Be The Mystery Hostess for December 5th and 19th!

YOU could be the Mystery Hostess!

I love the Holidays!  For me, it means that I get to give presents...and yes, getting them ain't too bad either.

This December, I want to give
2 chances for one of you to WIN a 10-15% discount.


Here's how it works:

• Place an order with me (via email or phone).
  
• If you place a $50 order, you will get 1 entry to win the 10-15% discount.
• If you place a $100 order, you will get 4 entries to win the 10-15% discount!

There are 2 deadlines (I will be sending out reminder emails in the days leading up to the deadlines):

• Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11:59pm
• Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 11:59pm

I pick the winners on the Sunday following the deadline, and will contact the winners by phone and announce the winner on my Facebook, Twitter, and Blog!

"But wait...there's more!!!"
If you are the December 5 Mystery Hostess Winner, you will be put in a drawing to win $1000 CASH from Athena's (we reeeeeaaaaaaallllyyy like giving...can you tell?)!!!

So, gather your friends together in an email message or Facebook page or what have you!  Contact me by email or phone!  Get something back just for your own self-pleasure! ;)

 

***********************

CLICK HERE to see my December Newsletter

Filipino Fusing with Middle Eastern?

Before I started belly dance classes, I decided that I needed to learn a bit about my own cultural dance first.  Though I was involved with the Filipino Student Association at my undergrad, I never made it in time to join the dance troupes.  However, there was a one-semester class for Filipino Dance.

As the class fulfilled a graduation credit, two of my friends joined me in the class.  Though it was a small group, it was quite an enjoyable class.  I learned a lot about the regional differences in the dances, and how most of the traditional dances are choreographed for specific stories or purposes.

For example, as the music and dance reflects the culture, there are Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous dances.  The Christian-style dances reflect the Spanish colonization, featuring a lot of 3/4 beat music and socializing dances.  Muslim-style dances reflect the influences from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian cultures, and mainly tells stories.  The Indigenous dances are more drum and kulintang-based, and are more ritualistic.

My favorite part about the dances was the focus on the hand and arm movements.  While it was so many years ago, I remember the teacher talking about the importance of grace in the arm movements.  However, there wasn't necessarily much room for improvisation.

Nonetheless, I'm suddenly struck with the idea of fusing traditional Filipino dance movements with Middle Eastern dance. 

I feel that I have to brush up a bit on the movements in Filipino dance.  I know there is a Fhilippine Dance Company in Boston, but it doesn't seem very easy to get in touch with someone who could point me in the direction of classes.  I might try to go through Boston University's Filipino Student Association, perhaps use my powers as an alum - no matter how minuscule they might be.

In the meantime, here are some clips I found on YouTube:

Traditional Southern/Muslim Filipino Dance:



Tribal Filipino Fusion with Belly Dance Fusion:

"My name is Cecilia, and I'll be your Goddess this evening."

Names have power.

Naming things has power - for better or for worse.

Names can be changed in order to remove or increase power.

Names are identity.

I personally love my name, in all its Filipino-ness, individuality, Simon & Garfunkel ode-inspired, and significance.

I've often thought about my name and how it relates to my persona.  As I'm living a daytime life and a nighttime life, I know I can separate the two as not everyone knows about my belly dancing or my "night job."  But the one thing I feel that I can't separate is my name.

In belly dance, it seems that most dancers have a stage name.  Shira provides a great article about the process of deciding and finding a name.  Though I know it's not a necessity, there is a lure in creating a whole new personality just by changing my name.  The idea of being able to throw away all your cares and dance the night away is quite attractive.

Yet, I find it hard to give myself a name without giving the rest of me the cold shoulder.

So, I have considered a couple of names, most of which obviously has some significance to mermaids.  Serena, the Spanish and Filipino word for "mermaid."  Jullanar or Dyullanar, a mermaid that shows up in Thousand and One Nights, with the second version in the Filipino way of spelling it.  Dyesebel, the name of a Filipino mermaid, popularized by written stories and film.

Dyesebel as a tv show in the Philippines...must...watch.....

But...I also really like my own name.  I don't know if I feel that I'm being dishonest about who I am if I take on another personality?  Maybe it's that I feel like it would become just another thing for me to carry?  Maybe I feel that if I'm going to learn as much as I can about Middle Eastern dance, that I need to go into it fully by giving myself fully, and that includes my name?

*shrug*

I don't know.  But for now, as I'm not a professional dancer, I'm satisfied using my own name.

In my Athena's business, one that would require me to separate my night life with my day life, I proudly use my own name.  Again, I feel like I can't create a whole different persona to match this other part of my life.  It's almost exhausting just thinking about having to create a different persona.

Though, clearly, I would try to be careful about whom and what I talk about my night job, I still feel like who I am as a Goddess vs. who I am as a social worker needs to be compatible in order for me to even exist.  With all my quirks, all my sillyness, and all my passion for helping you find your inner Goddess, what you see is what you get.

More recently, a new acquaintance told me that she was joining Passion Parties.  Now, I don't know much about that company other than that they're based in San Francisco.  At first, I was pretty bummed that I didn't have the opportunity to recruit this person.  But, then I was really excited that someone was joining the team of women (in all the different companies) that try to bring others passions out.

Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Athena's.  The fact that this business fell into my lap was clearly fate.  Starting with even the name of the company, highlighting the Greek Goddess of Wisdom as opposed to the Goddess of Love, I knew that I would be very comfortable.  The geek in me that loves Greek myths absolutely perked up. 

Then, there's the mission of the organization:

Our Mission: To empower women down the path of sexual education in the safe, comfortable environment of their own homes by offering only the highest quality products presented by a trained Athena's Goddess.

Right up my alley.  Ever since I became sexually active, I've strongly believed that one should be educated about sex before engaging in it.  In my 3 years of being a Goddess, the hardest part for me has been meeting girls who have engaged in sex not fully knowing their bodies or what pleases them.  I'm not asking for folks to take an anatomy class or to study up on sex before getting into it.  But even just to get to know your own body...it's something.

Goddess

I take the role of Goddess quite seriously.  I wear my Goddess pin proudly.  I did not hesitate tacking that onto my name and persona.  While it's still an addition to my name, it doesn't feel like a further extension of who I am, or another thing to carry.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, I've been juggling all my roles.  I think that holding onto my name as an integral part of all the things I engage in will help keep me grounded and rooted.  As I mentioned in the beginning, names have power...I think I'd like to keep both.

Athena's Cup! Bras for Boobies!

Let's face it.

Boobs are pretty awesome.

What's not awesome, however, is breast cancer.

1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.

The chance of dying from breast cancer is 1 in 35.

There are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone.

Though a lot of progress has happened in the way of breast cancer research, more still needs to happen.

Join Athena's Home Novelties in our fight against breast cancer!!!

Join Athena's Home Novelties in breaking the Guinness World Record for the most bras hooked together!!!

can you spot me? I'm (of course) wearing green!

Here's our Mother Goddess, Jennifer Jolicouer, with a couple of words about this awesome benefit:

Visit the main website for more information!

Athena's Cup.org

But wait!  There's more!

Email me after you send in a bra!

I will send you a FREE Nipple Nibbler (flavor of your choice) as a Thank You for your donation!

Adult Versions of Disney Princes

These images are popping up everywhere...so, I had to share as well.

Why, yes...that is Prince Eric from Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

First, I was like...Whoa.....then, I was like, Well, hello there Prince Eric....

I gotta say, though, I love the "Fish Fetish" tattoo on his arm...absolutely classy...

Some of the images are really quite hot for sexed-up cartoons.  Then, there are some I absolutely disagree with (like the one of Peter Pan...yet, I'm still posting the link...hahaha!).

A couple of things are true, however.  The artist, "David Kawena," is absolutely fabulous...and you will find at least one image that will raise your eyebrow.

"I've Never Had Sex..."

Have you ever played the game "Never Have I Ever"?

It's a fun and interesting game to play with friends and with people you've never met.  I believe the game also has different variations in the names, such as "10 Fingers."

For the over 21 crowd, it's a guaranteed good time as a drinking game, and for the younger crowd you can really gain some insight about who your friends are and what you'd like to try next.

Basically, one person says the statement, "Never have I ever..." and finishes the sentence.  Those who have done whatever the person noted has to take a drink or put down one finger.  Now, it could be as benign as never having left the country.  But it could, and often does get personal...very quickly!  By the end of the game, you'll know who's been the naughtiest of you all.

Hi, My Green Porno Name Is...

YOUR GREEN PORNO NAME IS:

Molly Puffer

http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno/green-porno-name/

And...

   
       


But you should also know how I plan to seduce you:
   

       
So, how about you?

"Afrita Hanem: The Genie Lady"

In my self-imposed bellydance education, I've been getting movies off Netflix, but mainly instructional movies.

Then, I realized that I could learn some more about the art, its movements and its history, through actual films.  One actress/dancer in particular that caught my attention was Samia Gamal.  It's a name I'm familiar with mainly through others in the bellydance community, but I'd be lying if I said I knew who she was.

Luckily, I found her on Netflix.  Specifically, I found "Afrita Hanem:  The Genie Lady."

Samia Gamal as Afrita Hanem

Here's how Netflix describes it:

The fortunes of down-on-his-luck crooner Asfour (Farid Al Atrache) change overnight when he discovers a mysterious lamp housing a charming genie (Samia Gamal) in this sweet comedy. She can make anything he wishes come true, so he asks for help in luring his distracted girlfriend from the charms of a rich competitor. But Asfour soon learns he should be careful what to wish for, as he soon realizes his heart may lie elsewhere.

Here's how Amazon describes it:

Meet Asfour (Farid Al Atrache), a poor singer/actor who stumbles upon a magic lamp and its wish-granting genie (Samia Gamal). When he uses his new-found power to woo his gold-digging girlfriend away from her rich suitor, Asfour discovers that his genie has a few wishes of her own. Sure to delight and entertain, this classic film stars two of Egypt's cinematic legends in an innovative and endearing blend of comedy, fantasy and musical genres. 

I could write a review about the movie.  But, reviews are out there already, as story descriptions are already out there.  So, I just wanted to talk about my impressions of the film and about some of the things that I learned.

I hope this doesn't come across in a wrong way...but films not made in the US are so similar!! One thing that struck me about the film was that the actors were also singers or dancers or musicians, which I've also seen in Filipino media.  Bollywood is one major example of the multiple talents that get exhibited on the big screen.  It just makes sense that all the mediums would melt together in one way or another.  Personally, I definitely enjoyed listening to Farid Al Atrache's "Asfour" croon about his unrequited love, as his character was also a singer.  I'll be honest here, I listened intently to the songs in the hopes of hearing something familiar.

Also, similar to many of the cheesy movies in the Philippines, there's one character who provides the comic relief.  Ismail Yaseen's character, "Bou'ou," was quite a clown, pulling some physical gags and hilarious facial expressions.

Then of course, there's the beautiful Samia Gamal.  Yes, she is a fabulous dancer - though I was almost surprised by how little she actually moved around.  But her face lit up the screen.  She was so graceful and elegant.  If you want to learn about having presence as a bellydancer, or even as a lady, she's a great role model.  In a way, she reminded me of Carmen Miranda...mainly because of their huge smiles.

See?  Smiley!

Another thing that reminded me of Carmen Miranda was how she represents an entire culture and art at the time.  It seems like "Afrita Hanem," which was released in 1949, was somewhat meant to attract audiences from around the world.  This seemed to be a time when all "sirens of the screen" fit a specific mold - sexy and talented.  Even though the costumes are different, their ornate clothes were quite similar in imagining the "exotic."

The fact that Samia Gamal played a Genie in this movie also seemed interesting to me, as it just brings out stereotypes of the Middle East.  Though she's been in dozens of movies, this was 1 out of 3 movies of her's on Netflix - and one of them is only a collection of clips from other movies.

Finally, and most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed that Samia Gamal's characters, Kahramana the Genie and Semsema the Dancer, were both very independent and outspoken women.  Though Kahramana was more focused on getting the guy and Semsema was more interested in the job at first, I liked that they would say and do whatever they wanted.  Kahramana's mischievous actions were hilarious - causing little bits of trouble for the main character, also the only person who could see her.  Meanwhile, Semsema continuously yelled out something that translated to "No way, Jose!" in the subtitles.  Hilarious!

I'm sure I could go into a whole Women's Studies tangent about how Samia Gamal was still very much under the control of the male main character, as he was her master as the Genie and her boss as the Dancer.  But they were gifts meant to enhance his life if he were willing to open his eyes and heart to the possibility.  They loved him for love, and not because of his assets.

Not a bad lesson for a movie in the 50's.