SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is the best-selling author and artist of 11 books, with a twelfth being released in 2004. Her work encourages your most playful and uninhibited self. There are over two million of SARK’s books in print, including the national bestseller, Succulent Wild Woman. She is founder and president of Camp SARK, a company offering products and services to inspire creative living, such as cards, posters, and calendars.
Born in Minneapolis, SARK’s first and favorite job was as Wake-Up Fairy in kindergarten. She studied at the Minneapolis Art Institute, University of Tampa, and the University of Minnesota before her parents begged her to graduate from something. SARK graduated from the School of Communication Arts in radio/TV production.
SARK was one of ten women featured in the PBS series Women of Wisdom and Power. She was also one of the facilitators on Cheryl Richardson's Life Makeover Series on the Oxygen network. SARK is a recovering procrastinator and perfectionist who practices what she teaches. She lives in a Magic Cottage in San Francisco with her “fur husband” cat, Jupiter.
SARK wrote her first book at age 10. She held 250 jobs between 14 and 25 and got her professional start by hand-drawing 11,000 posters. She is a periodic guest on National Public Radio, and her own “Inspiration Line” has been inspiring people for ten years at 415-546-3742.
SARK’s Juicy Living Cards are new ways of looking at subjects such as time, love, and money, as well as support for our “splendid imperfections.” Published by Hay House, there are 50 simple ways to practice more self-love and “Juicy Living.”
Excerpted from SARK’s poster “How To Be An Artist:
• Plant impossible gardens.
Look forward to dreams. Cry during movies.
Swing as high as you can on a swingset, by moonlight.
Cultivate moods.
Do it for love. Take lots of naps.
Take moonbaths.
Giggle with children.
Listen to old people.
Drive away fear. Play with everything.
Entertain your inner child.
Build a fort with blankets.
Get wet. Hug trees. Write love letters.
• I send you radical self-acceptance, power-full healing, and the miracle of your heart speaking-and you listening.
• We are each a gift, exactly as we are in this moment, with no improvements!
• We are all free spirits. We must choose to practice freedom.
• It isn’t easy for any of us to transcend the past, or pain we might have suffered. Yet there are gifts in those pains, and we can choose to let light into the dark places. We are not alone!
• We are each born creative—then we forget our purpose, or mission. We believe our doubts and fears, and slowly stop “being creative,” as though it were a separate thing.
• Groups are a great way to dance with your wonder-full self in the company of others! They can be very spontaneous and informal, or more organized.
I came across SARK and Succulent Wild Woman while reading Life Makeovers by Cheryl Richardson. After starting to read SARK’s book, I found her message to be highly refreshing. Her books and programs are designed to create an awakening for people, enabling them to embrace their true self.
Succulent Wild Woman will jump out at you and is definitely the place to start with SARK. In it, she equates “succulent” with ripe, juicy, whole, round, exuberant, wild, rich, wide, deep, firm, rare, and female. SARK says, “We have the right to live wild succulent lives. Right now. Open your window and yell at the top of your lungs. I’m Here. I’m Wild. I will live a daring and remarkable life.”
I am obviously writing from a man’s perspective, but if I were a woman, I’d want to be a Succulent Wild Woman. But as SARK herself told me, “David, you are a succulent wild man!”
PHONE: 415-397-7275 (information line only)
415-546-3742 (EPIC) (inspiration line)
WEBSITE: www.campsark.com