Ann Clark (Patricia Ann Clark)
Sonoma, California
During the first five years of the 1990s, I was part of the zine world and I wrote, edited and published a personal zine (“perzine”) called The Sacred Wilderness. In those five years I corresponded and exchanged zines with people all over the U.S. and beyond; this blog is the social networking version of that hard-copy publication. Contained in these pages are the passions, peeves, and ponderings of this pirate*, poet, parent, punster, published writer, and psychotherapist-in-the-making. In May 2010, I graduated summa cum laude from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies; in May 2013 I earned my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and, ever since, have been on the long, arduous journey towards licensure as a therapist. This journey is challenging and rewarding in equal measure.
In the past few months I’ve become more and more excited about neuropsychology and the effects that early attachment, our developmental history, and trauma have on the way that our brains become hard-wired. I’ve studied the books and research of Rick Hanson, Daniel Siegel and other leaders in this field, cultivating skills and strategies that focus on rewiring, strengthening and building new neural networks in order that we may heal ourselves.
I also honor our transitional stages. In anthropology, liminality (from the Latin līmen, “a threshold”) is that state of ambiguity or disorientation that happens in the middle stage of rituals, when those involved are no longer their pre-ritual selves, but not yet their transformed selves. During a ritual’s “liminal” stage, participants are “standing at the threshold” between their previous way of structuring their identity, time, or community, and their new way of life. Successfully passing through this stage, we learn how to move through our lives in new and more effective ways.
Thank you for taking the time to explore here. I honor your liminal states of being, and every transformation you seek.
*I really am a part-time pirate, courtesy of my alter ego, “Lady Ann,” who fenced and frolicked at the Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire for ten life-changing years under the oaks of Black Point Forest in Marin.
you are funny.
Comment by Jan McIntire — June 25, 2010 @ 9:17 pm
Tell me you are formerly Ann Patterson of the Santa Rosa Sacred Wilderness zine? (unless I’m remembering the name wrong) If so, we used to correspond back in the zine days. I’m Jen Payne a.k.a. The Latest News and you changed my life! : )
Comment by Jen Payne — June 6, 2012 @ 4:43 pm
That’s me, Jen! How WONDERFUL to hear from you!! I think of the zining days fondly and often, and all of the wonderful people I shared zines with, including you. How are you?! What have you been up to in the past…17 years?! Oh my gosh, time flies. :-)
Comment by Ann — June 6, 2012 @ 4:48 pm
How much fun to find you! I’m doing really well – and also transformed from zine to blog (randomactsofwriting.net). Isn’t it fun? I meant it when I said you changed my life…you set me on a path many years ago, and I am not sure I would be this person now if you hadn’t. Life is good. How about you?
Comment by Jen — June 7, 2012 @ 4:37 am
Dear Ann,
As I recently thumbed through my ancient copy of The World of Zines, I saw the review for The Sacred Wilderness and thought to look you up. Congratulations on publishing it, and for the more recent developments in your life and career!
I publish a zine called Fiddler’s Green that you might like. It covers topics of art, magic, literature, and personal psychology, all with a general spiritualism that the Factsheet Five reviewer seemed to enjoy. (I’m sorry to say I never wrote in for a copy of your zine!) Drop me a line if you’d like me to mail you one.
Best wishes,
Clint
Comment by Clint Marsh — June 22, 2016 @ 7:06 pm
Hi Clint – Thank you for your note. Those were heady times, the days of zines and Factsheet Five and receiving actual hand-crafted publications in the mail. I hope someday to see a resurgence in the popularity of zining. Until then, it’s always good to hear from someone who was active in that world. I’m still in touch with some former zine publishers – most of us, of necessity, have moved our writings online. If you’d like to share a sample of one of your articles from Fiddler’s Green here, I’d like to see what interests you. Write on! -Ann
Comment by Ann — September 4, 2016 @ 4:25 am
Cheers, Ann! I’m keeping the light burning for print, but you can read some of my Fiddler’s Green articles online over at Reality Sandwich. Enjoy!
Comment by Clint Marsh — January 13, 2017 @ 12:28 pm