I’m so excited (nervous) to share the release of my memoir Seeing Red: A Woman’s Quest for Truth, Power and the Sacred with you. Long time in the coming, publishing this intimate story marks the completion of one era of my life and the beginning of a new, in which my writerly self takes center stage.

From backstage to spotlight

This makes me blush. Believe it or not, I shun the spot light. Especially when I have to get naked. But having asked others to get naked before my lens for years, there is no way around it: It is my turn to get naked. Naked on the page. Naked about the backstage version of the past decade of adventuring – from a sacred mountain in Tibet, over marriage in California and into the arms of the fierce goddess Kali, who asked me to let go of everything I held dear. Let me tell you, (as if you don’t already know): the journey to personal sovereignty and freedom ain’t pretty.

Exposing ourselves, our vulnerabilities and inner lives so easily crushed by bulldozers and know-betters, takes everything we’ve got. Not just courage and trust, but often times we have to be propelled by a deep sense of urgency to break through that which holds us back from being, well, ourselves.

Putting my book out there is me stepping forward into my fullness, regardless. It’s me saying yes.

Beloved Gabrielle Roth, the founder of the 5Rhythms, said: Don’t be afraid to shine your light. If it happens to be too bright for others, tell them to put on sunglasses.

Nobody wants to read about perfect people

Strange enough, for most of us it takes work and willingness to sort through the mess, the lies, the BS we say to ourselves, before we can fully shine. Self-honesty takes time. Self-honesty doesn’t come easy.

This story has lived with me for more than ten years. The first version was a humorous take on Westerners going to a faraway mountain thinking they’d get enlightened. Instead of going deep and looking at myself, I made fun of us. In the 2nd version I delved deeper into understanding the complexity of what had happened in Tibet and my marriage and my role in it. During the final romp with this story, I was able to divulge my imperfections and expose the paradoxes I’ve been dancing with within. As my editor said, nobody wants to read a  book about someone who is perfect. Gulp! I swallowed my desire to be pretty and likable, and pushed the honesty envelope a nudge further.

Engage the Muses, weave a bigger story

At the end I felt compelled by a much bigger story… Because I understood, this is not just my story, this is a story about the journey we all have to take, one way or another, one time or another, to the truth about who we are. This is the story of those who choose to do the work to free themselves and align with their soul’s path. This is a story about what a sacred journey can look like when it isn’t planned, instructed by a guru or derived from dogma, but acted out in the messy turf of human relationship, orchestrated organically (and magically) as we live our lives and let life live us.

I think about all the women who have found the courage to bare themselves, their souls, for my lens. Maybe the camera is like the blank page - it beckons us out of our hiding and into fresh awareness of who we are.

When the woman on my book cover saw it, she said: “Years of tears flowed when I saw your cover and I feel truly honored to be part of your message of a woman’s journey of uncovering her naked truth.” Seeing her story weaved with the bigger story of all women prompted her in this way:

Share Your Self

Engaging yourself – your heart, mind, hands and gut – in the creative process is, to me, the most direct path to your soul. Truths surface, hearts aflame, poetry runs wild, freedom flows like drugs in your veins. The creative process is, of course, life itself, and it is the ways in which you engage all of you in your life.

Telling our stories, be it through words, images, songs, dances, and sharing them with each other has tremendous healing powers, for everyone involved – those who share, those who receive. Don’t sit on it. (Your creativity).

Give that which haunts you and delights you expression. Tell your stories. Share your secrets. Dance your drama. Imagine the world with your pictures. Cook up a storm. Sing a heart opening song. Build a new-earth business. Blow our minds with your creative outcries and celebrations.

But for Goddess sake, don’t sit on it. (Your life)

What beckons you out of hiding?

How can you engage all of you creatively?

Where will you shine your light?

I could never have gone through the self-publishing process or stepping out in my fullness without the support from friends and professionals. Don’t be shy: share what will beckon you out of hiding so we can support you.

Want to learn more about my intimate memoir? Hop on over to the site, watch the book trailer, join the mailing list, come to the book party... http://www.lonemorch.com/seeing-red

email   lone@lonemorch.com
web     www.lonemorch.com
book    www.seeingredthebook.com
course  www.freeyoursacredjourney.com
web     www.lolosboudoir.com