Random Musings Under the Big Top

When I read anything, I always have at least a pencil at the ready in case I need to underline something or write that excerpt in my journal. Usually I do both so that the words have twice the opportunity to seep into my skin, and I try to have multicolor pens close by in case the words make me passionate for purple, red, green, or rainbow. I often read and reread the words in an effort to fully realize their significance in the "you-niverse" and I find inspiration in the way that they unite all of the yous who have ever read them. Maybe I should share some of the excerpts that I have been juggling recently under the big top in my brain.

These are a few quotes from a book that one of my litmaggers let me borrow. (Don’t worry dear Uzbek, I wrote my thoughts in my journal and not In the Margins.) These are Inga Musico’s musings from her book, Cunt; an uncomfortably titled book book that empowers the sacred feminine (body and soul) in a very comfortable manner, but that also talks politics, art, and community. Her book brings together many voices from all over the globe, no matter gender, race, or creed:

On getting to be you:

“In Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke says, ‘The highest form of love is to be the protector of another person’s solitude.’ That’s what I want. For other people to love each other without having to partake in them, to possess them, to allow them to be their own inside their solitude, to protect that. I wish people respected each other’s aloneness” (Kristen Kosmas, from Cunt 153).

On women, art, and the patriarchal society:

“Art imitates life as life imitates art. Art and community are whirling dervishes unto one another. Takes two to tango. It doesn’t matter which one causes and affects the other, or when, or why, or how. This came first: the chicken or the egg.

“There is, of course, a huge problem here.

“Throughout the history of Western civilization – and by this term, I mean the destructive, competitive, capitalist, patriarchal, filthy rich, white male social system which threatens to consume every other culture on the planet – what is considered “art” has been presented by and for far less than half of the human community: the white, male portion…

“The difficulty in locating art made by women artists compared with the impossibility of avoiding art work created by men reflects how women live in this culture.

“It is the absolute normal reality…

“And it hurts us.
Ouch.
Every day” (Musico 201-206).

On "Mapping out a Belief System":

"The first thing you need in order to protect yourself is a womanifesto. My friend Panacea turned me on to the importance of womanifestos when she said, 'I like them because they tell me what I think.' Defining and articulating your beliefs serves you in any context...

"A womanifesto does not have to be written. It can be a song, dance, painting, or whatever medium stirs passion in your heart" (Musico 177).

Inga Musico's is called, "The Womanifesto for the Categorical New Freedom Lady." I'm starting to write my own... something to do with being the high flying, winged moth - both colorful and communal, I think.