Donna Henes
Encyclopedia
Donna Henes is a ceremonial artist, urban shaman, ritual expert and consultant, speaker, workshop leader and award-winning writer.
Henes is originally from Cleveland, Ohio
.
2010 is the fifth anniversary of Henes' book,The Queen of My Self
: Stepping Into Sovereignty in Midlife (Monarch Press 2005). She has also written three others,The Moon Watcher's Companion (Marlowe & Co. 2004); Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles and Celebrations (Perigree: Penguin/Putnam 1996); and Dressing Our Wounds In Warm Clothes (Astro Artz 1982); as well as a quarterly journal, Always In Season: Living in Sync with the Cycles.
She publishes a monthly Ezine, The Queen's Chronicles and also writes columns for The Huffington Post
, Beliefnet
and UPI's (United Press International
) Religion and Spirituality Forum. Her writings for adults and children have been syndicated in publications throughout the United States
and Canada
, and globally on the Internet
.
In 2007, Henes was chosen to bless and lead New York's Village Halloween Parade
, which is held annually in New York City
's Greenwich Village
.
For 18 years, until the 9/11 attacks in 2001 when the events could no longer be held, The Port Authority of New York and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supported Henes' production of, Celestially Auspicious Occasions.
Henes also performs outdoor equinox and solstice celebrations throughout New York City, including an annual "Eggs on End"
ceremony, and has led similar celebrations in more than 100 other cities throughout the United States
, Canada
and Europe
.
In 1984, she received a Mayoral Citation
from New York City Mayor Ed Koch
for designing the New York City Olympic Ticker Tape Parade and a Mayoral Citation from New York City Mayor David Dinkins
in the early 1990s for her work as Shaman in the Streets.
She has been a recipient of four fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts
, as well as numerous project grants from municipalities, corporations and foundations.
She served as children's book award judge for the United Nations
Jane Addams
Peace Association from 1980-1988.
Henes maintains a ceremonial center, ritual practice and consultancy in Brooklyn, New York, Mama Donna's Tea Garden and Healing Haven, where she works with individuals and groups to create personalized rituals for all of life's transitions.
Henes is originally from Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Biography
Since 1972, Henes – known as Mama Donna – has designed and led multi-cultural, non-denominational celebrations, using ancient, traditional rituals and contemporary ceremonies.2010 is the fifth anniversary of Henes' book,The Queen of My Self
The Queen of My Self
The Queen of My Self was first published in 2005 by Monarch Press. It is one of four books written by Donna Henes, known to many as "Mama Donna," to help women navigate their middle years asserting that this is the prime of their lives....
: Stepping Into Sovereignty in Midlife (Monarch Press 2005). She has also written three others,The Moon Watcher's Companion (Marlowe & Co. 2004); Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles and Celebrations (Perigree: Penguin/Putnam 1996); and Dressing Our Wounds In Warm Clothes (Astro Artz 1982); as well as a quarterly journal, Always In Season: Living in Sync with the Cycles.
She publishes a monthly Ezine, The Queen's Chronicles and also writes columns for The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, Beliefnet
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a large multi-faith e-community that aims to provide a free forum for religious information and inspiration, spiritual tools, and discussions and dialogue groups. Beliefnet provides information about various religious and spiritual beliefs, ranging from Christian denominations to...
and UPI's (United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
) Religion and Spirituality Forum. Her writings for adults and children have been syndicated in publications throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and globally on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
In 2007, Henes was chosen to bless and lead New York's Village Halloween Parade
New York's Village Halloween Parade
New York's Village Halloween Parade is an annual holiday parade and street pageant presented the night of every Halloween in New York City’s Greenwich Village...
, which is held annually in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
.
For 18 years, until the 9/11 attacks in 2001 when the events could no longer be held, The Port Authority of New York and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council supported Henes' production of, Celestially Auspicious Occasions.
Henes also performs outdoor equinox and solstice celebrations throughout New York City, including an annual "Eggs on End"
Egg of Li Chun
The terms Li Chun egg balancing or egg of Li Chun refers to a Chinese folk belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on a smooth surface during Li Chun , than at any other time of the year...
ceremony, and has led similar celebrations in more than 100 other cities throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1984, she received a Mayoral Citation
Citation
Broadly, a citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source . More precisely, a citation is an abbreviated alphanumeric expression Broadly, a citation is a reference to a published or unpublished source (not always the original source). More precisely, a citation is an abbreviated...
from New York City Mayor Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
for designing the New York City Olympic Ticker Tape Parade and a Mayoral Citation from New York City Mayor David Dinkins
David Dinkins
David Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...
in the early 1990s for her work as Shaman in the Streets.
She has been a recipient of four fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, as well as numerous project grants from municipalities, corporations and foundations.
She served as children's book award judge for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
Peace Association from 1980-1988.
Henes maintains a ceremonial center, ritual practice and consultancy in Brooklyn, New York, Mama Donna's Tea Garden and Healing Haven, where she works with individuals and groups to create personalized rituals for all of life's transitions.