Story and Photo by Danny O'Bryan
“You’re either on the bus or you’re off
the bus.” – Ken Kesey
Multi-artist Divinity Rose, who recently purchased a used SUV that she hopes to use on tours, can relate to the above quote in more than one way. If anyone is “on the bus,” in the manner famed Merry Prankster Ken Kesey intended – which is to celebrate life in all of its complexity – it’s Rose. Singer, poet, blogger, comic book artist, advice columnist, stand-up comic and open mike hostess, Rose manages to do it all.
Rose, 30, who lives near Bonnycastle Avenue and Bardstown Road, was taken from her mother as an infant and lived in nine different homes before she was nine years old.
“I was adopted, then went back to my biological mother and wound up on the streets at 17,” she says.
Through all these tribulations, Divinity Rose (whose given name she declines to divulge for a variety of reasons) was switching schools right and left.
“I went to Manual and Fern Creek high schools, a private school in Maryland and then dropped out and got a GED later,” she says.
Anyone who has been through that many changes would have an identity crisis. So, at 26, when her boyfriend had a vision of her leading an angelic army with a rose in one hand and a sword in the other, she took the bait and “Divinity Rose” was born.
Later, at 27, after a break-up with the same boyfriend, Rose had a mental breakdown – what she calls a “metaphysical death.”
“I realized that as a person I was largely wearing a mask. I was brought up in the Christian Church and I followed the faith, but there were a lot of questions left unanswered. I always had a strong intuition and clairvoyance that made me question the ideas I was brought up with. I thought there was something wrong with me,” she says.
Rose continues, “I used to talk into a mirror when I was a little girl to another being who was wiser and stronger and knew where everything was headed. I received the promise that one day I would be something great and I would help a lot of people.”
Rose says her life is an experiment. That’s why one night at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City she took a dare and did three minutes before an opening act. “I was so nervous,” she says, “I drank three Jack Daniels and Coke before I went on. When you first start in stand-up comedy, three minutes seems like forever.”
She didn’t get booed off the stage and used the experience to start a career as a stand-up comic.
“The reason I did that is because it terrified me. I was used to being on stage in plays – that was no problem. But it was always behind a character. It terrified me to be on stage as myself,” she says.
Divinity seems wise beyond her years. Has she read a lot of books?
“Actually no. I read, but I don’t go out and devour books because someone recommends them to me. You can learn the same things through experience. The inner-self, God or whatever you want to call it, will answer your questions. Seek and you will find. We are information – everything around us is information,” she says.
Divinity Rose has been hosting “The Speak-Easy,” an open mike performance event, where artists of all stripes – from poets to instrumentalists to singers – perform for an appreciative audience at Carly Rae’s bar and restaurant at First and Oak streets since last October. She recently began “Sub-Rosa,” another open mike performance at Diamond’s Pub & Billiards, 3814 Frankfort Avenue. The open mikes are free and open to the public. Anyone can perform. Performers are not paid, but must sign-in at the beginning of each show. Occasionally, Rose has featured guest artists like poet Ron Whitehead.
How did these open mikes come about?
“I wanted a place to bring people from all the arts together. I had friends who were painters, musicians, film makers and poets. My brain works in an organizational manner. I’m a sorter. This way I could bring them all together,” she says.
Poet Allen Ginsberg once said the only thing that is important is to lessen human pain, that everything else was a dumb show. It is a philosophy Rose seems to share.
Any give night, her open mikes may feature any number of musicians and poets of varying abilities. The one constant is Divinity Rose, always in the audience urging them on. Acceptance and love are high on her agenda.
“I’ve always felt if I didn’t do something positive with the things I’ve experienced, I’ve experienced them for nothing. I don’t want my brethren to feel as alone as I once did.”
What’s in Divinity Rose’s future?
“My focus right now is developing my comic books and Web video series. I use the Internet a lot. I write a spiritual column every week and I have readers from all over the world. My Web site, DivinityRose.com, has doubled in hits every month. I’d like also to have a production company to produce videos, books, greeting cards and live performances,” she says.
Unlike your average guru or advice columnist, Rose is anything but doctrinaire.
“No one should do anything unless they are unhappy. If you are unhappy, find a way to change it. But most people are afraid to change because they are afraid of the unknown,” she says.
And Divinity?
“I am absolutely in love with the unknown. My lover is the unknown,” she says.
“The Speak-Easy” takes place every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. at Carly Rae’s bar and restaurant, First and Oak streets. “Sub-Rosa” is on Mondays, 8:30 p.m. till 1:30 p.m. at Diamond’s Pub & Billiards, 3818 Frankfort Avenue.
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