Deena Metzger -- interviewed for the Signs out of Time project


Deena Metzger has been seeking to map the imaginal realms and explore the deeper meanings and manifestations of myth and story for the sake of restoring beauty and
bringing healing to individuals, community and the natural world. The author
of many works, her latest book is Entering the Ghost River: Meditations on the Theory and Practice of Healing, was written in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and published one year later. Her other works include Doors: A Fiction for Jazz Horn and The Other Hand, novels published by Red Hen Press, Tree: Essays and Pieces; Writing For Your Life: A Guide and Companion to the Inner Worlds; Intimate Nature: The Bond Between Women and Animals, [with Brenda Peterson and Linda Hogan]; the novel, What Dinah Thought, the play Dreams Against the State, [based on the Eleusinian Mysteries] and her most recent books of poetry Looking For the Faces of God and A Sabbath Among the Ruins. She is also known for her exuberant "Warrior" poster that illustrates triumph over breast cancer. She lectures and teaches the ways of writing and creativity, nationally and internationally, and has developed a training program for the 21st century in the creative, political, spiritual and ethical aspects of healing. She also guides physicians and medical practitioners through the transformation from medical doctor to medicine person. As an outgrowth of this work on healing she has, with Michael Ortiz Hill, introduced the concept of Dare'  [this has  an acute accent over the e] to the United States, building community around the principles of healing  and peacebuilding. She is the senior advisor to everyday gandhis an NGO working in West Africa, particularly Liberia, that documents and supports grassroots peacebuilding efforts especially those connected to the many indigenous wisdom traditions, the ancestors and the restoration of the natural world. In the last years, she has devoted herself to the restoration of creation, the environment and the natural world , through council and comunity alliance with indigenous wisdom, the natural world, the animals and the elementals.

With theatre director Steven Kent she researched and recovered the essential ritual framework of the Eleusinian Mysteries. On three occasions beginning in 1980, they recreated the rites in Greece, using poetry, theatre, myth, writing, music and ritual as contemporary ceremonies of personal transformation and exploration. To their knowledge these were the first re-enactments in 1500 years.

She is married to writer/healer, Michael Ortiz Hill. They live at the end of the road with the wolves Cherokee, Blue and Vision. Cherokee's litter of 7 cubs was born on December 8th, 2006. In Zimbabwe, Deena is known by the name, Mandlovu, which means female elephant. One can say that her work with the spirits and ancestors has also given her the gifts of an elephant whisperer.

Many of her essays can be found on her website: www.deenametzger.com

Belili Productions is offering Deena's complete interview on VHS as part of the Behind the Screen series -- see our ORDER PAGE for details.

BOOK INFO for Deena Metzger:

Entering the Ghost River: Meditations on the Theory and Practice of Healing is available from Book Clearing House [800 431-1579] or www.book-clearing-house.com, or Amazon or order from your local independent bookseller.

From Grief into Vision: A Council is posted on the Web www.deenametzger.com. Forthcoming in paper 2007 from Hand to Hand.

Doors: A Fiction for Jazz Horn, Red Hen Press. Order from your local independent bookseller, Amazon, or Small Press Distribution, www.spdbooks.org. Also from Red Hen, The Other Hand.

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