Sorry Nona, I had to get more of our facial details through Photoshop

Transformation

Rust to dust, us to them
Change your mind, change your skin
Life to death, weak to strength
Cash a check, change your sex
Day to night, dark to light
Hard to soft, on to off
Push to shove, hate to love
In and out, it’s all about
Variations, alternations, deviations
They’re here to transformation
Variations, alternations, deviations
You know, Mother Nature rules us all

“Transformation”. lyrics by Nona Hendryx

Tennessee, Jeff. Chris and the feminine in the male

“America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” — Tennessee Williams

All three cities are known for their unique cuisines, their indigenous cultures, their customs, and their arts. In New York, there was the Stonewall Uprising. In New Orleans, the Anita Bryant Uprising — when queers said no to Anita Bryant, her message, and her orange juice. New Orleans was also a place for the Civil Rights Movement, with the Canal Street sit-ins and the subsequent 735-day boycott, with picketers standing in front of department stores. New Orleans said yes to the integration of schools with the “New Orleans Four.”

In 1966, in San Francisco, when the girls had enough of the police showing up at Compton’s Cafeteria to harass them over what they were wearing, cups and saucers were thrown, hitting the police in the heads.

New Orleans is known for being the birthplace of jazz and Irma Thomas. San Francisco is known for the Summer of Love and the birthplace of Big Brother and the Holding Company. New York is known for the birthplace of punk, Lou Reed, and Patti Smith.

All three cities share a feminine-like energy. They are located close to water but full of creative fire.

Recently, I’ve been listening to Jeff Buckley and Chris Cornell — who both have wide vocal ranges. Both are quoted saying they are in touch with their feminine energy and considered themselves feminist. So when it comes to music, I love being in touch with my feminine side.

Alanis Morrissette: I was listening to Jeff Buckley yesterday. Any person who plays with androgyny on the whole continuum of feminine, masculine, emotional, mercurial. I love hearing people share their story through music, or through movement, or through a photograph. I’m an artist’s artist. I live for people expressing themselves. Maxine Wally, W Magazine

Nona Hendryx

She’s proud and an activist for gay rights, social justice, and women’s rights. Nona sees herself as a “human futurist,” believing that a future that doesn’t encompass everyone is not a true future.

Nona is rock and roll the way Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Patti Smith, and Lenny Kravitz are. Yes, LaBelle as a trio were fierce — but Nona Hendryx was driving the bus.

Nona Hendryx identifies as a human being and bisexual. She’s also a proud activist for gay rights, social justice, and women’s rights. Nona sees herself as a “human futurist,” believing that a future that doesn’t encompass everyone is not a true future.

Nona is rock and roll the way Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Patti Smith, and Lenny Kravitz are. Yes, LaBelle-the trio-were fierce — but Nona Hendryx was driving the bus.

Goddess

LaBelle with Cher “Are You Lonely”. by Nona Hendryx

Replace the word Nona with your name
a poem for Nona Hendryx

“Nona is the cosmic dancer.
Nona is enigmatic.
Nona’s feet are grounded in the present.
Nona is focused.
Nona is intentional.
“Just show up—keep going, you’re doing the work.”
Nona seems to be saying.
Nona is consciousness.
Nona is the transformation.
Nona has cleansing, purifying divine energy.
Nona tells me to bow to my inner Self/Consciousness.
Nona is the divine
Through Nona we are all the divine
Today with Nona in mind, I make my offering.

Somewhere the river flows made of tears
(A river made of tears)
And the hands of time can’t bring back the years
Never looking back, you made the highest climb
Only flesh and bone, standing on your own, you led the way
(You led the way)(And you drew up the lines)
Never looking back, you made the highest climb
Only flesh and bone, standing on your own, you led the way
(You led the way)

Winds of Change….Nona