Hello, hola–whoever checks in during these dark times. If you have a journal and haven’t been using it this is the time. If you don’t have a journal but would like to journal loose pages will do, a roll of paper will do. If you prefer to work on a iPad, Notebook, your phone or laptop, computer… date it and take off. Some guidelines I came up for myself since day one–no censorship, don’t worry…
Continue readingDo follow me on Instagram the official Ana Castillo. Or if you wish, FB. Be warned, I’m opinionated. I don’t care to debate with anyone. I’m not on social media for the sake of hearing from haters or professional trolls. Stalkers sent back to their private hells. All people of consciousness welcome.
Continue reading20th Anniversary new edition. (intro by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola-Éstes) UNM Press, 2014) (UNM Press, NM; 1994)
Continue readingTwo Men and Me I left Bukowski again, went back to Bolaño, both men bad to their women. Me, like the rest, couldn’t get enough. Both smoked and drank themselves to death. They liked it rough, said that was how they got their best writing done. One winter we all ended up in hell, ran into each other at a café. [REVISION: bar, public bath…FILL IN THE BLANK.] Chuck wanted to fuck. Roberto punched him…
Continue readingAlgo de ti [An Ekphrastic Exercise] Algo de ti me recuerda a casa; no la de hoy, de otros tiempos– Las tortillas de la abuela sobre su comal ardiente; el perfume de la buganvilla en el jardín Tus pestañas estrelladas– de niñez como las estrellas mismas que contemplaba yo, me parece hace siglos ya. Algo de ti me llama en la noche cuando te estrechas en tu cama como te imagino que lo haces,…
Continue readingIn recognition of National Poetry here is a poem I written in 2018 in commemoration of the first African American woman president at my alma mater in Chicago, NEIU. I had the distinct honor to read it at her inauguration ceremony. Enjoy! These Times I In these times, you and I share, amidst the air you and I breathe, inspiration we take from day to day thriving, opposition we meet, the sacred conch…
Continue readingThank you to those who’ve made comments here (and sent to my email at anacastilloworkshops@gmail.com) Why didn’t I use Zoom? Not because my skills are at Jitterbug Cell Phone level but like many these days–I’m just not up to being ‘looked at.’ I also wanted participants to focus on the writing & not their hair. Social media places a huge emphasis on showing off our best selves through filters, makeup, etc.–and this is about getting…
Continue readingThese Times I In these times, you and I share, amidst the air you and I breathe, inspiration we take from day to day thriving, opposition we meet, the sacred conch shell calls us, drums beat, prayers sent up, aromatic smoke of the pipe are our pledge to the gods. An all-night fire vigil burns where we may consume the small cactus messenger of the Huichol and of the Pueblo people of New Mexico, red…
Continue readingAfter you make you list of top worst fears take a moment. Don’t judge the fear. It’s yours. Own it. The only way to confront it is to name it and give it the weight your life, heart and actions have placed on it. Let’s remember how many courageous people have come before us in their times who faced their greatest fear head on–they cleared a path for us. Our task now, is to keep…
Continue readingWe are entering Spring Equinox. The world is on alert and populations are challenged as never before. As a Chicana/mexicana-indigena I grew up and have always had limpias as part of our lives. We do all kinds of limpias–sweeping with a huevo, usamos hierbas y aquas preparadas, baños. Friday is a good day for a limpia. You don’t have to find a curandera, santera, or modern bruxa/os. If you’d like a recommendation on how to…
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