Community – HEAL MY VOICE

Ending

What is ending this year?

For me, it is Heal My Voice. After a three-year process of completing free study guides for the books and a year of Co-Visioning in a group of twelve women authors, the business structure of Heal My Voice is closing. I am in the process, and everything will be finalized by the end of March 2022.
It’s time to expand where I point my attention. I will share more of that in 2022.

The books will continue to be available. The website will stay up for another five years. We will continue to highlight women’s voices on the Facebook Page. Visibility for women’s vulnerable, powerful, inspiring, wise voices will always be important.

Since January 11, 2011, 200 stories were written by 125 women in a nine-month program of healing trauma, loss and grief through writing, speaking and stepping into greater leadership. Women from around the world joined in a Secret Facebook Group and on weekly community calls. Sharing their experiences and process in the small group and then on Blogtalk radio shows. Celebrating each other on social media and taking new awareness and strength into their homes, communities, businesses, and the world.

Endings deserve attention, reflection, and gratitude. Gratitude for the journey, the growth, lessons learned and the experience.

Beth Terrence, the President of Heal My Voice in 2021, led the Co-Visioning group beginning on January 11 2021 and ending in October. We celebrated the tenth anniversary of Heal My Voice and then followed the monthly Heal My Voice process:

Listen

Discover

Explore

Expand

Express

Connect

Reflect

Awaken

Celebrate.

Beth and I met monthly to discuss the focus of each call then gathered with women in a Co-Visioning circle of 12. Beth led us in the process for 90 minutes.

In the Co-Visioning process in 2021, each of the women reflected on what was shifting in their lives – on the inside and the outside. Conversations focused on what was ending and what was ready to be birthed. The vulnerability and heart felt sharing were a blessing to the end of this amazing 11 years with women in the Heal My Voice and Heal My Voice Sweden communities.

Over the next few months, there will be blog posts shared by some of the women authors.

I am grateful for the opportunity to heal and reclaim my voice and to witness the hearts and minds of the courageous, inspiring, visionary women I met along the way.

The books are available at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Andrea%20Hylen

Also on Amazon and can be ordered from your local bookstore.

Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice and The Incubator: A Co-working Space for Cultural Creatives. Life Scientist. Live house-free. Widow. Mom of Adult Daughters. Grief. Writing Sexuality. Evolutionary Woman

Hope and Love Prevail

My favorite film of all time is, The Field of Dreams. It is a film that is filled with examples of hope, following your heart, listening to your intuition and a belief in the good of humanity. So, when I woke up this morning with the song, “I’m feeling good,” playing in my head and I saw the beautiful sun rise over Mt. Rainier, I felt hope in my heart. And I thought of The Field of Dreams.

There are times in my life when I feel like Ray, in the Field of Dreams. One of those times was when I listened to my inner voice and spoke up about abuse and alcoholism in my marriage and people thought I was crazy. Now, 30 years later, I see a President in the White House who is disrespectful and childish and I am no longer alone in what I see. There were 3.2 million people who marched around the world in the Women’s March the day after the inauguration. They marched for love and basic human rights and care. We stand for #humanity together. The Women’s March has continued to open the voices of women and men. #metoo #timesup . We are in this together.

Hope and Love Prevail.

Each of us is being called into greater service and love and kindness. Each of us is being called to stand up for something and someone; to use our privilege to speak up for each other. Each action, no matter how small, is sending a ripple effect into the world. This is a long game, a marathon. So, take care of yourself. Look for the glimmers and sparks of hope. Take Action and Rest. Take Action and Rest. Take Action and Rest. Find the balance that works for you.

At a community group meeting in Seattle, I witnessed a group of 50 people come together and talk about how they can improve their neighborhood. Improve the systems of education, mapping the needs in the community, creating sanctuaries of safety for all, and increased support for marginalized groups.

One of the conversations was about the low income housing that was just built and how to welcome people into their community. How can they come together and create a supportive, friendly environment for all income groups, for all races, for all genders? They are acting locally and that will ripple into the world. One of my friends is knitting welcome mats out of strips of donated fabric. As refugees come to this country and their new home, there is a welcome mat at the door, handmade with love.

Hope and Love Prevail.

I leave you today with a song by Andy Grammar called Fresh Eyes. It was filmed in Los Angeles at the Union Rescue Mission. It is time for Fresh Eyes and finding ways to work together in love and action. We are in this together!

https://youtu.be/5bgemCaaQkU

In love and gratitude,
Andrea Hylen

Andrea Hylen believes in the power of our voices to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, an organization that inspires women to heal a story, reclaim personal power and step into greater leadership. Andrea discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to live life fully after the deaths of her brother, son and husband.

She is following her intuition as she collaborates with women and men in organizations and travels around the world speaking, teaching and leading workshops. Her passion is authentically living life and coaching others to do the same. To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects and on-line writing circles go to: www.andreahylen.com and www.healmyvoice.org.

The Rejuvenating Power of Maverick Living By Sandy McDougall, Guest Blogger

Sandy McDougall is an Author in the Book and a member of the Heal My Voice community.

Feminine Voices: True Stories by Women Transforming Leadership

An inspirational blog!

August 13, 2014

After decades of being a responsible partner, mother, and major manager of my family household, I went on my summer 2014 Maverick Road Trip and took a 5-week long hiatus from it all. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

After much business building from my desk and office, I took the show on the road, inventing ways for my work to continue using the powers of technology and my own ingenuity. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

After many weeks experiencing summer in the suburbs, I found myself in mountains, on lakes, in the woods, by the ocean, and out traveling on the open road. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

After long months of communicating with many dear friends and family only intermittently and primarily by phone and email, I was actually in their homes re-connecting with them in person. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

After years of dreaming about combining adventure and creativity with purposeful work providing positive energy to others, my dream became reality. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

After I committed 100% to the Maverick Road Trip, any number of creative ideas came to me about how to make the experience more fun, more fruitful, more effective, and more meaningful to me and to those I met. Wow! That was truly refreshing.

To read the rest of the blog, click here: http://www.themaverickedge.com/rejuvenating-power/

Sandy McDougall spent decades being a hard-working, responsible woman. She completed 2 degrees, raised 3 sons, learned 4 languages, lived in 5 states, served on 6 boards of directors, competed in 7 different sports, and held 8 different jobs.

Recently, she reclaimed her fun-loving Maverick spirit. She is now an avid speaker, writer, inspirational coach, and advocate for successful Maverick working and living. Sandy is the creator of the Maverick Road Trip concept. She is also your “go-to person” if you decide that you are ready to break some mold and discover what you truly want to do and who you truly want to be.

sandy@themaverickedge.com

www.themaverickedge.com (for blogs and more)

https://facebook.com/themaverickedge

Blogs by Heal My Voice Authors: October 12, 2014

During the month of October, we are shining a light on the Heal My Voice Authors. Every Sunday, the Heal My Voice blog will have a list of blog posts from some of the authors.

So…it’s Sunday, October 12 and week 2 of sharing powerful voices of women! Check out the blogs and leave comments. We want to hear your voice, too.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

Fearless Voices: True Stories by Courageous Women

Empowered Voices: True Stories by Awakened Women

Inspired Voices: True Stories by Visionary Women

Harmonic Voices: True Stories by Women on the Path to Peace

Authors:

Kathleen Nelson Troyer

Blogs this week

A Little Dream Comes True

By Andrea Hylen

http://www.andreahylen.com/a-little-dream-comes-true/

Embracing the Problem You Solve It

By Monisha Mittal

http://www.yourinnerease.com/1/post/2013/08/embracing-the-problem-you-solve-it.html

Keep Breathing

By Karen Porter

http://www.mamaporter.com/2014/05/keep-breathing/

On My Mind: The Scaredy-Cat

By Ann Quasman

http://womantalklive.com/2014/10/09/on-my-mind-the-scaredy-cat/

WTL 5: Meet Beth Terrence

By Beth Terrence

http://womantalklive.com/2014/10/09/wtl-5-meet-beth-terrence/

Whales of Tonga: Part 2. Trust. Prepare. Surrender

By Kathleen Nelson Troyer

http://gentlymovingforward.net/2014/10/02/whales-of-tonga-part-2-trust-prepare-surrender/

Writing: Finding the Rhythm of Your Voice

By Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice

The first time I endeavored to write a short, personal story about my life was for the anthology book of stories by women called, “Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Even though I had been a journal writer for 20+ years and had participated in book circles with women, I found myself stuck in comparing my writing to others with feelings of being vulnerable and exposed and not good enough to publish my words.

I was stuck in not knowing which story to write, what style to write it in and how to get started.

One day I was driving to New York City to have a short overnight visit with my daughter Mary. It was a three and a half hour drive in the pouring down rain with plenty of alone time in the car. I decided to listen to a book on tape. I had just stopped by the library and picked up an audio copy of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. As I listened to her voice and her words for hours, I felt her words so deeply in my heart and soul. She is a professional writer who writes with authenticity about her life and feelings.

Something surprising began to happen as I listened and felt her story. Instead of comparing my writing to hers, I was inspired to tell my own life stories. I was inspired to write from my heart; my way with my voice. I thought to myself, that’s her voice. I want to write from my voice with feelings and passion and connection to my own stories.

Listening to the book on tape inspired me to speak and write and learn how to tell my own stories. I encourage you today to read and listen to stories by other people. Instead of being intimidated by someone’s unique expression, allow them to help you open the door to yours.

Reading the words written by someone else is like listening to music. Open your heart and feel. Let your voice emerge from your soul and find the rhythm of your voice.

I did write my story by climbing into bed with my laptop every night for three weeks and letting the words and the feelings and emotions pour through me. I mentored 44 women to write their stories in the book Conscious Choices. I helped the women find the rhythm of their voices and let go of some formulaic way of writing. Three years later, I became the founder of Heal My Voice. In the first five Heal My Voice books, there are now over 100 vulnerable, powerful, authentic, personal stories and poems written by women who found the rhythm of their voice. We have created a symphony of voices.

Your Voice Matters. Find the rhythm of your voice and write your stories today.

To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com

Andrea Hylen believes in the power of a woman’s voice to usher in a new world. She is the founder of Heal My Voice, a Writing and Transition Coach, Orgasmic Meditation Teacher and co- author of Conscious Choices: An Evolutionary Woman’s Guide to Life. Andrea has discovered her unique gifts while parenting three daughters and learning to celebrate life after the deaths of her brother, son and husband. She currently lives in Los Angeles following the inspiration to collaborate with women in organizations and to travel around the world speaking and leading workshops. Her passion is connecting women to support each other in the full expression of who they are.

Creating Connection With Ceremony And Ritual

By Beth Terrence, Heal My Voice Author, Facilitator And Board Member

One of the greatest diseases of our times is the sense of disconnection that is felt with ourselves, others and the world. By bringing ceremony and ritual into our daily lives, we can begin to reconnect to the sacredness and beauty of life. It can be a way to rediscover ourselves, to align with our soul purpose and to deepen our sense of connection with all things. In many ways, we can view our writing as a ritual and we can also incorporate ceremony and ritual in our lives in a way that supports our writing.

Many people come from backgrounds where ceremony and ritual was some part of a religious upbringing. For some, that is something that is continued on special occasions , during religious services or maybe even in daily life. For others, it is something that may have been abandoned as life progressed in new ways. For some, it may not have been part of growing up at all. Writing is a way we can reconnect with ourselves, too. By being intentional, we can use our writing as a form of ceremony and ritual or we can also create ceremony or ritual to support our process of writing.

In our Heal My Voice programs, we take time to honor our choices and transitions. We suggest using ceremony and ritual in a variety of ways to enhance writing and life. We encourage participants to create ceremony and ritual to support their process of healing and transformation, to celebrate their stories as they are emerging and ultimately upon completion. Although most Heal My Voice circles are a virtual experience, it is clear that during this time we enter into sacred space and upon completion we emerge back into the world “a new woman”.

Using ceremony and ritual is a way to honor and acknowledge the changes and transitions that we all experience in life.

Some of the ways that ceremony and ritual can support us include:

Paying tribute to important life events and honoring our transitions
Being in harmony with the seasons and rhythms of nature
Creating sacredness in our lives
Honoring our ancient traditions or creating new ones
Releasing attachments to energies, relationships and situations, which are no longer serve us
Calling in energies and intentions we wish to bring forward
Evoking an ecstatic state of being and connecting at a soul level
Helping to heal our fundamental spiritual wound – the illusion of separateness from creation
Supporting specific healing for ourselves, others and the world
Aligning our energy with the present moment
Helping us to be more fully conscious and awake
Gaining clarity and understanding our experiences
Accessing spiritual guidance and wisdom

Ceremony can be something we do individually, with others or in community. However we choose to create it, ceremony is a way to step out of the busyness of our lives and the world of linear time into sacred space where deeper understanding, healing and wisdom resides. Ceremony, in and of itself, is a paradigm shift. It can help us to focus on our visions and intentions and begin to draw them into the world of matter, allowing them to become manifest.

Rituals are specific rites or tools we use as part of ceremony. They can also be used to create sacredness in any moment. Many shamans begin the day by honoring the directions and connecting with the elements of nature. Many people begin their day with meditation or prayer of some kind. Whatever it is, beginning the day with some type of ritual or spiritual practice is a powerful way to move consciously into your daily life. Some ways to create ritual include:

Lighting a candle
Setting an intention
Burning sage or other healing herbs such as sweet grass, yerba santé or cedar
Setting up an altar and arranging spiritually meaningful articles or pictures on it
Drumming, rattling, chanting, singing or listening to music or sounds of nature
Reciting prayers silently or aloud or reading from a sacred text
Cultivating a meditation practice
Being in silence and honoring the sacredness that comes from that space

As a practicing shaman and healer, ceremony and ritual is a core practice for me. It is not based on any one religion or tradition but on generating a strong connection with spirit, receiving guidance and living in an intentional way. Whether you choose to practice ceremony and ritual with others or on your own, it is important to create practices that support you in the present moment. Here are some questions to consider in creating a ceremony or ritual practice:

What is your intention? What is the reason for the ceremony or ritual?
Will it be personal, with another person or group?
What elements or tools need to be gathered? What preparation needs to happen?
What will the structure of the ceremony or ritual be? Who will perform it? Where will it be done?
Are there any prayers, readings, songs, poems, and dances, etc. that you wish to include?
How will you open and close the ceremony?

Ceremony and ritual can be a beneficial part of daily spiritual practice. It can help to align our energies in the present moment and to bring increased harmony to our lives. Take some time this week to consider what you would like to create in your life and how ceremony and ritual may support that process. Explore whether there is some ceremony or ritual that might support your writing process, too. Whether it is creating a ceremony with a specific intention or incorporating a ritual into your daily life, notice how this experience invokes a deeper sense of connection with yourself, others and the world.

Many Blessings,

Beth

Beth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer. She has been working in the field of Holistic Healing and Transformation for over 18 years. This path evolved from her own healing journey through fibromyalgia and the impact of trauma on her life. Beth found that by taking a holistic approach to life and well-being, she was able to achieve of a state of happiness and wholeness that she never imagined was possible. Her mission is to support others in cultivating a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.

Writing has always been one of Beth’s greatest passions. Since childhood, she has written poetry and kept a journal. Participating in a Heal My Voice project opened the door to Beth stepping forward in the world as a writer. Her stories are featured in Inspired Voices: True Stories of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace. Beth joined the Heal My Voice board of directors in May 2013. Additionally, she is the lead facilitator and program developer for a Heal My Voice program that brings writing and creativity to women in addiction recovery at Chrysalis House in Crownsville, MD.

Beth is available for Integrative Transformational Healing Sessions & Programs by Phone/Skype or in person in Annapolis, MD. She offers a variety of classes, workshops and trainings on Holistic Healing, Transformation, Writing and Creativity in the MD/DC/VA area and virtually. Beth also writes regularly on her own blog, The Heart Of Awakening: Searching For A New Paradigm, an online resource for transformation and healing. To learn more about Beth’s Integrative Transformational Healing Services, visit http://www.bethterrence.com.

Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer:

20% Off All Sessions By Phone/Skype Or In Person In Annapolis, MD Thru July 31st…

Integrative Healing Sessions may include Shamanic Healing, Bach Flower Remedies, Zero Balancing, Body/Energy Therapies, Meditation, Holistic Self-Care and other holistic resources to support transformation and healing on all levels – body, mind, emotion and spirit.

Learn more about Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer and Integrative Transformational Healing Services in July’s Discover The Healer Within E-News…

Where To Connect With Beth:

Website: www.bethterrence.com

Blog: http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bethterrence

Twitter: @BethTerrence

Contact: beth@bethterrence.com

Inspired Voices: A Blessing

For the past few days we have been talking about different pieces of writing to write for the construction of a book. We talked about the Foreword and the Introduction.

One of the traditions in the Heal My Voice Books is to ask someone from outside of the project to write a Blessing.

The intention of the blessing is to:

*Bless the women who have written a vulnerable, powerful story about some part of their personal life journey

*Bless the people who read the stories

*Bless the world

Here is the blessing from Inspired Voices: True Stories by Visionary Women:

Blessings from One

By Marie ek Lipanovska

Inspired is the star on a dark sky at night showing us the way to salvation.
Inspired are the first leaves coming through the surface after a cold hard winter.
Inspired are the birds singing in spring time.

Inspired are the children born on this day and walking on their own within a year.
Inspired are the men working daily to keep their families and communities safe.
Inspired are the women in this book writing a story to heal the world through their own bodies.

This is one inspiring book with many inspired voices coming together as One.
The voices of the inspired One are the voices of those that are In Spirit.
Although they speak with different tunes they are the inspired voice of One.
Inspired is the voice that writes as One, to everyone. Inspiration is the emotion of the contact with One.

It is a complete symphony you are holding in your hand. Music is brought to you with each and every story. Songs are being sung for you. You are listening to the One voice of unconditional Love that are here to heal a story within you. Open up to receive the Love and Blessings from One, through the Inspired Voices of these women.

~Marie Ek Lipanovska, the Voice of One

Founder of Heal My Voice Sweden

Marie Ek Lipanovska is a woman dedicated to empower her own voice by focusing on different styles of listening. She finds her inner wisdom and her strength through meditation, prayer and silence. For sixteen years she has worked with guided meditations. The divine guidance coming through her deep devotion to listen, leads her to share her voice through several shows on her own blogtalkradio and by co-operating with other leading ladies in the field of empowering women. Marie is a passionate writer, sharing her words in books and blog posts, giving lectures, doing webinars, teleseminars and gathering women in circles. !She is a former freelance journalist and also the co-author of Empowered Voices: True Stories by Awakened Women. During spring 2013 two of her books are released in Sweden. One is a conversation with God and the other book contains channeled messages from Christ. !Marie is also leading the first Heal My Voice Sweden book circle for 22 Swedish women. In September 2013 this first Swedish book will be for sale. !www.sjalaglad.nu and www.healmyvoicesweden.se

Awaken and Stimulate Your Writer Senses

By Andrea Hylen, Founder and Executive Director of Heal My Voice

Writing for healing and self-discovery; here are some ways to open your senses and connect to the richness of a story.

1) Artist Date: In The Artist’s Way, author Julia Cameron talks about taking yourself on an artist date. It awakens your senses and helps to release your thinking brain.

Go to an art museum, a craft store, sit down with a pad of paper and crayons or pastel crayons and draw something or just scribble. See what creative medium is calling to you. Write down words with gel pens, colored pencils or markers. Crayons can awaken the inner child memories. Go to a fabric store and feel the fabric. Take a walk through a farmer’s market and pause to see the colors, smell the foods, listen to the conversations, touch the fruits and vegetables and flowers and feel the sensations in your body.

2. Listen to a variety of music. What were some of your favorite songs during your childhood, as a teen, in your early adulthood? What memories does the music stir and awaken? What are the feelings? Listen to different genres: folk, pop, jazz, rock, classical, country, hip hop and blues. Listen to different cultures: African, Asian, Caribbean, Brazilian, and Avant Garde. Immerse yourself and see what

3) In a journal, choose a scene and practice writing about feelings and emotions and what the scene looks like. How would you describe this to a person who is blind, who is hearing impaired, or cannot smell or taste?

4) Get a different perspective. If you are writing about something that happened with another person, spend time thinking about the story from their perspective. Write a short story from two or three or four perspectives.

5) Sit in a coffee shop or a park bench and make up stories about the conversations that are happening with the people around you.

6) Look at the story you are writing with a microscope and look at it with a telescope. Go in to describe the little details closely and then zoom out for the big picture details. Play with the story from the minute to the broad details.

7) Take walks. Connect with the rhythm of nature. Look for clues along the way. What are you drawn to? Colors, shapes, textures. Do any woodland creatures cross your path? Google the “Animal Speak” message if you see a squirrel, a dog, a giraffe or another animal. Animal speak wisdom for a dog crossing your path is to reflect on the meaning of loyalty in your life. Google the Animal totem for birds, animals and insects.

8) Connect with body-mind-spirit with physical activity to stimulate ideas for your story. Yoga, jogging, swimming. Ask yourself a question or set an intention before exercising. In yoga, I always set an intention to learn or shift something during the session.

9) Read someone’s story in a book or article and see what feelings it stirs up for you.

Wake up all of your senses!

To connect with Andrea and learn about current projects go to: www.andreahylen.com

Finding Our Voice, Living Our Heart

By Beth Terrence ~ Heal My Voice Author, Facilitator & Board Member

Being vulnerable doesn’t have to be threatening. Just have the courage to be sincere, open and honest. This opens the door to deeper communication all around. It creates self-empowerment and the kind of connections with others we all want in life. Speaking from the heart frees us from the secrets that burden us. These secrets are what make us sick or fearful. Speaking truth helps you get clarity on your real heart directives.” – Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart

It took me until my early thirties to really accept that in order to live a life of authenticity and truth I needed to make a paradigm shift. This shift was based on moving the guiding force in my life from the mind to the heart. I’ve been blessed to have many teachers along the way who have shared their heart wisdom and who have helped me to find the courage and strength to access my own vulnerability.

I grew up in a world where “everything was okay”, all the time. Even when things were really not okay, when they were chaotic and at times, insane, the messages I received were that we didn’t talk about that, we just said, “I’m fine, everything is okay.” Needless to say, it was very confusing and it didn’t take long for me to have the awareness that what people share with the world and what is really going on in the their lives, let alone inside themselves, is vastly different.

The “I’m fine, everything is okay” was my paradigm for a long time. Even as I began to do some deeper work, to explore my inner landscape, and to access my emotions, there was still a part of me who held onto to that pattern. In fact, at times, it still emerges today. I believe this pattern is inherent for many of us and is one of the great obstacles to shifting into the new paradigm.

I see this on both the personal and collective levels. As individuals, when we say, “I am fine, everything is okay,” and it is not what we are feeling, we are denying a part of ourselves and we are denying our own truth. We are also putting a wall around our heart that is then forced to hold in and suppress what our true experience is at that time.

On a larger scale, we all see and experience things in the world that are not okay. And, we do focus on those things and address them in a variety of ways. I wonder what things could look like if we all really spoke up about our true feelings about what goes on in our world. Most often, it is anger that is the driving force to speak up and/or take action. But if we were to go into the depths of our heart, what would we share about our world and what might we feel that really needs to be spoken?

One of the tools I have found that supports this opening is the process of Council, which is based on traditional talking circles used by many indigenous peoples. When we come together in a council or circle, our intention is to share our hearts and our truth, tuning into what is arising in the present moment. A talking piece is used to indicate that whoever is holding the piece is the only speaker at that time and the others circle members are listening until it is their turn to have the piece.

The council process can support communication, self-awareness, collective wisdom, relationship, community building, and peacemaking. Council is one of the tools we utilize as part of the Heal My Voice Chrysalis House Program and it’s principles are inherent in the structure of all of the Heal My Voice projects.

Although Council is usually done in a group, the principles of Council are a powerful tool that can be used in creating a shift into the new paradigm and particularly in breaking the old pattern of “I’m fine, everything is okay”. It is way to step out of the mind and into the space of the heart to access our deeper feelings and allow truth to emerge in a space of safety, respect and acceptance, both with ourselves and others.

Here are some of the basic principles of Council, which can be used to support a group process or as a foundation for living daily life in a more authentic and conscious way:

1) Listen from the heart. Take a few moments to drop down from the head into the heart space. Whether you are in circle listening to others, or tuning into your own heart wisdom, listen with openness, knowing there is no need to give advice or feedback. We often feel that we must have answers for other people and really what we need is to be heard and to have our heart sharing witnessed. So much healing comes from the place of listening and sharing. As we listen from a heart-centered place, we are being more fully present and allowing our own vulnerability to emerge. Also, where we really need to begin this shift is in listening to our own hearts and being willing to hear our own true feelings without trying to suppress, resolve or fix them.

2) Speak from the heart. Take a few moments to be still, to drop from your head into your heart and allow what is true for you in that moment to be arise. This may be something you need to practice with yourself as well as others. Before we are able to become vulnerable with others, it is necessary to be willing to be vulnerable and truly honest with ourselves. Speaking does not have to mean words; it can include sound, song, and even silence. In Council, the intention is to speak what will serve you, the circle and the highest good. This is a great way to think about what we need to communicate.

3) Be lean. Focus on what is important and what is really at the heart of the matter. We often have many thoughts circling round and round in our minds but when we drop into the heart space, it takes few words to express what we feel and what is important. This practice fosters clarity and understanding.

4) Be spontaneous. When you allow yourself to drop into the heart space, you may be surprised by what arises. We often think we are going to talk about one thing and then when we allow ourselves to move below the surface, something very different emerges. Allowing ourselves to be spontaneous and let go of agenda allows for playfulness, real-ness and our true voice to emerge.

One thing I would like to add to this list is patience. Shifting into a heart-centered way of being is a process. The heart moves much slower than the mind. As the energies of our world are moving faster and faster, the need to slow down and drop into this heart space is even greater. I encourage you to take some time to explore your heart, to access your vulnerability and to allow your deeper truth to emerge.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, feelings and reflections.

And, if you are ready to explore this more deeply, I invite you to join me for Love Yourself, Live Your Life Summer Breakthrough Teleclass Program starting 7/22. Learn more…

Beth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer. She has been working in the field of Holistic Healing and Transformation for over 18 years. This path evolved from her own healing journey through fibromyalgia and the impact of trauma on her life. Beth found that by taking a holistic approach to life and well-being, she was able to achieve of a state of happiness and wholeness that she never imagined was possible. Her mission is to support others in cultivating a heart-centered, balanced and joyful life through discovering the healer within.

Where To Connect With Beth:

Website: www.bethterrence.com

Blog: http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bethterrence

Twitter: @BethTerrence

Contact: beth@bethterrence.com

Empowering Women In Addiction Recovery Through Writing & Creativity

By Beth Terrence ~ Heal My Voice Author, Facilitator & Board Member

For the past year, I have had the privilege to work on a pilot Heal My Voice project that brings writing, journaling and creativity to women who are in long-term residential addictions treatment. This project grew out of my work with the two non-profits that I volunteer with – Heal My Voice and Chrysalis House. This program developed organically when I shared some magazines with the Chrysalis House that had an article I had written on 7 Ways To Cultivate Love & Compassion For Yourself, based on a post from this blog. It also featured an article about Heal My Voice founder Andrea Hylen. One of the clients at Chrysalis House was so interested in the Heal My Voice program that she reached out through her caseworker to Andrea directly. This empowered step led to Heal My Voice offering a 3-hour writing and creativity workshop at Chrysalis House in Crownsville, MD in May of 2013.

Little did we know at the time that this one event would open the door to a whole new Heal My Voice program. The mission of Heal My Voice is as follows:

Heal My Voice empowers and supports women and girls globally to heal, reclaim their voice and step into greater leadership in their lives and in the world.

I have participated in several Heal My Voice writing programs and over the last year joined as a facilitator and board member as well. After our initial workshop, there was such an amazing response from the clients at Chrysalis House, that we were asked to come back on a regular basis. This has led to me leading a weekly writing circle in addition to a 3-hour monthly creativity workshop, which is supported by other local Heal My Voice authors. Adapting the original Heal My Voice program model to a residential treatment program has been an expansive experience. During this time, I have been working closely with Heal My Voice Founder Andrea Hylen who attends the program when she is on the East Coast. What has emerged is the foundation for a program model that can brought to other addictions treatment programs and recovery centers around the country.

I have truly been awed by the words that have emerged from the women of Chrysalis House. Journaling was something that was always recommended but without facilitation the staff found it wasn’t really happening. By creating a space for writing and creativity, and offering tools and techniques to support self-expression, journaling has become an important part of the each women’s journey in recovery. This is something that is initiated in the treatment process but offers a powerful tool to support ongoing healing and recovery.

Here are some of the words from one of the women in the program:

My Own Prison

I’ve built my own prison inside of me,
It doesn’t consist of a warden or a key.
The walls are layered with bricks of emotions,
The bars are made of rage,
You couldn’t imagine the hell and commotion.

First a foundation built from addiction,
Then the floors are laid of abuse and confliction.
Every brick in the wall has it’s own tale;
I was warned to change but to no avail.

So I ask myself now,
“Was it all worth all this pain?”
The deteriorating life I tried so hard to sustain.
The very reality of being confined;
Holds no comparison to the shackles on my mind.

I know my day will come when I’ll be released,
But the question still lies, “will I really be free”?
Not free from confinement but free from the chains,
That are linked from my heart to my mind that remains.

The power of these words speaks to the impact of this project and how writing can be a vehicle for freedom through self-expression. The Chrysalis House program is just completing it’s first year and we are in the process of creating a book of writing from the women who have participated so far. The message we share with our community at large is :

“YOUR VOICE MATTERS”

This the message we try to bring home to the women of Chrysalis House and so giving them a platform to see their words in print is a way to reflect this message to them.

We invite you to more about the Heal My Voice Chrysalis House Program and if you feel to support this grassroots project, monetary or in-kind donations are always appreciated . In addition to funding for the administration of the program itself, we continually provide materials for clients to make their own journals as well as other creative projects. We are always in need of the following items:

Composition Books

Glue Sticks

Packing Tape

Scissors

Markers

Art & Craft Materials

Here are some of the journals created by the amazing women of Chrysalis House:

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Learn more at www.bethterrence.com or check out her new teleclass program starting July 22nd:

Love Yourself, Live Your Life
Summer Breakthrough Program
With Beth Terrence
5-Session Teleclass

Do you want to live more from the heart?

Is it a struggle to be gentle and loving with yourself?

Are you ready to step into your soul purpose from a space of the heart?

Does your inner critic keep you stuck?

Do you want to have a deeper sense of connection with yourself, others and the world?

In this 5-Session Teleclass, you will:

Learn to connect with your heart on a deeper level and live more from the heart space.

Cultivate love and compassion for yourself using a variety of transformational tools including meditation, shamanic journey work, affirmations, self-reflection and creative exercises.

Uncover limiting beliefs and obstacles that prevent you from embodying greater love and compassion for your self and others and also, keep you from moving forward in your life.

Learn to access your essential self and embody your soul purpose from the space of the heart

Begin to facilitate your own process of transformation and healing and create a foundation to continue that process in your life.

Dates: Tuesday, July 22nd – August 19th

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 EST

Where: Wherever You Are – Call in by phone or listen online

Audio replays will be available after the weekly call

Basic Package $97, includes

– 5 weekly teleclass sessions

– an mp3 audio of calls

– weekly transformational resource handouts

– private Facebook discussion group, plus

– 2 special audio bonuses

Register by July 14th for Special Pricing ~ $77

Premium Package $247, includes

– Basic Program plus

– One 1 1/2 hour Individual Session with Beth Terrence in person in Annapolis, MD or By PHONE/SKYPE

– 31 Day May If For Metta Guided Audio Program

Register by July 14th for Special Pricing $227

Are you ready to embrace the truth of who you are –

a being full of loving-kindness and compassion?

How much longer do you want to continue struggling?

Do you want the heart to be a guiding force in your life?

The journey begins with you!

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