Diary of a renaissance negresse - 17 July 2014 Part 1 of 3

Diary of a renaissance negresse - 17 July 2014 - Part 2 of 3

Diary of a renaissance negresse - 17 July 2014 - Part 3 of 3

Me! Me! Me! “Things I Wish I Knew at 13” ediccione

Me! Me! Me! A Cassendre Xavier Museletter The “Things I Wish I Knew at 13” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.) Monday, October 29, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1) GREETING 2) HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP 3) HERE’S WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED 4) NEXT MONTH’S WISDOM MAGAZINE ARTICLE 5) THE CASSENDRE XAVIER MUSIC GALLERY 6) I AM NOT IN THE CLOSET 7) MY CURRENT COMFORTS & INSPIRATIONS 8) FAREWELL BLESSING CONTENTS OF TABLE 1) GREETING I trust you are well! I hope you’re doing alright in the Hurricane Sandy situation. My best with you all. 2) HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP Thursday, November 15 at 9pm I return to the Tea Lounge (no cover), this time with two friends in music: Rupert Wates and Kathy Keough. Address: 837 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY (718) 789-2762 www.tealoungeny.com ABOUT RUPERT WATES [Oh, and two little things the bio doesn’t mention is that Rupert and I share the same Aquarian birthday, and I sing track 6 “Snow in New York” on his acclaimed album Joe’s Café. Never let it be said! ~CX] Rupert Wates was born in London. He has been a full-time songwriter since 1992 when he signed an exclusive deal with Eaton Music Publishing. He has written songs in all kinds of styles for all kinds of artists. During the 1990s he worked with jazz singer Liz Fletcher, recording the albums ‘Mellowmania’ and ‘Live in the Park,’ both released on the Sanctuary label, and ‘Blue Afternoons’ on Mainstem. Moving to Paris in 2001, he developed his skills as a singer and performer and formed his own group. In 2005 he recorded the album ‘Sweet or Bitter Wine,’ his first as a solo artist. The album was released on the Mainstem label in autumn 2005. Since September 2006, Rupert has been based in the USA. His music has found a warm reception in America. Between 2007 and 2011, he has won over 25 songwriting awards. Wates plays between 120 and 150 live shows a year, and he has performed in every state in America. His five solo discs have gained outstanding reviews and continue to be aired on college and mainstream radio all over the world. In 2010 Wates released ‘Joe’s Café,” an album of 15 original songs based on true stories, each interpreted by a different vocalist, retelling the stories of ordinary American people. Through them we trace the story of America itself: through two world wars, the Dust Bowl depression, Vietnam and the struggle for Civil Rights, all the way to the present day. Recorded live in the studio in a single weekend, the album's warm sound evokes the welcoming atmosphere of an all-night café, where friends gather to share their stories. Featured virtuoso musicians on the recording include Darol Anger on violin and Michael Manring on bass. ‘Joe’s Café’ has been presented very successfully at the Fringe Festivals throughout North America including Hamilton (Ontario), Kansas City, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Victoria (British Columbia) and San Francisco, and in other venues from New York City to the Southeastern United States. The show won Best Music Revue in the San Francisco Fringe Festival. Audiences everywhere respond to Rupert Wates' brand of melodic art/folk—haunting songs that ring true. Visit http://rupertwates.com ABOUT PATTY KEOUGH Boston-based Patty Keough grew up in Hudson, Massachusetts, a blue-collar New England town. Keough worked in the corporate world for years before deciding to focus full time on songwriting and performing. Now, one of the hardest working indies in the business, Keough has created a portfolio of original music and stage skills that delight audiences of all ages. Visit http://pattykeough.com 3) HERE’S WHAT ALREADY HAPPENED From the Blog Talk Radio show "It's All About You" page: Things I Wish I Knew at 13: Cassendre Xavier No doubt you have heard the expression, "If only I knew then what I know now..." Well, join us today as we talk with mult-media healing artist Cassendre Xavier. Dedicated to the healing of the planet and the people on it, Cassendre has been making art and community since 1991. She shares with our listeners her amazing story of growth. From the concepts of sin and hell (or lack thereof) to the importance of releasing guilt and the radical self-acceptance of one's entire being, including sexuality, spirituality, and things we don't like about ourselves… To listen to, and enjoy a picture slideshow from this archived show, please visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itsallaboutyou/2012/09/24/things-i-wish-i-knew-at-13-cassendre-xavier-1 or http://tinyurl.com/8tsx4q6. I wrote an article about it, like to read it, here it go! “Things I Wish I Knew at 13,” a Wisdom Magazine article published on September 1, 2012 by Cassendre Xavier http://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/2850 or http://tinyurl.com/CXWisdomAt13 4) NEXT MONTH’S WISDOM MAGAZINE ARTICLE My new article called “We All Have Privilege” will be published on November 1. To read it, wait three (3) days, then go to http://wisdom-magazine.com/Articles.aspx and click on “The Mind”. It’s just that simple! (To read all my archived articles at Wisdom Magazine (some of which I shamelessly list below, visit http://tinyurl.com/CXWisdom.) Reframing Rejection: Don't Take It Personally (September 2012) Love Yourself Enough (October 2011) Gifts of Suffering (July 2011) Soulmate Attraction for the Rest of Us (June 2011) This Is What A Millionaire Looks Like (April 2011) Jealousy & Envy: 7 Ways to Heal and Grow (October 2010) Don't Save the Best for Last (September 2010) Start Where You Are - A Call to Healing Artists (August 2010) What Is Your Body For? (August 2010) Your Soul & Emotions Know Your Worth (July 2010) How Quickly Do You Accept Abundance? (June 2010) How To Be Beautiful: Show Others Their Beauty (May 2010) Self-Love Tip: Make A Contribution to the Universe (April 2010) Your Are Special & Unique (March 2010) Expecting the Universe's Elevator (December 2009) Beware the Black Woman and Her Suitcase (November 2009) Now is the Time to Feel Good (July 2009) Refusing to be Lonely at the Leading Edge of Thought (June 2009) 5) THE CASSENDRE XAVIER MUSIC GALLERY My musical albums (CD/MP3s) are available for sale online here: http://tinyurl.com/CXCDBaby (Source: http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/cassendrexavier). I shamelessly list most of them below: Capable of Love http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc8 Live at Tin Angel http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc7 live at the kraftbrau, kalamazoo http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc6 The Cassendre Xavier Collection, Vol. 1 http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc5 Live at Café Improv http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc3 Beautiful http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc The Whittenberg Sessions http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/xavierc2 6) I AM NOT IN THE CLOSET What is in my closet is boxes of CDs which are available to order directly from me. Currently in stock is: Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality. Guided Meditations by Amethyste Rah (that’s Moi), with Music of Light by Thaddeus. On sale now for $15 each, post-paid. Send check or money order payable to: Cassendre Xavier, PO Box 30204, Philadelphia, PA 19103-8204, or go to www.Paypal.com, click “Send To” cxmusic[AT]gmail.com. Please allow cute stickers and up to 2 weeks for shipping and pozvibetry. Oh, and if you’d like to see what they look like, click here but don’t trust any of those links as they are among the many things of my List of Things To Repairify (aka “Repairicate”). A wee back story on why a singer-songwriter’s making guided meditations for survivors. I’m a survivor myself and I founded and co-facilitated Sisters Healing Together: a peer support group for women survivors of incest with a special focus on compulsive overeating in the late 1990s at the William Way LGBT Community Center of Philadelphia. I also wrote and performed, with 4 other cast members (Monica McIntyre as “Emotions”, Jodi Netzer as “Body”, O as “Wisdom”, and Samantha Barrow), “Sex for Survivors” which ran for 3 days as part of the Philly Fringe Festival 2003. I’ve been writing and performing healing pop and affirmation songs since 1990, releasing recordings since 2002, and writing and publishing self-help, spiritual, and personal growth articles since the early 1990s. I also have been enjoying and receiving from the writing of Sanaya Roman and the music of Thaddeus since the early 1990s as well. In addition to blending my personal experience of trauma with my creativity as a multi-media artist and producer, I also am a continuing student and teacher/writer of alternative and spiritual healing. In 2008 I was certified as a practitioner of Reiki by Dr. G. Love of New Orleans, who was at the time living in New York, as I was then (I returned to Philadelphia in 2009). And I became a legally ordained Interfaith Minister through the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California on September 19, 2010. Offering inspiration, hope, motivation, and information/enlightenment through my art/work, and therefore, life, is one of my greatest joys. It is my hope and intention that my work assists you on your path somehow! 7) MY CURRENT COMFORTS & INSPIRATIONS …happen most often in my bed these days. I’m talking about books, of course! What I’m reading, sometimes clutching onto for dear life: 1) Literature from my recovery program for my compulsive overeating. 2) Wise Woman’s Herbal: Healing Wise, by Susun S. Weed 3) Nature’s Prozac, by Robin Sachs 4) Chakra Clearing (listening to the CD of morning and evening guided meditations included in the book), by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D. Time to vamoose, but as we know, it wouldn’t be a Cassendre Xavier Me! Me! Me! without a… 8) FAREWELL BLESSING May your heart know peace as often as possible. May you feel joy at unexpected moments. May you remember to B-R-E-A-T-H-E. May you feel pleasure and ecstasy often, and return it likewise. May you be surrounded by an inner-self community of loved ones in love for and with yourself, and may this abundant overspill of self-love outpour to others. In art and community, Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls) Maker of things. Taker of naps. http://www.cassendrexavier.com © Copyright 2012 Me! Me! Me! A Cassendre Xavier Museletter by Cassendre Xavier. All rightzen reservanitzkhen. Never let it be said!

Things I Wish I Knew at 13: Blog Talk Radio Interview

From the Blog Talk Radio show "It's All About You" page: Things I Wish I Knew at 13: Cassendre Xavier No doubt you have heard the expression, "If only I knew then what I know now..." Well, join us today as we talk with mult-media healing artist Cassendre Xavier. Dedicated to the healing of the planet and the people on it, Cassendre has been making art and community since 1991. She shares with our listeners her amazing story of growth. From the concepts of sin and hell (or lack thereof) to the importance of releasing guilt and the radical self-acceptance of one's entire being, including sexuality, spirituality, and things we don't like about ourselves. To learn more about Cassendre Xavier please visit www.cassEndrExavier.com To listen to, and enjoy a picture slideshow from this archived show, please visit http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itsallaboutyou/2012/09/24/things-i-wish-i-knew-at-13-cassendre-xavier-1 or http://tinyurl.com/8tsx4q6. -- Make yourself a beautiful day! Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls) renaissance negresse & ARTrepreneur (musician/writer/actress/fine artist) Founder & Director of the 8th Annual Black Women's Arts Festival, and the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series Website: http://www.cassEndrExavier.com

Me! Me! Me! CX Museletter “Scratch Startage (aka Startery)” ediccione

Me! Me! Me! A Cassendre Xavier Museletter The “Scratch Startage (aka Startery)” ediccione, if you will. (As it were.) Tuesday, September 4, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1) WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER? 2) GREETING 3) UPCOMING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKINGS (AKA “SPEAKERY”) 4) STARTING FROM SCRATCHERY UNITS 5) AGE BEFORE BEAUTIFICATIONAL PORPOISES 6) BLACK WOMEN'S ARTS FESTIVAL NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 7) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE MUSELETTER/CATALOG – SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 8) AMRITA WATERFALLS – WITH PLEASURE MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 3. 2012 9) FAREWELL BLESSING ------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS OF TABLE 1) WHO IS CASSENDRE XAVIER? Cassendre Xavier coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002 to describe her work as a musician, mult-genre writer and community cultural arts organizer. A 1st-generation American-born citizen of Haitian & Chinese heritage, she is a Brooklyn, NY native who has made Philadelphia her home since 1990. Her 6 independently-released albums are described as "a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade & 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 (Est. 2002) as well as Philadelphia's Annual Black Women's Arts Festival (Est. 2003), Cassendre is a recipient of a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award for her work in art and social change. For more information, please visit http://cassEndrExavier.com. 2) GREETING Well, helloooooo, m’wee pupperlings, how are ya? Yo soy muy allegra to be here today, writing to you as brings joyal units to mine heartal reggione, if you will. (As it were.) Why is it I wait sooooo long (in this case, many months, I believe, yes?) to write this partickler muselettohr? Why do we let joyous moments be so few and far between in our lives? Is it because we’re so used to struggle and strain that we’re out of the habit of pure and continued enjoyificaccione? Methinks that is the case with Moi. Because, every single time I sit down to write this thing, within mere minituals, I am filled mit zie glee. But do I schedule to do it again in, say, 4 weeks? Nein. So you know what I’m gonna do now? I’m gonna schedule it. Hold on, wait a second… let’s get the datebook… Be right back… Okay, I’ve done it! Scheduled to write another Me! Me! Me! in 4 weeks or less. Dear lawd, gimme the strengf to do it! Okay, now, let’s see, what have I been upta… What can I be a sharin’ with you fine folkseses? Hmmmm…. Well, let’s start with were you can see or hear me live. Please note some new dates have been added since my recent email to you fine folkseses. And, sadly, I’ve chosen to cancel my performance with my friend Rupert Wates this Friday 9/7 at Crossroads Coffeehouse on accounta my Main Squeeze suddenly surprised me with a weekend getaway in the country! We met at the 7th Annual Poly Living Conference this past February (that’s the link to the 8th Annual, also in Philadelphia, February 8th – 10th, 2013), and he’s taking me to the 26th Annual Polyamory Retreat in NY. Yo soy muy looking forward to it! (Please do go to Rupert’s show anyway if you’re in town. You’ll be so glad you did!) 3) UPCOMING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKINGS (AKA “SPEAKERY”) Tuesday, Sept 11, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Guest artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Monday, Sept 24, 2012 6pm Guest on the Blog Talk Radio show "It's All About You" Hosted by Darien K. Marshall and Darius L. Jones. I'll be talking about "Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 13" from the concepts of sin and hell (or lack thereof) to the importance of guilt-release and the radical acceptance of one's entire being, including sexuality, spirituality, and things we don't like about ourselves (the shadow, etc.). www.blogtalkradio.com/itsallaboutyou ============================= Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Featured artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 9pm No Cover Cassendre Xavier with special guest Patty Keough from Boston, MA Tea Lounge 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY (718) 789-2762 4) STARTING FROM SCRATCHERY UNITS It’s time for me to go back to the drawing board as an artist. Even though I’ve been at it since I moved to Philadelphia in 1991, and I’ve done some stuff that fills a bio and makes me “look good on paper,” heh-heh, I have come to a fork in the road, and, as Yogi Bera said, I’m gonna take it. What does that mean? That means not engaging in any laurel-restage (aka “laurel-restery”). It means teaching myself to be in the habit of discipline as an artist and it mostly means getting back to the joy, the bliss that I started Joseph Campbelling (he said “Follow your bliss” and now it’s on one third of all the bumper stickers in the world) in my late teens and seem to have stopped somewhere around my mid-to-late 30s (I’m a youthful and vibrant 43, by the way). Time to get back to following my bliss, not just doing art that will make a living for me, and not just focusing on survival at the cost of my art. For the last several years I have made very little art, because I’ve been doing a little thing I like to call, “Keeping a roof over my head.” Can you relate? But no more. Time to follow my bliss again. And getting used to this idea has led me repeatedly back to one place: my youthery areas. As in my days of youngerness.As in, before people started calling me “m’am.” As in, before I started considering dying my pubes. (What? Too much? :-) 5) AGE BEFORE BEAUTIFICATIONAL PORPOISES I’m not your typical 43-year old. Having begun the raw vegan path in 2005, and thankfully having young-ass-lookin’ relatives and ancestory, types, I don’t really look it. I flood my innards with living, plant-based objectories on a regular basis, I have a rockin’ sex life (oh yeah, I said it), I have rarely used foundation in my life (something I think significantly adds to the aging process of a chyk’s facery unit), so I kinda feel and project I’m more like 26. However, I’m not 26. Now, folks in their 20s look like “kids” to me. And since I prefer to date men who are usually about 10 years older than my actual age, sometimes things happen that remind me that I’m not 26. For instance, at dinner the other day, my Main Squeeze and I were dining with two strangers (communally-seated restaurant) and one of them asked him, “Do you still work?” As in was he retired. He’s only 54! Anyway, I’m not in my 20s and sometimes I see that. A friend of mine who is his early 40s and also in the performing arts world (dancer and choreographer) said he noticed a difference, too. He said that when he was in his 20s, people would applaud and encourage him a lot more. Now, folks just kind of shrug in a “ho hum,” nothin’ new here, kind of way. Which sucks, because he’s still a working artist and his expenses haven’t changed. When I heard that, it made me think back to my days as a newbie performer. People do encourage you more when you’re younger. I’ve also noticed that when I go out for certain jobs, such as barista, for example, I find I’m passed over for younger folks, even though I’ve worked as a barista four times, at two places, meaning I went back to work at both places. I need to find a new niche for myself. And that will come through my work, not through direct efforts at designing a path or plan for myself. Perhaps someday or even sometime soon I will know more what to do and maybe I will be able to design a path or plan for myself, but right now I am so starting at the beginning. I used to tell friends that as a late bloomer in many ways I’m really lucky. I have the best of both worlds. In the dating world, I have the benefit of knowledge about STIs (sexually transmitted infections, formerly known as STDs – sexually transmitted diseases), how to avoid date rape, and sophisticated communication skills, self-love, etc. But because I was so inexperienced in some ways, I still get to have the same butterflies in the stomach type of excitement I had as an adolescent and teenager. I’m expecting it to be the same with my art career. I have done some things. I have a decent looking bio. But I haven’t released an album in 3 years. I haven’t self-published or submitted my writing to a publisher in even more years. I haven’t auditioned as an actress in even more years than that, and I don’t even remember the last time I picked up a paintbrush, smelled paint fumes, felt my fingertips stroke across a blank canvass, get chalky with coal or dig into some clay. It’s time to play again, and one of the things that will inspire me is reading a lot about late bloomers like me, and thinking about classic late bloomer successes, such as that of Rodney Dangerfield. One of the greatest comics of all time, having inspired others such as Chris Rock, who names him as his number 1 comedic hero, Rodney was a late bloomer. He was married and selling door to door while in his so-called middle age and doing comedy on the side. One day he decided to change his look. He started wearing suits on-stage, and the rest, as they say, is history. Changing my look is one thing I know I want to do. I’ve been afraid to, but guess what, life has gotten, umm, how you say, “challenging” enough for me to make some major changes. So I’m not going to promise when or how but you are probably going to start seeing a newly self-expressed Moi at some point. I’m going back to my younger self to remind me of why I got on this road to begin with. At age four I was writing love letters in cursive to a grown-ass man. In Haiti, kids start school as soon as they can talk, so I started reading and writing at age three. The deud was a friend of the family and I assure you there was nothing creepy going on. He was just foin (blackspeak for “fine”) and I gently cradled a massive crush on him until my teens. From around age nine I started writing poetry. Around 15 I took journalism in high school and wrote for the school paper. I remember writing about music and George Michael, a major crush of mine at the time. At twenty-one I started submitting my writing to magazines and anthologies, mostly LGBT and/or feminist, spiritual, humorous. Basically, I’ve been writing since I could breathe. It’s a way of life for me. As is music. I want to get back to that. Making art my way of life. How can it not support me then? Even if it doesn’t, I must do it, because as with the color of my skin or the sound of my voice or the way I like sauce with rice, it is who I am, and if I don’t express who I am, I will suffer and limit the joy life has in store for me. Going back to my youth to remember my joy is the key. 6) BLACK WOMEN'S ARTS FESTIVAL NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 Sometimes when people ask me if I have any children, I say that I don’t have any human children or animal pets, but I do have the Black Women’s Arts Festival, which I’ve considered to be my child since around 2004 when it started losing me some hair. Yep. Something about a bald patch on your head said to me, “Mama.” If you care to read the latest on my baby, go ahead ‘n clicketh here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/4474 or http://tinyurl.com/9q4qf45. 7) RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE MUSELETTER/CATALOG – SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 I do a lot of stuff. I make albums of music, guided meditations, YouTube posts of raw vegan food prep, humor, singing, I also write and publish and I’m probably forgetting something. This is a place to see it all in its magnificent, not-making-me-much-money-right-now-but-someday-that-will-all-change-dammit! splendor: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassendrexavier/message/302 or http://tinyurl.com/8coha5d 8) AMRITA WATERFALLS – WITH PLEASURE MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 3. 2012 I like the sex. Do you like the sex? Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m coming out of the closet as a persun who likes the sex and talks about it. There are things I want to say goshdarnit. I have me some opiniones. Gots me some theorational items I’m workin’ on. And yes, I’m a testin’ them there theories. I won’t say that I’m testing them all over the place, but I will say I’m not home that often, iffn’ you gets my drift. I have a theory, for example, that my creative output ought to be linked to my sexual experiences. I have a theory that my bank balance directly reflects my public communications about my sex life. I have a theory, for example, that as I begin to speak my truth about love, sex, pleasure, and overall health, wellness, and creativity, my financial situation will bloom and grown and strong. Strong as the kind of orgasm we all enjoy. And I oughtn’t say “all.” Some of us are asexual. I have a friend who is. But most of us want it. We want it good, we want it hard, we want it gentle, and we want it as often as we can get it. That’s part of why I decided to be here on this planet this time around, to enjoy life in this capacity and share my journey. I had a particularly curly path as an incest/child sexual abuse survivor (NOT the guy I had a crush on when I was four, okay, people! Sheesh!), so I really had to, or rather chose to, reclaim my sexuality and re-learn pleasure. I like to share the tricks of the trade. And the post-abuse traumas were serious. I had PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and vaginismus (where any kind of penetration was excruciating). I wrote an article about how to get through pelvic exams. This isn’t the typical, “how to get your man hot in bed” type of writing I do here. I also grew up a queer pagan black girl in a homophobic, religiously oppressive, white supremacist environment. I had to learn to love and accept myself in those areas as well. I grew up chubby. Hadda to, or rather, chose to learn skills to love and accept that too. And folks, I had a flat but. A tiny hiney, folks. As a black chyk. That was rough. So, I’ve become a woman who created her own religion, is happy in her body, accepts her black woman’s ass, and released almost all major feelings of guilt, shame, and physical discomfort in the sexual arena. I believe there is value in my experience, and that some folks out there could benefit from hearing its message. Plus, I just like to promote joy and what’s more joyous than great sex and healthy relationships? Lastly, I enjoy telling folks about sex-positive related books, authors, events (such as the Poly Living Conference and Polyamory Retreat I mentioned in my Greeting), and other resources. You can learn more about these things in my museletter “With Pleasure” which I write under my sexy-pseudonym “Amrita Waterfalls”. You can read the latest issue, dated September 3, 2012, here: http://amritawaterfalls.blogspot.com/2012/09/amrita-waterfalls-with-pleasure.html or http://tinyurl.com/d5utpjx To subscribe to the “Amrita Waterfalls - With Pleasure” museletter, visit http://amritawaterfalls.blogspot.com 9) FAREWELL BLESSING Do it. Do it. Do it till you’re satisfied…whatever it is. (Yes, those are the lyrics from a pop song, but, as with “Don’t worry, be happy,” there is true wisdom in it, n’est pas?) Thank you again for being here. I appreciate your time and interest in my art/work, and therefore, life. In art and community, Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls) renaissance negresse (musician,writer,actress,fine artist) & ARTrepreneur (Founder & Director of Philadelphia’s 8th Annual Black Women’s Arts Festival) http://cassEndrExavier.com Number of times the word “ass” was used in this issue: 3. Thank you. Thank you, very much. It took some doin’, but I made it through. (It’s not easy working that word into casual museletter-writin’!) Number and types of languages completely bastardized in this issue: 6 (American-Southern, Ebonics, French, German, Italian, and Spanish). To read archives of this and other CX museletters please visit http://cassEndrExavier.com. Never let it be said! If you enjoyed this museletter, you may enjoy more new writing by Cassendre (aka Amrita): FREE! New article on Wisdom Magazine’s online edition: Reframing Rejection http://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/2814 FREE! Archived Wisdom Magazine articles by Cassendre: http://tinyurl.com/cxwisdom ========================== Me! Me! Me! CX Museletter © Copyright 2012 by Cassendre Xavier. All rightsen reservenitzkhen. http://cassEndrExavier.com

renaissance negresse museletter/catalog September 02, 2012

art | inspiration | community brought to you by Cassendre Xavier Sunday, September 02, 2012 1) WHO IS THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE? 2) UPCOMING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKINGS (AKA “SPEAKERY”) 3) BLACK WOMEN'S ARTS FESTIVAL 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 healing 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, and is also an ordained interfaith minister) 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), as well as several peer support groups related to personal growth, creativity, healing, and recovery. She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has been living creatively and joyfully 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) UPCOMING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKINGS (AKA “SPEAKERY”) Monday, Sept 11, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Guest artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Monday, Sept 24, 2012 6pm Guest on the Blog Talk Radio show "It's All About You" Hosted by Darien K. Marshall and Darius L. Jones. I'll be talking about "Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 13" from the concepts of sin and hell (or lack thereof) to the importance of guilt-release and the radical acceptance of one's entire being, including sexuality, spirituality, and things we don't like about ourselves (the shadow, etc.). www.blogtalkradio.com/itsallaboutyou ============================= Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Featured artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 9pm No Cover Cassendre Xavier with special guest Patty Keough from Boston, MA Tea Lounge 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY (718) 789-2762 3) BLACK WOMEN'S ARTS FESTIVAL UPDATE For the latest news about the Black Women's Arts Festival, including our current temporary hiatus (we’re still archiving and planning future Black Women’s Arts Festivals), plans to produce the Festival outside of Philadelphia, and how to donate to our on-going efforts, please read the latest BWAF newsletter dated 02 September 2012 at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAFphilly/message/4474 or http://tinyurl.com/9q4qf45. 4) WRITING/LITERARY UPDATE After a year off, Cassendre has just returned to writing her monthly column for Wisdom Magazine's online edition. The first of this new cycle is an article called “Reframing Rejection”, which appears in the Sepember 2012 issue at http://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/2814/ or http://tinyurl.com/9goz3lu. You can read archives of Cassendre's Wisdom Magazine articles 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 Source: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/cassendrexavier/message/302 or http://tinyurl.com/8coha5d

Upcoming Shows (Phila/NY)

Dear Friends, I have just added a few performance dates to my calendar. I hope you will be able to join us at one or more of them! -- Make yourself a beautiful day! Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, aka Amrita Waterfalls) renaissance negresse & ARTrepreneur (musician/writer/actress/fine artist) Founder & Director of the 8th Annual Black Women's Arts Festival, and the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series Official website: http://www.cassEndrExavier.com Monday, Sept 11, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Guest artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012 10pm - No Cover - 21+ w/ID Featured artist at The Magic Hour hosted by John Francis Fergie's Pub 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 928-8118 ============================= Thursday, Nov 15, 2012 9pm No Cover Cassendre Xavier and Friends (Boston's Patty Keough and TBA) Tea Lounge 837 Union Street Brooklyn, NY (718) 789-2762

renaissance negresse museletter/catalog February 7, 2012

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