Vanessa Libertad Garcia

Unorthodoxed, satirical, high on something, any of these...maybe. But definitely, not what you expect. Watching the film, "American Flag Made in China (Mockumentary)", which doesn't have a flag or China in it, I was amused and afraid of what was coming. And that was when I knew I wanted to share the work of Vanessa Libertad Garcia with others.
She considers herself eccentric, "Unique unforgettable outsiders that embrace exactly "who" they are at any given moment -- no mater how uncommon -- and brazenly live that self to its Nth degree."
Born and raised in Los Angeles to a Cuban-American family, the ecclecticism of her work comes partially from her desire to "explore & relay the realities of minority communities that don't have a large voice".
As an artist who was "raised by movies", her energy and enthusiasm leaps through her words when she describes the thrill she gets from the arts. Vanessa says her love affair with movies began after seeing "The Neverending Story" when she was 4 years old.
The products of her passion produces a smile and at least one thought, but how do her films and stories evolve? "I think of my projects like my children.  It's exactly like having kids actually. I become impregnated by an idea and nurture it so that it grows both inside of me and then outside of me. I innately love my books and films so much, I work hard to help them realize their full potential."

Producer, Writer, Director & Editor for "The Voting Booth After Dark: Despicable, Embarrassing, Repulsive", a collection of short stories and poems, the film "Dear Dios"  and others. The film Dear Dios centers around an aspiring photojournalist with a lust for bi-women and malt liquor, who spirals out of control.
Being creative is her favorite part of the projects she's done, but she's also had to become a business woman, "I've learned & continue learning all the business sides of both making films & books so that I can be owner of my career, my artistic destiny...It's important I establish that neither my work or person is for sale -- we're just open to collaboration!" she says with a wink.
Her name, Libertad, which means Liberty in Spanish and given to her mother first after a Cuban revolution, may have helped destine Vanessa to use her love for the arts to be the voice of the people in which she is a part, "strong & independent self-realized women, Latinos within the US, & the GLBTQ community".
Find more of her work and upcoming projects at Fiat Libertad Co.

Love & Wellness

In 2003 Wellness Uprising began promoting revolutionary self-care and self-healing. Based on Iyanla Vanzant's urging to "give to, nurture and support yourself before you attempt to nurture, support or care for others.", the spa provides tools and resources for people looking for ways to connect with themselves and balance the world around them. Ways used to reconnect include Reiki, chakra balancing, crystal therapy, polarity therapy, massage, aromatherapy, astrology and spiritual readings to help heal and seek answers. Though there are many misconceptions about complementary medicine, Rhonda says the biggest misconception is about religion. "Some people confuse energy work with religion or spirituality. There is no dogma attached to Reiki... There is no religious affiliation and no conflict with biblical teachings." The American Cancer Society also lists Reiki as a complimentary & alternative medicine choice to manage pain. In addition to the health benefits, Rhonda says "energy and light therapies are deeply relaxing and promote more restful sleep and faster recovery from illness and injury".  Also, if your shy about spas and don't know what to expect, the energy therapies, except massage and WU AromaReiki therapy do not require you to remove your clothes.

Mother nature has a solution for almost every state of mind and body. Take love for example, Rhonda believes love is a high vibrating energy and couples can benefit from high vibrating foods and activities like Reiki, crystal and polarity therapy. They "keep you in alignment with love and positive emotions like passion and fulfillment". As she explains, "external forces change our vibrational frequency as we strive to be in harmony with our surroundings". You really only have to think about the way your energy changes when THAT particular person (positive or negative) walks into the room.

She tries to give her clients a "personal experience with the body’s miraculous ability to self-heal". Giving the body a chance to heal itself may feel like an inconvenience in this instant gratification world, but if you watch films like "Food Matters" and "Tapped", you'll think twice about what you put into your body. Rhonda was fascinated by the power of healing plants as a young child.  She says she's "drawn to energy and light as a means of connecting with God and reshaping reality". Her first connection and respect for nature may have come from her grandfather who used a ginger root tied to a rope for divining or dowsing for answers, which she now teaches using a pendulum. She went through her own struggle with failing health and began using herbs to cleanse and restore her body. These influences led to the start of Wellness Uprising in the 80's, a wellness center that focuses on helping people self-heal starting at the cellular level, using natural methods. And, the center welcomes all people, "We service energy and spiritual bodies where there is no separation or discrimination".

Doctors are very necessary and we all should have a check-up every year to make sure we're OK. But loving ourselves before we get to the point of medication, hospitals, and even death should be in our yearly routine also. Remember the things your parents used to say that you thought was just old folks babble? Well, it turns out that some of it is very true. An apple a day and some self love will most likely keep the doctor away.


* Wellness Uprising Wellness Loft is offering a 15% discount on one Reiki or chakra balancing session through June 30, 2011 when you mention this article. Visit their website at http://www.wellnessuprising.com or call (323) 639-3674 for more informaiton.

Yesterday It Was News, Today It Sits Right In Front of Me

Most of us never know why we should give a damn about something until it's staring us in the face. And in the meantime you think it's OK to try to blend into the crowd and continue to do what you do and not give a ----. Months ago when "Is WellPoint Looking For You?" was written, breast cancer was news, but today it's under my roof. In a time when conservatives are trying to eliminate everything from Planned Parenthood, who provide low cost health services for women, to unions for American workers, there's something that will eventually find it's way to you. I'm extremely glad that the road that Wellpoint was contemplating will probably be averted. But it only intensifies my belief that people should try to understand the need to care now about what might meet them down the road, before it's too late. If you don't care about breast cancer find SOMETHING to give 2 cents about before it's waiting for you in the middle of the road with a hood and a torch later.

Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy Close To End

The repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell has been passed by the Senate and is now ready to be signed by the President.