Sometimes in order to get to the writing you most want to do, there’s another kind of writing that’s necessary. Many writers keep a process journal to do this kind of writing. When I teach, I combine creative writing exercises and soul writing practices, to ensure that we’re always making room for the many parts of the self that need to speak. Part of writing is giving voice to things you’ve never spoken about, and that can open up other parts of you that are scared.   They want to keep you safe and don’t see how it’s possible if you start putting things out there, onto the page.  It’s too risky!! If you allow yourself to write to, and from, those parts of you, your writing becomes a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious.  You bring more of you into wholeness. Pay attention to those moments in your life when you’re out of sorts and recognize them as invitations from a part of you longing to have a voice.  Our bodies are where the unconscious lives.  The unconscious does not yet have language, and so will speak to us in any way it can. You may feel acutely aware of specific fears, or negative, doubting voices that start screaming loudly when you move toward your writing—or any other dream.  Or you just may feel a vague sense of lethargy, drained of all energy and motivation. All of that is some kind of signal that you’re not centered in the truth of who you are: a sovereign being born to be a creator. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel vulnerable.  Writing is inherently courageous, and often asks us to reveal tremendous vulnerability.  But that is different than the doubt and fears that keep you from getting to the page. If you listen to the part of you that’s afraid, or out of sorts, or full of doubt or empty of all motivation, and offer to give it a voice, you’ll learn something valuable and often surprising.  And you’ll start to build a relationship with this “shadowy” part of your self. This part of you will welcome the opportunity. If you start to write, as a way of inviting it to speak, you tap into a source of energy and creative expression that’s been waiting to connect with you for a long time. The truth is we have many parts of us inside us.  The parts that have been buried in fear won’t always make themselves known until you actually move forward to take a risk. And then…it may seem as if all you are is terrified. The truth is, that terror has been safely dormant, and now, it’s arising because in the end it does not want to stay terrified.  Its deepest longing is to be free to live and breathe and express itself. Here’s an example of a poem I wrote, after engaging in the process I just described.  I hope it will inspire you to turn inward, and let your writing be a bridge, to cross from one state of awareness to another….and if you’re lucky, to recover a part of you that’s been lost. Making a Bridge in the Night A part of me I did not know I had lost was ready to come back home last night. How was she to speak to me? When she got lost, words were not yet part of her world. Still, she had something to say. I awoke— not knowing it was her, not knowing anything, except, I wanted to sleep. Sleep wouldn’t come. So I practiced what I’ve been learning: breathing into my core. Breathing in the light and love that’s always present. Receiving that truth into my body, into my mind, even when I wanted to be asleep. Annoyed and restless, I kept turning my attention to the breath which is light, which is love which is always here, waiting for me to remember. It took a while. I kept complaining to my guides— nothing is shifting, I want to go back to sleep. They assured me they were with me. A veil seemed to be between us. I could almost feel them, almost hear them, and then, after waiting forever which is how it feels in the middle of the night when you’d rather be asleep suddenly this little lost part of me spoke to me and she was laughing! of all things! Laughing. I couldn’t help but smile. She told me she was riding the wave of light I had formed within my own core like the trunk of a tree made of light. It had become something she could hold onto and she was ready and come home. So I am tired this morning. A little disoriented— and alive. Another part of me, restored. So much of me got lost, long ago, when fear kept announcing its presence and no one could hold me and tell me it was safe because they didn’t see the parts who went into hiding wanting love, needing love, but so convinced that love would never come. So I am the one now to hold the space to wait for them one at a time to come out of hiding. And I know now that this is not unusual So many of us have turned away from lost parts of ourselves, not knowing we had a choice to do anything else. Without a fire circle to come to in the morning, early, before dawn, Without a tribe to speak to of what happened in the night when the language of dreams is still fresh— who are we to tell? How are we to recognize each other walking along our solitary paths, each one of us, with every breath, calling ourselves back home? So the page becomes my dream circle And this was the dream I had That a part of me long silent, came to me in the middle of the night. and I turned toward her and held her and sang her songs until she trusted me and now she’s asked me to turn toward you Because maybe you, too, lost some part of yourself long, long ago And when you wake up in the middle of the night and wish you could go back to sleep you’d like to find a doorway to open so you could step into the room of the one you lost. It’s always possible if you remember that this moment, too, the one you don’t want to be in, in also your life. The voice of a flower before its petals open so it can bloom is a silent whisper to the breeze. Your lost heart the one you’re always looking for in someone else’s eyes will speak to you like that. If you become very still you might start to hear her when she begins to sing.   … [Read more...]

I came across a quote this morning: “The Old World Mind is obviously not working. And surely not what we want. What we need is for everyone to live from one's soul. For this everyone has to AWAKEN!"         Writing—when it’s intentionally connected to your soul--can help us shift into the New World Mind, and can help us move closer to a world that works for everyone.      Keep reading, to learn how.   I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the deepest purposes of the work I do, and why it’s important in these times. This is not a new question for me.  Since the earliest Writing the Prayer of Your Life workshops, I was connecting the importance of creativity—finding, claiming and using your voice to its full potential—as one of the antidotes to a world of violence and destruction. I was—and am—particularly tuned in to the devastating effects modern humanity has had on Mother Earth. Today we see the effects of climate change in massive fires, floods and storms and wonder what we can do. There are solutions. Certain scientists have been aware of them for a long time.  We have the means to shift our carbon imprint dramatically. What we lack is the will. Which brings me back to the role of Creatives in this massive time of earth changes.   We are here—the creatives, the sensitives, the ones whose soul is called to write—to show the way forward, and to remind each other what humanity is capable of. You can be—if you choose—part of the revolution in consciousness, which is one of the most important ways we can change our world. Consciousness is who you are.  It is the stuff of which you’re made.  And, creativity is the essence of consciousness. Another way to say that is—consciousness itself is the energy that created you.  Creation-- the energy to be a Creator—is fundamentally human.    It is a human capacity. It is what human beings can be.  It is what being human is all about.  We are Creators.  We were created from Creative Energy and we are made of Creative Energy and we are here to give back Creative Energy in all kinds of ways. Yet we live in a world where creation—creative energy—the power to create is dismissed, at best. It’s neglected. It’s seen as the province of only the few, the gods.  It’s seen as irrelevant, frivolous, extra-curricular—the thing that can be easily cut from the budget. But this is dangerous. Because it cuts us off from the core of our humanity When we forget our humanity, we lock other humans in cages, we sell children as sex slaves, we poison the ground that grows our food. This disconnection from our humanity is fundamental to the crisis of our times.  And each of us—you, me, your best friend, your children—has a part in turning it around. What I’m learning is that the power of the Light—which is Love—which is Consciousness itself—is exponential. Meaning it really has a measurable influence in our world to shift energy and life.  More than you would think. A single candle is all it takes to dispel the darkness in an unlit room. Your little choice to write today can be an act on behalf of all creation, on behalf of life.  And it makes a real difference in the balance in our world…if that’s part of your intention. When I encourage you to not give up—to take the time to write, it’s because I want you to choose life.  Over and over again.  Choose life, and choose your soul’s life, over and over again. I want you to choose it in the face of your own fear and self–destructive impulses—we all have them—and I want you to choose it on behalf of life on earth.    Be part of the solution.  Be part of a Creativity Revolution.  A Soul Writing  contribution to shift the tipping point, more and more to the side of life.  Fully flourishing, fully expressed life. Helps us shift consciousness in this turbulent world by aligning your self with the forces of creation itself. Remember that is who you are:  Creation Itself. You strengthen the muscles that help you remember, by doing it.  Taking the time to write. It doesn’t have to be an epic novel, unless you’re ready for that. It can be five minutes of intentional writing once in your day. Before you write,  ground yourself on this Earth.  Plant your feet on the floor and extend your roots. Down down down into the ground. Ask the earth to support you. She will. If it feels right, tell the earth that you are here for her, that your words are being written as a prayer to heal the fabric that holds our life together. And then, just write. Whatever comes. Then read it aloud. Offer it, as a prayer to the earth. Or to someone. Some part of life That needs healing The first one in line for that healing Is often Your own precious beautiful, frightened and courageous Self.   Do this with intention and heart and it will nourish you. Do this in a circle of others and the nourishment will be amplified.   I want to let you know that I’m preparing to offer more groups this fall.  It’s all still in progress but as far as I see there will be a few options. Once a month, a free group for us to join together to write prayers for life on earth, for personal and planetary healing and transformation. Also: I will offer a group for those of you ready for a deep dive to restore a foundation of wholeness in your relationship with your writing and with your life.  It will be a guided and supported expansion of the self study program,  Come Back Home Through Writing. I will also be offering a series of four week groups for Writing as A Way to Wholeness.  These will combine writing and radical self care.  Each series will have a particular focus. Let me know if any of these interest you, and look for more details in the weeks to come. For now, know that it’s real.  Every time you write, with intention, you are part of healing and changing your own consciousness.  Every time you write, from your fully embodied self, you are creating more energy for your own life force to inhabit your body. Every time you write from the voice of your soul, your soul comes home. And that’s what the soul wants: to come home. Writing is such a good way to get your self home. We all need to help each other, these days, to keep remembering that always, in all ways, we have the capacity to come back home. For now, I send you much love.   … [Read more...]

How Does Writing Help You Come Home? When you’re not sure how you are where you are   or where to go next— You can come to the page solely for the purpose of calling your own name.   Dear One, Beloved, Sweet Child of Life Itself— Have you forgotten that your home is inside you?   You might start like that. A simple call Then wait for the response— Wait till you hear your Self call back.   And why is it so important to come home? To be able to call your self back home, in this way, with your own hand, on your own page?   Because so many forces will pull you away from yourself from your center from the core where you know the name of your own truth.   And if you lose your own center you lose touch with what you know.   But when you start there Return there Live there— You are free.   It’s a moment by moment invitation to come to the page to call your own name to see what’s stirring in the center of your own life.   When you live there In the center All things are possible A thousand languages for magic will take your hand.   All you need is one. The one language that dwells inside you.   The one you write Because only you can speak those words   And when you find them and write them You’re connected to every person in the world who has a voice.   The more you call yourself home the more at home you are in the world.   You strengthen every utterance and turn it into a prayer.   A sacred call for every soul to come home.   A sacred call to your own soul to come home.   This is what can happen When you sit down Pen in hand And call your own name.   It’s never too late you’re never too far gone   The part of you that knows always knows how to come home   Let your writing be the key to open the door   Try it today, this week: sit down with your pen, write a letter to your own soul, ask any question you have listen deeply to the response. … [Read more...]

This newsletter is focused around a writing prompt. The prompt comes from a poem written by one of my readers in response to a post I sent out. I wanted to keep the circle going, by giving her poem to you, along with an invitation to write. Here’s the prompt, if that’s all you have time for and want to get started right away. “Is love ever enough?” Here's the whole poem: Is love ever enough? Love is always enough. Love is more than enough. Love is strong love is kind love is power Love is action love is a verb Love is anger working to make good Love is open love is wide Love takes all in Love sees a way when there is no way Love warms us and does not fear Though hate and evil surround it. Love is stronger when we are together We are love we are made to share love.         ---Cynthia Fields She ends with the reminder that “Love is stronger when we are together.  We are love and we are made to share love.”  Writing in community is one of the ways we come together and share love.  You can let these newsletters connect you to a community of people who care about creating more love in the world through writing.   Cynthia wrote her poem in response to a poem I’d written, asking my own questions about love.  If you missed it you can read it here: https://deboraseidman.com/writing-heals-world-instruction-alchemy/   There’s something wonderful about having conversations through writing. You read something and it opens a response in you.  You write in response. Someone else reads what you wrote and they have their own response…on and on it goes. If more people in the world took the time to respond to life by writing, we’d have a saner world! You don’t have to wait though, you can be part of the solution now. You have the power to bring more sanity to your own world, by taking time in your day to write. In this way, bit by bit, we create the kind of world we want to live in. Here’s a few reminders about how to write in response to prompts, as well as specific suggestions for working with this prompt. The prompt, if you’re ready, is  “Is love ever enough?” How and why to work with writing prompts: Whether you write for five minutes or fifty,  something magical happens when you let your words be guided by someone else’s. Here are four simple steps that work with any prompt: Make a decision about how much time you want to write, and, if possible, set a timer for your writing. Write the prompt down on your own page (or screen.) Then take three deep breaths all the way down to your toes.  Feel yourself in your body. Pick up your pen again (or go to the keyboard) and let your response flow from the first words that come to mind.  Try not to judge your response, but let it come. The prompt today is  “Is love ever enough?” With this prompt, I suggest two ways to approach it.  The first is a good practice if you’re facing a challenge in your life, or feeling challenged by a situation in the world. Focus on what that challenge is and write it down.  Pay attention to how it makes you feel in your body. Then, let this prompt be a question about this situation, and see what you write in response. Don’t look for any particular answer, and give yourself permission to be angry and messy.  Push against the prompt if that feels right. Keep your writing specific, and let it take you where it wants to.  Let go of control as you write. One of the gifts of free writing in response to prompts is letting the writing take you somewhere unexpected. The other way to use this prompt is in a general way.  Without thinking of anything in particular, you simply write it down and let the writing take you somewhere. As suggested above, try to not judge your response, but let it flow. I’d love to read your writing, and you can be part of a larger dialogue, by sharing any writing you do on the blog. Thanks for being part of this community!  And thanks for caring about writing.       … [Read more...]

What do you need to rest from?   In these times when so much is intensifying in our world—violence, cataclysmic effects of climate change, to name a few—it’s  more important than ever that you stay consistent with the practices that soothe, stabilize, and nourish your sensitive, creative self. At times you need to do more than stay consistent; you need to intensify your own practices, to meet the demands of the times. In the past few weeks, I’ve shared poems with you.  Poems I wrote to keep my heart open and strong in the face of world events that were heartbreaking. I wrote "A Poem For Scared Children Who Have No Voice" in response to the separation of immigrant families. And I wrote "Poetry as Alchemy To Heal Your Self and Our World." The world has not stopped breaking my heart, but last week I was so weary from my own responses to the news that I needed to pull back for rest. The poems were healing for me as I wrote them.  Many of you wrote to share they’d been a gift for you to read. Still, my heart was weary and I couldn’t quite figure out what I needed to do. I turned toward one of my favorite questions for navigating times of overwhelm and exhaustion—whether physical, emotional or spiritual— What do I need to rest from? For several days, I asked that question in writing, and let myself write my response. The responses came. I listened. I kept asking, “What do I need to rest from?” I began to hear a need to turn inward. I had written the poems from a certain urgency. The poems came through quickly. Almost immediately I shared them in the form of this newsletter. I have no regrets or sense that I did anything wrong in this process.  However, I came to see that I needed to turn back inside, to receive the poems, and to allow their very real alchemy to do its work on my energy system. I needed time to integrate the poems I’d written. Whenever I teach, and I hear a student write something that’s particularly important, I suggest that she read what she wrote to herself, once or twice a day, for at least a week. This is an important practice because when you go to a very deep level to write, the writing is a form of medicine. Writing it the first time is one way you receive the medicine your own soul wants to offer you. Reading the writing again, over and over, and receiving it on a cellular level, will actually restructure you from within. This is one of the ways the writing becomes such a potent practice of self healing. There’s a rhythm to the writing process. You turn inward to write, and then you turn outward to share the writing. Often the inward turn is a response to something in the outer world. You live, and are affected by life. You have a soul that needs to express how life affected you. You write. Perhaps you share the writing. Or perhaps you share yourself in a different way, because of what you have written. Either way, it’s important to honor the process and listen to your own inner self along the way. After a few days of turning inward, reading the poems to myself, and receiving nourishment in my own heart, I began to feel restored and balanced in a new way. I love the question, “What do I need to rest from?” When I offer it as an exercise in programs I teach, the responses are almost always surprising. Sometimes, they’re life changing. I offer it to you, today.  Especially for times when you’re exhausted, on any level. Or overwhelmed. Or stuck. Or confused. Those are good times to pause, and turn your attention inward, to return to your center and the wisdom within you. Those are good times to ask, “What do I need to rest from?” It’s great to ask that question in writing, because the answers come so clearly when you do. It’s also helpful to ask that question several times, over a period of several days, or a week or more, when you’re in a deep physical or mental exhaustion. But even once, and five minutes of writing, can change the course of your day. Writing is such a great way to find your own answers to the conundrums of your life. And integration time is often a necessity, especially for sensitive creatives. Making it a practice to let both be part of your life will go a long way to making your writing life---and your life in general—a more nourishing place for you. So this question is my gift to you this week, for you to make use of in a moment of need.  What do you need to rest from? Write it on your page, and be sure to write it in the first person:  What do I need to rest from?  Then let the answers come. And remember, it’s often helpful to ask it more than once. You can start to ask,  “What else do I need to rest from?” Trust the answers you receive. And make time to implement them. See how your life responds when you do. Please share your responses on this blog. And if you know anyone else who might benefit from this post, please share it with them.   Are you ready to take your writing to the next level?  Or would you like to have more support to come back home through writing?  If you'd like to learn more about the ways I support writers and other creatives who need to write to stay connected to their own soul, please contact me and let's have a conversation. DeboraSei@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you!   … [Read more...]