Book Report

I laid down on my couch like a fallen tree, gripping the sides of the book in my hand. I was wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket and my eyes were swollen and tired from crying. I opened to page 288 and began to read about the true story of Eve.

I was heartbroken, hating men, and convinced again of their terrible ignorant ways. But as I read about the “Mother of All Living” my hate began to fade away. Nothing was more satisfying than reading about how woman created man at time when I felt so high above the dirty ways of men (this is not a constant belief of mine, only a temporary result of heartbreak.) I felt a surge of power rise within me as I read that the original Eve had no spouse except a serpent that she created to satisfy her own sexual desires. The excerpt went on to say that Jehovah arrogantly pretended to be the only creator of life, and that Eve had to punish him for it. It was apparently his ignorance that led him to say “I am God; there is none beside me.”

The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets is constantly filling me with that sense of power and completeness. It contradicts all the views that are pushed on me as a young girl in today’s society. It’s so refreshing to sit down and read this book after being forced to analyze advertisements in health class. After being told subliminally every day of my life that women are sexual objects that need to be beautiful and submissive, it feels amazing to fight back with the ideas of goddesses, eve, and the feminine powers of the moon. I find that the more I read this book the more complete and at ease my soul feels.

I also find myself connecting random aspects of the book to my every day life. On page 508 there’s an excerpt describing the origins of kissing. It explains that most forms of affectionate contact are adaptations of mother-child behavior. This statement alone forced me to delve into the idea of people’s roles in their romantic relationships. I examined how often I had played the “mother” in my romantic relationships. I examined how often I did not. The book gave me a new way to analyze the interactions between lovers and family.

I am not anywhere near finishing this book, but I am definitely enjoying the journey of reading it. I look forward to being exposed to even more intriguing concepts that will change my perception of the reality I am living in.

Artist Statement

I am an artist because I have absolutely no choice in the matter. The only place you'd find me after a few months without art is in the insane asylum. It took me four years after I started writing to realize that I was a writer. Before I even knew it was my passion I spent hours a day working on short stories. I thought this was the way every child spent their day. I was unaware that this obsession with creating make-believe worlds was actually a sign of the artist within me. As I grew older I realized I was a writer and a few years after that I found myself craving more outlets.

I explore different forms of creation in order to learn about myself and the reality that surrounds me. I often use poetry to relieve myself of emotional disturbances. If an emotional secret or a psychological confusion is burdening my mind, writing poetry is what helps me dissect and diffuse the issue. There are many times when I don’t know what is weighing me down until I write it out in metaphors. Then when I re-read it, everything becomes so clear and I often know how to solve the problem. Poetry is my therapeutic artistic tool. I often explore acting when I am trying to release a chaos within me. I find that acting is a way for me to understand the way human beings interact while also having the freedom to let some of my insanity shine through. Being cooped up inside “Megan” all the time isn’t satisfying enough. Sometimes I need to be Misty Tumbleweed, Mrs. Mullin, or Bernette in order to feel completely free. Lastly I have visual art which serves a different purpose every time I try it. I usually draw or paint without much intention behind my work, but as the piece grows it starts to parallel with part of my soul or my current life situation. I find that many of my visual art pieces represent an expansion of consciousness and involve many vivid colors and swirling abstract patterns. I often use visual art to express the intangible aspects of my reality.

Nothing is more refreshing than finishing a work of art that I am really proud of. Whether it is through acting, writing, or visual art, as long as I finish an artistic journey I feel reborn. Art serves many dire purposes in my life and therefore I have no choice in being an artist.