The JOURNEY of heart Poetry Project

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As I am passionate about inspiring women to share their spiritual insights and honor their valuable voices, I founded an online poetry project in the fall of 2012. First, it began as a blog where women were invited to share their poems without worrying about being judged and swiftly grew into a vibrant sisterhood of women from all over the world.

​Using poetry as a medium, hundreds of women over the years have explored taking chances with their voices within the Journey of the Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry online community. Today, the project has birthed four books, Journey of the Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women (Balboa Press, 2014), Where Journeys Meet: The Voice of Women's Poetry (Golden Dragonfly Press, 2015, Poetry as a Spiritual Practice: Illuminating the Awakened Woman (Golden Dragonfly Press, June 2016) and Goddess/When She Rules: Expressions by Contemporary Women (Golden Dragonfly Press, Dec. 2017). I consider it an honor and privilege to facilitate the free expression of women's voices in this way, publishing their original poetry on a weekly basis, and featuring the voices of both novice and accomplished poets on both the blog and Facebook page.  

Vaishnavi voices poetry project
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This is the resurrection of the Kavirani Poetry Project I began in 2004. It is dedicated to honoring and celebrating contemporary women of the Bhakti Yoga tradition through publishing their poetry. I hope the project will inspire more bhakti-yogini sisters around the world to express themselves and share their valuable gifts with others. Bhakti Blossoms: A Collection of Contemporary Vaishnavi Poetry was published in 2017 by Golden Dragonfly Press. To find out more about this project, please visit the website here or our Facebook page. 


The Janavi Held endowed Poetry and art grant
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Janavi Held
 
​Created in memory of my dearly departed friend and spiritual sister, multitalented artist and poet Janavi Held, (1965-2018) this is a bi-annual micro-grant gifted to women whose artistic or poetic expressions are having a positive, inspiring effect on others. The grant is specifically intended to offer support to women who are struggling financially to subsist as poets or artists, or could use the gift in a manner that would facilitate further expression of their creative spirit. It is a gift from myself and Janavi, meant to support a sister in need, with all our love and encouragement. If you are interested in applying, please e-mail me an essay telling me a bit about yourself, your poetry or art, and what you intend to use the grant for. The next grants will be awarded in 2021, as per the board member's choices. 


​Articles

Bhakti Blossoms Book Review by Tammy Takahashi, The Tattooed Buddha, October 24, 2017
'New Book Celebrates Today's Women in the Bhakti Tradition', ISKCON News, May 25, 2017
'A Project Dedicated to Honoring the Voices of Vaishnavis: An Interview', ISKCON News, December 16, 2015
'Where Journeys Meet: An Interview' Rebelle Society, August 13, 2015
‘When Poetry Brings Us Together’ The Interfaith Observer, March 5, 2015
‘Foreword’ for Seasons of the Soul: Transitions and Shift of Life by Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, November 5, 2014
‘The Yoga of Poetry’ Adore Yoga, September 11, 2014
‘Full Moon—A Journey of the Heart’ Rebelle Society, August 10, 2014
‘Secrets of The Feminine Heart: Radhashtami Reflections’ Rebelle Society, September 12, 2013
‘Pinching at Poetry: A Lifetime Affair’ Rebelle Society, March 27, 2013