Writing – Page 3 – HEAL MY VOICE

Cultivating Leadership

There was a period in my life where I discovered the rich experience of cultivating leaders vs being the person in charge who had all the answers. The experience of working as a Girl Scout leader for 10 years changed the way I saw my role as a leader and expanded me as a person. I learned that my style of leadership was to find ways of empowering others and create an environment for them grow into being more of who they are. I learned when to stand on the stage and when to stand quietly in the background. I learned how to hold a space for someone’s leadership skills to emerge.

One year, a mother of one of the girls from my troop was organizing a court of awards ceremony at a large community event. Our troop was to provide Girl Scouts and flags from our troop for the ceremony. One of the Junior Girl Scouts named Mariam came to me and said she would like to be in the ceremony. She would like to carry a flag. When I mentioned this to the mother who was organizing the ceremony her immediate response was no because Mariam was too loud and boisterous and would never settle down for this serious ceremony. The mother said that Mariam would embarrass our troop by joking and laughing.

I disagreed with her. She was right about Mariam’s energy being loud and boisterous. Mariam had a big personality and she liked to push this limits. She was oozing with power and enthusiasm and was still learning how to channel it into creativity. She was a very talented artist and was full of life. For five years, I had watched her grow as she learned how to harness and use and direct her personal power. I believed that if she said she wanted be a part of this ceremony she would be able to focus and do the job. I knew my role was to support her and provide another experience that would lead her to become a powerful young woman. It was not to create a perfect ceremony. I stood up for Mariam, talked to the mother about giving each of the girls a chance to develop leadership skills and told her this was an opportunity for Mariam to stretch herself into a new situation. The mother reluctantly agreed.

I talked with Mariam about her desire. I let her know that I believed in her and that I stood up for her. I let her know that it was up to her to show us what she could do. This was her opportunity to be a leader for our troop and in the community.

On the day of the ceremony Mariam was excited and nervous. I gave her a hug, looked her in the eyes, told her I believed in her and encouraged her to enjoy the experience. Serious did not mean she couldn’t have fun and enjoy it. I was so proud of Mariam as I watched her stand up straight and proudly carry the flag. There was a moment when Mariam’s friend Katie, who was carrying a flag in the ceremony and walking next to Mariam, began to giggle. No one ever imagined that Katie would be the one to disrupt the ceremony during a moment of silence in the room. Mariam did not react. She stayed focused on honoring the flag, the ceremony and herself. She led the way and demonstrated a new leadership.

Experiences with the Girl Scouts is what helped me to form the structure for Heal My Voice programs and the Board of Directors for Heal My Voice. Creating environments for women to be leaders in the same space. Excavating desire and fanning the flames of that desire. Witnessing the emergence of a fuller expression of their leadership through writing, speaking and greater visibility on social media. Knowing when to listen, when to speak and when to shout my message from the mountaintop. Being inspired by the brilliant shining lights of women and receiving their inspiration.

(Photo of Authors of Heal My Voice project: Fearless Voices: True Stories by Courageous Women. )

I am grateful to all of the Girl Scouts and parents who provided such a rich learning experience for my own leadership to emerge. I am grateful to the women in Heal My Voice programs (over 100 women now!) who have trusted me to hold some of their most vulnerable, precious thoughts as they write a story to heal. In August, I am taking all of those experiences as I travel to Sweden and meet with Heal My Voice Sweden women in person.

What are you noticing with your leadership style? What is shifting and changing? What are your experiences? Post in the comments. We want to hear Your Voice!

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.

Using Blogtalk Radio to Connect to Your Voice: Part 1

For several years before I founded the organization, Heal My Voice, I spent time immersed in writing, social media and internet radio. I was discovering and exploring my voice and asking questions about what was next in my life.

My first experience with BlogTalk Radio was as a guest. After attending an Evolutionary Women Retreat in Santa Barbara in 2005, I became determined to bring the retreat to the East Coast. In 2007 that became a reality.

The co-founders. Lucky Sweeny, Bonnie Kelley and I were invited to speak on a variety of shows. I was intrigued by how easy it was to dial in to the show from my phone and have a conversation with the host. Once I was driving through central Missouri on a road trip with my daughter. From a rest stop, I dialed the number from my cell phone and had an hour long conversation from my car. Lucky and Bonnie in California. The radio show host in New Mexico. Me in Missouri at the side of the road. Connected and having a conversation on the air waves. How cool is that!

The focus of the call was to talk about the next Evolutionary Women retreat which was scheduled for Oct 2008 and BlogTalk was an easy way to promote it. We talked about women waking up on the planet, conscious evolution, Barbara Marx Hubbard and shared the details of how to sign up for the retreat. There was great content and conversation and there was an opportunity to share the info about the retreat and how to sign up for it.

Another radio experience:

In September of 2010. I launched an e-book club to help people discover their own inner journey. I had moved from Maryland to California 10 months earlier and had written a book about my experience of a hero’s journey. One of my sponsors was Kathryn Yarborough, the founder of Flowing with Change.

For Kathryn’s sponsorship, she chose the social media sponsor package. On one of our Skype planning calls, I suggested we coordinate a tele-seminar for her to share more of her work and wisdom and experience. Over two or three conversations, the tele-seminar evolved into a BlogTalk Radio Show called Living on the Edge. We made a one-year commitment to co-host a show twice a month to share a conversation about what it looked like to live on the edge during all of the transitions in 2011.

With all of the changes happening in the world, we took our private conversations and shared them publicly. We weren’t really sure how this would support our businesses but we felt a strong inner calling to share our experiences publicly. Women sharing challenges and solutions.

Getting Started

1) If you do not have a Blog Talk account. Go sign up. I had an account for years just for listening to shows. It is free. It is like signing up for a newsletter or mailing list or Facebook or Twitter account. Set up the account. You cannot change your username but you can change the name for the show, if you decide on a different name.

www.blogtalkradio.com When Kathryn and I started our show. We used my account and changed the name from Andrea Hylen to Living on the Edge.

2) Go listen to some shows. Find categories that interest you.

3) Blogtalk has lots of tutorials and on Youtube you can search and find people offering ideas and suggestions.

Tomorrow I will share some more experiences of using Blogtalk with individuals and groups and I will share another tip.

Share your experiences with Blogtalk in the comments section. We love to hear Your Voice!

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

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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

Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space

A few years ago, I was inspired to create a space for Heal My Voice writers to gather and energetically receive support and consistency for writing. I called it the Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space. Every month, I create 12 audio recordings on the first 12 days of every month with an inspiration and silent time to write.

I cut words and phrases out of magazines and collect them in plastic sandwich bags. Every day, I close my eyes and connect with the energy of the day. Then, I reach in to the bag and pull out a clipping.

I begin the recording with some thoughts about the words and then “open the space” for 25 minutes of silence. At the end of the 25 minutes, I say a few words and end the recording.

It is a tool and a resource for setting up a time and space to write.

Here is the recording from July 1, 2014:

The phrase is ” The Guide: Home”

Enjoy!

Sacred Sanctuary Writing Space:

July 1, 2014

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=57217512

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

Blogs by Heal My Voice Authors: July 13, 2014

During the month of July, 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, July 13 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:

Transition: Becoming the Queen

By Andrea Hylen

Transition: Becoming the Queen

Creating Healthy Boundaries~Stops Your Suffering

By Marilyn O’Malley

http://www.marilynomalley.com/2014/07/boundaries/

It’s My Birthday!

By Karen Porter

http://www.mamaporter.com/2014/07/birthday/

Radical Disruption

By Karen Ribeiro

http://www.innerfortune.com/radical-disruption/

On My Mind: The Good Little Changes That Make a Big Difference

By Ann Quasman

http://womantalklive.com/2014/07/10/on-my-mind-the-good-little-changes-that-make-a-big-difference/

Love Yourself. Live Your Life. Summer Breakthrough Program

By Beth Terrence

http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/love-yourself-live-your-life-summer-breakthrough-program/

The Body’s Reality

By Adrienne Yeardye

http://adrienneyeardye.com/the-bodys-reality/

Journaling For Health And Well-Being

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and Board Member

Journaling or reflective writing is a practice that has been around for a long time. Whether someone is a “writer” or not, really matters little when it comes to personal writing. Journaling is simply a way to express and explore our life experiences and ourselves on a deeper level through the written word or even through art or imagery, too. It doesn’t have to be for anyone but ourselves. And, it is an exciting time as we are now seeing the scientific evidence supporting the benefit of this simple practice for our overall health and well-being.

University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker has done extensive research on the benefits of journaling. He has found that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. Other research has indicated that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Pennebaker believes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thereby reducing the impact of stressors on your physical health. He recommends writing for 20 minutes per day.

Additionally, the benefits go way beyond your physical health. Scientific evidence has discovered that the act of writing actually accesses your left brain, which is the analytical and rational part. When you begin writing, your left brain becomes engaged freeing your right brain to create, intuit and feel. So, in a sense, writing takes you out of your head and into your heart. This allows you to use all of your brainpower to better understand yourself, others and the world around you. The act of writing is helping you to access your creativity on a deeper level.

Journaling helps you to:

Clarify your thoughts and feelings.
Know yourself better.
Reduce stress.
Be healthier.
Solve problems more effectively.
Resolve disagreements with others
Practice good self-care
Access your creativity
Release and Express Held Memories & Emotions
Set Intentions

You may be saying to yourself, “But, I’m not a writer, so how can journaling work for me?” There are many ways to explore journaling and many types of practices. Writing offers an opportunity to explore who you are, what are your likes and dislikes, and your strengths and weaknesses. It is a vehicle to find your voice and explore ways you can flow more easily with life.

Here are some ways you can explore writing and journaling:

Stream Of Consciousness ~ Just put the pen on the paper and let whatever words come to mind flow onto the page
List Writing (e.g. Make a list of Feelings, Choices, Losses, Things You Enjoy, Topics for Writing, Triggers, Self-Care Toolbox, Favorites, etc.)
Gratitude – Make a list of everything you are grateful for – this can be a powerful daily practice
Affirmations & Intentions – For the day, month, year or as you feel to
Prayers/Blessings – Write for yourself, family, friends, the world…
Meditations – Pick a topic like peace, love, happiness, etc.
Poetry – Explore haiku or free verse. Write a poem or read a poem and write what it means to you.
Just For Today I will… – Write
Letter Writing (e.g. To Self, Family, Friends, Higher Power, Past/Future)
Holistic Exploration – Do A Check-In or Self-Care Review For Body, Mind, Emotion & Spirit
Morning Pages – Do three handwritten stream of consciousness pages first thing every morning (from The Artist’s Way)
Or, try Dr. Pennebaker’s Basic Writing Assignment:

Here are some books on journaling and writing to explore, too!

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Journey Notes: Writing for Recovery & Spiritual Growth by Richard Solly & Roseann Lloyd
Writing from the Body by John Lee
Creative Journal Writing by Stephanie Dowrick
The Daily Writer by Fred White
Writing Begins with the Breath by Laraine Herring
Writing as a Sacred Path by Jill Jepson

I hope you’ll take some time to explore journaling for health and well-being. If you don’t have a journal, you may wish to browse around for a journal that feels meaningful to you. Or, just pick up a composition book or blank sketchbook and you are ready to go. If you want to, you can decorate it and use the words or images to inspire your writing. Maybe you want to make one journal dedicated to self-care or gratitude practice. Be creative, explore and enjoy!

If you have any journaling practices or tools that you’d like to share, feel free to drop us a note in the comments below. We love to hear from you – YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

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 Summer is a the perfect time to relax, reflect and renew. We’ve passed the Solstice so the days are beginning to get shorter once again but the Fire energy of summer is still very strong through July 22nd. The intensity of this Yang energy can take a toll on our system – it is still very expansive but a part of us is beginning to pull within. With the outward energy of summer, increased social activities and extreme heat and humidity, our systems can more easily move out of balance. It may not be uncommon to experience fatigue, headaches, and intense waves of emotions during this time. I invite you to come for a healing session to support your overall balance and ease of well-being. Take A Break ~ Relax, Reflect & Renew! 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

Blogs by Heal My Voice Authors: July 6, 2014

During the month of July, 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 and here it is! Check out the blogs and leave comments. We want to hear your voice, too.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

Authors Today wrote stories in:

Fearless Voices: True Stories by Courageous Women

Empowered Voices: True Stories by Awakened Women

In spired Voices: True Stories by Visionary Women

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

Authors Today:

Enjoy!

Standing at a Gateway of Transformation?

By Liz Draman
http://www.lizdraman.com/2013/05/15/standing-at-a-gateway-of-transformation/

Spiritual Gifts: Living a Charmed Life

By Andrea Hylen

http://www.andreahylen.com/spiritual-gifts/

You BE You! I’ll Be Me!

By Karen Porter

http://www.mamaporter.com/2014/07/ill/

On My Mind: Getting Energized… and, Its Free!

By Ann Quasman

http://womantalklive.com/2014/07/03/on-my-mind-getting-energized-and-its-free/

My Journey with God

By Karen Ribeiro

www.innerfortune.com/my-journey-with-god/

Bach Flower of the Month: Sweet Chestnut~Easing Anguish and Sorrow

By Beth Terrence

http://theheartofawakening.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/bach-flower-of-the-month-sweet-chestnut-easing-anguish-sorrow/

Why Caterpillar to Butterfly is a Bad Metaphoe For Humans

By Tammy Vitale

http://tammyvitale.com/why-caterpillar-to-butterfly-is-a-bad-metaphor-for-humans/

30 Quotes To Inspire & Ignite Your Writing

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and Board Member

One of the tools that has helped me to develop as a writer and to support others in getting their words flowing is to have a toolbox of various writing prompts. A writing prompt simply consists of an idea, word, image, phrase or set of instructions to help you jumpstart your writing. You may want to use a prompt on the days when you just can’t seem to get the words flowing or you may wish to work with writing prompts as a part of your regular writing practice.

One of my favorite type of writing prompts are quotes. When looking for inspiration, I look for a quote on a specific topic or theme, such as love, peace or leadership or I may gather as many quotes as I can on that topic and put them all together on one sheet. Later, I cut them up and put them in my idea box, post them around or save them in a ziploc baggie for future use. Sometimes when looking for a prompt for the Heal My Voice Chrysalis House weekly writing circle, I will bring a bag of quotes; participants will pick one randomly and then explore what inspiration comes from the quote for their writing that day.

I have found that as a writer, it’s essential to have a variety of tools in your toolbox. I find quotes to be a great tool for getting my ideas and words flowing. And, one of my favorite things to do is read quotes by other writers to help me gain insight into the art of writing and the experience of being a writer. Here are 30 quotes by writers to inspire and ignite your writing:

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ~ Sylvia Plath

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ~ Madeleine L’Engle

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ~ Toni Morrison

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” ~ Stephen King

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” ~ Mark Twain

“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” ~ Saul Bellow

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ~ Anais Nin

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” ~ Ray Bradbury

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~ Louis L’Amour

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” ~ Anne Frank

“A word after a word after a word is power.” ~ Margaret Atwood

“Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, and then you do it for money.” ~ Virginia Wolf

“Tears are words that need to be written.” ~ Paulo Coehlo

“Write the kind of story you would like to read. People will give you all sorts of advice about writing, but if you are not writing something you like, no one else will like it either.” ~ Meg Cabot

“The role of a writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.” ~ Anais Nin

“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” ~ Albert Camus

“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” ~ James A. Michener

“Write what should not be forgotten.” ~ Isabel Allende

“I’ve got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen.” ~ Louisa May Alcott

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” ~ Emily Dickinson

“Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.” ~ Muriel Rukeyser

“Instructions for living a life:
pay attention
be astonished
tell about it” ~ Mary Oliver

“Revision is not going back and fussing around, but going forward into the highly complex and satisfying process of creation” ~ Mary Sarton

“Writing is an extreme privilege but it’s also a gift. It’s a gift to yourself and it’s a gift of giving a story to someone.” ~ Amy Tan

“If you’re going to write a good book, you have to make mistakes and you have to not be so cautious all the time.” ~ Zadie Smith

It’s better to write about things you feel than about things you know about. ~ L. P. Hartley

My aim is to put down what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way I can tell it. ~ Ernest Hemingway

“The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.” ~ Ursula K. Le Guin

I hope you’ll take some time to explore working with quotes as a writing prompt. And, if you have any favorite quotes by writers that you would like to share, please drop us a note in the comments below.

Happy Writing!

Beth’s Take A Break Summer Special Offer:

20% Off All Sessions By Phone/Skype Or In Person In Annapolis, MD

Summer is a the perfect time to relax, reflect and renew. We’ve passed the Solstice so the days are beginning to get shorter once again but the Fire energy of summer is still very strong through July 22nd. The intensity of this Yang energy can take a toll on our system – it is still very expansive but a part of us is beginning to pull within. With the outward energy of summer, increased social activities and extreme heat and humidity, our systems can more easily move out of balance. It may not be uncommon to experience fatigue, headaches, and intense waves of emotions during this time. I invite you to come for a healing session to support your overall balance and ease of well-being. Take A Break ~ Relax, Reflect & Renew!

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

An Empowered Voice Knows

An Empowered Voice knows when to Listen.

An Empowered Voice knows when to Speak.

An Empowered Voice knows when to stand on the mountaintop and shout.

~ Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice

Introduction to the Book:

Empowered Voices: True Stories by Awakened Women

By Andrea Hylen, Founder of Heal My Voice

In the Spring of 2012, I was immersed in supporting and creating a safe space for the twenty-three authors of the powerful stories in this second, “Heal My Voice” book publication. One vulnerable word at a time, these successful women were reclaiming hidden aspects of their own personal power: writing to heal a story in their lives.

As I settled into my living room to fold laundry one cozy evening, I came upon a replay of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. All in black and white, the camera slowly zoomed in to focus on a husband cooking breakfast for his wife. They lived in a camping trailer and you could see the wife sleeping in the bed next to the kitchen. As the camera followed the husband carrying a tray of eggs, toast and coffee towards the bed, the wife began to yawn with cooing sounds of love and recognition and a soft “good morning,” stretch. He leaned down, carefully balancing the tray and kissing her on the cheek. Nuzzling her with his lips, cheek to cheek, he snuggled up to her ear, whispering softly, “Hey Worthless.”
When I heard those two little words, I froze instantly, with an unfolded bath towel in my hands, standing stock still in disbelief.

What? WHA-WHAT? “Hey WORTHLESS?”

Those words had been offered as a term of endearment and a declaration of love. If I wasn’t so keenly aware of the power of words, I might have missed those two, slippery units of language wedged between the kisses and breakfast food. It was subtle. “Hey Worthless” was spoken with the energy of love, affection, a smile, a soft touch, a stroke of the hair and was accompanied by a tray full of nourishment.

It may seem like I am making a big deal about such a small phrase but the “Hey Worthless” message exploded in my ears like a trumpet blast. While we could debate the genius of Hitchcock and his cleverly disguised insult, the blasting in my ears created a frozen state in my body. This was one of the ways women had been programmed to think they were worthless, less than, not enough or wrong. This is how their voices were shut down. It began with one slippery, biting word at a time; demeaning, dishonoring, invalidating abuse intermixed with food, shelter, belonging, and “love.” From men, from women, from the media and more…

Growing up, we received subtle messages from loved ones and strangers: hey clumsy, she’s such a slob; don’t beat the boys at that game because they won’t like you. You’re too much, too loud, too intense… lighten up, have a sense of humor, get over it, don’t be so serious, go along with the crowd. And underneath the subtle words that were chipping away at our spirit and confidence, many of us had our innocence violated both physically and emotionally with physical and verbal abuse. We were told that we had caused it and deserved it!

It is no wonder that our voices were shut down and that we stopped speaking up for what we really believed in.

NO MORE!

Women have something to say. It is time. We are visible and we are creating a wave of voices!

*****

The authors in this book are a group of powerful women leaders who are passionate about leading, serving and making a difference in the world. Kerri in Australia, Marie in Sweden, Yana in Germany, Fiona in western Canada, Karen in Baltimore, Charlene in Chicago, Lynn in Colorado, Brenda in Oregon. In total, twenty-three women who live all over the United States and Canada and around the world.

These twenty-three women initially met through a coaching program including both men and women, and thus were accustomed to “listening” to one another, practicing the artful trade of supporting and empowering others.

Then, we shifted into a new sacred space. For many of us, the process of writing these stories helped us shed a layer of protection that was so worn, it felt like skin. We began to see each other and ourselves more clearly in the journey of writing our stories, building trust and hearing the wisdom that translates from one person’s experience to another.

In many of the stories, women wrote about the ways they had been diminished in religion, families, relationships, school, work and the world. Their confidence, feelings of worthiness, personal power, and open-eyed wonder had been chipped away and doused with someone else’s fear, manipulation and control. We had turned down the switch to our bright shining lights, to stay safe and hide our power to preserve and protect our hearts.

Sharing our stories with you is the next step in moving so far beyond the insidious “Hey Worthless” that it will hopefully become a notch of completion on our belts. We are carrying our wisdom and strength with us while we leave the rest of the garbage behind.

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Here is the Truth:

You are amazing. You are beautiful. You are wonderful. Leave the old voices behind as you walk out the door. Do not look back as you enter this book. Let your intuition guide you to the stories with the exact message you need to hear right now, empowering you even more to reclaim your brilliance.

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

7 Ways to Jumpstart Your Writing This Summer

By Beth Terrence

Heal My Voice Author and former Board Member

Anyone who writes knows that there are times that the worlds flow like waterfalls and times when we find ourselves in the desert hoping to find that next oasis.

Not sure what to write about or how to get the words flowing? Here are 7 Ways To Jumpstart Your Writing This Summer:

Read ~ You need to read to write.

As Stephen King says so eloquently, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Summer’s a great time to read more – books, blog posts, poetry, magazines, the Sunday paper, etc. As you read, see what pops out at you, what inspires you and what types of writing you might like to explore. Make notes when ideas come to you for your own writing.

Also, you might want to add a book on writing to your summer reading list. Why not explore Stephen King’s On Writing – A Memoir Of The Craft or Natalie Goldberg’s latest book The True Secret Of Writing.

Create a new journal for your writing.

Having a space to write that you are connected to really helps to get the words flowing. I know nowadays many folks like to type rather than write by hand, but there is a flow that can happen when we create our own sacred writing space. All you need is a new composition book or blank sketch book. Get some magazines and cut out images or words that inspire you. Grab a glue stick and design the cover of the journal and the inside pages, too, as inspiration and writing prompts. Here’s the cover of my recent journal to inspire you!

Make an Idea Box for your writing

Write all of your ideas – for books, articles, blog posts or just phrases on separate pieces of paper. Place them in your idea box and add more as they come. When you are ready to write, just pick one at random or if you feel to lay them all out on the floor and see what bubbles up that day. Start writing! You may wish to review your ideas periodically to see if there are some that go together or certain themes arising.

Start your day doing the “Morning Pages”.

This practice comes from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way – she calls them “a bedrock tool for creative recovery”. Morning pages entail writing three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind – and they are for you only. Morning Pages are meant to “provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize” the day at hand. The instruction is to not over-think Morning Pages – simply put three pages of anything on the page, then do three more pages tomorrow. Later you may want to go back and highlight or note anything you want to add to your journal or idea box.

Start a blog or recommit to one you’ve already started.

If you haven’t started a blog yet, what’s stopping you? Summer may be the perfect time. Blogging is a great way to share your words and inspiration with the world. It’s also a great way to connect with other writers through the blogosphere and social media. There are lots of free, easy to use platforms to start your blog such as WordPress.com or Blogger.

Do you have a blog but seem to have forgotten about it? Maybe it’s time to recommit to your blog and your writing. Take some time to review, consider what changes you wish to make or what you would like your focus to be going forward. Is there a post you have written that has a second part or follow up piece? Maybe there is a series to develop or weekly post to keep the juices flowing. Also, consider joining a Blogging Challenge to connect with other bloggers for inspiration.

List Writing.

This is a practice I use in some of my writing circles to get the words flowing as well as to explore a theme. Sometimes people feel too stuck to go straight to stream of consciousness style writing like the Morning Pages, but making a list is something we can all do. We do it everyday with our To Do Lists – so why not take a skill we’re well versed in and use it to stimulate our writing.

There are two ways to do this – one is to just do a download of all the words that come into your mind at any moment; the other is to pick a theme word such as “feelings” or even a specific feeling like “fear”, which may have come from the first list. Later, it can be easy to turn a word list into poem – here is one example by poet Ray Hansell,

Fear
Fear of conflict, fear of change
Fear that our lives
Will always stay the same

Fear of sickness
Fear of the dark
Fear in the heart
That we lost that spark

Fear of the unknown
Fear of something new
Fear is alive and well
Fear lives inside of you

Fear of being alone
Fear of suffering pain
Fear of not knowing
How to play life’s game

Fear of the future
For what it may hold
The fear inside some people
Knowing they will grow old

Fear of helplessness
When things are going wrong
Fear because you know
You’re not really that strong

The fear of never knowing
The fear of facing death
The fear of not knowing when
You’ll take your final breath

Go out into nature and write.

Summer is a great time to connect with the energy of nature. Everything is growing and there is a sense of abundance. Also, if we consider the element of the season in Chinese Medicine – it’s Fire, which is the spark of creativity. Allowing our creativity to be expressed actually supports our overall sense of balance and well-being during the summer season. So get outside – walk in the woods, lay on the beach, sit in your garden and notice what you see, feel, hear, smell and observe. Wherever you go – bring your journal with you and see what words connecting with nature brings to you.

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Beth Terrence is a Shaman, Holistic Health & Wellness Expert, Speaker and Writer. She is one of the HMV authors featured in Inspired Voices: True Stories of Visionary Women and Harmonic Voices: True Stories Of Women On The Path To Peace. Additionally, Beth is the 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. She writes regularly on her own blog, The Heart Of Awakening: Searching For A New Paradigm, an online resource for transformation and healing. Beth is available for Integrative Transformational Healing Sessions by Phone/Skype or in person in Annapolis, MD as well as classes, workshops and trainings on Holistic Healing, Transformation, Writing and Creativity. To learn more, visit http://www.bethterrence.com