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Writing from the Deeper Self
"Bringing Your Inner Treasures
to the Outer World . . ."
Book Development
with Naomi Rose
October 2008 Newsletter
1. Introduction: "Inside-Outside"
2. Feature: "The Intimate Fruits of a Writing Retreat:
Coming into the Wealth of Inner Being"
3. Celebrations & Succcesses
4. Upcoming Workshop: Money from the Deeper Self
INTRODUCTION:
"INSIDE-OUTSIDE"
As the air grows more crisp
and the days grow slightly shorter, our energies begin to go within, just
like plants. While much of our lives may take place in activity in the
world, there's still a part of us that's longing for quiet, stillness,
space inside.
For anyone who writes, or wants to write a book in particular, this inwardness
is essential. It's within the darkness, the initial not-knowing, of our
desire to write a book that the new birth and discoveries can reveal themselves.
If you are someone who reads about what an author has to do to promote
the finished book (whether someone else publishes it or you do), you may
have picked up the sense that it's all about "platform," websites,
reviews, readings, interviews, and other "out-there" ways of
getting your book (and yourself) known. This is the outer part, and only
a certain small slice of the outer part at that. Without the inner part,
no authentic writing gets to happen; no human being gets to discover her/himself
deeply and surprisingly; no one gets to have their book rewrite their
life in the process of writing their book. And all these elements, in
my view, are essential to writing the kind of book that truly transforms
your readers by first transforming you.
So this newsletter issue concerns inside and outside. If you allow yourself
a rich inside, the outside will follow suit. May the abundance of the
season touch your life well.
FEATURE:
THE INTIMATE FRUITS OF A WRITING RETREAT:
Coming
into the Wealth of Inner Being
Recently, I was blessed to be given space to write in a retreat-like way
for three days. One of my friends, a spiritual teacher, has a little hut
in her back yard, designed to house spiritual retreatants. One day, in
the spirit of asking for the fulfillment of my heart’s desires,
I inquired whether I might combine writing with spiritual practices, and
thereby have a “writing retreat.” My friend did me one better:
“Why not come two times,” she offered. “Once to write,
and another to do a spiritual retreat. No charge for the writing retreat.”
Since I was writing about an interior experience of wealth for my book
MotherWealth ~ wealth of Being, which, when made room for, naturally translates
into outer wealth, as well ~ I quickly realized that this was a very abundant
offer indeed. Gratefully, I accepted; and soon thereafter, I showed up
in front of her house, unpacking from my station wagon my computer, my
typewriter (yes, yes, it’s old-fashioned; but I grew up with typewriters,
and I enjoy the feel of it; it’s like playing the piano), my assorted
papers already written and half-written, notebooks, blank paper, a CD
player-with-earphones, CDs, my dulcimer, spiritually inspiring books,
and food to last 3 days. (Oh yes; clothes too, though they seemed the
least part of my necessities.)
I arrived in my friend’s backyard on a Saturday early afternoon.
She and her husband were away until the next day. I unpacked my equipment
inside the hut, as neatly as I could, then walked out into the secluded,
pristine territory of her back yard. I was still aware of the freeway
I’d just traveled, the light noise of the traffic in the street;
but my intent to turn inward had an increasingly quieting effect. And
soon ~ as I ate my lunch at the outdoor table, looking across at the brilliant
red roses and up into the embracing, leafy branches of the trees ~ I was
no longer in transit. I was there.
The late-September sun shone down on my arms, warming them and attuning
me to the visible, audible, palpable wealth of nature around me and in
me. This sweet settling in, as I lay in the hammock strung between two
strong trees, eased the staccato rhythms of my worrying mind, and reminded
my breath of its connection with the ocean. The more “here”
I was, the deeper my awareness increased of how good it was to be right
here, and the more I realized ~ palpably, in my skin, in my cells ~ that
my presence to nature was what was making the difference. That in my stillness
and appreciation, I knew how much was being offered; and I was present
to receive it.
Had I been at home and set myself the task of writing for a certain period
of time, trying to trip-wire myself into an inspired state, I would have
lit a candle, burned some fragrant incense, said some prayers, and tried
to clear the decks. But here, it all came as a gift, on its own. Even
lying in the hammock, listening to the pitch and number of syllables in
the calls of the local birds, suddenly into my awareness came a line for
my book. It came, and it repeated itself, and it repeated itself again,
and again, knocking and saying, “Get up, now’s the moment,
write me down!”
Relaxed and yet galvanized, I recognized a gift when it reached for me.
I rolled out of the hammock (I had been aching for a hammock earlier in
the busy week) and ran to the hut. Quickly setting up my typewriter, swiveling
the chair into place, racheting the blank typing paper into the back of
the machine, I typed that one line. And when it was there in print in
front of me, then more came, and more.
I wrote with that kind of beautiful absorption which characterizes an
inspired state, knowing nothing of time, caring for nothing but exactly
what I was doing, neither critical nor full of forethought, just being
present with what was inside me. And when I was done, I was thankful,
and breathing differently, as if my very spirit had been well exercised.
And the pages on the table ~ twelve of them ~ seemed not only not an effort,
but a gift: both to and from me. I was so happy and full, that I did not
push anything. I knew when to stop ~ I knew when I needed stillness, quiet,
replenishment (by food, water, light, air, a mini-walk barefoot on the
still-green grass). I trusted that more writing, in the right time, would
come.
And it did. In the three days I spent there, I wrote over 40 good pages.
Not perfect pages ~ they would still need revision ~ but good, substantial,
real: the kind of writing that, when I read it later, would speak to me
as freshly as if someone else had written it, a message to my ordinary
consciousness from my deeper Self.
A retreat is a precious thing: a time ~ even with all the attendant nervousness
beforehand ~ to really listen inside. After the first day of writing,
I no longer thought about the outer world; I no longer noticed the sounds
of passing cars out in the street. My inner world was so expanded, my
heartbeat so present, that mostly what I felt was joy in being able to
hear so closely what was within me. That writing was a significant part
of this only added to that intimacy. For if the inner listening is hearing
what God wants to tell us when we are still inside, then the writing from
within such a place is what allows God to discover who God is, through
us.
There is something, for me, about writing in such a protected space that
feels both ancient and new at the same time. The ancient part is the silence
that comes with refraining from speech while writing. I believe it taps
into older knowings within us, especially soul and spiritual knowings
that bring forth certain memories over others, and link previously disparate
experiences in a surprisingly meaningful tapestry of being. The new part
is that in this divine dialogue, something never-before existent gets
said, gets born ~ to my surprise and frequent great joy. And perhaps to
God’s, as well.
We don’t all have three days to ourselves in an outer protected
space. But that inner space is really where the inspired, authentic writing
takes place. It certainly helped me to have a loving and generous friend
invite me into her outer space; I walked into it already feeling cherished.
But having tasted that, my task now is to cherish myself, and to cherish
the limitless depths of being and knowing available to me through writing
with an intentional inward focus.
The truth is that everything we need is already inside us. The world,
which we need, and which needs us, can nevertheless take us so easily
away from ourselves. When all of us is available ~ our concentration,
our commitment, our heart, our mind, our instincts ~ in one place, it’s
not difficult to write fluidly, deeply, authentically, and beautifully.
True, there are skills that are useful to have in your toolkit: a way
with words, a wish to explore, a willingness to dig as well as soar, an
ability to put the critical voice on the shelf so you can write without
interruption. But even just to be all-there and see what wants to show
itself when you make full room is enough to bring forth (even roughly,
at first) proof of your magnificence, your healing, and your gift to life
and your readers-to-come.
As the weather gets colder and the days grow shorter, coming inside ourselves
is a more natural phenomenon. This fall, and later on in the winter, may
you have some retreat time within yourself to write ~ whether that book
you’ve been dreaming of, or something shorter ~ so that you get
to be Written by the ineffable Presence within you, as well.
—Naomi Rose
Copyright 2008 ©
by Naomi Rose. All rights reserved.
CELEBRATIONS & SUCCESSES
Encouragement
for Your Book-Writing Journey
When my clients have successes, either along the way or after their books
have come out, I like to let people know, because (a) I am proud of them;
(b) their efforts and gifts deserve to be well-sung; and (c) people deserve
to be encouraged by their stories, and to read their transformative books.
This month, two of my clients have success stories to share. They follow,
below. And in keeping with my "Money from the Deeper Self" vision
of Harmonious Prosperity, I hope that you will read their stories in the
spirit of how the good work and successes of each of us lifts all of us,
just as singing in harmony lifts ~ and depends on ~ each part.
Your turn will come. And when it comes, we will all be lifted up by it,
and grateful to you for our healing.
1. Shelley Klammer, author of the book-in-progress,
Self-Discovery through Collage
Shelley, a wonderful artist, art teacher, and writer,
initially found me through my monthly column in the award-winning online
publication, Creativity Portal (www.creativity-portal.com). As I read
her emerging chapters, I was moved and impressed by her unwavering self-honesty,
and how that brought my own closer to home.
Recently, she has created an Internet e-course, which both demanded much
of her (“Wowsa! Quite a growth spurt!” she wrote me), and
gave her even more back. This is what she writes for you about her process
of overcoming limitations.
"It is in moments of heightened possibilities that we glimpse our
unique path. Years ago in the midst of a divorce and the need to find
my meaningful work, I wondered what I could share with the world. I feared
I did not have the power or creativity to create the life I longed for.
When several members of my family died within one yearm I experienced
a crisis-induced glimpse of my higher path. My own creative opening revealed
to me a signpost of the possibilities of spontaneous creativity. I saw
universality within my own personal struggle.
“Understanding that that many people do not believe that they have
creative power, I wanted to find a way to teach spontaneity to those who
feared they might not be creative. “What is my unique path?”
I asked myself. I held this question deeply in my own body and waited
for an answer. I wanted to find a creative method of opening to the larger
Self that would be immediately satisfying, enriching, surprising, opening
and powerful. The word “Collage” came into my mind and I could
feel the energy moving through my body in affirmation.
“I took my first step and began a daily collage journal. As I moved
through my human mire into embracing possibility, I felt the urge to share
my collage discoveries. With great trepidation I started a blog. I was
so shy and inward that each step toward authentic self-expression felt
excruciating. And once I learned how to commit my feelings in writing,
then I had to face my fear about taking my creative practice out into
the world.
“With shaky uncertainty I began to teach classes. Next came the
inner urge to write a course to share the process for others who could
not attend my classes. Slowly, my intuition strengthened. As I crossed
each barrier, fear came up again and again. Each time a block or fear
came up, it told me that I was afraid to take my next step. And each time
I mustered up the courage, I moved forward again.
“In the process of moving through my deepest anxieties, I grew to
understand the gift in my wound. The gift within my fear that I am not
creative is the discovery of a tremendous creativity that can create many
powerful forms. When I recognize my divine truth, I can proclaim from
the highest part of myself, ‘I am powerfully creative,’ and
my limiting voices begin to fade away.”
To find out more about Shelley Klammer and her offerings, go to http://www.shelleyklammer.com/index.htm
and www.CollageForSelf-Discovery.com
2. Shulamit Sofia, author, Soul Strength: Building Spiritual Muscle
for Real-Life Challenges
Shulamit was my Book Development client many years ago. We had met, somehow,
and when she found out the work I did, she told me she had been working
on a book for some years about how to develop the full potential of your
soul’s strength, based on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. She would
come to my office with wonderful ideas, drawings, and a powerful vision
to discuss how to get through her fears of writing this book. Even through
the book had been endorsed, already, by some heavy-duty spiritual luminaries,
she just felt stuck. Finally, as can happen sometimes, she went her own
way. Over the years, when I thought of her, I wondered what had happened
with her book. If I felt any sadness about her leaving, it was more about
my inability to help her all the way.
Last week, I went to services for the Jewish High Holy Days ~ a new place,
a new rabbi, a new approach. I knew no one there, just came because the
rabbi was profound. And there was a very pleasant, smiling face coming
towards me. “You look familiar,” I said. “I’m
Shulamit,” she told me. It was a joyful reunion, a wonderful harbinger
of the New Year. And to top it off, she told that she had finished her
book ~ and found a wonderful agent for it.
“It just took me time,” she explained, catching me up. “But
I did it. And you helped. I still have the charts you made for me. And
now ~ who would have thought it? ~ with what’s happening in the
world, my book is even more relevant than ever.”
What a gift for me, to know that the work I did with her continued even
after we stopped meeting. And what a gift to the world, that this book,
complete with beautiful, colorful cards, will be available. This is her
description of it:
“Soul Strength was created for the person seeking greater spiritual
satisfaction. This is especially true for someone going through challenging
times. Even the person for whom life is good and full of promise can benefit
from Soul Strength’s tools for clarifying purpose and meaning in
one’s life.
“Soul Strength provides solutions for building spiritual muscle.
By learning these techniques for self-exploration the reader can better
understand his or her situation from a larger perspective.”
You can order the book from her website now, or wait until it becomes
more widely available. http://www.soulstrengthseminars.com. Shulamit Sofia:
author, consultant, speaker.
If you have worked with me at any point, and have a success story to share
about your book or writing, please contact me at naomirosedeepwrite@yahoo.com,
and I will happily share it with my hundreds of newsletter readers.
UPCOMING WORKSHOP:
MONEY FROM THE DEEPER SELF
Healing
Your Relationship to Money by Understanding Its Connection to Your Inner
Life
In this time of economy uncertainty, it’s more essential than ever
to look for wealth in the right place.
Most of us learn that money is something outside us, and that how much
of it we have depends on such factors as luck, hard work, constant attention
to getting it, and so on. But our inner life ~ our connection with, or
separation from, our deep nature ~ is the real key to having what we need,
and to trusting life to support us totally.
In this workshop, we will explore some common assumptions about money
as an "outside" experience, and begin to look more closely at
how our real nature was obscured or set aside early on, in favor of a
partial self that believed it had to "do something" to get its
needs (material and otherwise) met. As we begin to recontact our original
nature, which is supported even by breath and the earth, and to understand
some
of the early decisions we have made keeping us from accepting all the
blessings life hasto shower on us, and how these have related to money
up to now, a shift can take place, enabling us to relax into our ground
of being and ask for, and attract to us, everything we need.
Texts: MotherWealth: The Feminine Path to Money,
and The Portable Blessings Ledger: A Way to Keep Track of Your Finances
and Bring Meaning and Heart to Your Dealings with Money, by Naomi
Rose.
DATE: Sunday, November 2, 2008
TIME: 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Chochmat HaLev Meditation Center, Berkeley,
CA
FEE: $150.00. Cost includes the two books. $25 discount
($125 total) if registered before October 15th.
REGISTRATION: To reserve your space, send a nonrefundable
deposit of $75 to
Naomi Rose at P.O. Box 21622, Piedmont, CA
94620. Or you can pay by PayPal by going to www.essentialwriting.com/classes.html.
The balance is due by the workshop
date.
NOTE: Be sure to include your mailing address, so you can receive
the texts before the Workshop.
For more information, e-mail me at naomirosedeepwrite@yahoo.com, or phone
me at (510) 465-3935.