia PA 19147 215.923.6180. Drink and food specials~
Info/Contact: www.myspace.com/communityculturalexchange. No cover.

Friday, December 17, 2010 8PM (Doors 7:30PM)
Capable of Love Concert - $15 Donation includes CD!
Arrive early to meet, mix, mingle & browse the crystals. Show starts promptly at 8:00PM. I’ll be singing songs from my 2009 album Capable of Love.
Rockstar Crystal Gallery, 20 E. Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia
PA 19119 267-286-1011 www.rockstarcrystalgallery.com
(Hear and read about this and my other musical recordings at www.cdbaby.com/all/cassendre)

========================================

CX DIRECT FOR ALL YOUR CD HOLIDAY PURCHASING NEEDS!

As a full-time self-employed musician, I am required by law to pester you to seriously consider throwing some of your greenery devices in this Haitian-American sista’s direccione! If I don’t, someone else’s multi-million dollar advertising budget (or really strong indie street team) will get your attention first!

Please remember that I don’t believe you owe me anything. Everyone works for what they have in life, or simply accepts what they’re offered, depending on what spiritual teacher you ask! I think it’s a little, or a lot of both. You don’t have to creatively tithe nor are you obliged to support your local artists and live music scene, but do consider that if you and your contemporaries don’t, who will?

I have dozens of serious artists who “get” and wholly support my work, hundreds of actually interested CX appreciators on my internet scene, and thousands of voyeuristic readers who kinda don’t care, really (but would buy an album by a super famous person). I don’t know where you fall on the continuum, but I did the math and if I could entice you to either order here or online any of my downloads, I’d be a whole lot more comfy in the material world!

Here’s my CX Direct Order Form (I can send you CDs) in both web and paper-friendly formats: Oh, and in addition to cash and credit/debit cards in person and online, I also accept other forms of “gifts” such as prayers and well wishes, which do work, believe me!

When I’m busking, I get many many blessings, as well as smiles, sometimes hugs, and also gig leads. People tell me about venues, they invite me to perform house concerts for them, it’s really good stuff.

You can be a blessing by simply visualizing me becoming a touring singer-songwriter and playing venues you’re excited about bringing your friends to come see “the girl I met who was playing the subway in Philly” or whatever. Holding the vision of my success is one of the greatest gifts you can give me. And I send it right back to you in wishes for continued success, growth, prosperity, health, and true enjoyment of living!

Online version: http://cxdirect.eventbrite.com

Recommended first purchase: Beautiful (2004) or Capable of Love (2009) and
The Whittenberg Sessions (2002) –an excellent value at only $20 for both CDs!

CX DIRECT MAIL ORDER FORM
(SHIPPING INCLUDED IN THE U.S.A.!)

Send orders to: Cassendre Xavier, PO Box 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204 USA
(Or order securely with your Credit/Debit Card at www.cassEndrExavier.com!)

MUSICAL *CDs - $12 each, TWO for $20!
Capable of Love (2009)----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________
Live at Tin Angel (2006)----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________
Beautiful (2004)----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________
Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo (2004)----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________
Live at Café Improv (2002)----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________
The Whittenberg Sessions (2002) ----Quantity:_______X $______= $___________

GUIDED MEDITATION CDs - $15 each, TWO for $25!
Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love (2007) ----Quantity:_______X $______= $__________
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality (2007) ----Quantity:_______X $______= $_________

GRAND TOTAL: $____________. Money order/checks PAYABLE TO: Cassendre Xavier
Name________________________________________ Email: _____________________________
Shipping Address_____________________________________ City________________
State_________Zip Code______________________Phone: (_______)________-_______________

*All CDs may or may not contain artwork and lyric/credit inserts, but are quality recordings with song titles printed on the CD, and in sturdy slimline cases ready to listen or “rip”/ “burn” immediately!

(Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. Call with any questions or concerns 215-436-9702.)
=======================================

WHO’S THAT BLACK GIRL SINGING IN SUBURBAN STATION?
I’ve been wanting to place this ad on Craigslist for months, and I finally did it! http://tinyurl.com/2f7wjv9

WHO WANTS A HOUSE CONCERT?

I love performing for small groups, and tis the season for gatheral purposes, so iffn’ you’re interested, give a call at 215-436-9702 or email cxmusic(at)gmail.com. I’ve got references galorrificment!

THE SUBURBAN STATION SUBWAY SIREN TOUR
ONGOING The Subway Siren Suburban Station Tour (2005 – Present)
Cassendre’s busking (street/subway performance) has been featured in the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer!
Various Weekdays, 3:00PM-6:00PM
Designated Performance Area #1 of Philadelphia’s Suburban Station, Directly below 17th Street & JFK Blvd
Stop by and say hello! (Elevator to Concourse Level)

All for now, folks….

FAREWELL BLESSING

May you always know that you are loved.
May you be gentle with yourself and know true friendship, from the inside out.
May you follow your bliss and be supported.
May you be bold, fearless, and filled with gratitude.
May all your dreams come true, surpassing all your expectations.
All this, or something better, and may it be for the good of all.

Cassendre Xavier
Musician & Writer
www.cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Director of the blah blah blah. I’m tired :-)

© 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rightzen reservenitzkhen.

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==================Thank you for your time=======================

Upcoming Events

2010-09-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

This changes constantly, so please check my website for the latest. Thanks!

http://cassendrexavier.com

Dear Beautiful - Cassendre Xavier Museletter

2010-09-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

BIO: Cassendre Xavier is a multi-media artist who coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002. Known mostly as a recording artist and author, she is the founder and director of Philadelphia's annual Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003). www.BWAFphilly.org, www.cassEndrExavier.com

INTRO: This newsletter takes many forms and many names from time to time (“ME! ME! ME!” and “the renaissance negresse museletter” being the most commonly used). I decided I don’t have to use one same name all the time for this newsletter. Hope that’s cool with you :-) Below was transcribed from my journal.

16 Sept 10

Dear Beautiful,

It is past 2AM and I am lying here writing to you with a black felt tip pen (best for bed/upside-down/any-which-way writing), and a green single-subject spiral notebook and a painful stomach.
My stomach has hurt every day for weeks because of my compulsive and late night overeating, which was starting to get under control with my Raw Transformation updates. But when I had technical problems at my office and couldn’t upload my videos for weeks, I feel off the wagon.
I now am able to upload again, but it takes about three hours to upload a five minute video and I tend to choose fun things like music or sexy posts instead.
I’m looking forward to doing more lectures and Q&As on the raw lifestyle to help me with this lifelong eating disorder. I don’t know how to feel good physically. I don’t take care of myself. I like to treat pain with more pain to help me both forget and remember the first pain. My stomach ache keeps me company and distracts me from thinking about or feeling sad about my other problems.
But of course that’s all bullshit what I’m saying. I’m just talking but I have no understanding of what I do. I just stuff til it hurts because it’s what I’ve known to do since childhood. It’s how I keep myself company. And that so much change.

MONEY: Stressed. Unemployed. Underemployed. Job-hunting. Grateful for gigs and busking. Generating interest in workshops. Increasing trust in the Universe’s ability to provide all my needs. Constantly and routinely shown just that.

LOVE: Growing exponentially. Self-love increasing. I’m patient about my next romantic love. Plants, crystals, children, animals, nature, and friendship are teaching me a lot about love.

SPIRITUALITY: Self-trust. Love. Orin & DaBen. Angels. Doreen Virtue. Tolerance. Christianity. Paganism. Sexuality. Barbara Carrellas. Annie Sprinkle.

MOST INSPIRED BY: Books. Facebook friends’ status reports sent to my mobile phone’s new unlimited text plan: Barbara Carrellas, Annie Sprinkle, Ann Albers, Kenn Kweder, Bren Ryder, Victor Galli, Jon Mercer, Gab Guma, Paulo Coelho, Lili Anel, Gary Null, Nina Hartley.

WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU:

Downloads/CDs: http://cdbaby.com/all/cassendre, http://stores.lulu.com/cassendre
Print & eBooks: http://cxbooks.eventbrite.com
Videos: http://youtube.com/cassendrexavier

CALENDAR OF APPEARANCES:

Saturday, September 25, 2010. FREE
Lansdowne Farmers Market 11:30AM – 12:45PM
Info: http://tinyurl.com/23b3dnv

Monday, October 4, 2010 7:00PM – 8:30PM $5
Orin DaBen Study Group – Creating Money: Attracting Abundance
Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Pre-registration required online or by phone 215-436-9702
For more about Orin & DaBen, visit http://orindaben.com

Friday, October 15, 2010 8PM-9PM One Measly Dollar!
Affirmations Sing-Along
Rockstar Crystal Gallery, 20 E. Mt. Airy Avenue, Philadelphia
Join acclaimed singer-songwriter Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah) in song to affirm health, love, and abundance.
Cassendre has been writing affirmation songs since 2007 and was spiritually called to start leading Affirmation Sing Alongs that same year. She has done so at venues as varied as Arnold's Way Raw Vegetarian Cafe & Education Center, the Germantown Friends School, and house concerts. All are welcome, especially the tone deaf and scaredy cats!

Many more dates added regularly…please visit www.cassEndrExavier.com for updates.

© Copyright 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com. To unsubscribe, please reply with “Peanut Butter” in the subject field. It smarts less. Yes, I’m aware that’s very codependent of me :-)

How to Help the Gulf of Mexico

2010-06-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

by Cassendre Xavier

Millions of people all over the world are working on the tragic Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Since our strongest power comes from joining our heart-centered intentions with two or more people, let those of us who wish to act to solve this problem find others of a like mind. Not everyone is working in the same way to resolve this problem, and not everything about this problem is "bad". There are blessings in every situation, and we have a choice to seek and maximize the blessings. In this case, an awareness of many issues has been raised among a formerly sleeping public.

Also, many are (finally) being held accountable for their actions, and we all have this opportunity to significantly effect and/or transform the way business is done. Let us all stop judging. While it is reasonable to want and expect justice and an evening of the proverbial scales, our efforts are much better used at continued, nonstop focus on finding a way to stop the spill. We are all geniuses and when we combine our efforts for good and only coming from a place of love, we can create miracles.

If you ever feel anger or hatred towards "those" who "created" this situation, replace those feelings and thoughts with love for them and for our planet. It's not that they won't be held accountable - they will, but it's our love that will heal the planet and from there we can create a system of, or impart justice - from a wiser place.
None of us has to have the answers, but we would be much wiser to clear our hearts and minds of any thoughts that are not loving.

I'm feeling that it would be very helpful for us all to do a lot of forgiveness work. Many of us are very frustrated, and afraid. Fear is not love - and fear grows exponentially. Let's do a lot of forgiveness - think about the "jerks who made this mess" and see them as children who made a mistake. I'm not saying corporate heads need to be coddled, but we won't be the clear channels of transformational miracles if we're busy running around trying to "spank" the "bad guys". Let's put our energies on healing mother earth - ask her what she needs from us.

Do you remember the bees thing from years ago? They started disappearing? When lightworkers asked the bees why, they were told that the bees had been overused for too long.

I'm sure we don't have to go too far deep into meditation to find out what Mother Nature is trying to tell us. We as a whole have been abusing her body for far too long. We plunder without thinking --we are full of greed. We don't think of what might happen if we make a mistake. We are All One. Those "guys" who "created this mess" are extensions of, and connected to us. And that's another reason not to hate or want to hurt them. How do you want to be treated when you've made a mistake, or are misguided or didn't know any better?

At any given time, we are all doing the best we can. And when we are making mistakes, or doing things that are hurting others, we can be shown a better way, and forgiven our errors.

That's the kind of parent, friend, or lover I think I'd want, that's the kind of person I'm trying to become, and that's the way we will heal our planet, not only of this spill, but of the hatred and intolerance, and fear we've allowed to dominate our hearts and minds for far too long.

Lastly, scientists are beginning to have tools to guage things that lightworkers have always known. One of those things is that our heart and feelings significantly effect the earth. (NY Times bestselling author and scientist Gregg Braden explains this in this video http://tinyurl.com/2d7wf87). I also highly recommend part one of the interview http://tinyurl.com/d4qycj)

When we have thoughts or feelings of fear, chaos, anger, rage, guilt, shame, etc. we actually contribute to the creation of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.
When we use and strenghen our hearts in love, we also bring peace and love to our physical environment.

The most powerful thing we can all do to help solve the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is to focus on love at all times, and recongize that fear is an absence of love.

Forgiveness is love, patience is love, generosity is love, hope and faith are love. Anger is a lack of love, fear is a lack of love, despair and hopelessness are an absence of love.

When we focus love and forgiveness, we will be guided to the next steps we can take. We may be led to contact an individual, organization, or action that will help this issue. Or we may simply be instructed to meditate more. Not everyone is designed to be on the frontlines.

Thanks for your consciousness, love, generosity, and focus on healing our planet.

We are All One.

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

Cassendre Xavier is a healing multi-media artist and Creative Life Coach. Based in Philadelphia, she is the founder and director of that city's 7th Annual Black Women's Arts Festival (July 29 thru August 1, 2010). For more information, please visit http://cassEndrExavier.com.

Permission is granted to reprint this article, provided the following credit and link are included:
"How to Help the Gulf of Mexico" (c) Copyright 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. http://cassEndrExavier.com

11 New Videos & Free/Discounted Recordings!

2010-02-16T21:53:00.001-08:00

Greetings, Dear One!

I just wanted to let you know I’ve uploaded (and by “I”, I mean “my friend Dennis uploaded for Moi”, heh-heh!) eleven, count ‘em 11 new videos to YouTube! View them and click thyself in the downward direccione yonder:

Personal Growth / Self-Actualization Talk

Affirmations Work Chronicles: "Willing to Receive" Testimony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA3Mf4g6oJY or http://tinyurl.com/ygt6nk6

Humor

P is for Pussy - Cookie Monster Parody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq6pkXiUoQI or http://tinyurl.com/ylo4afq

Affirmation Songs

Order & Peace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL37xoio478 or http://tinyurl.com/yggg974

Home & Neighborhood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jri_76BMLLg or http://tinyurl.com/yflntpj

Body Healthy & Well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAZjPC9Qbg0 or http://tinyurl.com/ycuwagx

Worthy of My Trust http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jutNADJvrH4 or http://tinyurl.com/y9nll6k

Spoken Word / Poems

to the 4' asian woman who swears she's so tough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s55ycH8LZ_o or http://tinyurl.com/yfw3ok6

Be Coming Magickal: a Blackwomyn's Journey (Or: How to Become a Witch When All Your Teachers are White) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5VBtVBeYTk or http://tinyurl.com/y9q6hfr

If I Were Thin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lydlc23KI0 or http://tinyurl.com/yb8codw

Quote/unQuote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1E10H69sTM or http://tinyurl.com/yj9dtka

Shrimp Savannah: A Recipe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2LnZmim2hA or http://tinyurl.com/ye8qf6v

To see more of my song, parody, and guided meditation videos, please visit http://youtube.com/cassEndrExavier or http://tinyurl.com/yks9knk

…and….

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Every once in a while, I feel called to make my guided meditations free. So, once again, here they are, FREE downloads, or $5.50 per CD (100% cost goes to Lulu who makes the CD).

I’ve also reduced the price of my latest album Capable of Love in both CD and MP3 download format!

(Please note the website may not show updated prices yet, but they will by midnight 2/14!)

Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love CD $5.50 (Regularly $24.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love Download FREE! (Regularly $19.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality CD $5.50 (Regularly $24.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality Download FREE! (Regularly $19.99)
Capable of Love CD $11.75 (Regularly $15.00)
Capable of Love Download $7.74 (Regularly $10.00)

Order all of these from http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE or http://tinyurl.com/ydz4993

Please note all Affirmations for Survivors CDs ARE suitable for non-survivors!

(Coming soon: Affirmations for Survivors: Sexuality, and Affirmations for Survivors: Life Skills)

Also, all of my musical albums are sold at CD Baby (http://cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrE),

Amazon, and many other online outlets, as well as in person at Giovanni’s Room Bookstore, 345 South 12th Street, Philadelphia PA 19107 (215) 923-2960 http://giovannisroom.com.

Make yourself a beautiful day!

Best,

Cassendre Xavier
renaissance negresse
http://cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Director of Philadelphia’s Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (Est. 2003)
http://BWAFphilly.org

Recommended: The Best Free Ebook on Prosperity: The Science of Getting Rich. I’m reading this book right now and it’s changing my understanding! Try it and see how you like it! http://attractanything.com/best-free-ebook-on-prosperity.html or http://tinyurl.com/ylff8dg.

© 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com

Source: http://cassendrexavier.blogspot.com/2010/02/11-new-videos-freediscounted-recordings.html or http://tinyurl.com/yb5mrle

renaissance negresse museletter 2/5/10

2010-02-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

the renaissance negresse museletter
art | inspiration | community
brought to you by Cassendre Xavier Enterprises

February 5, 2010

In This Issue:

1) WHO IS THE *RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
2) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
3) NEXT SHOW: FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA 2/24
4) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE CATALOG
5) NEW WRITING (EXCERPTS)
6) RAW VEGAN UPDATE
7) RUNNING CLUB UPDATE
8) LATEST INSPIRATIONS (LINKERY DEVICES AKA “LINKAGE”)
9) WHAT MY FRIENDS & ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES ARE DOING
10) INSPIRATION LINE IS BACK! (215) 436-9702

1) WHO IS THE *RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE?
Haitian-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined the term “renaissance negresse” in 2002. A musician, writer, actress, and visual artist, Xavier (who sometimes works under the names Amethyste Rah and Amrita Waterfalls) says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (2003- Present). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990. [*“Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. ‘Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to ‘My dear, my darling, my sweet.’” – From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.]

2) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
Latest newsletter dated January 21, 2010: http://bwafphilly.blogspot.com/2010/01/black-womens-arts-festival-newsletter_21.html or http://tinyurl.com/ycrmkqt or visit www.BWAFphilly.org Click “News”.

3) NEXT SHOW: FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA 2/24
Cassendre Xavier in Song and Poetry at The Free Library of Philadelphia

The Literature Department of the Free Library celebrates Black History Month with Cassendre Xavier, a musician, author, visual artist, and actress. Ms. Xavier is the founder and director of Philadelphia’s annual Black Women’s Arts Festival and recipient of a Leeway Foundation Transformation Award for her work in art and change. You can learn more about Ms. Xavier’s various recordings, publications, appearances and other projects at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
7:30pm FREE
Free Library/Central Library
Montgomery Auditorium
1901 Vine Street, 19103
Info: 215-686-5322

Event link: http://eventful.com/philadelphia/events/cassendre-xavier-song-and-poetry-/E0-001-027888659-0 or http://tinyurl.com/yeowjwf.

For my complete schedule of appearances, please visit www.cassEndrExavier.com.

4) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE CATALOG
For information about, and to order my 8 musical CDs/downloads, 2 spoken word guided meditations, and/or 6 print and e-books from various outlets or directly from me, please visit http://cassendrexavier.blogspot.com/2009/10/cx-direct-order-form-renaissance.html or http://tinyurl.com/yj6l2k4. (Please note, I have discontinued making stationery for mail order and will only sell these at special fairs and events.)
Until February 7th, 2010 (my birthday!), CD Baby will donate $1 toward Haitian earthquake relief for every CD and album download sold. View the Cassendre Xavier Music Gallery at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrE or http://tinyurl.com/y89qaxj.

5) NEW WRITING (EXCERPTS)
Affirmations Work Chronicles - Payment for Work, and more.
To read these and other excerpts from present and future CX print and e-books, please visit http://artivistpublications.homestead.com/Excerpts.html or http://tinyurl.com/yzod377.

6) RAW VEGAN UPDATE
Latest Green Smoothie Raw Blog: 1/3/10 http://cassendrexavier.blogspot.com/2010/01/green-smoothie-raw-blog-1310.html or http://tinyurl.com/ya2td3f
My book Expanding Your Capacity for Joy: a Raw Vegan Comfort Book, Sourcebook & Journal is now on sale for $14.95 (originally $24.95), and sold at Arnold’s Way Raw Vegetarian Café, Store & Education Center in Lansdale, PA. “You did a very good job – it’s very good.” –Arnold Kauffman on Expanding Your Capacity for Joy. The e-book version is only $5 (originally $24.95). Coming soon: more books on the raw vegan lifestyle. More on CX’s raw journey in my Green Smoothie Raw Blog (or year 2007 in www.cassendrexavier.blogspot.com) More books at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

7) RUNNING CLUB UPDATE
In November, I moved to Drexel Hill (Upper Darby area), Pennsylvania, and this has stopped my weekly runs with my friends in center city. Not sure what to do about this right now, as I’m pretty overwhelmed with just my daily obligations and traveling “to town” to run my errands, do gigs, go to the BWAF office to work, check my PO box, and so forth. So, I’m in town, but not living in town anymore. I’ll keep you posted.

8) LATEST INSPIRATIONS (LINKERY DEVICES AKA “LINKAGE”)
Barbara Sher makes it her business to save “geniuses”, and she believes we are all geniuses. She helps us get in touch with what we really want to do in life. Her book “Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want” changed my life.
Barbara Sher on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=barbara+sher&search_type=&aq=f or http://tinyurl.com/yaqbdok. Barbara Sher’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BarbaraSherWishcraft or http://tinyurl.com/yglgxpq. Website http://barbarasher.com/.

Louise Hay is a teacher and bestselling author of many books including her most famous “You Can Heal Your Life” (now a full-length movie). In her 80s now, Ms. Hay has spent most of her adult life teaching people that our thoughts create our reality. She’s a pioneer of the “affirmations” method and is the founder of the personal improvement powerhouse publisher Hay House.
Louise Hay on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=louise+hay&search_type=&aq=f or Louise Hay’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/HayHousePresents or http://tinyurl.com/yft5ba2. Website http://www.louisehay.com/.

In searching YouTube for affirmations for prosperity and abundance, I found author/speaker/coach Jon Mercer and his “Attract Anything” video series. I have found them very helpful, especially in re-forming my original ideas of lack and competition versus abundance and creativity.
Jon Mercer’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/attractanything or http://tinyurl.com/y8mxcm8. Website: http://attractanything.com/.

Goddess Leonie creates an annual dream/work/play book recommended by personal growth expert Lilou Mace, whose posts I also sometimes on YouTube. I found her website and was very inspired by her work. It is a brilliant example of how a write and artist can use technology to combine her dreams and create vibrant commerce. Her books are brightly colored and available in e-book form. You order this incredibly inexpensive book, then take the download to an office supply store which then prints and binds it for you at very little cost. Brilliant. She’s in Australia and sells her books worldwide. Goddess Leoni’s website is: http://www.goddessguidebook.com/. Check it out and be inspired!

9) WHAT MY FRIENDS & ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES ARE DOING

Monica McIntyre/Past Is Present
Monica has created, with a cast of 7 other women, a collaborative stage piece called Past Is Present. Two shows Saturday, February 06, 2010.
Info:

"Past Is Present" – A fresh daring collaborative exploration honoring African ancestry, celebrating the present, and embracing the future; incorporating: Photography, Videography, Choreography, Poetry, Music, Acting, Storytelling, Chanting, and Healing Arts.
Featuring: Saida Agostini, Lillie Ruth Bussey, Darlene DeVore, Fatimah Loren, Monica McIntyre, Nikki Powerhouse, Deneane Richburg, and Jennifer Turnbull.

Come be inspired, challenged, and healed!!

This amazing event takes place on:

Saturday February 6, 2010
@ The Walking Fish Theater
2509 Frankford Ave, Phila, PA 19125
215-427-WALK

Two Shows: 6:30pm and 9pm (Please arrive 30mins early)
$10/advance (while supplies last), $15/door (If you'd like to buy tickets offline email: cellomama(at)msn.com or call 215-360-2865 for more info.)

Link to order online: http://pastispresent.eventbrite.com/ or http://tinyurl.com/yd7qges.

Bo Westcott/Affirmation Songstress
Bo first found me on YouTube because of my affirmation songs. She started leaving really nice comments about them, and I saw that she also is a writer and performer of affirmation songs! I’m really inspired by her wonderful work and hope to work with her someday. (We’re Facebook friends if you’d like to network :-) Bo Westcott’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/boadrienne or http://tinyurl.com/ylfexuo. Website: http://www.manifestourreality.com

Film Baby. A great place for a budding filmmaker to dream about making product, and a great place to sell it, whether DVD or download, when it’s done!
http://www.filmbaby.com/

10) INSPIRATION LINE IS BACK! (215) 436-9702
I’ve brought back my inspiration line. Often I call and talk and/or sing into the phone and include my latest gig or someone else’s. Call anytime and leave messages if you wish. This number also serves as my booking voicemail number, so you can leave professional messages inquiring about a future book as well.

Make yourself a beautiful day!

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls)
renaissance negresse (musician/author/visual artist/actress)
http://cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Executive Director of Philadelphia’s 7th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival http://BWAFphilly.org.

Join my Facebook Group! http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=81610690951&ref=ts or http://tinyurl.com/ybcp6g2.

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/cassendrexavier or http://tinyurl.com/yjt4dkj.

© Copyright 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. http://www.cassendrexavier.com

Happy Self-Love Day! (+FREE Downloads/CD Sale!)

2010-02-13T19:04:00.001-08:00

Saturday, February 13, 2010

On this Valentine’s Day, I wish for you:

Feelings of self-contentment.

Don’t be afraid to buy yourself flowers.

Partnered or not, happy or not, you deserve to pamper yourself.

All love affairs begin with a love affair with the self, firstly, and secondly, a love affair with life.

Enjoy your own company, be your first joy, so you can bring extra joy to others.

Every once in a while, I feel called to make my guided meditations free. So, once again, here they are, FREE downloads, or $5.50 per CD (100% cost goes to Lulu who makes the CD).

I’ve also reduced the price of my latest album Capable of Love in both CD and MP3 download format!

(Please note the website may not show updated prices yet, but they will by midnight 2/14!)

Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love CD $5.50 (Regularly $24.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love Download FREE! (Regularly $19.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality CD $5.50 (Regularly $24.99)
Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality Download FREE! (Regularly $19.99)
Capable of Love CD $11.75 (Regularly $15.00)
Capable of Love Download $7.74 (Regularly $10.00)

Order all of these from http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE or http://tinyurl.com/ydz4993

Please note all Affirmations for Survivors CDs ARE suitable for non-survivors!

(Coming soon: Affirmations for Survivors: Sexuality, and Affirmations for Survivors: Life Skills)

Also, all of my musical albums are sold at CD Baby (http://cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrE),

Amazon, and many other online outlets, as well as in person at Giovanni’s Room Bookstore, 345 South 12th Street, Philadelphia PA 19107 (215) 923-2960 http://giovannisroom.com.

Happy Self-Love Day!

Best,

Cassendre Xavier
renaissance negresse
http://cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Director of Philadelphia’s Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (Est. 2003)
http://BWAFphilly.org

My videos: http://youtube.com/cassEndrExavier or http://tinyurl.com/yks9knk

Recommended: The Best Free Ebook on Prosperity: The Science of Getting Rich. I’m reading this book right now and it’s changing my understanding! Try it and see how you like it! http://attractanything.com/best-free-ebook-on-prosperity.html or http://tinyurl.com/ylff8dg.

© 2010 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com

Cassendre Xavier News

2010-01-21T01:56:00.001-08:00

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, Amrita Waterfalls, renaissance negresse) will be performing her music and/or writing at several Philadelphia venues:

2/4 at Blue Bananas Café, 223 South Street, at 7:30pm $5, including open mic and co-featuring poet Jacob Russell.

2/16, at the Erotic Literary Salon, at TIME Restaurant, (Upstairs at the Bohemian Absinthe Lounge), 1315 Sansom Street, 8pm, $10. 21+.

2/24, Free Library of Philadelphia / Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, 7:30pm, free.

Her 8 musical albums, 5 books, and 2 guided meditation recordings are all available in print, e-book, CD & MP3 download format, as is her schedule of events at her website, http://cassEndrExavier.com.

Cassendre is also the founder & executive director of Philadelphia's 7th annual Black Women's Arts Festival, which is now accepting artist, vendor, and workshop submissions and volunteer inquiries at www.BWAFphilly.org.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T16:56:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from the renaissance negresse!

Dear One,

Hello! How are you? I mean, really, stop, take a moment, and check in with your breath. How’s your inner chestal reggione feeling? Are the shoulders relaxed? Take a few deep breaths. Maybe stretch like a cool cat. If you’ve been seated for a long time, take this time to stand up for a little while, and reach to the ceiling, filling your lungs and cells with fresh, new oxygen. This is the time to de-stress.
I’m writing to you because although I’ve been so overwhelmed, I’ve been very appreciative of the gifts of grace I’ve been given from time to time. One of the sweetnesses has been holiday wishes.
From electronic greeting cards and forwarded emails to heartfelt Facebook status updates, and even the occasional paper-mailed card (can you imagine?!) it’s just nice sometimes to be remembered.
So I’m taking a moment from my writing schedule, from checking off my “Things to Do List” one by one (very fulfilling!) and stopping to let you know that I know you’re there either running around like crazy, doing a bunch of errands back to back, or putzing about kinda slow and depressed-like, or maybe a little bit of both.
You’re either diggin’, shovelin’, or playin’ in the snow. You’re either home alone or with a partner or with your family. Which ever singular or combined thing, I hope you’re enjoying yourself. Whether glorious solitude or the mixed blessing of friends and family, I wish you a safe, warm, and happy holiday season, however you observe it.

Be well all ways,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls)
renaissance negresse (musician, author, visual artist, actress)
http://cassEndrExavier.com

Source: http://cassendrexavier.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-holidays.html

Snow in NY/Erotic Literary Salon 12/15

2009-12-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

Greetings, Friends!

Firstly, you know I’m really excited about my participation on Rupert Wates’ recording & live performance project “Joe’s Café”, which is a collection of songs he wrote based on true stories he found in anthologies and news clippings. My song is “Snow in New York”, and after months of rehearsal, Rupert Wates and Friends had our first live concert of “Joe’s Café” in Manhattan on 122 at the esteemed venue the Metropolitan Room. The show was videotaped and here is my part of it – me singing “Snow in New York” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSrQbulyIx4. You can watch the whole rest of the show by visiting http://www.youtube.com/user/daveturnermusic and finding all the “Rupert Wates and Friends” links on that channel.

Secondly, I’ll be working the door at the Erotic Literary Salon tomorrow, Tues 12/15. It’s an absolutely lovely and very special event I’m so pleased to be a part of. I’ll be featuring in January (on the 19th – it’s always the 3rd Tuesday), and really enjoy the atmosphere there. Details: http://theeroticsalon.com/press-release/december-press-release-feature-erotic-tantra-poetics/

Hope you’re doing well, and look for my next ME! ME! ME! which will be called “Apology Included” and hopefully both make nice with, and open the eyes of the folks I offended with my last newsletter. If not, well, hey, it won’t be new to me!

Happy holidays,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls)
renaissance negresse (musician/author/visual artist/actress)
http://cassEndrExavier.com

Founder & Executive Director of the Black Women’s Arts Festival (Est 2003)
http://BWAFphilly.org (Early Bird Discounted Submissions Ends January 15th!)

Expecting the Universe’s Elevator (Wisdom Magazine Column)

2009-10-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

[The following will appear in November 2009’s Wisdom Magazine online edition. Visit Cassendre’s archived Wisdom articles at http://wisdom-magazine.com/ArticleArchives.aspx?author=Cassendre+Xavier]

I performed recently at the National Constitution Center.
It was a benefit for Women Organized Against Rape and a surprise for me (though I don’t think it was a surprise to the organizers) was Philadelphia Mayor Nutter’s appearance and subsequent speech.
In one of the emails I received from the organizers just prior to the event, I was given directions to the venue’s exact location in the building. Upon finding the Constitution Center, and entering, I was to “look for stairs” in a certain area. “Stairs?” I thought. In a huge building like the Constitution Center? With my guitar and suitcase full of CDs and credit card swiper, and flyers, that weighs a ton? Stairs? Oh, I don’t think so.
Immediately, I discarded the concept that rudimentary, exercisatory (yes, I made that word up), laborious “stairs” were going to lead me to my destination. I immediately replaced the word in my mind with “elevator”. And sure enough, when the time came to apply this expectation that an elevator would be there for me in all its glory, when I walked into the main lobby of the C. Center, I went into the first store I found and asked a very helpful man who told me where the elevator was --- a mere few feet from the store’s front entrance.
Stairs? Why would I want to take stairs when a building this new and of this size and importance would likely have several passenger elevators and a few freight ones, too?
I got to thinking about how easily I was able to navigate that, simply because I expected and felt entitled to a comfortable, smooth, and easy situation and experience. Wouldn’t I love to do that in every area of my life?
In practicing learning my lessons through joy and not struggle, I’ve been trying to take the gentle route whenever possible.
I’ve also begun to notice others’ behaviors, where proverbial and literal “elevators” are involved.
For instance, when I’m singing in Suburban Station, which thankfully is becoming a rarer and rarer experience, I’ve noticed people lugging heavy suitcases or struggling physically up the stairs, when there’s an elevator right behind the stairs. Sometimes a mother with a stroller and two other children will automatically seek out, find, and use the elevator – most people don’t even look for the elevator – even folks who use canes. It’s heart-wrenching to watch someone begin to struggle up stairs, when there’s an elevator so close by. (I do tell folks where the elevator is, and sometimes, for their own reasons, they refuse it.)
Now, when I remember to, I ask the universe to show me the simplest, most direct way to accomplish a goal.
I’m learning to expect an elevator everywhere I go.
Is there something you’re working on?
Try imagining that there’s a smoother road to accomplishing it, and opt to take that one. Ask the universe (or who/whatever you have these kinds of conversations with) to show you the simplest, most direct, yet effective way to do it. It can even be the best way, just expect it to be a pleasant experience, and it will make the work a little easier, the journey a little more pleasant.
The universe is grand, full of all sorts of tricks and smooth entrances for you to travel. There’s always an easier way – all you have to do is expect it and when necessary, ask.

Cassendre Xavier is a “renaissance negresse” known mainly for her music and writing. Her latest CD Capable of Love and book The Opposite of Fear as well as her Affirmations for Survivors guided meditation recordings and upcoming appearances are all available through her website. Based in Philadelphia, she is founder & director of that city’s annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (Est. 2003). Visit http://www.cassEndrExavier.com.

© 2009 by Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved.

Come see me at IHOP this week!

2009-09-01T13:14:00.001-07:00

Hi, folks!

Some of you know this already, but I wanted to inform you that I recently began waiting tables at IHOP to take care of my 6-year-old “BWAF” (Black Women’s Arts Festival www.BWAFphilly.org) whom I’ve decided to start thinking and taking care of as my daughter!

The new center city location is at 1320 Walnut Street (on Walnut & Juniper. Juniper is between 13^th & Broad). The restaurant’s hours are 7am-2am. Yep, that’s 7 in the morning until 2 in the morning!

We just opened 2 weeks ago.

NEWS! We’re having a new promotion: Kids Eat Free from 4pm-10pm! (til Sept 13^th).

There’s also some NFL promotion I don’t know everything about yet, heh-heh!

There’s also a “For Me” menu that’s got more health conscious options.

I know I’m a raw vegan and that IHOP isn’t exactly that, but if you’re not raw and you would eat here, then…

Why don’t you come up sometime – see me? (By the way, that’s what Mae West really said, not “Come up and see me sometime” You’re getting the real deal here, folks! ;-)

Here’s my schedule for the remainder of this week:

Tues (today) 5pm-Close (we close at 2am and I’m rarely out before 2am).

Wed 5-pm – Close

Thurs -------OFF-------

Fri ----OFF-------

Sat 8am-4pm

Sun 8am-4pm

Mon 5pm- Close

IHOP

1320 Walnut St

Philadelphia, PA 19107

215.732.1726

Cassendre Xavier

renaissance negresse and server extraordinaire!

www.cassEndrExavier.com

Coming soon:

ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter

Green Smoothie Raw Blog, and

the renaissance negresse museletter: art | inspiration| community

Visit me on Facebook!

Keyword search:

Cassendre Xavier

renaissance negresse

Amethyste Rah

Amrita Waterfalls

Refusing to be Lonely at the Leading Edge of Thought

2009-04-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure Oprah has, like, three friends.
I mean, she has millions of admirers, thousands of business associates, hundreds of friendly acquaintances, dozens of people who consider themselves her friends, and three very close actual friends. Who are these people? Well, if my reading on what she puts out publicly is correct: Gayle King, Stedman Graham, and Maya Angelou.
It seems to me that Gayle King, her very best platonic female friend, from her early days in television journalism, is her closest and dearest friend. The woman who recognized her talent very early on, was her peer, and later her cheerleader when Oprah’s star truly began to shine. Gayle isn’t threatened by Oprah’s success – she is enhanced by it. She loves her best friend, and she supports her, because she doesn’t need to compete against Oprah. She benefits by working alongside Oprah in projects that excite and stimulate and expand her own personal and professional growth. She can be Oprah’s close confidante, because Oprah’s success truly does become hers as well. This is how it should be in most close friendships, but isn’t, because of competition and jealousy, both professional, and personal.
From outward appearances, and what Oprah has said repeatedly, Stedman Graham is her lover, her partner, and longtime good friend and supporter. He helps hold her up in the world. He, too, is not threatened by her success, and in being aligned with her, and her name, his businesses thrive additionally. Being very secure with his masculinity, no doubt in part because she helps him to feel this way, he can live with her in peace, love, and cooperation, not crumbling, like so many other men have, when the rude and the ignorant call him by his woman’s last name. He does not compete with her, nor is his ego shrunken by her all-encompassing greatness.
Maya Angelou, a true renaissance woman, is Oprah’s elder, mentor, and mother figure. Oprah is probably a daughter figure to Maya, who only wants the best for Oprah, and who has succeeded in living a proud and worthy life of excellence, elegance, and political awareness and activism. Oprah, no matter how “big” she gets, professionally, or financially, will never be bigger than Maya. There is no comparison, no threat, and no competition on either side.
This is what I realized recently, when reading “Ask and It is Given: Manifesting Your Desires” by Esther Hicks & Jerry Hicks, channelers of Abraham. In it, they say that we, lightworkers and many of us who don’t know that term, but are lightworkers nonetheless – we, they say, are on the “leading edge of thought”. And, as they say, there are very few of us on that leading edge of thought.
Lately, I’d been feeling pretty lonely.
I go out and play my music, and go home alone. I may have a lover or four (heh-heh), but no spouse. I may have friendly acquaintances, but can count my true and close friendships on two fingers. And even they are geographically far away from me.
Why is this, I asked myself? Is there something wrong with me? On paper, I look pretty good, as they say. I’m intelligent, bright, spunky, friendly, sweet, considerate, charming, and generous. What’s the problem? Why don’t I have more friends?
I realized a few things:
1) I’m on the leading edge of thought. While it may be super fun for me to spend hours a day studying my spiritual texts, holding and peering in my favorite crystal, asking it questions, channeling my angels, meditating, writing, and so forth - this isn’t exactly the behavior of the common folk. They’re out shopping, or out with their friends at a club “Sex in the City” style. I guess, I mean, I don’t know – all my information about the “dominant culture” comes from YouTube these days!
2) I work almost all the time. Being self-employed means you work twice as long as everyone else. The diff is we tend to enjoy our work much more, but it’s still a long work day. I’m at my office when others are out bike riding with their kids.
3) Because of the nature of who I am and what I’m here to do, my circle of peers is much smaller than it used to be. In my teens and twenties, I could more easily “hang out” with people I didn’t have much in common with. Or rather, I had more in common with them because I hadn’t yet discovered my calling or necessary work as a lightworker. Back then I was just a budding musician with a penchant for writing and starting support groups for every little thing that ailed me! Now, at age 40, it’s time to hunker down. I’ve got things to do – I’ve got pain to soothe, I’ve got people to reach, books to write, healing to inspire. I have goals that my soul’s evolution depends on.

I decided to refuse to be lonely at the leading edge of thought. I joined Lightworkers.org, a website dedicated to building community among like-minded folks, and began meeting a whole spiritual network of people who actually “get” me. Whereas before I’ve either alienated or inspired professional jealousy in people, at Lighworkers, I get to completely shine. I am learning to be myself, and am writing better and infusing all of my work with joy and love.
I am in no hurry to make friends, but I am in a hurry to do my most joyful work, for I know that when I work with love, I attract loving circumstances. When I write a spiritual essay from the heart, to comfort, soothe, and inspire, and that essay is met with compliments, praise, not of my writing, but of my Spirit, I know that I am closer to meeting a new circle of friends. I may need to relocate at some point – in fact, I know I will, and I already know where, but for now I am building the blocks – the friendship blocks.
If you feel you’ve been lonely for a very long time – find your joy again. Get deeply into what makes you happiest, and do that in an outward way – into the world outside of you. Find what makes you happy, or increase your doing of the thing that makes you happy. Find a way to make what you love to do a service that others can use. When you put your love out into the world, it will come back to you.
Seek mentors. I have asked people whose books have inspired me to be my mentors. More often than not, they have said yes, and sometimes, their mentorship becomes friendships.
Consider that you may be lonely because you’ve been setting your sites too low. Look beyond eye level. Your peers may be steps up higher creatively or professionally, than you’d originally thought.
Be patient with yourself, and don’t expect miracles overnight. Be your own best friend first. Take yourself out to dinner, movies, buy yourself flowers. Celebrate yourself. Celebrate your difference. Laugh a lot. Be a friend to someone else. Don’t focus on your loneliness. Enjoy your solitude. Be in service to others. Volunteer somewhere. Make sure someone needs you. Be happy to be alive.
And through it all, keep adding more of what makes you happy, do it in service, and watch the new friends and lovers enter your life. Friends and lovers who cherish you exactly as you are, aren’t threatened by you either professionally or personally, and want only the best for you in every way. Blessings to you!

© Copyright 2009 by Amethyste Rah aka Cassendre Xavier. All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com.

renaissance negresse museletter 2009/3

2009-04-11T21:47:00.001-07:00

the renaissance negresse museletter
art inspiration community
brought to you by Cassendre Xavier aka Amethyste Rah

Saturday, April 11, 2009

In This Issue: (To read this online visit http://cassendre.livejournal.com/18233.html)

1) The Soundtrack to this Ediccione, if you will (as it were).
2) Who is the Renaissance Negresse?
3) Upcoming Performances, Music Gallery & Booking Info
4) News! Cassendre is now a Wisdom Magazine Columnist!
5) Fan Appreciation: “Untitled” Poem by Venus
6) Community Bulletin Board
7) Well-Wishes For You

1) The Soundtrack to this Ediccione, if you will (as it were).
Joyce Sims (Extended Mix) Come Into My Life
Michael Bolton – Can I Touch You There
Simply Red – It’s Only Love
Power Station – Some Like It Hot (Extended Mix)
Julia Haines – The Mystery (I am so grateful to own this CD. The first time I heard this song, I sobbed like I never recalled having done so before. I felt like the music was healing, cleansing, and awaking something very deep and previously forgotten. I hope I can create music someday that does this for someone. Julia recorded (celtic harp) on my first album, with the late Juan Avila. This album has not been released yet because it’s in a rarely used format – quarter inch reel-to-reel tape. Other musicians on this album are Elliott Levin (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes) on sax and flute, bassist Chico Huff (James Taylor), upright bassist Jack Kinslow, and Ronny Crawford on drums (Lisa Loeb). Keep you posted!)
LL Cool J – Doin’ It
U2 – Numb Is it me, or is it kinda sexy when 3:19 into the video, The Edge has his face and mouth rubbed by two bare female feet – one black and one white? You check it out for yourself ;-)
Thin Lizzy – Still In Love with You
Oran “Juice” Jones – The Rain

2) Who is the *Renaissance Negresse?
Haitian-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined this term in 2002.
A musician, writer, actress, and visual artist, Xavier says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (2003- Present). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990. [*“Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. ‘Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to ‘My dear, my darling, my sweet.’” – From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.]

3) Upcoming Performances, Music Gallery & Booking Info

04/12/2009 07:30 PM - Community Outreach Partnership
Trinity Memorial Church, 2212 Spruce Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 US Cost: Free Description: Music at Trinity Once again, Trinity is proud to present a full year of offerings to music lovers throughout the Philadelphia area. And, with the most gifted performers, diverse music programs and the fine acoustic quality of our great hall, Trinity has truly become a center of music and culture for the entire region. Call: 215-732-2515 or click here for more information.

04/24/2009 07:00 PM - Benefit for Girls Leadership Camp
Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19143 US Cost:$10 Description: From Girls Leadership Camp: (Quote) We are trying to be creative to peak people’s interest and are planning a Camp Fire Concert, in the spirit of camp. We are a new organization and deeply feeling the blow of the economy so we are needing to do what ever we can so we can make camp happen. The event for Girls Leadership Camp is April 24th at Studio 34(www.studio34yoga.com), 4522 Baltimore Avenue, from 7-10. We are still putting a line up together. The event is going to have music, story telling, camp songs. In addition we are trying to create a camp atmosphere so there will be some snacks and decorations. (Unquote) From Cassendre: This will be my 2nd time performing at a benefit for this worthy group. Hope you can make it! Details: www.girlsleadershipcamp.org

04/25/2009 12:00 PM - WOAR’s 4th annual Take It All Back Event
Independence Ball Room, Visitor’s Center, 6th & Market, 2nd Fl Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 US Cost: TBA (most likely free, but I need to double-check that)Description:WOAR celebrates it’s 4th annual Take It All Back event. Activities include survivor speakers, live music, children’s art activity, and information on anti-violence organizations. Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Location: Independence Ball Room, 2nd Floor of the Visitor’s Center 6th and Market Streets Contact us at 215-985-3315 ext. 193 for more information. Hope to see you there! http://www.woar.org/news-events.html

The Cassendre Xavier Music Gallery

10) Capable of Love (Jan 2009) (Also available at iTunes and Giovanni’s Room Bookstore in Philly)9) Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality ( Aug 2007) (Recommended by Dr Geryll Robinson)8) Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love (Aug 2007) (Recommended by Dr Geryll Robinson)7) Live at Tin Angel (May 2006) (Also available at iTunes)6) Beautiful (2004)5) The Cassendre Xavier Collection , Vol. 1 (2004)4) Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo (2004)3) 4OUR: A Cassendre Xavier Sampler (2003)2) Live at Café Improv (2002)1) The Whittenberg Sessions (2002)
The above CDs are also orderable by toll free phone call: 800-BUY-MY-CD or by mail order, email: cxmusic(at)gmail.com or reply to this email for instructions.

Booking Info: Reply to this email, or write: cxmusic(at)gmail.com.

Cassendre has performed music at the following colleges/universities, and fine acoustic listening rooms & community gathering spaces as well as private home residences/house concerts:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, LaSalle University (twice), Temple University, the African American Museum, Warmdaddy’s, Tin Angel, World Café Live, the William Way Community Center, and more.

Cassendre has presented classes, lectures, and workshops on blending creativity with commerce at the following venues: Temple University, the Mt. Airy Learning Tree, the Wise Women’s Learning Center. (Previous lectures/workshops include: Active Artist 101 & Creating and Supporting the Active Artist)

Cassendre has founded and led support groups at the following venues: the William Way Community Center, Essene Natural Market & Café. (Previous groups include Sisters Healing Together and REAL Raw- Vegan Live Foods Support Network)

4) News! Cassendre is now a Wisdom Magazine Columnist!
Beginning in May 2009, Cassendre will be writing spiritual articles for Wisdom Magazine NJ/PA edition’s webzine. Article/Excerpt: Affirmations for Trusting the Process. Poem: Normal. You can read more of Cassendre’s archived and new writing here.

5) Fan Appreciation: “Untitled” Poem by Venus
Well, this is a first in my 18 year singer-songwriter career: a fan has written a poem inspired by listening to one of my albums, Capable of Love, my latest, to be exact. Yes, tis true! But you don't have to take MY word for it:From: venusTo: Cassendre Xavier - renaissance negresseDate: Mar 3, 2009 3:38 PMSubject: poetry from venushello Cassendre:I just wanted to send you a note.i was inspired to write some poetry while listening to your new cd "capable of love"/trax2-3

words are meant to be spoken.words are meant to be awoken.rythms are meant to be like a african beatspoken by a griot of timeless age and space.words are meant to inspire and uplift the soul.

For more of the poem and dialogue, please click here.

6) Community Bulletin Board
Cassendre Xavier’s Running Club launched last Thursday 4/9/09!!
Thank you to the two people who responded to my call for runner’s in low physical shape :-) We are now running twice a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00am both days. We meet at Barnes & Noble bookstore 18th & Walnut in Center City Philly, then we walk across the street to Rittenhouse Square. We run for about 5 minutes to warm the muscles, then stretch, then run, then stretch, then go home. Last time it was 45 minutes cardio total, but we started at 7:30. This time we’ll be doing about a half hour more. All are welcome to join us. NO RSVP, please. I would like to add Wednesday morning at 7:00am. Is anyone interested? Twice a week really isn’t enough exercise for me, and I know now that I’m not motivated enough to do it alone. So, let me know if you want to run on Wednesday morning with me. Thanks (especially to my mentor Gary Null who’s had “Gary Null’s Running & Walking Club” for decades, inspiring me to start my own similar physical accountability exercise program!

REAL Raw – Vegan Live Foods Support & Transformation Group
(Founder: Cassendre Xavier, Co-Founder, Judi Rhee Alloway)
We had our first meeting on Monday 4/6/09 and it was really good! We discussed what we wanted from the raw lifestyle, our journey, our struggles, and we did a very cool and inspiring eyes-closed visualization. We discussed doing guided meditations with a double CD album called “Creating Your Ideal Body” next time. I’m hoping that will happen as well as something else I’ve got my third eye on right now. We meet 1st & 3rd Fridays 6-8pm at Essene on 4th near Bainbridge in South Philly. All who are interested in becoming or remaining 50% - 100% raw vegan (uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and herbs) are welcome to our free in-person plus online membership. Visit www.realrawlife.com.

RUSTIC MUSIC PRESENTS…
Julian Root & Friends. Fergie’s Pub, Sunday 4/12/09 8pm FREE. 1214 Sansom St, Philly. 215.928.8118.

MOVIE MONDAY on a TUESDAY at the Balcony (The Trocadero, 10th & Arch, Philly) presents THE WRESTLER (2009)
**Movie Monday is on a TUESDAY this week! Tue. 4/14
A film by Darren Aronofsky with Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomwi & Evan Eachel Wood.Special: Arrive before 7pm and get a FREE beer and a bag of popcorn! $3.00 gets you in & goes towards a drink or snack of your choiceDoors: 6:30pm - Show: 8:00PM - 21+

VOLUNTEER & INTERN OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL
The 6th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival is gearing up for another exciting summer event. Don’t miss your opportunity to make a difference/give back/build community, learn or improve your skills in event production, and meet interesting people. Choose from a wide array of activities based on your own schedule, skills, and interests. Visit www.BWAFphilly.org to learn more or email Monica at BWAFphilly(at)yahoo.com. Next volunteer meeting Sat 4/25/09 12NOON at the BWAF office, 3721 Midvale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129. All are welcome.

The Lansdale Live Music & Food Festival sponsored by Arnold’s Way Raw Vegan Store & Café 5/2/09 Info: www.myspace.com/arnoldsway

Puppet Slam Philly 2009 - 5/30/09
Info: http://www.studium-praxis.org/wordpress/?page_id=36

[Louisa/VA/USA] The Communities Conference is a networking and learning opportunity for anyone interested or involved in co-operative or communal lifestyles. 8/14/09-8/16/09
Info: www.communitiesconference.org

[Phila/PA/USA] 1st Fridays on Vine, Hosted by Aziza Kinteh Info: www.Aziza-lockdiva.com

[{Phila/PA/USA] Melanie Jones, Yoga Teacher of Size www.abundantyogini.com

[Brooklyn/NY/USA] *Aerial ROPE * Classes with Kiebpoli
Climbing, swinging, stretching, airdancing. Full body fitness. www.myspace.com/kiebpoli

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7) Well-Wishes for You

~May you be loved, healthy, strong, wealthy, and wise beyond your years.
~May you always trust your own inner voice and guiding light.
~May you all ways be gentle with your Self and others.
~May you have passion in many areas of your life and experience much and frequent delight and pleasure.
~May your life’s path be joined by friends, helpers, and angels of light and love.
~May you always trust in the abundance of the universe, easily replacing thoughts and unpleasant feelings of fear, scarcity, and panic, with thoughts and pleasant feelings of love, security, and joyful gratitude.
~May all of your fondest dreams and visions come true, surpassing all your expectations (or something better), and may it be for the good of all.

In art, spirit, and community,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah)
renaissance negresse
www.cassEndrExavier.com

Feel free to forward, reply, advertise, subscribe, or unsubscribe at any time.

Contact: cxwriting(at)gmail.com, or simply reply to this email.

Visit www.cassEndrExavier.com. And I’m on Facebook, too :-)

© Copyright 2009 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.

renaissance negresse museletter 2009/2

2009-03-22T14:52:00.001-07:00

the renaissance negresse museletter
art inspiration community
brought to you by Cassendre Xavier aka Amethyste Rah

Sunday, March 22, 2009

In This Issue: (To read this online visit http://cassendre.livejournal.com/18233.html)

1) The Renaissance Negresse Defined
2) What Ever Happened to “ME! ME! ME!”?
3) Article: The Importance of Self-Love by (with Self-Love Affirmations)
4) United States of Kudera Interviews Cassendre
5) Product Feature: “Capable of Love” CD & MP3
6) Featured Song (with Lyrics & Video): Hope (Find Me This Way)
7) House Concerts: Great Fun for Everyone!
8) Discovering Eva Cassidy
9) Household Hint – Satin Pillowcases & Razor Lint Shaves
10) Community Bulletin Board
11) The Renaissance Negresse Catalogue
12) More Blessings for You

1) The Renaissance Negresse Defined
Haitian-American multi-media artist Cassendre Xavier coined this term in 2002.
A musician, writer, actress, and visual artist, Xavier says the term describes a black woman who is skilled or gifted in 3 or more arts. “Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. ‘Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to ‘My dear, my darling, my sweet.’” – From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.
Xavier is a recipient of a Leeway Transformation Award for her work as a community cultural arts advocate, having founded and directed several Philadelphia arts initiatives including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (2003- Present). She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has resided in Philadelphia since 1990.

2) What Ever Happened to “ME! ME! ME!”?
In the first week of February 2009, I turned 40, and thus put aside my “childish things” and kept the childlike ones. I began the multi-step process of going forward (not back) to school, school, school, am writing several manuscripts which will sometime soon be books, books, books, and am studying and networking as a lightworker to be of better service, (through my writing and guided meditations), to you, you, you! I hope that the new format of my newsletter is more effective for, and pleasing to you. I thank warmly those of you who responded to the debut issue with kind words of support, praise, and encouragement. It is my goal, hope, intention, dream, and vision, to bring you many more words of encouragement in the form of books in very little time. That will be a childhood dream come true. SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) says of writing and artmaking to “Delight yourself first!” Well, I find my new writing delightful to do and to read, so I know I’m on the right track, which is a wonderful way to feel. Thank you all!
(You can visit the ME! ME! ME! archives at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassEndrExavier)

3) Article: The Importance of Self-Love by Cassendre Xavier (with Self-Love Affirmations by Amethyste Rah)
In celebrity acting coach Larry Moss’s essential book The Intent to Live: Achieving Your True Potential as an Actor, he goes into the most universal, yet powerful longing for love as motivation behind most of the characters being played by his students.
The first of two striking examples is American former president Richard Nixon, whose dream of being, according to Moss, “the most revered president in the history of the world”, stemmed from an extremely humiliating childhood.
The second example is American movie starlet and tragic sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, who heard her mother say she never wanted her, and early in her life began seeking love from sex with boys who, of course, used her (not because they were boys, but because her intention was incorrect and rooted in low self-esteem). Her Moss-interpreted dream was to “have a feeling of being deeply cared about and loved”, which she sought from Hollywood’s illusion of fame, and again, the misdirected sexual adoration of men.
I highlighted several passages and wrote notes in the margins: “He [Nixon] was looking outside of himself for redemptive love. Self-love, spirituality, and service are always the answer,” and about Monroe: “[She wanted to] be/feel loved, finally, for the 1st time.”
Moss writes that, “She never truly attains ‘the feeling if being deeply cared about and loved’”, and, my notes follow, “…because she never gave it to herself. She always sought love from the outside.”
I believe that to transform our outside world, we must first transform our insides. The quickest and most effective way to transform our insides is by flooding our thoughts and actions with self-love. Once our actions become motivated by deep care, concern for, and value of our inner self, our belief systems change accordingly and we then begin to create an environment that supports our highest good.
We’re always attracting people and circumstances that match our belief, so why not believe the best about ourselves?
If every time one of us was hurt or felt lacking we stopped and shifted the focus back to our Self, there would be so much less pain and suffering in the world. People would stop looking outside of themselves for peace, joy, love, romance, etc.
Self-love is the key to a happy life. Your life should feel satisfying, enriching, and full of love regardless of your marital/relationship status, or whether you feel your parents loved you enough or how you would have preferred.
You can love yourself enough to heal all of that. In fact, we each have enough love in our hearts to heal the planet (according to Louise L. Hay, and I believe her!). If you already have a healthy amount of self-love, make a commitment to add more, because things can always get better!

Here are some affirmations to help you on your path of radical self-contentment.

Affirmations for Self-Love, by Amethyste Rah

I love myself.
I am lovable.
I am wonderful just the way I am.
I love myself.
I have wonderful friends.
I am lovable just the way I am.
I love myself.
I accept myself.
I am acceptable just the way I am.
I love everything about me.
I accept and appreciate everything about me.
I enjoy the person I am.
I take wonderful care of myself.
I treat myself like the precious being of light and love that I am.
I recognize myself as a precious being of light and love.
I am a precious being of light and love.
I adore myself.
I see the light in my soul.
I honor myself and my spirit in all that I do.
I honor myself and my spirit in all that I do.
I am easy to love because I give love to myself easily.
I am easy to love because I love myself freely.
I have a healthy self-image.
Others see how well I treat myself.
I am a good example of healthy self-image.
I am a wonderful person.
I love myself and care deeply for my well-being.
I allow no one ever to harm me in any way.
I am very protective of my inner child.
I honor the existence of my inner child.
I honor myself in every way.
I am healthy in every way.
I take wonderful care of myself.
I am very generous with love for myself and others.
I am very happy to be me.
I love myself.
I enjoy my own company.
I sometimes choose or prefer solitude.
I am a well-liked person.
I am loved.
I am valued.
I am honored.
I like myself.
I love myself.
I value myself.
I honor myself.
I take the time to get to know myself.
I enjoy learning more about myself.
I like taking care of myself.
I take great care of myself.
I appreciate every opportunity to care for myself, for I am a valuable person.
I love myself deeply, and I know that I am enough.
I love myself deeply, and I know that I am enough.
I love myself deeply – I am enough.

These affirmations are transcribed from “Increasing Self-Love”, track 4 of my Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love (by Amethyste Rah. With Thaddeus Music performed by Sanaya Roman) CD & MP3 download, which I’ve been listening to every night before going to sleep for the past week and found very comforting and helpful.

4) United States of Kudera Interviews Cassendre
Writer Alex Kudera, formerly from Philadelphia and now teaching college in South Carolina, recently interviewed me for his USK blog. It was great fun to discuss the craft of writing, and mention for the first time ever, how much of an influence Nancy Friday’s “My Secret Garden”, Maya Angelou, Anis Nin, and Cookie Mueller were to me.

USK Interview with Cassendre Xavier:

Cassendre Xavier does it all in locations ranging from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Philly to New York City. Her words are found in stories, poems, blogs, and songs; you can access Ms. Xavier online or look for her live at a performance near you.USK: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?CX: I’ve written since age 4. (In Haiti, school starts when you can talk, so at age 3 I was taught to read and write). At 4 I was writing love letters, at 8 I…

To read more, visit
http://kudera.blogspot.com/2009/03/interview-with-cassendre-xavier.html.

5) Product Feature: “Capable of Love” CD & MP3
[8th Album/2009] Cassendre Xavier just can’t make up her mind. If it isn’t love songs, it’s inspirational songs, or it’s songs just to make us laugh. The one thing this acoustic pop artist described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Steven M. Wilson, Borders Music Expert) does consistently is soothe, entertain, and inspire….

To read more, visit http://cassendre.livejournal.com/18140.html

…Recommended. Order at http://cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc8 or http://lulu.com/cassEndrE.

6) Featured Song (with Lyrics & Video): Hope (Find Me This Way)
Lyrics and music (c) Copyright 2004 by Cassendre Xavier
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIF5x2eehT4
Should you find yourself wandering; Through the woods wild one dayIf you've lost your direction; You will find me this wayIf a lover should leave you; and your plans thrown astrayWith you, you're never lonely;turn and find me this way If somebody should hurt you; leave you far from okayAnd you need self-forgiveness; you will find me this wayIf your heart remains broken; when it heals who can sayIf you're seeking compassion; you will find me this way If you're ever abandoned; and there's no one at your sideWhen you're your own companion; you will find me this wayIf you're working towards healing; it's up and down every dayJust look over your shoulder; and you'll find me this way ---------------------Hope (Find Me This Way)---------------------Lyrics and music by Cassendre XavierCopyright 2004From the album Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo by Cassendre Xavier

7) House Concerts: Great Fun for Everyone!
Having a small gathering of 20 or so of your friends and family, and hearing one of your favorite singers up close, live, and personal is one of the nicest ways to spend an evening. Your guests are pleased, you’re pleased, the artist appreciates the attentive audience of usually very nice people, and an opportunity to work in a smoke, alcohol, heckler-free environment.
I’ve enjoyed many a house concert in my day – mostly performing them, but also attending. If you’d like to design the perfect party with entertainment, don’t hesitate to contact me or any of your favorite local indie artists like Lili Anel, Vanida Gail, Marc Silver, Monica McIntyre, Nedra Johnson, or Roia Rafieyan – all of whom I’ve shared a stage with and can highly recommend.
The following quote is from Laura Bligh, cousin of late “Songbird” Eva Cassidy:
“Support the hardworking musicians in your area by attending live performances. Go out to the little clubs and restaurants that offer live music, and if you like what you hear, tell the performers! Clap long and loud! And if they're selling CDs and tapes from their guitar cases, as Eva once did, support their talents and efforts that way too. As someone once wrote in the Guestbook, ‘There will never be another Eva Cassidy, but there will be someone else.’”

8) Discovering Eva Cassidy
In the late 90s, I made a friend who built my first website later was instrumental in the release of my first album. He also compared my singing to Eva Cassidy, thereby introducing me to this amazing singer for the first time. That was one of the few times I’ve been compared to her. Friday, it happened again, for the first time in years, and minutes later, someone else walked by and called out, “You’re a songbird,” which was not only the title of one of Cassidy’s greatest albums, but the first time anyone had called me that, ever. So, that said, I think I’m supposed to tell you about Eva Cassidy.
A fellow Aquarian, Eva was from Washington DC, where she developed a loyal and ardent following. She sang a range of music, mostly folk and blues, and had an amazingly clear and soulful voice. It was angelic, really almost indescribable. She played guitar and had a wonderful ear for arrangements, making you hear so much more in a classic song.
(Her “Danny Boy” is the best I’ve ever heard, and brings tears to my eyes each time I have the pleasure of listening to it. Another favorite of mine is her Blues Alley live performance of “What a Wonderful World”. And I defy you not to shed a tear while watching her performing “Autumn Leaves” with her band also at Blues Alley, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the same night.)
An avid horticulturist and visual artist, she died of melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) at age 33. Please give yourself the gift of her artistry when you have a moment.
Particular links of interest are www.evacassidy.org, which is run by her cousin Laura Bligh, and www.evacassidy.com, which showcases and sells her artwork and is run by her parents and other family members. Both have other links to other sites run by fans to keep her legacy alive, not out of sadness, but joy. I am honored to be sometimes compared to her, and it makes me feel to good to know that this post will surely garner new fans of her work.

9) Household Hint – Satin Pillowcases & Razor Lint Shaves
Hair is at its weakest and most fragile when it’s wet. You should never towel it dry very roughly or brush it when wet, but pat it gently and if you must, only run a large-toothed comb through it.
Cotton sheets and pillowcases wreak havoc on hair – yanking it out with every turn or rub. Satin pillowcases are the easy solution for that, and often you can find zippered ones in bright and pastel colors at your friendly neighborhood dollar store. (That’s where my Diva-In-The-Making supply comes from!)
If, like me, you like to keep things til they’re threadbare (also the environmentally-friendly way of doing things), you may notice that the edges of your trusty satin pillow cases develop “pills”, or tiny balls of yarn.
I discovered a quick and easy way to solve this. I remembered I’d once purchased, but never used, and promptly lost, an electric shaver designed specifically for said de-pillery (a.k.a. “de-pilleration”). If it operated as a shaver, then, why wouldn’t a standard blade-style razor work? So, I grabbed one of my pretty-in-pink disposables, went to work and learned that, yep, sure enough, you can razor those bad boys right off!

10) Community Bulletin Board
[Please note: I will NOT be performing at the following event, as was previously announced. Thanks!]
The Lansdale Live Music & Food Festival sponsored by Arnold’s Way Raw Vegan Store & Café 5/2/09
Info: www.myspace.com/arnoldsway

Puppet Slam Philly 2009 , 5/30/09 Info:http://www.studium-praxis.org/wordpress/?page_id=36

Greater Philadelphia Drumming Circle 3/29/09
Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/2829.

[Louisa/VA/USA] The Communities Conference is a networking and learning opportunity for anyone interested or involved in co-operative or communal lifestyles. 8/14/09-8/16/09
Info: www.communitiesconference.org

[Phila/PA/USA] 1st Fridays on Vine, Hosted by Aziza Kinteh Info: www.Aziza-lockdiva.com

[Los Angeles/CA/USA] Lacey C. Clark! Workshop Presenter & Author on Teen Girls’ Self-Esteem, founder of Sisters’ Sanctuary
http://www.teen-girl-self-esteem.com/about-sisters-sanctuary.html
Also check out Lacey’s book Celebrate HER Now at lulu.com.

[{Phila/PA/USA] Melanie Jones, Yoga Teacher of Size www.abundantyogini.com

[San Diego/CA/USA] Vessa Rinehart-Phillips – Spiritual Intuitive Counselor & Instructor. For a complete list of courses and workshops led by various instructors at her Intuitive Insights School of Clairvoyance, or to sign up for their really great and free newsletter, visit www.MyIntuition.Net.

[Brooklyn/NY/USA] *Aerial ROPE * Classes with Kiebpoli
Climbing, swinging, stretching, airdancing. Full body fitness. www.myspace.com/kiebpoli

[Quebec/Canada] Patty Contenta, dance instructor of over 17 years and author & producer of books and videos that teach women to enhance their femininity and confidence. Free newsletter at www.sensualitysecrets.com.

REAL Raw Support Group Forming
Holistic practitioner and soon-to-be certified life coach Judi Rhee Alloway and CX/ARah are organizing this raw vegan/live foods “support & transformation” group, which will meet in Center City, Philly starting April or May 2009. Join the REAL Raw Yahoo Group for updates. We’re also at MySpace http://www.myspace.com/realrawlife and Facebook.

Runner(s) Wanted – Low Fitness Level Preferred
I’m looking for one or more person(s) interested in running with me in Center City at least twice a week. Email: cxmusic AT gmail dot com.

11) The Renaissance Negresse Catalogue
This just in!! “Capable of Love” CD is now available at Giovanni’s Room Bookstore at 12th & Pine Streets in Center City, Philly. Reserve yours today by calling (215) 923-2960, or visit www.giovannisroom.com
~For my current Calendar of Events, visit www.myspace.com/cassEndrExavierMUSIC
~Visit the Cassendre Xavier Music Gallery at www.cdbaby.com/all/cassendre. (800) BUY-MY-CD
~Guided Meditation CDs & MP3s by Amethyste Rah, with music of light by Thaddeus. Visit http://lulu.com/cassEndrE
~For CX Direct Mail Orders, reply to this message, or email “cxmusic AT gmail dot com” for the latest product order form.
~Coming Soon – Books! In meantime, to see Cassendre’s out-of-print chapbooks as well as the anthologies she’s contributed to, visit http://artivistpublications.homestead.com/services.html.
~Coming Soon – Visual Art! In the meantime, to see Cassendre’s art images, visit http://cxenterprises.homestead.com/Visual_Art.html.
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12) More Blessings for You
~May you be healthy and feel beautiful and abundant all ways and forever.
~May your inner glowing light inspire us all.
~May your positive outlook be easy to maintain.
~May you experience joy frequently and profoundly.
~May you know your path and follow it with faith, hope, and expectation.
~May all of your fondest dreams and visions come true, surpassing all your imaginings (or something better), and may it be for the good of all.

In art, spirit, and community,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah)
renaissance negresse
www.cassEndrExavier.com

Feel free to forward, reply, advertise, subscribe, or unsubscribe at any time.

Contact: cxwriting AT gmail DOT COM, or simply reply to this email.

Visit www.cassEndrExavier.com. And I’m on Facebook, too :-)

(c) Copyright 2009 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.

renaissance negresse museletter DEBUT 2009/1

2009-03-15T18:24:00.001-07:00

the renaissance negresse museletter
art inspiration community
brought to you by Cassendre Xavier aka Amethyste Rah

Sunday, March 15, 2009

In This Issue:

who is a “renaissance negresse”?
Fan Alert: Pics for the Last Licks Crowd
Product Feature: “Capable of Love” – the latest musical album by Cassendre Xavier
Raw Vegan Support Group Forming
Runner(s) Wanted – Low Fitness Level Preferred
Household Hint – How to Hold Flowers
Article: How To Accept a Compliment from Your Man (Or From Any Man) by Cassendre Xavier
Community Bulletin Board
the renaissance negresse catalogue
Farewell Blessing

Who Is A “renaissance negresse”?
A renaissance negresse is a black woman who is either skilled or gifted in 2 or more arts. Haitian-American multi-media artist/writer Cassendre Xavier coined this term in 2002. “Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. ‘Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to ‘My dear, my darling, my sweet.’” – From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.

Fan Alert: Pics for the Last Licks Crowd
On January 23rd, I had the pleasure of singing before Cheryl Wheeler at her Last Licks Café show on Long Island. I met some of you in the audience and we took some pictures. Well, here they are http://cassendrexavier.homestead.com/Photos.html (scroll to the bottom). If you like them, please copy and save them because as per your lovely and requested constructive criticism about my website, I’ll be deleting all but one site. I’ll be keeping most of my pictures at my primary MySpace page and will be probably opening a Flickr account for the rest and future images. Incidentally, at that fabulous open mic, I met Rupert Wates, who sang that touching song about his father, remember? Well, my friend saw RW and his band play recently and said they were “pretty good”. So check him out when you can www.rupertwates.com.

Product Feature: “Capable of Love” – the latest musical album by Cassendre Xavier
[8th Album/2009] Cassendre Xavier just can’t make up her mind. If it isn’t love songs, it’s inspirational songs, or it’s songs just to make us laugh. The one thing this acoustic pop artist described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Steven M. Wilson, Borders Music Expert) does consistently is soothe, entertain, and inspire. Her voice is as light and sweet as it is deep and sultry. She can joke and cajole as well as comfort and uplift. Nowhere is all of this variety more expressed than in her latest effort, “Capable of Love” (released January 11, 2009). All but two tracks are new original songs – check out her haunting “Water is Wide” and uniquely peppy yet fervent “O Shenandoah”. And all but one, an emotional “Wanna Heal”, which features her hip-hop producer brother Giscard “Jee Eye Zee” Xavier (City High and C Knowledge of the Diggable Planets) on drums, features only Xavier’s multi-layered vocals and her own acoustic rhythm and lead playing. Humor is here in abundance, as “The Damn Dog Song” shows. A plea for owners to leave their pups at home when dining out or shopping for take-home movies, this song alone is worth the price of the CD/download. Xavier wanted to honor her self-described “Sapphically-inclined constituents” with a tune – that’s where “The Chapstick Lesbian Song” comes in. The song claims to speak to those who identify as neither “butch” nor “femme” but is sure to bring smiles to anyone regardless of gender or orientation. In addition to the soul-stirring, political anthem “I Am Free”, the motivational “Reach”, the unabashedly joyful “You Make Me Happy” and the aforementioned survivor’s theme “Wanna Heal”, all other songs on “Capable” are rich in her soulful expression of emotions. The usual angst around relationships and romance abound, but are enhanced by multi-layered, bell-like harmonic chanting not unlike Bobby McFerrin, and reminiscent of jazz composer/pianist/vocalist Tania Maria. When asked why some of the songs are so long (“Run to You”, for example, runs almost 10 minutes alone), Xavier says, “This album is for people who like to sing along. I often find that the end of a song is the most fun sometimes, and I am often disappointed when it ends. And I love to harmonize. I have always done a lot of harmonizing when I sing. To me, these are sacred chants, and I hope there are people out there who will enjoy singing and harmonizing along. If not, well, I figure you can always skip ahead to the next track!” Indeed, the lengthiness may not be for everyone, but at 10 songs totaling a little over an hour of her lovely music, most will be pleased and satisfied. Recommended. Order at http://cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc8 or http://lulu.com/cassEndrE.

Fan reviews wanted! Fan reviews, along with the author’s name and/or contact info/email address/link will be posted in forthcoming issues of the renaissance negresse museletters and other possible/internet outlets. If you have this or any other CX/ARah album and would like to say a few nice words about it, please email your comments to: cxmusic(at)gmail.com. (Please replace the “at” with “@”)

Raw Vegan Support Group Forming
Holistic alternative healer Judi Rhee Alloway and I started meeting back in February to plan a support group for people wanting to remain raw vegan but struggling with intense emotional issues making it difficult to give up (significantly or completely) highly addictive cooked foods. (We each have been 50% or more raw since 2005.) We’ve applied for a grant and are planning to meet in Center City in April. We’ll keep you posted on this email list, or you can forward the following contact to anyone you think may be interested: realrawlife(at)gmail.com (Please replace the “at” with “@”).

Runner(s) Wanted – Low Fitness Level Preferred
I’m looking for one or more person(s) interested in running with me in Center City at least twice a week. I can run one block, then walk a block, run, walk, etc; and I stop often for breaks. I took up running last year when I moved to NYC and left my beloved bicycle back at my raw vegan household. If you’re interested, let me know. If you happen to be in better shape, that’s fine, as long as you’re patient! Contact cxwriting(at)gmail.com. (Please replace the “at” with “@”).

Household Hint – How to Hold Flowers
It’s better to hold fresh flowers upside down during the time before you get them in water. This keeps their fluids in the flower and makes them stay alive longer. (I saw this in a French movie, inquired and had it confirmed by 2 florists!)

Article: How To Accept a Compliment from Your Man (Or From Any Man) by Cassendre Xavier
I was watching Angelina Jolie on “Inside the Actor’s Studio”. When host James Lipton read the list of compliments she’d received from the industry, including “Sexiest Woman Alive”, I expected her to giggle with emotion from being flattered so. I expected her to express extreme gratitude over having been showered with compliments the way Bill Gates’ bank account is showered with cash. I expected her to at least say “thank you”. But she didn’t. She merely smiled and kept her bedroom eyelids at a fuzzy woozy half-mast. She is a goddess and she knows it. Why does she know it? Because every single man on the planet reinforces this truth every single day. Every single moment of her life. Every man, mostly likely, except her partner, Brad Pitt, who treats her as a beautiful woman, his beautiful woman, but just that. And that’s why she’s with him. Because he’s super fine and is treated that way by the world, and she’s super fine and is treated that way by the world, but between each other, their children, relatives, and close friends, they’re just regular ol’ folks.
So it must be with you and your man.
Sure, at first, he will be wowed by your beauty. And if you play your cards right, he will not only continue to think you beautiful, but his admiration for you will grow over time.
But in the beginning, you must remember that when a man compliments you, it’s your job to react as if you’re used to getting compliments. In fact, his is the 10th one you received that day. Compliments are a dime a dozen to you. You get them so often, you don’t even blink. You’re a kind person, so you smile. You say, “You’re sweet”. Then you move on to the next subject.
You never say “thank you”. That would mean you’re grateful. That would mean they’re doing you a favor by giving you a compliment. They’re not. You know you’re beautiful. The world knows you’re beautiful. You choose to focus your energies on making the world a better place – on setting, reaching for, and accomplishing your goals – on being a good friend, sibling, daughter, employee, employer.
These things make you even more beautiful, and you know it. But you also know that beauty in the physical superficial sense is fleeting. All the more reason to delve deeper into your own brand of spirituality and what brings you the most joy in life. All the more reason for you to offer your energies in friendship, in civil interests, in volunteering, in getting involved in the political process, etc.
When a man says you do something well, say, finish writing your book or winning an award for your work, you say, “You’re sweet”. That’s it. That should be your response. Never say thank you.
Are there instances when you can say thank you? Sure, when he pays the tab (which should be often, if not always). When he opens doors for you or pulls out a chair at a restaurant. When he does you favors or runs errands for you. When he buys you jewelry or a romantic card. But not when he gives you compliments. Why? Because compliments are a given. Compliments should be a way of life for you. It’s not that you don’t appreciate them – it’s just that there is a different expression of appreciation for every act. Some things require a hug, a kiss, a “thank you”. Others, like compliments, just warrant a slow and lazy, sultry and mysterious Angelina Jolie-like smile. Blink slowly and say, “You’re sweet”. Then give him what he loves best – that fabulous view of you…walking away.

Community Bulletin Board
(To be included in the Community Bulletin Board please send a plain text email – no symbols or images – maximum 100 words including your public contact info to cxwriting(at)gmail.com. Please replace the “at” with “@”. Or mail your business card to Cassendre at the address near the end of this message.)

The Lansdale Live Music & Food Festival sponsored by Arnold’s Way Raw Vegan Store & Café
DATE: Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 (Some outdated sources, including the Arnold’s Way website & MySpace pages, may have listed the wrong date.)
Time: I’ll be going on around 3pm (Music from 12pm-6pm)
Location: The Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts, 311 West Main StreetLansdale, PA 19446 (2 doors down from Arnolds Way on Main Street in Lansdale)
Cost: 15$ before March 15th! 20$ before April 15th! $25 after that!
Register: Call 215-361-0116.
Event info: arnoldsway(at)yahoo.com. (Please replace the “at” with “@”).Venue info: www.lansdalecpa.org

Puppetry Slam Philadelphia http://www.studium-praxis.org/wordpress/?page_id=36
Saturday, May 30th 2009 - 7:00PM spaghetti dinners starts being served. Curio Theatre - at The Calvary Center, 4740 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia,PA, 19143 at 48th and Baltimore Aves. Cost - Cash only (we’ll give you a receipt upon request) - at the door only. suggested $15 for dinner,show and entry. suggested $10 for dinner and show - or - pay as you can per act at the show - we’ll pass the hat after each act.

Greater Philadelphia Drumming Circle
Do you want to play on the drums all day?
What is shamanic journeying? What is the Upper World? What is the Lower World? What is the Middle World? What would your life look, if you started drumming? How would your life be different, if you began your journey of creativity? Do you hear what I hear?
Come and join us for an experience that will leave you buzzing! Sunday, March 29th, 2009 from 1-3pm. Love donations are greatly appreciated! If you have a drum, rattle, and a journal, please feel free to bring them. It’s optional to bring something to cover your eyes and anything to make your journey more comfortable. Contact/info: Greater Philadelphia Drummng Circle, New Moon Sun., 1-3pm Phone: (856) 952-2269 Email: huesoul1(at)yahoo.com (Please replace the “at” with “@”) For more drumming dates, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/2829.

The Communities Conference is a networking and learning opportunity for anyone interested or involved in co-operative or communal lifestyles.
Join us for a weekend of sharing and celebration!
Friday August 14 through
Sunday August 16, 2009
$85 (sliding scale) includes
meals and camping.
Twin Oaks Communities Conference
138 Twin Oaks Road, Louisa, VA 23093
540-894-5126
www.communitiesconference.org

1st Fridays on Vine
Hosted by Aziza Zenzile Kinteh. Every First Friday. Be part of an Art Extravaganza. *Spoken Word * Music Freestyle*Open Mike.
Where: Jose Sebourne Graphic Design, 1213-15 Vine Street Philadelphia PA 19107
7-10pm $5.00 Cover, Contact info: Aziza Kinteh (215) 668-4500
www.Aziza-lockdiva.com

L & S Band in Concert at the Clef Club
Sure to be a wonderful soulful show! March 20, 2009, Philadelphia Clef Club, Broad & Fitzwater Streets, first show at 10:30pm. Contact/info email: sumeround(at)hotmail.com. (Please replace the “at” with “@”).

Another Level *Aerial ROPE * March 2009
[By Kiebpoli] Hello and look below! ANTIGONE review!
http://offoffonline.com/reviews.php?id=1556 I'll be hanging a silk also in class starting April!
Climbing, swinging, stretching, airdancing. Full body fitness - all skills transferable to silksSign up now for as many classes as you'd like! CLASS CARD discounts - $100=4 classes-Call or email for more details and to RSVP-Beginners welcome. Anyone can learn itCome check it out, Best, *Kiebpoli (kay-po-lee)
Embody Aerial Dance Studio, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City*Actor and Aerialist, Director, Dancer, and Arts Educator. www.myspace.com/kiebpoli *www.womenarts.org/network/profile_1127.html

[Quebec] Patty Contenta is a renowned ballroom dancer who teaches women to adore their curves and express their feminine attractiveness. Through her books and DVDs, she says, “You are about to discover the secrets that will help you heighten your sensuality, regain your power and unveil the phenomenal woman within you.” You can visit Patty at www.sensualitysecrets.com.

[South Carolina] Alex Kudera, writer. Alex writes a blog called The United States of Kudera, which “purports to be a humorous and humane look at life and literature”. You can read interviews here of writers talking about the craft – latest entries being with Philly poet and Drexel prof Don Riggs as well as Yorz Trooli. Visit http://kudera.blogspot.com. Alex is also contributor to When Falls the Coliseum: A Journal of American Culture (Or Lack Thereof).

[Pennsylvania] Anthony Riley (Soulful Singer) Email: anthonyrileysinger(at)yahoo.com (Please replace the “at” with “@”).www.myspace.com/rileyentertainment

[Pennyslvania] Erica “Young E” Mendez (Hip Hop / R&B / Latin singer/recording artist) www.myspace.com/dafinestn

the renaissance negresse catalogue
Currently available to order:
~ Musical CDs & MP3s by Cassendre Xavier. Visit www.cdbaby.com/all/cassendre. You can also order from CD Baby by phone (800) BUY-MY-CD [800-289-6923] or by mail order from CD Baby (call them toll free for details), or from Cassendre direct from Philly, PA, USA (Ordering details below.)
~ Relaxing, Spoken Word Guided Meditation CDs & MP3s by Amethyste Rah. To order online only, visit http://lulu.com/cassEndrE

----------------------------------------MAIL ORDER INFO------------------------------------------------------
Titles available directly from Cassendre are: Capable of Love, Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality, Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love, Live at Tin Angel, Beautiful, Live at the Kraftbrau, Kalamazoo, Live at Café Improv, and The Whittenberg Sessions.To order a CD directly from Cassendre, send your name, street/shipping address, city, state, zip code, phone number, and email, along with the album title and style ($10 per paperless slimline case version and $15 per full color jewel case version – price includes postage – money order only please – no personal checks, sorry), PAYABLE TO CASSENDRE XAVIER:

Cassendre Xavier
c/o Black Women’s Arts Festival
3721 Midvale Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19129-1743 USA
Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Farewell Blessing
~May you stay healthy, wealthy, and young forever.
~May your self-contained joy inspire others.
~May you nurture your true friendships.
~May you experience exquisite pleasure on a regular basis.
~May your path be clear and steady.
~May all of your best dreams and wishes come true, surpassing all your expectations (or something better), and may it be for the good of all.

Sincerely in art, spirit, and community,

Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah)
renaissance negresse
www.cassEndrExavier.com

Please forward this email to those you think may benefit from it. Please contribute to it however you wish. Feel free to unsubscribe by replying with “Unsubscribe” in the subject field. Contact/email: cxwriting(at)gmail.com (Please replace the “at” with “@”).

Creating Money: Attracting Abundance

2009-03-05T19:53:00.001-08:00

Excerpt from the book Creating Money: Attracting Abundance, by Sanaya Roman & Duane Packer (Channelers of Orin & DaBen)

You are a magnificent, powerful person, and you can learn to work with your energy to tap into the unlimited abundance of the universe. Creating money can be effortless, the natural outcome of the way you live, think, and act. You can draw anything you want to you; you can realize your fondest dreams.

We, Orin and DaBen, are beings of light. We exist in the higher dimensions. We are here as assistants and spiritual teachers to help you with your personal growth and awaken you to the higher aspects of yourself. We hope to add a new dimension to your thinking about money. This book is a course in creating abundance as well as money, for creating money alone will not always bring you what you want.
Abundance means more than having quantities of things; it means having things that fulfill you as well.
New times are coming. [Wo/]mankind is awakening to superconscious reality, and people will be experiencing an opening and intensification of their higher nature. In the times that are coming, you will be stimulated to express your higher self (also called your soul, the deepest part of your being, or the God-within) in everything you create.

You do not need to be affected by the economy or man-made conditions. You can create your own personal economic environment of prosperity. If you are willing to listen to and take action on your inner guidance, you will do well no matter what the economy around you is doing. You are being sent all the guidance you need to have abundance and be well provided for during economic downturns.

To read the qualities that attract and repel money, visit http://www.orindaben.com/newsletter/attractabund.htm

For an article to Change Beliefs of Scarcity into Abundance, please visit http://www.orindaben.com/newsletter/x28_01.htm

Enjoy beautiful, angelic, music of light by Thaddeus (channeled and performed by Sanaya Roman) at http://www.orindaben.com/music/listenrm.php

Related: Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love, and Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality. These CDs/MP3s are Guided Meditations by Amethyste Rah, with Music of Light by Thaddeus (performed by Sanaya Roman). To order, visit http://lulu.com/cassEndrE

This message was brought to you by Amethyste Rah (a.k.a. Cassendre Xavier)
lightworker-in-training & renaissance negressehttp://lightworkers.org/amethysterah

One Lucky Girl Blog 1/27/09

2009-01-27T13:39:00.002-08:00

NOT CURRENTLY BORDERLINE-SUICIDALLY MISERABLE!!
Dating and being influenced by an atheist, feeling intellectually atheist, and never having been very religious before that, I don’t know who, besides Goodness and Grace to thank for this, but I have been much better lately than I was weeks ago when I wrote my ME! ME! ME! “Thrill of Defeat” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.) Before, I was really struggling financially, going to busk in Suburban Station, but not doing well at all because it was just after the holidays and people were super broke (not to mention this stark and dreary economy we’re in).
Now, several factors have added a little sweetness and light to my days insofar as cashmakery is concerned: My $5 full-length slimline CDs are doing quite well indeed, thankfully, and while I’ve always had repeat customers before, it’s much more so now that my CDs are a third of their usual price. As I told my CD Maker Girl, “Why didn’t we think of this before?!”
So, I am truly appreciative of this. Also, I’ve been really blessed to have both local and semi-long-distance companionship and horizontational hobby-age, if you will, to also really help to ease the sting and discomfort of underemployment and non-self-sufficiency insofar as living arrangements are concerned.
Every day I am thankful for my strength to write during these times, because I know someday my story will inspire someone, if not only Moi-self. This keeps me focused on the fact that I won’t be here forever, and going in the direction I need to go to make it so.

ARTMAKAGE A.K.A. ARTMAKERY
I am extremely prolific in my writing and composing these days. I carry my usual journal in which I write my usual essays, diary, blog notes. But unlike before, and for the first time in my life, I am carrying my songbook everywhere I go, too. Now, when I have an idea for a song, when I hear a catchy phrase or concept, when I have the first few lines of a song, it’s not just my mobile phone (cum instant recorder) I use to log and promptly forget to retrieve it, hence losing the song forever, but now I have with me my very priceless lyric book. It has my latest song lyrics and works in progress, it has concepts for future albums, it has the names of venues I should hit up for a gig.
I’m also writing a lot of essays, and I’m organizing my first book manuscript, which so far is about 60 pages long. More on my writing and music progress in my next ME! ME! ME! Newsletter.

THE SEMI-SO-CALLED “RELEASE” OF CAPABLE OF LOVE
It may seem as if I’m not giving this CD “Capable of Love”, my first studio recording in 5 years, adequate exposure. After all, I’ve only announced it to my mailing list and various online groups (MySpace, etc.). It’s not in any stores (yet), and on only one online store. But I’m not worried about it.
I have this strange and quiet assurance that everything is going according to plan, and that there’s a reason and a system for this, and for everything else.
I believe in synchronicitational qualities. For example, I was thinking of singer-songwriter Arjuna Greist a few days ago, and then I met someone who mentioned her to me, had hosted her as a house concert performer, and then invited me to perform at her house as well. Yesterday Kia Gregory and Sam Wood, both staff writers at the Philadelaphia Inquirer stopped by to chat and shoot video of me at Suburban Station. Apparently they’re doing a feature on us buskers and a friendly SEPTA copper told them about me. Those police officers may get a bad rap elsewhere, but to me for years they’ve never been anything but kind. I’m meeting lots of people who want to meet me for tea or lunch or just hang out and chat. It makes me feel much better scrolling down my cell phone numbers and seeing more names and numbers of people I want to get to know. I’ve been quite lonely for years, and wondering if I’m supposed to be like this – have so few close friends that most of the time it feels as if I have none. But that’s for another subject – this is about Capable of Love. It’s going to be just fine. I’m not worried about it.

By the way, I’ll be performing on Feb 28th at 6:30pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown. I will be performing a 2-hour concert including a brief intermission and Affirmation Sing-Along. When: Doors open 6:30pm, Showtime 7:00pm Where: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown 1565 S. Keim Street, Pottstown, PA 19465 Directions: Google Maps. How much: $5 in advance/$7 at the door. (Please bring a canned good for the community pantry for the needy.) Contact/Info: Courtney Tel: 14845242635. More gigs will be posted at www.myspace.com/cassendrexavierMUSIC.

MY SEX LIFE, OR “I AM NOT A SLUT!!”, OR, “AND THEN THERE WERE TWO”
So, I had three guys I was a jugglin’ there for a while – my long-term Philly sweetie a.k.a. “Orgasm Giver” I’ve been with off and on for 5 years, my “Nice Jewish [40 year old] Boy” from Long Island whom I met and started dating when I was living in New York (NOT a former client of the research I was doing for my “Working Girl” novel, by the way! There are no residual lovers from the line of work I was quite realistically and titillatingly researching). Then there was a new guy. Mr. Number Three from a little town near Allentown. We didn’t make it. He wanted to, but I didn’t feel there was enough of a psychic clicking sound or a good emotional fit. Also, it seemed to me that he didn’t make enough time in his schedule for a lover, even a part-time one, which would’ve been fine had we wanted a casual affair, but neither of us wanted that.
(It must be so confusing to people reading this who aren’t used to the poly lifestyle and who assume that if you have more than one lover, they all must be casual.)
Right before I was to spend a couple of days with him at his place (far ass away), I got in touch with my guttal reggiones and decided it was best not to go. After all, we’d only been on a couple of dates, and I hadn’t even felt it was time to let him know where I live (Oh the magic of internet dating!). So, I figured, if I wasn’t even ready to let him know where I live or let him even drop me right at my door, why then would I board a bus and travel for hours to be at his place which I’d never seen.
Plus, I’d asked him beforehand about certain conditions I could expect, and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be comfortable. I won’t go into details, because he reads my writing here, but I will say that we didn’t seem to click past the usual “you’re hot, let’s shag”, which is fine when you’re 23, but slightly different when you’re near 40 and looking to settle down. But we really respected and liked each other as human beings. I think that’s what was also making me think for a while we might be or were becoming an item – he “looked so good on paper” as we say in the business. He had accomplished a lot of things which were very impressive to me (supposedly – I never met his friends or anyone to corroborate his claims, while he could see all over the internet that I was who I was and do what I said I do). These things were impressive not only in their scope for various reasons, but also because they indicated the quality of his character, which to me, was of deep substance and value, and man, did I think that was hot, but in concept mostly. Things didn’t really precipitate down yonder, however, if you know what I mean, except for the times I think I picked up that he was feeling something on his end (pun intended). Basically, I kinda ended things weeks ago, but I wasn’t as firm about it as I would’ve liked. He texted and I texted back. We emailed exactly two times. I think it’s over, and I’m not completely easy about it, because I sometimes question whether I’m making the right decision. But I believe I did part of it right – the part that went with my gut that was telling me not to go to Allentown until the coast was clearer.
So for now, I live, work, and love (not always in that order, heh-heh ;-) in Philly with my sensual cuddle-buddy and dinner/TV mate and I spend the occasional weekend away with Mr. Action and Adventure. Of course it’s not all that sweet and perfect, but that wouldn’t be as fun nor as private to write :-) The deeper stuff will be in a future Book or never come out at all.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
a) Free movie passes – I love them so much. I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young woman in my early Suburban Station busking days who put me on the mailing list at her job which promoted movies. For years I’ve received, thanks to her, passes to see movies for free, and I have cherished these things. I’m going to see a free movie tonight. I’m so excited! I just can’t hide it! I’m about to lose control, and you know what? I think I like it! (I do! I really, really do!)

b) Toilets I don’t have to line. Dear Lord baby Jesus. Dear Tiny Kid Christ with the balled up fist. Please let me not have to line another toilet for a really long time, god, please? Please let me leave the public bathrooms of my busking lifestyle and someday have my own tour bus and private office at home and spend most of my time in clean places and bathrooms where this is no longer a part of my past? ‘Cause if I had buck for every time I’ve had to get creative and/or re-hygienify a restroom before I had the confidence to use it, I’d be giving Bill Gates a run for his money right now. Well, not really, but you get the idea. I spend a hell of a lot of time lining toilets, and I am sick and tired of it!! Trader Joe’s errand – gotta line a toilet. Play the subway – gotta line a toilet. Use my group office, - line that bad boy. It’s getting to where a toilet doesn’t look like a toilet unless hit has a bunch of toilet tissue layin up there on it all pretty crisscross-y like, or one of those professional thin paper toilet seat liner jobbies. I don’t even recognize it. And that’s just wrong.

c) Weird food – I love Chung May in Chinatown on Race between 10th & 11th. They have cheap ginger candy, expensive Japanese candy, but they also have lots of other things including my new favorite: These leaf-wrapped sticky rice things. They’re awesome! For a buck fifty or $1.75 you can get this thing which is like a little over a cup of sticky white (sushi style) rice, beans, and either meat (pork) or meat and egg or meat and shrimp or no meat and only beans. The reason I say I like weird food is because people were staring at me on the bus while I was eating these. They’re wrapped tightly in some sort of living green leaf – I’m guessing it’s a palm plant. And that’s wrapped in white string. So, I remove the string, and then unwrap the big palm leaf to find the weird food inside and start eating it. It is so savory, easy, convenient, delicious, and 100% green. There’s no packaging that can’t be composted. The last time I thought my eating was weird was when people were making fun of me at home and on the train in NYC for eating dried seaweed.

d) Books – no matter what happens with technology, no matter how digital things get, I think that certain literary types like me will still seek the comfort and familiarity of the touchstone that a book is.

e) Google – if I could marry Google, I would. It stands for so much of what I stand for, and it doesn’t hurt at all that David Wolfe promotes them and says that the earnings of his stock in Google years ago yielded so much that he used the money to buy a house. Google is sexier than Wickipedia, but more confident and lustily ambitious.

c) Copyright 2009 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 8 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. A New York City native who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1990, Cassendre enjoys an active, raw vegan lifestyle, writing/composing/recording/performing, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

All CX bloggery (a.k.a. “bloggational devices”): ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter, Green Smoothie Raw Blog, One Lucky Girl Blog, and Runner’s Log, all viewable at www.myspace.com/cassEndrExavier or http://cassEndrE.livejournal.com.

Shows & Things (appearances+merchandise)

2009-01-27T13:39:00.001-08:00

Here's where it's all at folkseses:The Cassendre Xavier Music Gallery www.cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrExavier (My new CD & MP3 download "Capable of Love" is not yet at CD Baby, but it will be there soon! They are available at http://stores.lulu.com/cassendre)

Want to buy it in person at a store? Capable of Love CDs will also be at the Philly bookstore Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th Street (corner of 12th & Pine in Center City), Philadelphia PA 19103 (215) 923-2960 www.giovannisroom.com. You can reserve a copy by calling and leaving your name and number. They’ll hold a copy for you when the CDs arrive.

Concert Dates and other appearances (house concerts, Affirmation Sing-Alongs, you know...the usual –NOT :-) www.myspace.com/cassEndrExavierMUSIC Live video of me performing or just talking and being silly: www.youtube.com/cassEndrExavier Spoken Word Guided Meditations by Amethyste Rah (a.k.a. Cassendre Xavier) featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman) : http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE

Everything else I may have forgotten: www.cassEndrExavier.com

Make yourself a beautiful day,

Cassendre Xavier

renaissance negresse

www.cassEndrExavier.com

Green Smoothie Raw Blog 1/27/09

2009-01-27T08:58:00.001-08:00

1/27/09
One thing I’m very excited about is that I’ve been adding raw solid foods to my cooked meals lately, and for the first time in months. I bought plum tomatoes and ripe avocadoes, and ate them together as a meal by themselves. I bought radishes (One of David Wolfe’s avowed “most beautifying foods” from his book “Eating for Beauty”).
I’ve also been telling myself that I can have the raw vegan life I want and I don’t have to be afraid of it. I don’t have to be afraid of health, radiance, and an abundance of love and financial freedom and flexibility, which all seem to be what comes with this lifechoice and commitment.

Raw inspiration:
Matt Monarch’s weblogs. They’re daily and feature him and very often his fiancé, Brit raw “goddess” (as he calls her) Angela Stokes. Watching these two teaches me a lot about being raw, wo/manifesting abundance and the kind of love I hope to be in someday soon when I’m all raw all the time (again)! But enough about those two wacky kids and beautiful lovebirds… On to my adventurous journey to raw…

From my journal:
1/22/09
Consistently drinking Green Smoothie. Considering preparing at least some of them with non-sweet fruit (avocado, tomato, zucchini, etc.) instead of sweet fruit. The sugar’s too much for me – I’m peein’ all the time. Well, not all the time like I used to before I cut out dates as extra sweetener, but still more than I’d like to be, and more than is convenient for this girl-on-the [yes,pun intended]-“go”.
If I’m at home or office all day, I don’t mind so much, but if I’m busking or traveling, it’s too much.
I’m still meeting regularly and working with Judi Alloway, the co-founder of the raw vegan support and transformation group I’m starting. Hopefully we will have an announcement for you soon.
I’ve got some other exciting raw food-related projects in development, but I’m waiting until they’re set before I release the news.

No yoga since I left NYC in November 2008. Very little meditaccione. Running regularly, though. Progress, not perfeccione, as it were. (If you will.)

c) Copyright 2009 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 8 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. A New York City native who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1990, Cassendre enjoys an active, raw vegan lifestyle, writing/composing/recording/performing, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

All CX bloggery (a.k.a. “bloggational devices”): ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter, Green Smoothie Raw Blog, One Lucky Girl Blog, and Runner’s Log, all viewable at www.myspace.com/cassEndrExavier or http://cassEndrE.livejournal.com.

Runner’s Log 1/12/09 – 1/22/09

2009-01-27T07:14:00.001-08:00

1/12/09
[I am so happy to be including a blog in the “Sports” category! It feels so redeeming as a lifelong non-jock formerly envious of all athletic types and well on her way to reinventing inshape-ocity for herself!]

So dreadfully out of shape since it’s been months since I went running. I used to be able to run one block, then walk the next, run the next, walk the next, and do this for about 15-30 minutes, walk back home. Now I’m only able to run half a block and then walk a whole block, run half a block, and I can barely do 10 minutes. NOT sexy!
I’m out of breath, I have chest pains, etc. But I’m glad to be out and am focusing on the fact that I went running for the first time since October. I’m focusing on making it a habit. Focusing on the progress, and not on the failure, not the weight gain.
It was such a beautiful day when I left my brother’s home recording studio in Delaware at 11:00AM to head back to Philly. It was warm and blatantly sunny. I felt like god was strongly urging me to go running, and that if I didn’t, I would be sinning.
But after traveling for three hours to get home, and having had only about as much sleep on each of the two days I was there, I was so tired all I could do when I got home was eat, pleasure myself (more on that later, since you asked), and sleep. So, the sunlight was missed by Moi. But, alas, the night was still to come.
I had an appointment with my CD maker. I was thrilled to be ordering copies of “Capable of Love” – my first studio release in 5 years, and also to be ordering my slimline versions of my backlist full-length titles I could now sell for a measly five bucks. So excited. We met at the Starbucks on Broad & Pine.
Now, on to more urgent and pressing matters: The self-pleasuring thing. One of the things that CD Maker Girl and I talked about was the dreamy freedom of living alone. Right now I share a place with a non-lover and I don’t even have my own room. A living room is my only space. Everything I own is in that room.
You never know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Now that I’m having to make the bathroom my unglamorous boudoir, if you will, I fondly recall with much appreciation where I last lived before leaving NYC with another swinging bachelorette chyk who happened to work the opposite hours I did. We’d have our lovers and our dates and our swank place and our red wine. I’d come home to our glamorous and empty apartment and set up my own private bedroom for a languid 2 or 3 hours filled with audible (you’re welcome, neighbors!) orgasms and followed by sumptuous reading, joyful writing, and healing, rejuvenating sleep. A slightly different scenario to say the least.
CD Maker Girl and I also talked about cats who eat things they shouldn’t. Her cat eats CD Maker Girl’s hair and also plastic bags. I recommended keeping a Boston fern or other edible plant around for her cat to enjoy as a regular salad, which would not only help her cat’s nervous eating habit, but help it pass the huge hairballs it passes on a weekly basis. (I also recommend she put the Bach Flower Essence “Rescue Remedy” in her cat’s water to calm it down further.)
We talked about work, sex, and relationships. I told her I’d recently been having a hard time getting my lovers’ names right when talking to them, and embarrassed myself and one of them by calling him another’s name accidentally. (Tacky!! Luckily that happened only once…) She said, “Why don’t you just call them all ‘Baby’?”
“Baby” is a very intimate and affectionate name to me. I’ve never been called that, nor have I called a lover “baby”. All kinds of crazy and cute nicknames (and whatever names my Dominants wanted to call me), along with the occasional sweetie and honey, yes, but mostly we use each other’s names. So it wouldn’t be easy to just start calling them only “Baby” or “sweetie” or “honey” all the time.

1/17/09
Ran very little, but ran. Could do no more than ½ a block at a time again. Out of breath, but did a lot of walking and paced myself. Was thankfully much warmer out than yesterday. Still don’t like running here, in comparison to New York, but that’s mostly to do with the factors behind my being here and not there – nothing to do with the city nor the neighborhood itself, though I’d like to drag myself to Rittenhouse Square soon and do some running there.
Running along Kelly Drive is always sexy, but I’m only here to use the office and I’m almost always coming here after hours of busking, so I’m already tired and I’m also not carrying my running clothes and sneakers with me. But having the dream is important – I still have the dream of running along Kelly Drive again sometime soon, so maybe it’ll happen.

1/18/09
I ran so little today, it’s almost a friggin’ joke to writ it down, but the truth is I did run and that means I get to write it down so there. Much, much milder today. Much appreciated, Ma Nature.

1/22/09
Very warm and sunny out. I didn’t even need gloves. Still dreadfully out of shape. Glad to be at least running regularly, though. Looking forward to feeling more endurance and physical improvement. Saw pigeons and remembered New York. Also thought of Beldgian sleith Hercules Poirot (Agatha Christie’s fictional character) who abhors pigeons. (Unlike Sesame Street’s “Bert” who adores them.

c) Copyright 2009 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 8 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. A New York City native who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1990, Cassendre enjoys an active, raw vegan lifestyle, writing/composing/recording/performing, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

All CX bloggery (a.k.a. “bloggational devicery units”): ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter, Green Smoothie Raw Blog, One Lucky Girl Blog, and Runner’s Log, all viewable at www.myspace.com/cassEndrExavier or http://cassEndrE.livejournal.com.

ME! ME! ME! Thrill of Defeat: Realisaccione

2008-12-24T21:42:00.001-08:00

ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter
The “Thrill of Defeat: Realisaccione” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.)

24 Dec 2008

Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah is a self-described “renaissance negresse” (musician/writer/actress/visual artist). Known mostly as a musician and a writer, she is the award-winning founder and former director of Philadelphia’s annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (est. 2003). Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com (Full bio at the end of this newsletter.)

[This missive is best enjoyed when printed out and savored, say, on the toilet or perhaps in a more genteel fashione, at the breakfast table, for example. Oh, and just to be on the safe side, parental advisory motionals may be applicationatary. I tend to like to use the word “ass” a lot, as it were, and I will not allow Moi’s passione, if you will, to be restrained. Never let it be said!]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A) GREETINGS
1) IN MOI’S LIFETIME, OR: BARACK OBAMA, BABY!!
2) THE THRILL OF DEFEAT: REALISACCIONE
3) RAW VEGAN & RUNNER’S UPDATE
4) ARTISTIC PROGRESS UPDATE
5) WHAT I’M READING & SAYING THESE DAYS
6) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
7) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MEIN FRIENDS
Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

CONTENTS OF TABLE

A) GREETINGS
Well, hello, m’wee pupperlings! How’s life treating you? I hope things are good for you, as good as can be. It is indeed a thrill, a joy, a privilege, and a pleasure to be with you once again via this nifty tool we have called The Internet! If there could be just one song to be the soundtrack to this ediccione, if you will, of ME! ME! ME!, it would be Chuck Brown’s Bustin Loose, so click and enjoy.
I am excited about these holidays, because in addition to spending time with my lovely family of origin in the last week or so, the coming days and week have me spending time with the lucky male types en mi vida. Tomorrow, half the day will be spent in Delaware with my brother and my sister-in-love (bro’s wife), her parents, and my nieces. The other half will be spent with my longtime Philly sweetie, where I’ll be doing my laundry, making our meal and watching cable TV while cuddling on the couch – real homey and domestique! This weekend I’ll be with my Long Island squeeze, whom I only get to see once every two weeks or so, but we talk twice a day and I write him vanilla-walnut scented letters regularment. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day will be spent near Allentown with The New Guy. Although I’ve been what is now called poly/polyamorous my entire dating life, I’ve been recently talking more about it here and there, and everywhere a.k.a. my One Lucky Girl Blog (details later). I’ve never needed much “support” for this lifestyle before, because I wasn’t really looking to settle down. But now that I am, I’ve joined a popular poly discussion group created by Polyamorous NYC, which I’ve known about for a while and only now am in need of for various reasons you’ll know about if you either read One Lucky Girl or join the discussion group :-). Yes, plenty of poly people “settle down”. Someday I will, too, and you’ll be among the first to know all about my “Ravenheart” adventures! You’ll have to visit Polyamorous NYC to learn what a “ravenheart” is :-)

(Other songs I listened to while writing this: Warren G: Regulate, Steve Vai: Tender Surrender, Biggie Smalls: Juicy, Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction, Sade – Cherry Pie, Buddy Guy – Mustang Sallly 1991, Meshell Ndegeocello "The Way" live, )

1) IN MOI’S LIFETIME, OR: BARACK OBAMA, BABY!!
I never imagined in my lifetime that the United States of America would have a black president. When it happened, I had two feelings: one was amazed, thrilled, stunned and almost numb with glee when Obama won. I was living in NYC at the time and foolishly had neglected, because I could never decide which temporary residential address to use on my voter registration update, to register in that state. So when the time came to vote, I traveled to Philadelphia to vote for Sir B.O. (sorry!). When he won, it was really sweet as my paramour was the one to announce it to me while I was traveling back to NYC on the Chinatown bus. “He won,” my guy softly said, as happy as I was (he’s a soft talker :-). It was an intense and surreal experience to be on a bus where everyone was quiet and not really connecting to the outside world and my having to be quiet and respectful, and silent. Not as I’d like to have been, which is shouting and celebrating and making noise as it seemed most everyone in NYC was when I returned. Taxi cabs were honking, crowds of all kinds of progressive-looking white people were in drunken post-election party states returning home in the wee hours of the morning. I had done my part. We had made history. That was the glee part. Then the other matter-of-fact part of me went like this: a) My people are from Haiti. We’re used to black presidents. No big whoop, as my people say (my Jewish people, apparently?!). We’ve even had a black female president, although she wasn’t elected by the people, and she didn’t stay in office for long. b) Obama’s still a politician and I basically don’t trust politicians or anyone who would want to be one.
But I am hopeful and very impressed by him so far. It’s the first time since Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton that I’ve been happy about any president.
I’m grateful to everyone who voted for the President elect. As my friend Kelli Dunham says, you know things are bad when a community organizer is voted president. I pray a lot for the wisdom of Obama and for his safety and that of his family.

2) THE THRILL OF DEFEAT: REALISACCIONE
A few months ago it became evident that I wasn’t ready to be in NYC. I wasn’t ready to move forward in my music and writing career as I’d thought. There were several large and looming issues I’d been able to muddle through in spite of, living in Philly, that New York’s cutthroat everything competition made me aware I was really too weak and vulnerable to handle as I currently am.
At first I thought I’d call this ediccione, if you will, “The Agony of Defeat” (from “The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat” fame). But then after a few weeks, I realized I wasn’t in that much agony about having been so called defeated. In fact, I was really helped a lot to have this experience, lest I while away another decade or more of just getting by and not living at my full potential – not “taking care of business” as an Elvis Presley-worshipping ex of mine used to say. So, I look at it as the thrill of defeat, because I can now work forward from this point, with clearer vision and the knowledge that I need to acquire different tools to reach my goals.
One of the major things I realized is that I need to deal with my bipolar status. Another thing I realized is that I need a real job. As adventurous as it was for me to move to NYC with no savings and no job, and as impressive as it is that I was able to find and create employment to allow me to perform and rent places to live and never be late nor default on that rent, the facts remain that I was only able to do that enough to survive being in NYC. I was not able to do that and thrive. And while it is true that many people take years and years to establish, and then make a name for, themselves as artists in NYC, I was far from prepared to begin that process. One of the things I’ve decided to do is apply for virtually every kind of financial and community/social service assistance so that I can continue to receive income when I have a debilitating depression, which I have now, hence this newsletter being written literally months after I’d wanted to initially, from weeks before I moved back to Philly. (I did a good year in NYC!)
A typical day for me involves my setting my alarm for 7am and finally getting out of the house around 3 or 4pm. That’s how long it takes me. And that’s on a good day. That’s when I haven’t stayed in bed all the day, sleeping. My former Giovanni’s Room (LGBT bookstore in Philly) co-worker and friendly acquaintance Liz Spikol describes very similar experiences in her latest “Trouble With Spikol” missive in the Philadelphia Weekly. She’s also YouTube-able, by the way :-)
Anyway, there’s much more of this newsletter to write, and I will be, and have been talking about my bipolar issues in my One Lucky Girl Blog. I’ll also be talking about my journey from struggling, under-supported artist who is not being treated to one who is adequately supported and in treatment. I’ll also be talking about my methods of treatment. I would like to avoid taking pharmaceutical drugs (I’ve been on various anti-depressants in the past and have also treated some of my symptoms successfully using natural foods, nutrition, herbs, behavior modificaccione and exercise) and have been talking with the folks of, and often visiting the website of Artists for Recovery to gain insight and resources to natural and alternative treatments to what they call the aftereffects of “emotional hurts”, which I believe many mental illnesses are.

3) RAW VEGAN & RUNNER’S UPDATE
For the last week or so, I’ve been on average 50% raw, drinking green smoothies all day (half greens, half fruit in a blender with water), and eating cooked food in the evening. Ideally it should be the other way around, as GS is so easily digestible I’ve actually seen it called “pre-digested”, that it’s better drunk in the evening if cooked food is going to be part of the day’s diet. But it’s like this because when I’m home, I can stay raw very easily. It’s being out that’s the challenge.
I’m still writing my Green Smoothie Raw Blog which you can view either at my MySpace primary page or on my Live Journal page, as well as my other blogs. I used to have a raw vegan Live Journal page, but I’m finding it’s easier to have just one Live Journal presence. I’m starting a peer support group for aspiring or struggling raw vegans who have survivor/abuse, addiction or other significant issues that make it difficult to give up cooked foods and accept a rapidly changing/shrinking body and the abundance of health, joy, beauty, and order that comes with being raw. If you’d like to know more about this group, which will be meeting in Center City for now, email me at cxmusic(at)gmail.com and I’ll get back to you. The last time I did anything like this was 1996-1999 when I founded and facilitated Sisters Healing Together, a peer support group for women survivors of incest with a special focus on compulsive overeating. We met at the William Way LGBT Community Center twice a month. I also started a support group for artists called Artists in Motion. That one only lasted two meetings. You win some, you lose some! Anyway, I’ll soon be posting on various raw food websites that I’m starting this group, but again, if you’d like to be involved, let me know. Thanks!

Kids know what’s good for ‘em! Here are a couple of adorable clips of toddlers and infants enjoying green smoothie with great energy!

Julian Walker - The Green Smoothie Monster - 6mo

Rio Can’t Get Enough Green Smoothie

I was inspired by Steve Scaduto and Brian Loebig to start keeping a runner’s log. I haven’t run in two months, though, having been stopped by depression in NYC and then additionally distracted by my move, and now in a less pretty neighborhood in which to run. I hope and intend to start up again, soon, however, and almost ran a couple of days ago, but it was too cold. I could’ve run this morning, it was so warm, but I was up til 5am not doing anything remotely sexy, I’ll have you know :-) and by the time I went to sleep, there was no way I was going to get up before 10am!
You can read my Runner’s Log at www.myspace.com/cassendrexavier or http://cassendre.livejournal.com.

4) ARTISTIC PROGRESS UPDATE

MUSIC PROGRESS

I’m going into the studio again! Whoo-hoo! In January, I will be going into Track Record Studio in Delaware, where my brother JEE EYE ZEE will be the recording engineer for my very first affirmation song album! He’s giving me studio time as my Christmas present, and I’m going to finally make the dream come true of recording the first of 2 albums I’ve been wanting to make for over a year. We will begin recording In Divinity’s Hands: Affirmation Songs I, during a weekend and hopefully finish it all in one fell swoop, the way we recorded my studio album Beautiful.
The plan is to record the 10 songs, which are short chants to be sung in jingle-memorable rounds, in an a capella or semi-a capella style, much like my song “Nothing Is All I Need” from my debut album The Whittenberg Sessions. Then we will immediately make mp3s of them and make them available for sale at my MySpace Band Page as well as create an album to be sold in complete form or as separate tracks on my Lulu Storefront. So, within hours after recording, the album will be available for sale digitally. (After a few weeks, it will be available for sale at my CD Baby gallery in both digital and CD format.)
Normally, I would never announce the Track Listing until the record was released, but since this will be the shortest production time I’ve ever experienced, here goeth :-)

In Divinity’s Hands: Affirmation Songs I
Words, music, and performance by Cassendre Xavier (Due Winter 2009)

Track listing:

1. Absolutely Love My Life
2. Raw Vegan Chant
3. I Make Money (not to be mistaken for Money Comes to Me, which will be on the 2nd Affirmation Songs album. I gotta give you something to be hungry and come back for!)
4. Everything Matches
5. Only Positive Thoughts
6. Person of Action
7. Completely Support Myself
8. Speak Up & Demand
9. I Am So Gentle
10. In Divinity’s Hands

At my official YouTube page, you can view lots of videos of me singing various songs, including these affirmations, and also see and hear me talking about what affirmations are and how to use them. I’ve already gotten plenty of positive feedback from people about these songs. Sue Shaffer in Santa Fe, New Mexico recently had a party at which she played my video of “Absolutely Love My Life” and everyone sang along to it! Imagine how much more convenient it would be if there were downloads and CDs available? Well, there will be soon!

It feels really good to finally put this dream into action and being. I’ve had these two tattered flyers with me for months, with the two album titles and twenty songs, and I’ve carried with me from move to move the cassette (yes, cassette!) of the songs recorded. Some of them aren’t even done. I’ll have to add lyrics before the recording session. I would love to very soon go into the studio again in a few weeks to record a studio album of music with guitar – I also have plenty of songs waiting to be recorded. And then after that I want to record the 2nd affirmation song album. So that’s what’s going on with that. I’ll keep you posted, of course :-)

As far as live performance goes, until I have steady income from various sources, I am now busking in Center City’s SEPTA Suburban Station. I’m directly in front of the Philly News Now store, next to the door below the 17th & JFK entrance. If you take the elevator, walk towards Philly News Now, you’ll see me most week days around rush hour (4pm-6pm). I’m often there earlier, but for sure during that time. I play for tips and CD sales. I’m scheduled to play at a Unitarian Universalist Church in Pottstown in February, but I’m awaiting confirmation of the date. I’ll be doing a full 2 hour concert with a break in between and including an Affirmations Sing-Along, which I’ve done before at two house concerts and for a whole month at Arnold’s Way.
You can view all my concert dates at my official MySpace band page: www.myspace.com/cassendrexavierMUSIC.

Lastly, I’m hoping to soon have more CDs, different, no-frills, slimline case kind that I’ll be able to sell not for the $15 I sell my CDs now, but a wee $5! That will be so exciting to have many CD titles and be able to move so many different ones to so many folks. Who can resist a full-length album for $5, I ask you? Not many. Not many :-)

GUIDED MEDITATIONS/RECORDING PROGRESS
As you may know, under my name Amethyste Rah, I released two spoken word, guided meditation recordings in August 2007 called Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love, and Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality. A few months ago I started gestating two new albums: Affirmations for Survivors: Life Skills, and Affirmations for Survivors: Sexuality.
A month ago I started writing the content of both. I expect to have both out by the spring. I am going through experiences that are directly giving me what to write. Unfortunately, I’ve had a couple of very bad dates that made me think, “What beliefs would I have to have had to have avoided this situation?” And then I write it down. Painful, but true and necessary. I keep telling myself and the Universe that I’m ready to learn from joy and not struggle, but it’s a process. I consider that the first time I heard that concept I laughed, so it shouldn’t be surprising that years later I still wouldn’t be a pro at learning only from joy.
Anyway, the life skills part is me coming back to Philly and learning to deal with my weaknesses and asking for help and creating a self-care system of support. It’s basically growing up in a way I’d avoided before for various reasons. I’m really excited about that one in particular. I think it’s something that survivors struggle with sometimes for a very long periods – how to care for oneself. As with the other recordings, I’ll let you know of this project’s news and updates as well!

WRITING PROGRESS
I’ve officially started the outline of the manuscript of my first book. I picked one title and concept and everything – finally!! I have no goal right now other than to create content for this book that is relatively cohesive. I’m not announcing the title, because it could change, nor the concept, because it could be copied in the time between completion and publication. But I did tell a close writer friend whom I met years ago in Philly and who now lives and teaches college in North Carolina, and I will let you know when I’ve made further progress on it. It feels good to be finally working on something solid and it’s also fun!

5) WHAT I’M READING & SAYING THESE DAYS
Between my journals and print-outs of mine own writings and bloggational devicery units are the things that occupy my many depressed hours in bed: books!

READING

a) Succulent Wild Woman by SARK Her Inspiration Line is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. Call anytime you need to be pepped up! (415) 546-3742. www.planetsark.com

b) The Student Bible (New International Version) What? Who says bisexual, pagan, polyamorous girls can’t, or don’t, read The Good Book? I’ve heard they do all the time! At least, that’s what my research shows me :-)

c) Basic Herbs for Health and Healing (featuring tropical herbs of the Caribbean, Latin American, and Africa) by Rashan Abdul Hakim a.k.a Ruddy Duckett. Although I could do without his bashing of “batty [gay] boys”, this is an essential book.

d) The Black Presence in the Bible: Discovering the Black and African Identity of Biblical Persons and Nations by Walter A. McCray. Jesus, Ham, Shem, and so many other cats from the Bible were black? Who knew? You know what, after I heard that Shakespeare was also black, I’ve just decided to think that all the best things in the world were created by black people and we’ll just never know about it. Kind of how my whole life in public school all globes and maps showed Africa as being about a third the size of the USA. What was that about?

e) The Poems of Dylan Thomas This man made me believe in poetry. Before that, all poetry to me just looked like incomplete and lazy prose. I used to actually look up “poetry” in the dictionary. “Highly refined prose” it said, but most of the poetry I saw looked far from refined to me. Once I saw his writing and the way the sounds of his spoken words played around in my mind, I knew I’d come home to poetry. I knew what it was, finally, or what it was supposed to be, or have been, all along.

f) How to Marry the Man of Your Choice by Margaret Kent. This book promises you a husband within 2 years of applying its suggestions. I’ll let you know when I’ve seriously begun, and you can then start the clock ticking, although I don’t think finding a poly or poly-friendly husband is the same, do you? :-)

g) How to Marry the Rich by Ginie Polo Sayles. Because why not? :-)

h) Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance (Hardcover) by Jennifer Dunning. Another bipolar artist!

i) Kaiso!: Writings by and about Katherine Dunham edited by Veve A. Clark and Sara E. Johnson. Such a rare treasure to see KD’s own words and interviews. Rarer still to see pictures of her husband, who was white, saw other women (poly or philanderer?) and was with her as mate and artistic collaborator for 45 years.

k) I Put A Spell On You: The Autobiography Of Nina Simone. A true original.

l) The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States edited by Edwidge Danticat. I’d considered contributing to this anthology but didn’t feel Haitian “enough” to. Once I saw the finished product, I felt I’d made the right decision. I only identified with two of the stories – the Haitian woman who dates white guys, and the Haitian man whose wife is white. Catching a theme here? :-)

m) Spells of a Voodoo Doll: The Poems, Fiction, Essays and Plays of Assotto Saint I love and treasure this book so much. As rare as it is to find openly non-heterosexual black artists, it is rarer still for one to be from such a macho and homophobic region as the West Indies. Assotto Saint a.k.a. Yves Lubin was just that – a black gay man from Haiti who was a multi-media performance and literary artist. He died of AIDS.

SAYING

a) “Never let it be said!” I love ending sentences with that. It just makes me feel, whole and special in a way that nothing else does.
b) “Shake ‘n bake!” Just one of the wisest, most perfect and brilliant things ever said in a little movie I like to call Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Here’s another wee sampling of why this movie is one of my faves of all time.
c) “Albeit.” One of my lucky guys likes this word so I try to work it into as many sentences as possible, albeit.

6) BLACK WOMEN’S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE
The 6th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival is scheduled for July 30th thru Aug 2nd 2009. Volunteers are needed in every area from event production to fundraising. If you’d like to be involved, and are a respectful person from the humyn so-called race, please contact BWAFphilly(at)yahoo.com or visit www.BWAFphilly.com. To visit or join the BWAF Yahoo Group, go to
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly or send a blank email to: BWAFphilly-subscribe(at)yahoogroups.com.

6) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MEIN FRIENDS
These are people I actually know who are doing things I actually like :-)

a) JEE EYE ZEE – producer, recording engineer, Delaware and NJ
b) Matt Davis – guitarist, Philly
c) Kim Boldrini – photographer and cellist, NYC
d) Kiebpoli - Arial Rope Classes, NYC
e) Amber – hair artist and co-owner of Rasa salon, Philadelphia
f) Melanie Jones (You Don’t Have To Be Teeny To Be A Yogini), Philly
g) Janet Mason – writer, Philly
h) Arnold Kauffman – owner of Arnold’s Way Raw Vegetarian Café & Store, Lansdale PA
i) Sarah Stefana Smith – photographer, Philly
j) Vikki Wright – musician, singer, songwriter, bandleader, Philly
k) Lacey C. Clark! Sisters’ Sanctuary, Los Angeles
l) Jake Morelli – musician, Philly
m) Roia Rafieyan – musician, singer-songwriter, NJ
n) Ganessa James – musician, singer-songwriter, NYC

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

~May you stay healthy, wealthy, and young forever.
~May your self-contained joy inspire others.
~May you nurture your true friendships.
~May you experience exquisite pleasure on a regular basis.
~May your path be clear and steady.
~May all of your best dreams and wishes come true, surpassing all your expectations (or something better), and may it be for the good of all.

Sincerely,

Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah
renaissance negresse
www.cassEndrExavier.com

The Cassendre Xavier Glossaire (or Definiccione of Terms)

Bloggational devicery units: blogs
definiccione: definition
domestique: domestic
ediccione: edition
fashione: fashion
glossaire: glossary
modificaccione: modification
motionals: ?!
“Negresse, Negre: In the French- and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands, these words often have a connotation of affection, entirely non-racial in meaning. ‘Ma petite negresse, mon negre, are equivalent to ‘My dear, my darling, my sweet.’” – From Masters of the Dew, a contemporary classic novel by the Haitian author Jacques Roumain, translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.
realisaccione: realization
regularment: regularly
renaissance negresse: a black chyk who does lots of stuff in the creative-type realm, as it were. (If you will.)

BONUS: QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“I’m a fruitarian. The more fruit I eat, the more I’m open to new experiences.” Arnold Kauffman, owner of Arnold’s Way Raw Vegetarian Café & Store

ARTIST BIO
Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 7 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. Currently based in Philadelphia, Cassendre practices an active, raw vegan lifestyle, making friendship bracelets, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

If you like ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter, you’ll love One Lucky Girl Blog, Green Smoothie Raw Blog, and Runner’s Log, viewable at www.myspace.com/cassendrexavier and http://cassendre.livejournal.com.

(c) Copyright 2008 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.

Visit the ME! ME! ME! Archives at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassEndrExavier.
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Runner’s Log 10/4/08 - 10/12/08

2008-10-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Cassendre Xavier is a chyk who does stuff and thinks too much. [Complete bio at the end of this here thingie.]

04 Oct 08
[Total running time: 15 minutes. Tension headache – felt in better shape than at the last run.]

Knew when headed to Philly this weekend that I’d run along Kelly Drive. Half a block down from the Black Women’s Arts Festival office (which was where I’d be spending much of today) there’s a body of water and all kinds of inviting foliage, tons of runners, walkers, and cyclists. I used to always say when coming here to work, “I really should come here sometime to enjoy the view,” but I never did. I only passed it on the way to and fro. But coming all the way from New York city is different.
I brought my running shoes with me. At first they were in a bag, but then I realized I wanted to show them off, the way I do my yoga mat. So I freed them from the bag and tied them by lace to my strap of the outside of my tote bag/purse. Now, dangling from my bag as I walked was public proof that on occasion, I actually exercise.
When I got to the office, I picked up my mail. The Butch Cookbook arrived and looked fabulous! I checked out my entry “Semi-Raw Chocolate Fudge” and saw that my recipe had been “femme-tested”. I also looked for the pictures which are on their website and found none. A big, hefty book. Much mention in it of The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book which I just so happened have been reading and enjoying for months. I made a mental note to add The Butch Cookbook to my bibliography. Info: www.butchcookbook.com.
Then I put on my running shoes and right away went to meet the river. I saw, finally, my first black woman runner, and made this new discovery: I want to be a cyclist!
Cyclists have the coolest outfits, the coolest gear, make the best impression, and have less impact on their knees (I’m guessing).
Unlike running, I feel confident that I could hold my own in speed and endurance with cycling, and much more quickly meet my fitness goals.
Lowest on the public fitness totem pole? Speed walking. Impact-wise, it may be the best way to work out (second only to swimming) but sure is funny-looking.

07 Oct 08

[15 minutes total running time. Tension headache – felt the same as at the last run, slightly better because of the Powerade :-).]

TOTAL RUNNING TIME
Writing “total running time” makes me very happy because it’s the same thing each track gets on a full-length record. I remember figuring out the TRT on The Whittenberg Sessions and every time I typed it into the computer for each forthcoming CD it was exciting and fulfilling.

LESS, NOT MORE, SUPPORT
I think I’ll wear a measly 2, instead of the vice-like 3 bras I’ve been wearing to run. The tightness, while even an earthquake or Zeus himself couldn’t shake them, made me breathless, and not in a good way. I want to breathe, and if that means I have to bounce a little more in order to free up my diaphragm, then so shall it need to be.

MY FIRST DOM
I had another pleasant memory on my run today: passed by a pricy wine shoppe – as I always do. This time I looked a little more, imagining that I was rich and had a cellar. Then I saw the Dom Perignon vintage champagne in the window. I flashed back to my move to Ahimsa (a dreamy 7-person women’s collective household I lived in for 4 of the happiest and most fulfilling years of my life) back in 1991. It was my first move from my folks house, and into the big world. One of my dearest friends brought me a bottle of Dom to celebrate. I was and am still deeply moved by his gesture. I kept the bottle for years as a keepsake and decoration. I kept a candle in it, which I would on occasion light. Hadn’t thought of that for many years, that Dom and my friend’s gesture. And haven’t seen a bottle of it since. But that’s gonna change, my friends… that’s a gonna change – whoo-hoo!
[P.S. And if you thought that by “Dom” I was going to refer to my first Dominant boyfriend, well, surely I would more respect than to refer to him as “Dom”, wouldn’t I? :-) And trust me, when I get to talking about those years, I certainly will not keep them to brief paragraphs.]

BLACK WOMEN SPOTTED
…just going about their business or pushing caucasian children in strollers, but not running.

A TIME TO RUN
After tweezing my face, drinking Powerade (which the raw vegan side of me doesn’t approve of but the cooked/meat eater side finds very effective if drunk 30 minutes prior to exercisal activities) and other such glamorous things to prepare for my run, I noticed it was not yet time to run and be out among the after work throngs. I am combining my efforts when I run. I do it for exercise (and of course to write this cool blog) but I also see it as an opportunity to possibly meet Someone Special (hence the cute ‘do and eyeliner, heh-heh!). So I try to be aware of when and where I run.
It was before 5pm and at first I thought, “There won’t be many guys out – they’re all at work.” But I kept thinking “So what? I want to go now, so I’m going to go now.” Then I remembered in Ginnie Sayles’s book “How to Marry the Rich” she says that it’s best to go out when everyone’s at work because that’s generally when the rich come out to run the few errands their staff aren’t running. They do that because it’s less crowded that way.
I remember when I’ve been a full-time self-employed artist that I’ve done the same thing – I’ve gone to do laundry on a weekday at noon as opposed to a weekend, because I know I’d have the place virtually to myself. Same thing with shopping for food – I’d go between 1pm and 3pm or so.
So before 5pm I went running and witnessed, inhaled the auras of, and felt myself among the monied.

TECHNIQUE & LAUGHTER
Usually about 5 or 6 blocks into my run, I start to laugh. This time I noticed at nearly the end of my run that I hadn’t laughed. I decided it might have something to do with technique.
In Philly on Saturday when I ran across Falls Bridge along Kelly Drive, I saw a woman running with her legs more bent at the knees than mine were when I ran. I attempted to copy her style, which I’ve found more comfortable and having (seemingly) less impact on my knees, which is good, because I’m both a heavy girl and my shoes are far from new and in tippy toppy shape.
Tonight as I ran, I guessed that when children run in play, they don’t jog, and that may be why I laughed during the faster, higher impacted actual running (albeit slowly), and not when I was using the newer model of sensible mature jogging. I implemented my theory and was giggling again in no time.

Altogether an effective run. I took many less walking breaks, and felt my heart beating fast and steady from beginning to end.

09 Oct 2008

[Total Running Time: 10 minutes. Other black female runners sighted: 0. I was just thinking about two guys I know who keep running logs – both white, and how silly it would be if they both always included how many, if any at all, other white guys they saw out running: “Other white males running: 3. White male runner sighting: 4, etc.”]

Huffy and puffy with mild chest pain. Feel so out of shape but so proud and happy to have dressed and gone running when I could’ve stayed home and slept after a long day at a stressful job. Am thinking it would be really great to write shorter logs that were filled with more actual exercise.
Stepped in dog doo!! Occupational hazard of running at night as opposed to in daylight. Didn’t get cute to run tonight. Felt closer to God and Self as a result. Just doin’ it for the health of it tonight. I want more frequent entries. I want longer running times, too, but I’m satisfied with my progress so far.

12 Oct 2008

[Total Running Time: 10 minutes. Black female runner sightings: 0.]
My God, am I dying? I felt like I was dying out there – chest pains – a huffin’ and a puffin’ – could barely catch my breath. Feel like I’ve gained 4-5 lbs in the last two weeks eating chicken and dumpling stew, garlic knots, and late night candy of the gummal sort (Gummie Bears, Lifesaver Gummy Berry flavor). I love the clear ones. You know how celebrities, some of them anyway, have that thing where they ask, or make people do stuff for them like pick out certain color candies and fill big bowls with them and put them in their green rooms? Well, when it’s my turn, if I’m raw vegan, I should probably say “when I’m raw vegan” it’ll be one thing, but if I’m not raw and I’m eating candy, I will request, or demand bowls of clear gummy anything. The clear ones are SOOO GOOOD. So I buy the bags, pick out the clear ones, and pile the clear ones by my pillow and read while I munch and marvel whether this one is supposed to be white grape and what’s that one supposed to be and what chemicals are in there but my don’t they know how to make those chemicals taste great and then I go to sleep and hope I don’t get cavities. Real smart, huh? Well, the tooth angels must really love themselves some Moi because I’ve made it this far with n’eer a single cavitational unit so go figure. In all fairness, I never regularly ate candy in bed before, either. This is a new thing…just this past couple of weeks. But I’m the Queen of Digressment… I’ve been eating a lot of white flour, sugar, and salt. Not good. But I got myself out running tonight, and that’s very, very good. Ain’t too proud to say I walked the entire way back, but it was either that or croak unglamorously in sneaks. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatique. I felt pretty bad while running. Not all was uncomfortable. The walking part was nice…and then of course there are always the…

Highlights:
~Look, ma, no dog poop! They key, apparentment, is to run no later than 6pm. That way, I can see where the goshdarned heck I’m goin’ and what the goshdarned heck I’m steppin’ in.
~Ran next to three cute guys running (a different guy, three separate occasiones). Well, I ran past them. But they did notice Moi’s cleavage (pronounced “clay-VAHJ”). Spaghetti straps and lace really flatter Moi. Felt good to be out running next to some boy candy for a change. After all, I’m not (only) doing this for my health ;-)

Links that care:
Two White Guys Running! (The original inspiracciones, if you will, of this Runner’s Log.)
Steverino (not his real name – just tryin’ to annoy him!) http://www.myspace.com/thescaduto
Bri-ski (again, taking crazy liberties, heh-heh!) http://www.myspace.com/brianloebig

(c) Copyright 2008 by Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. All rights reserved.

Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 7 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. Now reinventing herself as a musician and writer in her native city of New York, Cassendre practices an active, raw vegan lifestyle, braiding her own hair extensions, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

One Lucky Girl Blog 9/28/08

2008-10-09T12:20:00.001-07:00

Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah is a self-described “renaissance negresse” (musician/writer/actress/visual artist). Known mostly as a musician and a writer, she is the award-winning founder and former director of Philadelphia’s annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (est. 2003). One Lucky Girl is the title of a song on the CX recording “live at the kraftbrau, kalamazoo”. (http://cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc6)

TABLE OF CONTENTATIONAL QUALITIES

1) GETTING CLOSER TO LULU

2) MOTHERING BLUES

3) NEW YORK, NEW YORK

4) SEX, LOVE, & ROMANCE

CONTENTS OF TABLAGE

1) GETTING CLOSER TO LULU

So my whole thing lately is doing what feels good and not doing what doesn’t feel good. That’s the formula. It’s not feeling good to wait and wait and wait and think that I’m supposed to study and do research to find a literary agent and start trying to find publishers and have a so-called proper outlet for my writing. What does feel good is knowing that I can easily and quickly post my writings at Lulu.com and have them turned into books which can be ordered on demand, at no cost to me. I keep going back to Lulu in my mind, and found in my collection two books by friends who self-published on Lulu (Victor Sjodin and Lacey C. Clark). What had been holding me back for months, well, okay, maybe years at this point, is that the layout process seems to be challenging, at least that’s what my associate Niama L. Williams said. So I didn’t do it. But now I’m thinking, if she could do it, why can’t I learn? And who knows, it may be easier for me, because I love the internet and typing and I have a facility with all that stuff. Anyway, so I’m going to try it. I am creating manuscripts by writing in my journal and then transcribing them and putting them on MySpace, LiveJournal and Blogspot. I find that’s easier than saving them in flashdrives or in gmail. So I’m going into my Lulu account to look at all the projects I started a couple of years ago – books I thought I’d do but didn’t because the layout process seemed so daunting.

It’s my dream to take all this stuff and put it online so you can order it in book or download format at your convenience. I’ll keep you posted.

2) MOTHERING BLUES

I never had a kid but the Black Women’s Arts Festival. It’s five now and I’ve let it go for a while to grow up a little and develop itself without me. It’s been very easy to do in some ways, I’m less stressed – (my hair’s finally growing back!) – I can focus on becoming the artist I’ve always wanted to be – not some nonprofit director that I was not put on the planet to be. However, some things are bothering me, which I’m not yet at liberty to speak of. Things were said of me in the press that I feel were highly disrespectful, not to mention inaccurate. I’ve been waiting to make a statement with BWAF leadership, so that we present a united front. I wish I could curate more of the event – which was totally an option, but I chose to not expend more energy than I have at this point. You parents know what I’m talking about – you want them to be a certain way, but you have to let them go and be themselves. I have always and still have the dream of producing BWAFs internationally: BWAF Paris, BWAF Berlin – not establishing non-profits there, just putting on events. I don’t know if the current management will go for that or if in the years I am ready to really do it the management at the time will be interested. Sometimes I worry that I will lose my baby to people whose styles are absolutely nothing like mine and that it will cease being what I dreamt it to be and will become something else entirely – something that I would have no interest in attending, but that is well-funded and well advertised nonetheless. I remind myself that regardless of what happens, I AM the black women’s arts festival and if I want I can always put on an event with a different name that is the essence of what I created to begin with. That dream will never be lost. I trust that all is well and I rejoice in the newfound freedom to focus only on my art and life, letting BWAF go and be what it’s going to be. I also remind myself that anytime I want I can go back (which most likely will be something like being on the board of directors – something I have no desire to do at this time). For now, I must settle for watching silently from sidelines, like any responsible parent would.

3) NEW YORK, NEW YORK

As B.B. says, the thrill is indeed gone. Well, not completely. While it’s still impressive to walk among clearly very rich people and people from all over the world, and this on a daily basis, I have more than ever a need for quiet.

When I have visited NYC in the past, from childhood on, I have always felt this was a vibrant, wonderful exciting city…to visit. I was always glad to leave it and return to our quiet, grass and tree-filled suburban neighborhood. NYC is exciting. It is thrilling. It is vibrant. It does have a super high level of energy which in part is brought to it by so many ambitious, firey spirited people who are here to put their thing down and do some thangs. However, this energy never, ever stops. It never rests. That’s not good for me. Even when it’s quiet here where I live, I can feel the energy. I’m very sensitive and I know I’m not fully at rest. I don’t think I can stay here forever. Even if I were super rich and lived in a suburb of NYC, I would know that not far was The Energy. Perhaps that would be the solution. Perhaps there are places, for example where the O’Donnell’s (Rosie und zie Kelli) are raising their kids, that I could live and be protected from the wild spirit of NYC. I don’t know, but that’s a way off, budget-wise. For now, I see this town as my school. I’m here for an intensive on BECOMING THE ARTIST I’M SUPPOSED TO BE. That’s what I’m here for – not permanently settling for life. I appreciate the good things here- I really do.

In Andy Warhol’s “Philosophy of…” he talks about how boring it is to see the same gorgeous people all the time in Sweden. He says in Sweden once you see someone who isn’t tall and thin, blond and gorgeous, you think THEY’RE beautiful, because at least it’s something different. I’m finding that to be the case with NYC. Once you’ve been in Union Square and seen the magic there – or been at the place where all the TV shows are (I don’t know the names of these areas!) and see countless limos and so-called important people… I mean, I’m getting bored!

It’s still exciting to see clothing I know isn’t American. I still drool over a tailored suit and odd looking women’s boots and hairstyles and makeup I know are done at the kinds of salons that celebrities go to. That’s still kind of exciting. But really, it’s getting kind of old. It was exciting at first. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I want to go to Europe – for a change of pace. I’m 39. It’s high time I go. I’ve been wanting to go since I was in my teens. I’m glad I’m in NYC. It’s training me for a better life. But like a parent, what it’s training me for is to go, to leave it and to make something of myself, and then return and make them proud.

4) SEX, LOVE, & ROMANCE

Privacy is something I’ve been thinking about lately – what to say that will be truthful, entertaining, and yet not make my future paramours feel that they can’t get involved with Moi lest the world (at least the world of my readership) be made aware of all our goings on. So I am more and more conscious of what I say and how I say it and who I say it about.

I’ve been feeling a combination of contentedly single and a wee bit lonely for a huggy bear bed mate lately. If I still lived in Philly it wouldn’t be so much of a problem, because that’s where my huggiest bear bed mate lives. However, I’m not in Philly. And I’ve gotten to a picky place now where I won’t settle for just a warm male body. I want not only a brain but ambition and passion and some kind of resources that will elevate me to a better place on all levels. Not just someone to shag and watch movies with. I’m convinced I will meet these types or perhaps even a significant other of some deep substance, through following my dreams, doing what brings me the most pleasure creatively, and taking some risks.

I learned a lesson recently in not making assumptions.

There’s a new Brazillian restaurant near the McDonald’s I was working in. Months ago I walked in and checked it out when ordering something. I wanted to work there, but I told myself the following stories: Brazilians are racist. I saw this tall white guy, in his 40s, bald, head chef, totally my type (or one of them), and I assumed: he’s probably totally prejudiced. He’s Brazilian and doesn’t date black chyks. So then I ordered my cheese bread (which I’m convinced are The Devil).

Well, last Wednesday I noticed a “help wanted” sign in the window. I went in, and talked to the guy. We were totally checking each other out. I was surprised! Two days later, I brought in my resume. We sat down and talked. He said my resume was “impressive”. He had a French accent. He pronounced my name the proper way. I asked, “Are you French?” He reacted the same disgusted and offended way Belgian sleuth Hercules Poirot did when he was (often) mistaken for French, so I said, “Belgian?” and he proudly nodded a confirmation of this. He hired me on the spot. My resume said I was conversational in French and Haitian Kreyol. When he saw my photo ID (to copy along with my Social Security card) he said, “Se vrement Kreyol ou ye!” (Which means “You really are Haitian!”) I replied, “Kijan ou konen Kreyol con sa?” (How is it you know Kreyol?) He said, “When you find something really beautiful, you go out of your way to learn all you can about it.” So not only was this guy not a racist Brazilian, but he was a Belgian who is not only into black chyks but into black people from the country of my parents. I felt like telling him, hey why don’t you and my ex-girlfriend get together and talk Kreyol? (Two white people speaking Kreyol – which I thought was hilarious until I remembered there are plenty of white people in Haiti who speak Kreyol – and some of them even call themselves Haitian!)

Anyway I started working there last week. I’m gonna kill in tips and more importantly, my new boss, The Belgian, is gonna help me in my plans to tour Europe. He said I should definitely go to Belgium. He said lots of famous and successful singers got their start there – singing in French. Celine Dion, Julio Iglesias, and Wayne Newton were the three he mentioned. He used to run a major club there and still has connections there. I’m going to give him my CD tomorrow.

Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 7 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. Now reinventing herself as a musician and writer in her native city of New York, Cassendre practices an active, raw vegan lifestyle, braiding her own hair extensions, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

ME! ME! ME! European Dreaming ediccione

2008-10-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter

The “European Dreaming” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.)

[Parental advisory units may be applicational a.k.a. “applicationary”.]

09 Oct 2008

Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah is a self-described “renaissance negresse” (musician/writer/actress/visual artist). Known mostly as a musician and a writer, she is the award-winning founder and former director of Philadelphia’s annual Black Women’s Arts Festival (est. 2003). Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com (Full bio at the end of this newsletter.)

A) GREETINGS

1) EUROPEAN DREAMING

2) ARTISTIC PROGRESS UPDATE

3) WHAT I’M READING, WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

4) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MEIN (AQUARIAN) FROINDS

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

A) GREETINGS

Hi, there! It is good for me to be joining thyself again in this most particular way. I trust that you are feeling, whole, healthy, and truly sexified. Hope you’re having good days and great days and that the not-so-dreamy ones decrease as the super duper ones multiplificate (a.k.a. “multiplize”).

The most effective things I am doing these days are:

~Focusing my thoughts on past, present, or future circumstances that make me feel good to think about, remember, or visualize

~Continually increasing the possibilities of good things in my life, and

~Following those thoughts and affirmations with like action

I’m also recognizing the importance of flocking with birds of a like feather, not of where I am currently, but where I would like to be in a few years. I want to be in the winning circle.

Lastly, I am telling the truth, to myself and to the world about who I am, what I want, how I work. This can be pretty scary to do sometimes, being a person who is letting go of a lifetime need for others’ approval, and simultaneously says/does/writes/sings a lot of things that many would disapprove of. But I try to stay with it, using as my inspiraccione the image of myself totally in love and surrounded by people, projects, and circumstances which suit me perfectly as I am.

1) EUROPEAN DREAMING

So, with no job and just a little over $300 in my primary checking account, I arrived by ten dollar Chinatown bus ride to this grand ol’ city of New York in December 2007. I thought then that the goal was to work my *ass off to create a buzz in this place and snag myself an equally grand but not too “ol’” deal or “contract” if you will, of the recordational sort.

Soon, however, after booking and playing over a dozen mediocre to downright sucky giggational devices, I realized the goal was to actually almost start from the ground up and discover and redesign my whole act as a musician/recording artist altogether. I also started seriously wishing to tour Europe as a musician, in particular Scandinavia. I feel drawn to Europe for various creative and personal/cultural reasons and I feel strongly that this move, however short or long, will boost my presence in the music world.

However, I’m still here to make the most of my time in New York. I feel I was called here to use the power that is in this city to do what I need to do to make the most of my talent(s). Who knew that New York was calling me here to prepare Moi for Europe?!

Since I’ve told a few people about this, I’ve been often asked, “So, are you in Denmark yet? So, how are the plans to tour Europe coming along?” etc… And I have to remind them, “It took me TWO YEARS to get to NYC after I started seriously wanting to move there!” So even though I’m talking about it now, don’t expect the next ME! ME! ME! to be sent to you from Oslo! I don’t expect it to take as long as it did to get me to New York (in fact, I’m talking about it publicly to hopefully decrease the wait time) but it will take some time for me to go from the wishing stage to the airplane with everything necessary in place to securely make this temporary (or permanent?) relocation. For centuries, there have been American-born female and male artists of various genres and so-called “races” who have sought and found success in Europe. I look forward to becoming one of them – fully myself and fully appreciated as an artist (and with your ongoing interest of my work, which I very much appreciate, thank you!). I am beginning the process of doing so, now, here, in the Good Ol’ U.S. of A.

2) ARTISTIC PROGRESS UPDATE

Music:

One of the biggest, most important things I’ve done recently is decided to stop looking for musical models of what I want to be and do. I used to search through YouTube and the internet for black women lead electric guitarists who were musically a cross between Tania Maria, Sade, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Needless to say, I never found them, because I am that.

I recognize that, after countless hours watching:

~Lita Ford - Not really active on the scene anymore, isn’t black, doesn’t write her own songs, but does/did play electric lead guitar. Also is thin, white, and had big blonde hair, so I couldn’t really relate to, or identify with her.

~Chrissie Hynde - Plays electric guitar, writes her own songs which can be smooth and sexy, and leads a band, but she’s not black and she doesn’t play lead.

~Bonnie Raitt - Plays electric lead guitar and leads her band, but doesn’t doesn’t write her own songs, doesn’t have a smooth and sexy song style, and isn’t black.

~Deborah Coleman – Is black, does play lead electric guitar and lead her band, but writes very few of the songs on her albums, and usually plays the boppy type of blues that’s not really sexy to Moi.

~Tania Maria – Is black enough (to Moi), does play incredibly smooth and sexy music, leads her band in every way, but plays the piano. Man, if this chyk would put on a corset and play electric lead guitar, yowza!

~Sade – Is black, writes her own very smooth and sexy songs, leads her band, but plays no instrumentational devices. But that’s okay, bandmate Stuart Matthewman does all of the above and that’s why he’s my boyfriend, I mean “hero”. Heh-heh :-)

So after all this role-model-seekage (a.k.a. “seekery”), I finally realized, Hey! I AM the chyk I’m looking for!! So I am practicing to become a cross between a (very slow-playing!) Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sting, Tania Maria, Sade, Bonnie Raitt, and Chrissie Hynde for you. Just because you asked! Just kiddin’…just because I need to, just because it’s who I’m finally realizing I am.

a) I’ve posted several new songs on YouTube, and check out my “favorites” which include songs of mine that were filmed by Kim Boldrini at one of her art gatherings

b) I’ve been practicing and enjoying playing lead guitar. I found an electric guitar in my budget in a store a few doors from my job, played it and I love it. I am visualizing myself having that, or a similar guitar and amp, soon, and playing lead and having a really great time. I’ve been thinking about what kind of band I want to have.

c) I’ve been practicing following my heart artistically and only doing what I want to do. I’m convinced that this is one of the primary things that has served high level, longstanding artists like Barbra Streisand and Prince well: having and not letting go of their creative visions and preferences.

d) I am developing concepts and songs for future albums. I’m most excited about my two forthcoming Affirmation Song albums, of which I have already the album titles and 20 songs (10 songs each album). I am also very excited about the instrumental and worded songs that will have harmony chanting and lead electric guitar. And I am really very super excited about having more songs about my own very special love of the whole menstruational process. I am writing mostly parodies of hit songs, changing the words to match the “I Love My Period” sentiment (“On the Rag Again” being my first and hopefully shining example), but one or two originals also. And in living my life, I am creating the material for my next two spoken word guided meditation recordings from my Affirmations for Survivors series (recorded under my self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman). Hopefully in 2009 I hope to release “Life Skills” and “Sexuality” to join “Spirituality” and “Self-Love” which were released in August 2007. [My performances of “On the Rag Again”, “Money Comes To Me”, and “Absolutely Love My Life” can be heard and seentified at my official YouTube page: www.youtube.com/cassEndrExavier

Writing:

a) I am allowing and giving myself complete permission to write as I wish and dream. I am being as prolific as my thoughts and typing allow, not censoring myself with ego or criticism. I am thoroughly enjoying writing and releasing my Dreamlogue and Interpretaccione series through various free internet sources, including MySpace, LiveJournal, and Blogspot, being foremost concerned with keeping the flow of creative energy going from me to my readers, and secondmost being as bold and truthful as I can. To give you some idea of what the “Dreamlogues and Interpretacciones” are like, the most recent titles have been:

Yoko Ono & Brad Pitt’s Art Class

Crystal Underwear

Sex Addict/Food Addict

Murder of a Lady Doctor

The Competing Cyclist Brothers

Scene from 40 Year Old Virgin

Meeting Charles Aznavour

I’ve been writing these for years and all they are is my logging my dreams and then analyzing them for meaning. It is my intention that they be entertaining to read (remaining truthful), and of course I also want them to be of use in, and an improvement to, my waking life.

b) I am thinking of publishers and literary agents and imagining myself as a star in that whole big party. I’ve taken myself in my mind from the outside of this scene to not only the inside, but into the middle of it. I have made myself, in my own mind, literary siblings with **Dany Laferriere, Maya Angelou, Anais Nin in that I imagine big checks coming to me and direct deposits going electronically right into my various accounts seconds after posting my writing online. I imagine having a powerful and likeable legal team to protect my intellectual property, and I now allow myself to feel secure as if this were already the case. I imagine creating a large and vibrant fanbase of readers who await my next words, not because they are well-written or funny, but because they are extensions of me as an artist and of my own desire to be myself and have fun being creative, therefore encouraging my readers to do the same.

The fact that my writing this freely brings me so much joy (so much that a large amount of money coming to me regularly for it would only be a very small extra) confirms that my wish will happen and is on its way.

Also, I received my copy of The Butch Cookbook, to which I’d supplied a recipe, and the book is really great! For more, please visit www.butchcookbook.com.

Acting:

I’ve been running and doing yoga regularly – activities which pay attention to my body, which is my primary instrument as an actor. I also look at Mo’Nique and Queen Latifah – big Black girls who made it first in their primary artistic fields and then became actors in major film productions. I identify with them and see myself in the early stages of development of a future similar situation. I focus not on the kinds of films they’re doing, but the fact that they’re both black and non-thin. It’s much easier to identify with them for this reason than it is for me to do that with singer and actress Diana Ross, for example, who describes herself as “a featherweight” and who has been this way for her whole entire life, even after giving birth several times.

Becoming more conscious of my body, thinking about how I hold it when stressed (a la Alexander Technique, and imagining future collaborations and projects with actors and filmmakers, playwrights, etc. is very exciting. I really feel like I’m gestating some future good stuff here. Like I’m a totem pole of talent and creativity, beginning with music, then writing, and then down the line. What I recognize also is that it’s important to be a totem pole of action and self-marketing and self-promotion. Got to get in gear. Whenever I’m in gear, I feel most like an actress. I never “feel like a musician”, though. Feel like a writer ALL the time. Interesting. Oh, I also often daydream that I’m in an acting class or being coached by Larry Moss. Like, after I’ve made it as a singer, I have this opportunity to act, as this ex-football player wrote a play about this life and Larry helped him bring it to life on the stage. I fancy that I’ve become successful in music and writing and then have these opportunities to work in the field. I also am always fantasizing about the scenes from Tootsie where Dustan Hoffman’s character Michael Dorsey is teaching acting. Amazing. I LOVE those scenes! I am so dreaming of being in scenes like that, of being a total slave and surrendering to the process of being the character, as directed or coached. Amazing. Anyway. Acting!

I also for years have had a dream of creating a line of DVDs of stories I would like to see now and wish had existed for me in the past. Drama, spiritual cinema circle-esque inspiration, erotica, and the like are some genres I’ve considered. I got the idea from some DVDs I’ve seen advertised in black magazines which led me to believe that the mainstream movie market isn’t the only one that reaches people. I’m inspired also by filmmakers who started making their art on their own and then grew to make an impression on their respective communities: Tyler Perry, Candida Royale, Fatale Video, Poly Patao. I want to create movies that inspired me like Whoopi Goldberg’s “The Associate”, “Girlfriends” (a 70s flick about two roommates, a poet and a photographer, and their struggles to live as artists and friends in NYC), What the Bleep?! Chasing Amy, and Female Perversions are some movies which really excite me and make me think about what kind of movies I’d make or will make. One of my favorite books (because it shows how easily one can make a movie as a solo chyk which a very low budget) is “Girl Director”. Check it out!

Visual Art:

a) Just thinking about future projects and wondering whether to do them in a novel to bring them into being sooner. There are concepts I’ve had since the mid 1990s, and I wonder if it wouldn’t be more fun to produce them in the figurative, literal sense, than to wait until I have the time, energy, and financial resources to create and exhibit them in the physical.

I also think of bookstore owner and booklover Larry Robin author (and former Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series feature) Leslie ____ who both told me that more truth could be told in fiction than in nonfiction, and I consider taking my ideas along with the inspiration of business artist and producer Andy Warhol to put my long-held and recently developing visual artistic projects into the hands of a fictional character who does have the means to create and exhibit them NOW.

I get goo-goo eyed when I think about the possibility of writing this type of novel. Basically it would be what I would like my life to be like as a multi-disciplinary visual artist – to be able to take my ideas and create campaigns and sculptures. To have the funding and the venues to display and sell them. To travel and have lovers all over the world – oh, actually the last part is going to happen anyway – albeit with my music, heh-heh!

Anyway, yeah, it was really exciting the other day to think about the research I would need to do. I’d be in touch with artists and art schools and studios and foundations. I might meet some really cool people. And, incidentally, interviewing people is a great way to invite romance. Jackie Kennedy, Isabelle Allende, and Matisyahu’s wife all “got” their husbands by interviewing them for a story about their work. Still, I wouldn’t be doing it for that. I’d be doing it to get a realistic feel for what it’s really like to put on an exhibit – where one buys the supplies to display one’s work… How one mounts the work on walls – and what type of drill bit does one need for marble, for example? How wide a chisel for this or for that type of stone? It might be just as much or even more fun to research and to write about it as it would be to actually execute such projects.

To other benefits would be that I would really enjoy writing about the kind of life I would like to be having right now, from how my bedroom would be decorated (satin EVERYTHING and pretty expensive bottles of perfume on my dresser, plants and candles galore, incense, you know – the usual)…I could create circumstances regarding fulfillment, love, and finance, that would become “real” either during the writing or after publication of the book, as happened with bestselling “Good in Bed” and “In Her Shoes” author Jennifer Weiner. She was a journalist for The Philadelphia Inquirer when she started writing “Good in Bed”. The character in one of Jennifer’s books meets a famous actress, and in real life, Jennifer’s book became a movie starring Cameron Diaz, whom she got to meet.

I firmly believe you can create your future through your present thoughts. Why not put those thoughts into writing, music, or some other art form? Melissa Etheridge did this with a song while recovering from cancer. She wrote a song with the lyrics “I want to hear on the radio that I am well”, and that’s what happened. So I am pretty goshdarned sure that if I write about a black chyk artist character lugging her bag of tricks, tools, and toys on a plane to exhibit in Finland, or Norway, or Amsterdam, where there are at least three sensual men preparing their bedrooms to receive her, during the writing of this, or shortly thereafter, that, or something similar, will be happening to Moi! [By the way, I seem to have a memory of African American writer Gayl Jones publishing a novel about just such a thing – black girl in Paris or something similar. Correctify a.k.a. “correctate” me if I’m wrong.]

And this is what I am thinking about – these are the ideas I am having about art (and, apparently, romance).

b) I braided my own hair extensions! You may not think of this as visual art, but I’ve always thought of my braids and locs (the total of about 13 or 14 times I’ve worn them, collectively, around 6 or 7 times each) as art. I used to wrap my braids and locs with string and sometimes even sew jewelery and super tiny filled, real perfume bottles in them… This time I am super proud because I wanted to take responsibility for my own hair. One, I needed a serious hair makeover, and two, in dreaming about going to, or living someday in Europe, I knew I might not always be living places with black women who could braid my hair. Since I can always find or have shipped in, synthetic hair, I knew that braiding it myself would be the answer. So, after several weeks of procrastinating in fear that I wouldn’t be able to do it, or that it would be difficult, I finally got through the process of buying the hair (three separate colors: dark brown, dark auburn, and bright *ass blue!). Two weeks after I brought the hair, I mustered up the gumption to try to braid one in. How difficult could it be, I thought? I know how to braid – you take three strands – that’s it. How about using my own hair as one of the three strands? That’s what I did and the tester braid was quick and easy and proved my theory right. (Although I have much to thank to YouTube because that’s where I found posts of black women demonstrating how to braid extensions.)

A week after that, I lay the six bags of hair on my bed, set up the scissors, a comb, and all natural aloe vera juice, one mirror, and proceeded in two days and just under 16 hours, to make my hair the prettiest it has been in at least a decade. Not that short fros can’t be gorgeous, just that I wasn’t feeling gorgeous at the most recent time I was wearing the short fro. (I have rocked such fro’s in the past, though, when I have felt prettier! So don’t think I don’t loves me some afrage. Never let it be said!) Anyway, I posted a ridiculous amount of pictures of My New Plastic Hair on MySpace, but since you have to have an account to view them, I thought I’d also shamelessly post them on my primary website. Enjoy (and never let it be said)!

3) WHAT I’M READING, WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

~ I’m reading a most exciting thriller, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin 0486290735. I’ve been an admirer and identified with him since I was a little girl and I kept getting stuck in my mind that I couldn’t do all the things he did because he was a white guy and I was a black girl. Still, I wanted to write and make things just like he did. Great book.

~After ravishing again and again the Alice B. Toklas Cook Book I started craving her autobiography, codependently written, of course, not by her, but by her companion of 25 years, Gertrude Stein 39470133x. Toklas’s picture is not on the cover of the book, either, but Stein’s (taken by their friend Carl Van Vechten). In the moments that I can get beyond some of that, I enjoy tremendously reading of their many times and conversations with famous artists (who were not famous at the time) such as Matisse and Stein’s very good friend Picasso.

~Conversations with Paul Bowles 0878056505 is a big and handsome book I bought on sale over a decade ago (originally a hefty $28, I copped it for a wee $6.95). This was when I was in my late twenties and collecting books of artists I wanted to be like someday. Now in my late 30s, I realize it’s time to be the artist I wanted to be like, so some time ago I gave away all my “model artist” books (so I could start being and writing about being one). Still, I kept this one, and am glad I did, as Bowles was a genius and a vessel, who also was part of the Paris salon scene enjoyed and contributed to by Toklas, Stein et al. The main thing I dig, admire about and identify with about Paul Bowles is that he was both and equally a composer/musician as well as a well-respected novelist and poet. He lived totally in the present and said some things about security (or lack thereof) that really helped me get over my fear of not having a day job when I dared at my first stint working full-time as musician and writer in 2002.

~In addition to my own released and unreleased recordings, I am also enjoying a range of personal growth guided meditations and affirmations created by Orin and performed by Sanaya Roman. These, presently in audiocassette format, are:

Creating Money: Keys to Abundance

Creating Money: Releasing Doubts and Fear

Self-Love

I Am Loved, I Am Lovable

Public Recognition

Creating Your Perfect Day

(The Creating Your Perfect Day one was really helpful earlier this week and boosted my productivity and cheer several-fold, I think. I will listen to it more often… You can find these and more at www.orindaben.com)

~I don’t have any more copies (I gave them all away in the Lansdale PA-to-NYC move) of Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love CD (by Moi, Amethyste Rah) which I really really really wanted to listen to, because it’s in CD format and can play all night as I sleep… I will have to order a copy. Isn’t that silly?! At least I can get it wholesale! (And you can get ‘em retail at http://stores.lulu.com/cassEndrE !)

~Anything by Pastor Joel Osteen is incredibly inspiring. I ordered a series of CDs from his website and for a measly five bucks (they take whatever you want to donate), had some of the most motivational and fulfilling speeches mailed to Moi. Very highly recommended, regardless of your afiliaccione religiosancia.

*The number of times the word “ass” was used in this writing: 2.

**Dany Laferriere is the bestselling author of “How to Make Love to a Negro”, a hip smart novel about race relations, among other titles. He is Haitian and moved years ago to Canada. (To give you an idea of why I love being a Haitian artist and why I think I will be well received in Europe: in French, the original title was “How To Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired”. Right up Moi’s alley, non? Oui!

4) WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR MEIN (AQUARIAN) FROINDS

a) ON THE ROPES * Aerial Rope – October. To learn about this exciting exercise, dance, movement class by Kiebpoli Calnek, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/2523.

b) Photographic artist Corey Armpreister has a new show. Here’s the press release, which I wasn’t successful in uploading to the BWAF yahoo group: PRESS RELEASE- For immediate release. Exhibition preview. Smile Gallery, 105 South 22^nd Street Philadelphia PA 10103

215-564-2502 contact: Ken Titjamnong mattjr(at)fencobankeqipment.com

Pineal Gland

New photographs by Corey Armpriester

Friday reception December 12^th 5-8pm

Smile Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition of the new works “Pineal Gland” by Philadelphia based artist Corey Armpriester. The show runs from December 1-December 31, 2008.Corey will be present at the opening reception on December 12^th from 5-8pm

Photographic alchemy is the only way to describe this new strange brew of an exhibition. The artist is addressing everything from religious symbolism to the Food and Drug Administration to the New World Order and its connections to the legends and myths of the illuminati , the boule and the oto and that’s only the beginning. The masked figure sprinkled everywhere and on everything, commenting on issues of private identity, imposed controls and mental/physical restrictions. The work invites the viewer to explore her or his shadow self, without apologies on a psychological landscape of what can only be explained as thoughtful snap shots from the astral plane. Along side, the shadow people are interior portraits of prison cells in Eastern State Penitentiary a manifestation of where our minds may live, in a constant state of imprisoned Liberty .

This exhibition challenges the notions of good and evil by exploring and then ultimately denying both as strange and unusual constructs created to suppress human potential. Corey Armpriester is working mainly with black and white prints, which further the exhibitions surreal and other worldly quality done with an insightful and undeniably creepy grace.

[CX note: Corey could do the coolest things in the world, but I’ll always say that my favorite was when he had a radio show called “Furniture.” And of course, it had nothing to do with furniture.]

Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

~May you stay healthy, well, and young forever.

~May you be renewed in spirit and positivity daily.

~May your friends always be true and faithful.

~May you experience exquisite pleasure on a regular basis.

~May your path be clear and steady.

~May all of your best dreams and wishes come true, surpassing all your expectations (or something better), and may it be for the good of all.

Sincerely,

Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah

renaissance negresse

www.cassEndrExavier.com

Runner’s Log 9/3/08 – 9/13/08

2008-09-15T14:22:00.001-07:00

[I’ve changed the title of this series from “running log” to “runner’s log”, because I didn’t want it to be mistaken for a “running log of my life” meaning that the only thing “running” is the log, as in on-going, and also because I love calling and thinking of myself now as a “runner”, so this is a way to affirm, grow, and strengthen this exciting new part of my life, as it were. (If you will.)]

9/3/08

20 minute run (8:40pm-9pm). It’s better for me, I think, to go for a run right after work, which for me, ends at 2pm. That is, until I have a job that starts after 8am, then in that case, I will go running first thing in the morning, before work.

9/10/08 [I didn’t run in the last week, but I did do 1.5 hours of aerobic yoga, and 20 minutes of aerobic exercise.]

20 minutes running time. Stretched for 10 minutes first this time. Discovered the magic formula of wearing three bras – this I need to do until I get a super high quality vice-like-grip of a sports bra to protect my bodacious ta-tas from extreme bounce-age.

It was nice and cool this night. I appreciate sweating in cool weather.

Another sexy thing happened on my run tonight. I was laughing, feeling good and sexy and saying to myself, “I’m a runner! I’m a runner!” when I happened upon a store called “Super Runner’s Shop”. It was closed, but there was a fellow at the register. I noticed there was a tiny space in the front door, and I spoke to him through it, “Hi, would you be willing to slip a brochure or business card through the slot for me?” And he was. www.superrunnersshop.com.

Lots of runners out tonight. Nary a one of them was black, though. Slightly disturbing.

I gotta get new running shoes. The left one feels like it’s a flat tire.

I laughed a lot tonight, like after an orgasm. In fact, I’ve decided that laughter is an orgasm, is exercise. I breathe good and hard when I run – I make sure it comes from my gut – my diaphragm. I remember that there are toxins that we can only expel through our breathing when we exercise, and I make the most of that.

I want to go running with Gary Null in Central Park soon. It’s on my list of things to do before the New Year is out. Meaning, it was one of my New Year’s Resolutions. I want him to show me what I’m doing wrong, if anything.

9/13/08

7-7:45pm. 20 minutes total running time. Went 3 blocks further than last time, but ran less because I didn’t have the energy or something. Maybe it’s not a good idea to wake up from a nap to go running. It was cool out – I enjoyed that – but dark, which also did not motivate me. I think it’s better for me to go running in the daylight. As usual, I enjoyed seeing the many attractive men and women running. I notice what the women are wearing, to gain inspiration and ideas for my future running gear. I feel proud to count myself among these runners. Thrilled to be out when they’re out, doing the same thing they’re doing. I still haven’t seen a(nother) black woman running.

Worked up a good sweat, and that, plus breathing out toxins and building my endurance, along with just getting regular aerobic exercise, is all that matters. Hot damn, I’m a runner!

Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys the craft of acting, and making visual art, this first generation American of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer. As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 7 albums of music Borders described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Steven M. Wilson). Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper). Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring the music of Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word/guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”. Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets and lies: poetry & other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist”. She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present). She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change. Now reinventing herself as a musician and writer in her native city of New York, Cassendre practices an active, raw vegan lifestyle, braiding her own hair extensions, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible. Visit often at www.cassEndrExavier.com.

Dreamlogue & Interpretaccione: Yoko Ono & Brad Pitt's Art Class

2008-09-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

YOKO ONO & BRAD PITT’S ART CLASS

I walk into a bright, daytime, natural light-filled art class. A frumpy-looking Asian woman with inch-long white roots in her earlobe-length hair is a guest speaker. Although she looks far different than her media appearances, I realize, partly from the distinctive shape of her lips, that she is Yoko Ono. On a white screen in the middle of the class room is a huge potted plant – an evergreen tree. It is braced by metal to the screen and an orange colored paint is dripping from the bottom of the plant intentionally. Yoko’s making a statement again and she explains this statement to the students, of which, for various reasons, I am not one. I am standing at the front of the classroom, watching as a co-guest, friend, peer, and frustrated visual artist. Watching Yoko’s process and sharing I am hit with the decades-long knowledge that I don’t want to be an art student, but I desperately want to be a conceptual artist. I want to take objects, manipulate and display them as my means of communicating feelings and concepts my music and writing can’t, or have not yet conveyed. I am filled with longing and by the time Brad Pitt comes to lead the class after Yoko’s leaving, I am ready to burst with tears of frustration.

I pray and plead to the Universe, “I want to make the kind of music I want, write about my life, and make visual art. How do I do that successfully?” I received an answer from within, from my highest self, from the God I am a part of, from the Universe, from Wisdom. “Make music, write, and make visual art NOW. That is how you will create the resources that will support those actions – by the doing, not the dreaming alone, and certainly not by the longing alone.” I already have the answer by the time Brad is willing to see me privately so that I can ask his guidance and support as well.

I go to him with my army duffel bag stuffed and heavy. As I approach, he can see the sadness in my eyes and his eyes soften in response. By the time I reach him, and put my “burden” (of a bag) down, it’s taking all my energy just to keep the sobbing at bay. I ask him, “How can I be a successful musician, writer, and artist?” Then, as I wait for his answer, I awaken and it never comes because it is already within me. The answer is faith, persistence, courage, hope. The answer is the art work itself. The answer is for me to feel successful right now.

ADDITIONAL INTERPRETACCIONE

Yoko Ono is a successful multi-media artist whom I have admired and respected a lot since my discovery of her in my early teens. She, like myself, is an Aquarian – years ahead of her time, quirky, innovative. Her hair is a projection of how someone’s appearance can affect their image – after my recent transformational experience of frump hair to glamorous hair.

Brad Pitt is one of the most competitive artists around, but that’s not what I admire about him (although that probably has much to do with his level of success). He’s very intelligent and has an ease in his body and with children that I am working on in my life. All these things make him a better actor (or did becoming a good actor make him a better athlete, better with children?), in the same way that my running is improving my instrument/vehicle, for my music, my writing, my art.

The significance of my being on the side of the classroom, as a peer and not a student, goes back to when my boyfriend took me and his other girlfriend to see Rage Against the Machine. He was friends with the band and we sat in the tour bus hanging out with the sound guy, Brian for two hours before the show, missing both opening acts (the Spectrum, Philly). When we finally went to the show, after drinks and conversation on the tour bus, we sat, not in the audience, but on the stage itself, at the side.

In this dream, I am not a student, but not on the level of Yoko nor Brad either, I am something in between, a guest. If I were on their level, I would not feel the frustration of wanting to do what they were doing, nor would I be asking Brad his advice for how to become successful as an artist.

This dream taught me that I can look to artists for inspiration, and as examples, and models of who and what I’d like to become and accomplish, but I choose not to look to them as teachers nor for The Big Answers to my Big Artistic Question.

This dream is showing me that the best answers to my questions come from within. I need to all ways look within. Through prayer, meditation, and through the doing of my art/work. For example, in the past the answers to my questions about music have often come from being in a sacred zone space of singing and chanting with my guitar, for example. God and the work.

Significance of the duffel bag: The bag represents my pre-successsful state (of mind). I carry this bag on solo travel or subway gigs. It holds my clothes and CDs – things I would (will) not need to carry if (when) I had (have) a full band, crew, tour bus, etc. I look forward to the time when all I will need to carry is myself and one knapsack with laptop to blog to my fans from the road. Cute guys will carry everything else so help me god.

The bag also represents my thoughts which were holding me down like a burden. There’s no reason I can’t feel successful now, even if I have not yet reached all of my professional goals. In fact, feeling successful will assist me in accomplishing them more quickly.

For previous Dreamlogues & Interpretaccione, please visit www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassEndrExavier. Oh, and iff’n you like “Dreamlogue & Interpretaccione”, you’ll love “One Lucky Girl” and “Green Smoothie Raw” blogs, all viewable at www.myspace.com/cassendrexavier or www.cassendre.livejournal.com. Of course, there’s “ME! ME! ME! The Cassendre Xavier Newsletter” (which no one really should be without), also available at the aforementioned.