Sheila Kelley is a leader in this next era of feminism that involves finding a way for women to claim our own sexuality. She is putting forth a vision and practice for women to fully embody their own body, sexiness and power through movement. She created a fitness practice, S Factor, that began the striptease and pole dancing craze in this nation. They use the pole as a tool to inspire gorgeous feminine movement.

She is committed to women activating their “erotic creature” within. When women find this part of themselves their lives change. They become happier, healthier, sexier. They become better partners and parents. Both Sheila and I firmly believe that connecting with ourselves and our sexuality is fuel for life.

At the center of her work is the appreciation of the curves of women, and encouraging women to move in curves and S shapes. She believes that these are natural feminine movements that connect us to our female body fully. Sheila Kelley is doing beautiful work to create spaces where women remember that their bodies are beautiful, sexy and their own. She has created supportive spaces where women can go to undo centuries of shame by dancing amongst other women and feel into the gorgeousness of their own bodies. The practices just happen to involve a pole, womanly camaraderie and a lot of fun.

She is the real deal, doing excellent work for women, our bodies and our sexual freedom through leading women to embody our own flesh with more joy and awareness. She gave a great Tedx talk where she talks more about all this and more.

May we all get in touch with our inner erotic creature and enjoy waking up to our full potential.

New Years Eve we were all ready to settle into an evening of really good steaks, caramelized onions, cooked mushrooms and a better bottle of red wine than we may drink all year. But we won tickets to see Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra’s Purple Reign concert, their ode to Prince. So we scampered down to NYC to bring in the new year covered in purple confetti instead.

Whatever you think about her music, this is one passionate woman. She seems to be in a constant slight squat, her legs spread apart, her arm muscles gleaming with sweat as she sings with tons of heart and ferocity. Rarely do we see women spend much time with their legs spread as they walk in the world. The way she lives and moves in her body is refreshing and strong.

Amanda Palmer is like a sexy tyrannosaurus rex in a corset. I mean that as a compliment. Strong, squatting, fierce and singing with all her might. She is passionately projecting her particular flavor of art out in the world and that is always inspiring.

Off stage she seems entirely comfortable with her own nudity, having fans write all over her body, taking photos of herself naked and appearing in her videos in various states of undress. Again, however you feel about that and whatever you might choose to do with your own body she is a woman self-determining how much of her body she shares with the world.  She does this wild eyebrow painting thing where she shaves off her eyebrows and paints on a design. She is choosing to represent a particular kind of expression on and with her body.

The bonus of the concert was her husband Neil Gaiman giving us all a wish for the new year.

“It’s a New Year and with it comes a fresh opportunity to shape our world.
So this is my wish, a wish for me as much as it is a wish for you: in the world to come, let us be brave – let us walk into the dark without fear, and step into the unknown with smiles on our faces, even if we’re faking them.
And whatever happens to us, whatever we make, whatever we learn, let us take joy in it. We can find joy in the world if it’s joy we’re looking for, we can take joy in the act of creation.
So that is my wish for you, and for me. Bravery and joy.”

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“Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.

The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things.”

 “Never interrupt someone doing something you said could never be done.”

“The most effective way to do it, is to do it.”

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity…”

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.”

– All quotes from Amelia Earhart

First of all, isn’t Aviatrix just about the sexiest occupation name ever? This queen of flying in the sky was an independent thinker, excellent writer as well as a brave pioneer who attempted feats that no woman had tried ever before.

Earhart was the first aviatrix to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928, and the first woman to fly nonstop coast to coast across the U.S.  She was the 16th woman to be issued a pilot’s license in the world. (#6017) In addition to her flying achievements she was also a best-selling author.

She had quite the liberal mindset about marriage. George P. Putnam proposed marriage six times until she finally agreed. She did not choose to be called Mrs. Putnam and kept her name. She referred to the marriage as a “partnership” with “dual control”.  She wrote him a letter that she gave him on their wedding day on February 7, 1931, below. She requested a mutually agreed upon open relationship and required personal space alone as she needed it. She was willing to try marriage for a year and told him she would leave if she wasn’t happy at the end of the year.

What an excellent example in owning her own body and desires and making hard but honest requests about what she thought she needed to be happy, and in the 1930s! Incredible!

“Dear GPP
There are some things which should be writ before we are married — things we have talked over before — most of them.
You must know again my reluctance to marry, my feeling that I shatter thereby chances in work which means most to me. I feel the move just now as foolish as anything I could do. I know there may be compensations but have no heart to look ahead.
On our life together I want you to understand I shall not hold you to any midaevil code of faithfulness to me nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly. If we can be honest I think the difficulties which arise may best be avoided should you or I become interested deeply (or in passing) in anyone else.
Please let us not interfere with the others’ work or play, nor let the world see our private joys or disagreements. In this connection I may have to keep some place where I can go to be myself, now and then, for I cannot guarantee to endure at all times the confinements of even an attractive cage.
I must exact a cruel promise and that is you will let me go in a year if we find no happiness together.
I will try to do my best in every way and give you that part of me you know and seem to want.
A.E.” [sic]

This letter is found within the book: Letters from Amelia: An Intimate Portrait of Amelia Earhart