On Becoming...
In 1999 my whole life changed. Well, I changed my whole life.
I was living a life that no longer fit. I don’t think it ever did, but I forgot who I was and so fit myself in where I felt safe.
When I began to remember who I was, I felt alive again. I started living as my authentic self and everything changed. Extracting myself from my old life was painful. I stayed too long. When I woke up and started living more as myself, things came apart fast.
I begin my story here because for the last 20 years I’ve been growing into the life I was meant to live. The life I believe I was born to. Sometimes we get sidetracked, or so it feels. I felt off track, but that side trip allowed me the time to grow into a life that was bigger than I was ready for.
My early memories are filled with books, making up stories and a fascination for what was beyond this world. I was ambitious. At eight years old I tried writing plays and putting them on in the basement of our home. Perfectionism got in the way though. I put it aside but continued to make up stories in my imagination and live through the myriad of stories and ideas I found in books.
No one told me I could be a writer. I drifted through life not knowing what I wanted to do. I was intrigued by stories and by the supernatural. I read ghost stories and then moved on to books about parapsychology. By the time I was ten I’d finished reading what little the public library had on the subject. I thought I’d become a parapsychologist. That was the beginning of of figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up.
But growing up became an early necessity and something scarier than I would ever have imagined. I had to grow up at 14 after my father died and my mother fell apart. But I didn’t want to grow up. I didn’t know how and I still didn’t know what I wanted, so I started with a business degree then changed to psychology then quit University.
A few years later I went back and completed a BA in English and Philosophy. My interest in parapsychology had morphed into an interest in human nature, religion and spirituality. And I went back to school because I finally figured out I could be a writer. But it would be years before I fully claimed it.
After all the inner work something finally shifted a few years ago. I started putting my work out there in a bigger way. I took the work of writing more seriously. As I developed and grew so did my voice as a writer. I no longer wanted to write things for others that meant nothing to me. I wanted and still want to share my story.
And it’s more than just about me. There is healing in stories. When we share them, others know they are not alone. When we tell our stories from the heart, it changes us and others. These can be our personal stories or our made up ones that carry the transformation of our souls. When we create from our authentic selves, those creations can only be transformative and healing.
This is my story. It’s still being written. The transformation never ends. It’s alive in me. Your transformation is ongoing, too. Let it be. Honor it and allow yourself the freedom to own who you are.
It can be frustrating to not live the life you know you were meant to live and scary to try. Owning it will set in motion changes in your life. Don’t resist. Allow the changes. Your life will be enriched by your willingness to transform. And it will make your writing, your art more powerful than you ever imagined.
We need your voice and your stories. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t let the past hold you back. Work through your shit. It’s the greatest source of inspiration you’ll ever have besides that which comes from an even deeper place within. Use it as fertilizer, don’t let it pile up and sicken you. Transform it, use it and watch your life and your writing bloom.
You can have success on your terms doing what you love. It beings within. And it begins now if you’ll let it. Are you ready?
I was living a life that no longer fit. I don’t think it ever did, but I forgot who I was and so fit myself in where I felt safe.
When I began to remember who I was, I felt alive again. I started living as my authentic self and everything changed. Extracting myself from my old life was painful. I stayed too long. When I woke up and started living more as myself, things came apart fast.
I begin my story here because for the last 20 years I’ve been growing into the life I was meant to live. The life I believe I was born to. Sometimes we get sidetracked, or so it feels. I felt off track, but that side trip allowed me the time to grow into a life that was bigger than I was ready for.
My early memories are filled with books, making up stories and a fascination for what was beyond this world. I was ambitious. At eight years old I tried writing plays and putting them on in the basement of our home. Perfectionism got in the way though. I put it aside but continued to make up stories in my imagination and live through the myriad of stories and ideas I found in books.
No one told me I could be a writer. I drifted through life not knowing what I wanted to do. I was intrigued by stories and by the supernatural. I read ghost stories and then moved on to books about parapsychology. By the time I was ten I’d finished reading what little the public library had on the subject. I thought I’d become a parapsychologist. That was the beginning of of figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up.
But growing up became an early necessity and something scarier than I would ever have imagined. I had to grow up at 14 after my father died and my mother fell apart. But I didn’t want to grow up. I didn’t know how and I still didn’t know what I wanted, so I started with a business degree then changed to psychology then quit University.
A few years later I went back and completed a BA in English and Philosophy. My interest in parapsychology had morphed into an interest in human nature, religion and spirituality. And I went back to school because I finally figured out I could be a writer. But it would be years before I fully claimed it.
After all the inner work something finally shifted a few years ago. I started putting my work out there in a bigger way. I took the work of writing more seriously. As I developed and grew so did my voice as a writer. I no longer wanted to write things for others that meant nothing to me. I wanted and still want to share my story.
And it’s more than just about me. There is healing in stories. When we share them, others know they are not alone. When we tell our stories from the heart, it changes us and others. These can be our personal stories or our made up ones that carry the transformation of our souls. When we create from our authentic selves, those creations can only be transformative and healing.
This is my story. It’s still being written. The transformation never ends. It’s alive in me. Your transformation is ongoing, too. Let it be. Honor it and allow yourself the freedom to own who you are.
It can be frustrating to not live the life you know you were meant to live and scary to try. Owning it will set in motion changes in your life. Don’t resist. Allow the changes. Your life will be enriched by your willingness to transform. And it will make your writing, your art more powerful than you ever imagined.
We need your voice and your stories. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t let the past hold you back. Work through your shit. It’s the greatest source of inspiration you’ll ever have besides that which comes from an even deeper place within. Use it as fertilizer, don’t let it pile up and sicken you. Transform it, use it and watch your life and your writing bloom.
You can have success on your terms doing what you love. It beings within. And it begins now if you’ll let it. Are you ready?
I'd love it if you shared this journey with me.
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The Formal Spiritual Path
My story is about the path of self-discovery and transformation. More formally it's a path that I've been on for over 20 years. First I became a Priestess of Ma'at (the goddess of harmony and justice) in the Fellowship of Isis and then a Licensed Practitioner of the Science of Mind Philosophy through Centers for Spiritual Living. Actually, I resonate with the interspiritual movement and follow many paths including Paganism, Buddhism, Science of Mind, Creation Spirituality and recently I've become a student of A Course in Miracles.
My story is about the path of self-discovery and transformation. More formally it's a path that I've been on for over 20 years. First I became a Priestess of Ma'at (the goddess of harmony and justice) in the Fellowship of Isis and then a Licensed Practitioner of the Science of Mind Philosophy through Centers for Spiritual Living. Actually, I resonate with the interspiritual movement and follow many paths including Paganism, Buddhism, Science of Mind, Creation Spirituality and recently I've become a student of A Course in Miracles.
What is a Word Priestess?
Since ancient times women have been healers. Some heal with their hands or herbs,
some through counsel, some with music and others, like me, with words.
To me, words are powerful magic and medicine.
A Word Priestess
is called to write
believes words are sacred
believes words and books can help us heal
wishes to bring healing to the world through her story and insights
some through counsel, some with music and others, like me, with words.
To me, words are powerful magic and medicine.
A Word Priestess
is called to write
believes words are sacred
believes words and books can help us heal
wishes to bring healing to the world through her story and insights
Word Priestess Creed
I believe in the power and magic of words.
I believe we weave our world with them.
I believe we can change the world with them.
I believe in using words to connect,
heal, inspire and encourage.
I’m a word weaver. I’m a Word Priestess.
Let’s use our words to heal ourselves and the world!
I believe we weave our world with them.
I believe we can change the world with them.
I believe in using words to connect,
heal, inspire and encourage.
I’m a word weaver. I’m a Word Priestess.
Let’s use our words to heal ourselves and the world!
