My piece "Color and Stone" about domestic violence in refugee camps was in the Flight show that opened on Sunday in Northampton, MA. On the coat tails of this, speaking today to the Domestic Violence Task Force was an eye-opening and powerful experience. There were many survivors in the room, I found out later.

Whenever I speak and it is completely silent, I am always so afraid I am boring everyone. I am always then so surprised afterwards when those same silent people tell me how powerful my talk was and my poems.

It takes a lot out of me to address a room full of people, especially about this subject. It's not something I can do every day.

But I learned so much, and it's just incredible the things that are being done these days to help survivors.

I also watched a video of high schoolers from Ware who for 8 years have had their own task force for abuse in relationships. These kids were astounding. I was so moved.

I thank Mary Kociela at the Task Force at the DA's office in Greenfield for giving me the opportunity to speak.

A mixed media journey of lament and possibility using luggage as the foundational medium.

It feels recently as if there are so many things going on in my life that are helping me move towards my own radiant light.
 
Progress is coming step by step in my Blooming work:
 
I received 5 out of 5 stars from a reviewer for my book The Blooming of the Lotus.
 
I received again 5 out of 5 stars from another reviewer with a review reading:
Loved the book, how a survivor of incest takes you on a personal journey of healing. Shows that even in despair there is a light at the end of the tunnel, embarking on a maze of self-discovery, faith, healing and, most importantly of all, loving yourself for who and what you are.
 
After my book was chosen for the Top 12 BOOK Pick List for December on the Spirited Woman website, my Blooming work itself was invited to be on the Top 12 Pick List for the New Year. This list is a list of the work some of these women do. Spirited Woman has over 7000 followers on Facebook, connecting women to women. It especially concerns women who are doing things to heal the world and its people.
 
I have been invited to address the Domestic Violence Task Force in March in Greenfield, MA.
 
My grant to speak in conjunction with Abby’s House in Worcester, MA, was accepted!!! (Abby’s House is one of the oldest women’s shelters in the country.) In October in Worcester, for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I will have my first paid speaking engagement!!
 
All of this is incredible to me. It makes me so happy. I feel as if I am at last progressing in this Blooming work of mine.
 
BUT, even more, in a related but very inner part of my life, I am amazed to feel myself moving more and more into my own radiant light. I FEEL myself moving towards this, as I seek a way to bring together all of who I am into the work I do in and for the world. I feel my body and being creating this from my deepest self, and, in so doing, fulfilling my journey here.

​I know that what I give from this place will be that much richer.
 
To me, it is a miracle that I stand in this place today, after all I have endured, and I am so incredibly grateful.