Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn?

If I’d followed all the rules,

I’d never have gotten anywhere.

Marilyn Monroe

The Marilyn Monroe Look by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

The solo play Jackie off Broadway is a witty yet disturbing exploration of submission, power, and the hypocrisy of everyday life by Elfriede Jelinek.  When I think of Jackie’s respectable public persona, I can’t help wonder how she denied her Marilyn inside.

From Pamela Keogh’s book Are you a Jackie or a Marilyn?  Timeless Lessons on Love, Power and Style:

Jackie and Marilyn came of age in the 1950s when socially acceptable roles of women were few.  Yet they both moved beyond the strictures of their time to become icons. In terms of style, Jackie and Marilyn are opposites–light and dark.  Day and night.  Sophistication and playful naiveté. If Jackie symbolized well-bred propriety, Marilyn was sex.  While this way of thinking dictates that women are one of the other, the fact is that most of us, really, are a mixture of both.

The Jackie woman is strong, intelligent, socially impeccable, well married, and likely a mother who takes care of others.  The Marilyn Gal is vulnerable, emotionally unpredictable, enjoys sex and high living, celebrity, glamour, fake lashes and champagne.  She has seen both the glamorous and unseemly sides of the world so she is understanding of the foibles of human nature.  She takes people and situations as they are:  hoping for the best, but not that surprised when things don’t work out.  Plus, you know she’s got a few gorgeous photographs of herself stashed somewhere.

…like this Powerful Goddess here!

JackieOffBroadway.com by the Women’s Project Theater runs until March 31, 2013 at the New York City Center.  You’ll love Tina Benko–a powerhouse of a solo performer!!!

Click on “Leave a Comment” (above left) to share how you channel your inner Jackie and Marilyn.

xoxox

The Marilyn Monroe Look by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

The Marilyn Monroe Look by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

The Marilyn Monroe Look by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

© Sharon Birke

201 697 1947

PowerfulGoddess@me.com

http://www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother

The Marilyn Monroe Look by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Another big Thank You to Wendy Boiardi for glorious makeup!

xoxox

Second Chances

The great gift of family is to be intimately acquainted with

people you would not introduce yourself to,

had life not done it for you.

Kendall Hailey

Old Hollywood Glamour by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

“What are you reading?”, my husband inquired.  It completely escaped me that the title of this Powerful Goddess’ memoir might make any spouse nervous:  Eat, Drink and ReMarry.    I wanted to tease him that if I were seriously considering such an option, I wouldn’t advertise it!  But he looked like he needed some reassuring so I explained that I’m reading this because my work is beyond beauty that is skin deep.  I am about beauty grown from strength through resilience.  I believe such beauty blossoms even more when we affirm each other’s choices in our journey home to self trust.

And Stacey Tucker’s courage in sharing her  life story is true inspiration!   I’ve always appreciated how divorce and remarriage expand our capacity for love.  Stacey’s guidebook for second marriages confirms this while lending a witty and comforting hand to women navigating new beginnings, those striving to make peace with the emotional quagmire of  the past.   Thank Goddess time and distance are on our side when it comes to revealing the humor and wisdom of our travails and distresses!  Thank you, Stacey, for generously giving of yourself through your book and gorgeous portraits here, for being a powerful example of our ability to prevail no matter what, and for the potent reminder that we do know what is best for ourselves if we we take the time to listen to our truth–and not to the opinion of (m)others.

See Stacey’s books and blog on www.StaceyLu.com and click on “Leave a Comment” (above left) to share how you’ve traded second guessing for second chances.

xoxox

Eat Drink & ReMarry author Stacey Tucker by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com


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Old Hollywood Glamour by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

© Sharon Birke

201 697 1947

PowerfulGoddess@me.com

www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother

Eat Drink & ReMarry author Stacey Tucker by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Fabulous Makeup by Wendy Boiardi

xoxox

‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business

Everything is funny as long as it happens

to somebody else.

Will Rogers

Flower on Hair by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Billie Holiday’s signature gardenias in the hair inspired this Goddess’ portraits.  (I, too, had a thing for pretty flowers in my hair until the big hair chop.)  Lady Day’s classic tunes include “Good Morning Heartache,” “What A Little Moonlight Can Do,” and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do.”   While her love affairs were numerous and complicated, pain and loss inspired her song writing–plus strength of character grown from not being beholden to another:

There ain’t nothing I can’t do

or nothing I can say

that folks don’t criticize me.

But I’m going to do

just as I want to anyway

And don’t care just what people say.

If I should take a notion

to jump into the ocean

Ain’t nobody’s business if I do.

If I go to church on Sunday

then cabaret all day on Monday

Ain’t nobody’s business if I do.

Click on “Leave a Comment” above left to share how you know what’s right for you.  xoxox

Satin Gloves by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Flower and Satin Gloves by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Flower and Satin Gloves by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

xoxox

© Sharon Birke

Text 201 697 1947

PowerfulGoddess@me.com

www.PowerfulGoddess.com

Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother

Satin Gloves by Sharon Birke www.PowerfulGoddess.com

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