Letters from an Open Heart 2-19-07

Into the Valley
by Gail Firman
Visit here to learn more about Gail or to order this print

scared happens a lot, annie........
that's okay.
be scared.
and then see if you can, turn and look it in the face.
cause when you can..........
you'll see it's really okay.
and you really are goin' where you're s’posed to go.

trust that.
trust the process.
it's magic.

it's also just scary and lonely
and freaky weird.

i'm gonna tell you something that sounds really really
strange........but it was so powerful for me, i'm gonna risk
being a weirdo to you......

take a moment. right now is good.
and lean back. and touch your hand to your head.
stroke your hair. feel your face.
just stop and touch your face and your hair and be gentle
with yourself. tell yourself you love you.

i've done that a few times. just touched my hair real gently.
touched my cheek and thought how soft it was.
we forget that we're there.
we forget that we need to be gentle with ourselves.
we need to love ourselves.
we need to remind ourselves it will be okay.

- from an email sent to me by Terri St. Cloud, founder of Bone Sigh Arts and friend.

What Sustains

The more I am hollowed
by the fire, the more my ribs
spread like the tree of life.

The more I am washed
by the tears of others, the more
my heart rounds like an ocean shell.

The more stories I tell
of how one picks up another,
the more my hands open
like scoops for grain.

To be what others drink,
to be what others stand on
to reach what they love-
we should be so lucky
to be worn to this

by Mark Nepo

Dear Kind Souls,

Late one night after my husband left, I stretched out of the tight little ball of tears I had rolled into, put on Van Morrison's "Domino," sat down at this keyboard and painted with words the life that called to me. At the top I wrote, " I want to learn how to truly love and care for myself." And in a clear loud voice I called out to all the people and things that might help make that happen.

A few months later I met a wonderful character named Jangchub who looked at me like kin and made me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt. I said to him, "There you are."

I've kept him hidden from my writing like a precious treasure. Maybe I've been afraid if I write about him it would break some spell and he would disappear... and so would that laughter that's been so healing for me. But I want to tell you the first and most important gift he's given me.

He asked me to join him for a shower on a hot day. I was shy about my body in front of him. He is younger and I thought my shape doesn't resemble any he may have seen in magazines or movies. But his eyes were gentle and loving and I trusted him. He had beautiful smelling soap and a soft loofa. I watched as he washed himself unselfconsciously, slowly and gently, with heart-aching tenderness and care. I began to cry as I realized I had never cared for myself that way. He then taught me how. He asked to wash me - each toe, each finger, arms, legs, neck - as if I was an infant. Tears streamed down my face as I learned another lesson, how to receive. I am sure my mom washed me like that when I was a baby, but I had forgotten. After the shower he lit incense and dried himself slowly. When I asked him if he always cared for himself that way he said, "Yes, I've learned that my day goes a lot better if I show myself some love first thing in the morning."

That shower changed my life.

How would the world be different if we all took the time to care for ourselves this way?

Blessings and love to you,

Annie O'Shaughnessy

Send this email to a friend

Feedback from a past workshop participant:

"I would simply say that I feel like a changed person. I can honestly feel a shift in my body and certainly in the way I want to live and my intention for living. I feel like I met a life-long friend in you, Ann, and oddly enough am not worried about not being with you to "develop" our friendship. I feel certain I will see you again. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

- Jane Meyers

I would be honored if you would join me for this weekend of rest, healing, support and inspiration. Visit here to learn more or place your deposit. Email me at annie@soulflares.org if you have any questions.

Teachers and Guides

I don't think Terri St Cloud would say this about herself, but she is a healer—she combines words and art to soothe our aching hearts and give us what we need to keep our hearts open and full of courage. She came into my life last February when she simply offered some of her encouraging words to me. Since then I have been blessed by a steady stream of wisdom and inspiration through her art, poetry, and spirit.

Please visit here to read more about her and to view the three "bone sigh" art prints of hers that I am now offering.

I would like to encourage all of us to share the tools that have helped us on our journeys.

Please visit here and post your recommendations on any of the three pages: books, websites, people. (You will need to create a login account to post a review. Know that I will never share your name or contact info with anyone.)

Inspiration for You: Marianne Williamson

I have collected many of Marianne's quotations over the years. The strength of her conviction cuts through the paralysis I sometimes feel in the face of my doubt.

Visit here if you would like to read a collection of excerpts from A Return to Love

A Call to Submit Your Art!

A major part of Soul Flares' mission is to shed light on work of love, work of beauty. Visit here to meet the four artists I have featured so far and view or order their work.

Please continue to send me recommendations of artists whose work you think should be featured here. Recommend yourself! Please email me at annie@soulflares.org with an attached jpeg sample of the artwork.

Note from Annie

As Soul Flares gains her feet, I am very open to feedback. These emails will most likely have quite a few mistakes. Know I do my best on my own AND I really like to know my mistakes. Please email me at annie@soulflares.org.