fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
winter solstice 2020
By: Bhakti Issa Urra
Tags: Winter Solstice 2020, Artists, Scientists, Shamans, Healers

This year folks are more attentive to being in tune with and more respectful of Nature. No brainer behavior for even the most dense, right? Given the hellacious challenges of 2020.

they’re out early this year

Plenty to choose from and here are some of my favorites.

Sandra Ingerman has been sending out the Transmutation News for 20 years. For past issues, go to her site and the archives are at the bottom of that page.

The Shift Network is hosting a four day Winter Solstice Fest, December 18 to 21. The event is chock full of fun stuff — music, presentations, rituals, links, First Nation prayers and offerings.

Finally, take the time to catch the Four Winds three day Earth Keepers Summit with their impressive roster of leading edge scientists and wisdom elders sharing their valuable information.

The Four Winds Society hosted Earth Keepers Summit

Let’s come together and honor ancient wisdom traditions as we set a powerful collective intention to manifest a new year of peace, health, and unity. Blessed Winter Solstice 2020 to all!
Art Is About the Journey!
By: Marsha Hamsavage
Tags: Feelings, Artist, Creativity, Learning, The Journey

Art Is About the Journey!

Fall Field, oil 8"x10"- a work-in-progress — created by the Author

The journey is the day-to-day work we do. If you do not enjoy doing that work, then why are you doing it? Are you in it for the money or the notoriety?

To produce a product is why most people create something. Am I right on this thought? That end product will be judged on its merits against others that are producing something similar.

Why did I show you the above image?

This scene was started on a failed oil painting. I reuse my panels because I can! I turned it horizontally as the first image was vertical. This helped me to not be influenced by what was on the surface already. You can see the progression from beginning to end.

And… no, it is not in a frame yet! I was learning something by creating this piece. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. I love painting marks that are negative spaces that complete the look of light through the tree trunks!

I know many creatives work just for the sheer pleasure of being in the throws of that creativity. In this journey, there will be products that meet the standards of the retail market.

I produce representational art mostly, and at this point in my journey, I am only judging my work against my previous work. Many pieces of art never see a frame. But in that process, I have created paintings that went to galleries and shows and eventually met their rightful owners and sold them!

In the end, my paintings only improved by doing a lot of paintings. By understanding composition, design, values, etc. The newest, fanciest paint box didn’t matter at all. — John P. Weiss

How does the above help you?

If you are creating anything, learn to enjoy the process. You can even learn to appreciate the frustration when something is not working to your satisfaction.

When that happens to me, I am now free to experiment on that surface. It is no longer “precious.” This is how the above can help you.

Where this work of art is presently — courtesy of the Author

A study or a painting, it does not really matter!

The “study” above may become a full-fledged painting when I decide it is worthy of a frame.

It is never about the end product. It is about learning and trying things. The journey I live each time I decide to create could end up a painting. It is the most enjoyable creating for me. I don’t even know where the hours went!
Michael Levchenko — A Talented Abstract Sculptor from Ukraine
By: Ilya Kushnirskiy, Fine Art Shippers
Tags: Artist, Contemporary Art, Art, Abstract Art, Sculpture

The world of contemporary art is diverse and incredibly rich. It is full of inspired and talented people shaping the international art scene. At Fine Art Shippers, we are happy to know and work with many amazing contemporary artists from all parts of the world. In this blog post, we are delighted to tell you about one of them — a talented abstract sculptor from Ukraine, whose works are installed in 18 different countries. Please meet Michael Levchenko, the master of sculptural abstract art!

Michael Levchenko — A Talented Abstract Sculptor from Ukraine

Michael Levchenko was born in 1976 in Kyiv, Ukraine. He grew up in an artistic environment, which allowed his own creativity to develop. Michael Levchenko started painting at an early age and began sculpting when he was only 15 years old. His first works were mainly figurative, but over the years, his art evolved into abstraction. It was abstraction that gave the talented artist complete freedom to create his art and share his vision, shaping a space both emotionally and intellectually.

Today, Michael Levchenko is a prominent Ukrainian abstract sculptor working in stone, granite, sandstone, and marble. His incredible sculptures have been featured at a number of national and international exhibitions and are in many private and public collections worldwide, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Roldan (Argentina), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Volterra (Italy), and the International Sculpture Park in Aya Napa (Cyprus). Monumental works by Michael Levchenko are also installed in public spaces in Ukraine, China, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Israel, Turkey, Canada, and other countries.

As a contemporary abstract sculptor, Michael Levchenko uses his art as a universal means of communication. It is his way to share his vision of the world and deliver his message to the public.

“My aim is to create aesthetic images that are intrinsically emotional, that moment when a pure idea and the subconscious synergize,” says Michael Levchenko.

We all at Fine Art Shippers highly recommend that you learn more about Michael Levchenko and his works because they are sure to impress you with their original forms, ideas, and expression.
It’s much easier to say who you are than to do the things that make you who you are.
By: Madeline Taylor
Tags: Artist, Process, Branding, Being, Doing

It’s much more of an abstraction. I don’t have to do anything physical; i just have to be an artist in that way of changing your imagination. But so much of the imagination is — all of it perhaps — is shaped by culture and culture is comprised of things that take skill to build. We misunderstand maybe that being an artist takes skill and practice of doing.

Doing and being are not the same. Doing is not the sole definition of being but I think it shapes it. You are not your work, you are bigger. But being one with the work, falling into it and away from separateness and commentary makes you become the work. It’s what makes the work happen. You become by doing. (wouldn’t it be nice to not be occupied at all with being something? the doing takes care of that.) You do the work to serve Spirit. Spirit is alive in relationships. The work is relationships. Jabber jabber jabber high high high abstract abstract abstract.

Who is this for? What change might this create in them? And to what end? The sounds I’m making, the words I’m writing, the conversations I’m having. The models I’m architecting. The frame in which i create a new picture, rather than making a picture and insisting the viewer love it.

Branding gets in the way of making.
Selling Art on Saatchi Online Sucks
By: Todd Zen
Tags: Artist, Saatchi Gallery, Mental Illness, Dépression, Art

You get what you pay for. And Saatchi Online is Free. I read they represent 110,000 artists and have over a million works of Art for sale. I tried posting my Artwork on Saatchi Online and so far it has been a waste of time. My work doesn’t appear after looking at 1000 paintings. You would think they would give a new artist on their site a chance to be seen. Most of the Art I saw searching the site doesn’t appeal to me. Anyone can post their Art and it shows. After looking at 1000 works of Art on Saatchi I felt slightly nauseated and depressed. Seeing so much bad art is not a cultural experience. But there is a game going on as to whose art gets seen. The website employs professional curators who make Collections. I noticed that some of the Art chosen by the Curators did sell. Is this because the Art is good or because it is given certain distinction by being Curated. I am also an Art Collector and I have had a positive experience buying Art on Saatchi Online for under $300. I have found several Artists I really like who sell for low prices. My experience at Saatchi Online has left me feeling hopeless about selling my Art. Maybe my work sucks! The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art choose my Art four times for their Tumbler page. But no galleries contacted me. Even my friends have no interest in buying my Art. Over the years I have thrown away hundreds of paintings to cleanse myself of this noxious hobby. I often feel great shame that I continue to produce so much useless Art that nobody wants. My greatest achievement is that my work is hanging at the local Psychiatric Facility. Also I sold a painting to a rich Movie Director whose career flopped twenty five years ago. I have tried to quit making art but my life felt terribly meaningless. There are moments when I feel uplifted and joyful after creating my newest painting. My heart sings and I feel at one with the great Artists in History.
Brother your speech is so good
By: Rajan Singh
Tags: Artist, Uiux Designer

Brother your speech is so good

Even i also want to become ui ux designer. So please help me regarding this.
An Artist’s Tale
By: Jawad Arshad Khan
Tags: Artist, Literature, Poetry, Artists Way, Plight

An Artist’s Tale

Born gifted or mastered through the course of time,

Outcome of a suffering or emotions felt at depth,

A calculated approach or knowing the true Para cosmic colossal defining one’s own infinities.

These are the origins of art, termed or immortal latter to decide.

Once the imagination reaches it’s saturation then it’s the collapse of his art , How large your infinity was latter to decide.

The intimacy of an artist and his art where an artist finds his true sacred solace,

Is it worth giving it up fearing would it earn you a bread latter to decide.

Stand chosen or the choice made, enact others’ script or direct your own choice,

It’s the journey not all can take, but the brave

Risking passion for a ‘social reality’, cheating the one true love staking(supporting) the fake ‘social obligatory’.

Was it worth slaughtering the one true love, latter to decide.

It’s easy to scribble down big words neglecting the cruel variables that actually build up your equation.

That’s the thing about art it demands courage.

How unsteady your jeopardies are latter to decide.

The most difficult quest of discovering oneself, was it worth latter to decide.

Continuous fears haunting mind, constant miseries adding to the plight

It’s the journey not all can take but the brave.

Born an artist everyone

With burdens on, a metric ton

It is now when you should take the life on or

regret, when its half gone.

— The Thought Reaper
從心理學轉戰攝影：Elizaveta Porodina 以透徹人物特質的雙眼，拍出百變的迷幻夢境
By: Esther H
Tags: Artist, 藝術, 時尚攝影, 攝影師, Photography

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Painter, Heather Cameron reflects on the True Meaning of Community
Tags: Artinformation, Artists, Louisville Ky, Painters, Heather Cameron

Heather Cameron is a writer and artist from Louisville, KY.

“Finding the Future”, Heather Cameron

Heather is a painter based in Louisville, KY. She paints mesmerizing landscapes and abstract movements. Heather has been focusing more on writing recently, lending her creative skills to organizations and galleries alike. We had a casual conversation one evening about her creative process and her interests as a painter.

Ai: Heather, tell me why the transition to more writing?

Heather: I’ll still be painting. I’m happy to be doing it. I’m happy to keep showing up as a painter. As for writing, it’s always been something I’ve enjoyed. I’ve been dreaming of writing since I was a child. A year ago, I remembered someone told me they were a writer, and it really struck me because I forgot that was an option….

Ai: Yes, I think that's a common theme with artists, we tend to forget we have options, and sometimes those options are things we really care about. It's fascinating.

Heather:

Yes, it is. As life goes on, maybe you’re encouraged or discouraged. Maybe some things get weeded out…but maybe those weeds are just flowers that haven’t bloomed yet. And it’s interesting because a lot of artists have multiple avenues of creating.

Ai: Yes, what are some of your other avenues…. I know you sing.

Heather: Yes, I do sing. I keep that to myself [laughs]. I see so many ways to be expressive. I also garden a lot. I have a lot of plants. I draw often. I love to paint. I love to write. I enjoy speaking, as well—the art of oration, of presenting a story. What comes to mind is this idea of being around the campfire. My friend once told me, we’re so far away from fire and tribe. And we’ve had this distance of everyone. People are becoming hyper-aware of, “where’s my family, and where’s my community?” The theme of the mural I did for the school is “build community.” I work for a non-profit; we give home-schooled students valuable arts education that they wouldn’t get otherwise…. is building a community an art?

Ai: Yes, I think so. Not everyone can build a community. It takes a very particular set of skills.

Heather:
Building Your Art World
By: Kim Beil
Tags: Artist, Art History, Art Criticism, Studio, Art

Life, to start with, is not just about your professional life. There is so much more to it than just work. The trouble is that, when you get into art, that ‘so much more’ is precisely what you want your work to be about. Life is what you want to immerse yourself in through your work. Jan Verwoert, “Life Work”

This course is built around a series of conversations between nine scholar/critic and artist pairs. We will be entering the conversation en media res, as it were, since all of these pairs have histories together; they’ve had studio visits, late-night phone calls, email and text conversations. Usually the scholar has written about the artist and maybe the artist has suggested reading and viewing lists to the scholar. They’ve helped each other feel seen, and often be seen in a more literal way.

The conversations will concentrate on these questions: How do artists and scholars work across the divide between practice and theory? How should you build your art world and who will be in it? The pairs will discuss their respective practices (art-making, writing, researching, community-building) and engage in conversation about the artist’s work.
GLIZXY is on the come up!
By: The Comeup
Tags: Artist, Glizxy, Music, Musicians, Rapper

Is it a plane? Is it a bird? No it’s GLIZXY! A 17-year-old artist from the Bahamas on the verge to success. Most people wouldn’t know about him or even try to notice, but due to his recent wave and flow switch ups GLIZXY is on the come up to becoming one of the best of the best.

photo of GLIZXY(rapper)

Being noticed from bigger artist and getting features with them he’s been able to grow so much, especially from his remix “Book Bag ft Bigkaybeezy”, and his hit single to stream #10 in his country “WET ft Ron”.

Book Bag ft Bigkaybeezy at the time of this post

WET! ft Ron at the time of this post

GLIZXY will soon be at the top where he belongs it won’t be long, if he stays on the track he’s being going he’ll crash into success in no time!

Follow him on social medias to support him:

Instagram: @glizxystay4800

Twitter: @glizxystay4800

SoundCloud: luglizxy

Spotify: GLIZXY

Apple Music: GLIZXY
Spotlight : JunKiyoshi
Tags: Neort, Artist, Digital Art, Art, Startup

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Just Say Yes
By: Barbara Holmes
Tags: Artist, Be Kind To Yourself, Single Life, Inspiration, Encouragement

I didn’t know she’s an artist.

It’s not surprising that she is, but she lives right behind me and I was clueless. She sent me a message via Instagram, and like any good neighbor, I stalked her page. Walking over for a visit, we sat down and talked about her art. She laid out her portfolio, and as I looked through it, I was in awe of every, single piece.

She offered to give me one, and this one really spoke to me. I tell myself no too easily, and don’t say yes nearly enough.

I brought this one home and sat it above my desk.

Over the weekend, I worked on my bedroom. It needed some attention to resume haven status. I noticed how the room has a gold and silver theme flowing through it. This reminded me of a small trashcan I saw a year ago, and really wished I’d bought it after looking at my room. It would be perfect!

God reminded me that I saw that same trashcan at a store just a few weeks ago. I hopped in my truck, and drove to the store to see if it was still sitting on the shelf. The shelf was empty. :(

I kicked myself all the way back home.

There was no real reason not to say, ‘Yes’, the day I saw it. Even a year ago, the first time I laid eyes on it, there was no reason not to bring it home. I really struggle with buying simple pleasures for myself. For other people, I’d buy the moon.

That night, I looked at the website of the store with the trashcan. It was available online and could be here with a few clicks of a button. This time there was no hesitation saying yes.

Walking by my bedroom, I glance at it sitting there shimmering in the light, and smile. I know it’s just a trashcan, which won’t be used often in the bedroom. It’s a rather frivolous purchase, and that’s where I hesitate in saying yes. The silly things are what I enjoy the most, and are usually the most fun.

There is fun in this life, if we just say yes.
Alt Indie Artist Realma Set To Release Debut Single
By: Michael Stover
Tags: Trauma, Music, Alternative Music, Serbia, Indie Music

Set for release on 22nd January, Realma is ready to share her mystical debut single and evoke a bewitching landscape of defiant, moon-charmed wolves.

Gazing through the emblematic lens of neo-symbolism, Realma’s debut single ‘A Hint of Pink’ mystifies artists’ bittersweet bonds to their creation. Exploring one’s artistic process, the meta-song is a call for mesmerizing beauties still out-of-reach in premature artworks.

At its core, however, the single is motivated by the artist’s turbulent response to a Covid-19 police mishandling she experienced when arriving home from studies abroad. The chorus in particular alludes to wolf howls, representing the desire to summon creative conditions in place of a broken reality:

“Something horrifying happened upon the initial lockdown, when my safety was put at risk by those that should’ve helped. My need to overcome this trauma gave charge to the single’s distinctive atmosphere, being rendered into a rustic melody that is both haunting and victorious.” — REALMA

Realma’s debut also marks the beginning of her long-term audiovisual collaboration with an international group of talented young artists. The first result will be the animated music video by Mihajlo Dragaš, who has, among other awards, received the Golden Plaque of Belgrade and the Distinction Award at Athens ANIMFEST. After the music video release on 5th February, the interpretations of the music will extend into a dance video, comic

booklet and perhaps even include other art mediums.

Realma herself is ready to take on the music world with many more singles looming and taking form — all based in disparate realms, but united by her newly discovered postmodern sorceress persona. Look out for her next release this spring, which will probe into obsessive relationships through the musical style of film-noir.

https://www.instagram.com/realma_music/ https://m.facebook.com/witchy.realma/
How age regression has helped me
By: Lucie Stepney
Tags: Age Regression, Bpd, Trauma

Age regression is when a person reverts back to younger mindset. This can be voluntary or involuntary. Now before I speak on my own personal experience with age regression I want to be clear that age regression and age play are two very different things. Age play is part of the BDSM community and is when a person pretends to be a younger age but in their mind they are aware that they aren’t that age. Age regression is not a kink and the person in their mind is not aware that they aren’t actually a younger age therefore cannot give consent to any sexual activity. As a child cannot give consent much like the child mindset cannot.

Now age regression has been used in therapy sessions to help people who have had childhood trauma. It was recommended by my current therapist but my first experiences with age regression were in 2019. I wasn’t aware at the time what was happening but I was aware that I liked the feeling of being looked after. I needed to be looked after. I now know that is because I didn’t have my needs met when I was a child. My dad was difficult to live with and was at times very verbally abusive and my mum- as much as she tried- wasn’t always able to meet my emotional needs either. My brain began to find other ways to cope and that resulted in age regression. It allows me to go into a mindset that is carefree. In that space I don’t have to worry about the pressures of my life. For much of my life I have struggled with severe mental health issues and I often felt that I never had the chance to be a ‘normal’ child or teenager. I missed a lot of years due to my health. This is my safe mindset. I call it ‘regressing’ when I go into that mindset. I can regress by myself but I also have my partner who is know as my ‘caregiver’ when I am in that mindset. It helps to have her there because I trust her and I know she is able to look after me.

Age regression can be very misunderstood and as with everything has a lot of stigma attached to it.

Usually when I regress I will watch children’s tv, cuddle my stuffed animals, colour, read or have someone read to me. Due to the stigma attached to this not many people actually know about my age regression only a couple of close friends and my partner. But the comfort I feel when I am regressed is worth that. In that mindset I am safe. I can still do adult things in my day to day life and I am not always in a regressed mindset but when I am it is comforting and helpful to me. I do have periods of time that after I regress I feel guilty as if I have done something wrong but I am learning that is because of the stigma. It is a valid way to cope and really any way is valid as long as it is healthy and working for you.
Entry 1 — December 26, 2020. 2 am ramblings
Tags: Relationships, Trauma, 2am Thoughts

I’ve never felt relaxed around Christmas. Due to past traumas in my life, I find myself staying up later than I should as I get lost in distractions. I’ve had this issue where I can’t truly deal with my problems. I simply hide them behind meaningless tasks and activities. It’s gotten to the point where I am starting to believe that I am happier when I am busy. But, I am not happier. I am just simply distracting myself.

It’s almost been a year since I got out of my previous relationship. Four years I had spent on a guy that was not right for me. One of the many things that I had learned through this was that some red flags can seem white. The red flag I am talking about is that throughout this relationship, this man told me that he “would never break up with me”, that when it came to the end of the relationship that I would need to be the one to end it. In the end, I did end it. But, this phrase stayed with me. I will not lie and say that I did not showcase any toxic traits myself. Because I did. At times, I could be very toxic. And yet, he stayed. He put himself down and would tell me that I was doing the right thing. It was only then I realize how wrong this situation was.
December 25th
By: Jeffrey Chiao
Tags: Trauma, 2020, Short Story, Holidays, Vent

The clock rung.

December 25th, 12:00 AM.

The lights have already been out for several hours.

Presents already opened.

A hot pot that’s been finished and out in the dishwasher.

The chaos of yesterday already has felt like a fleeting memory…as if it never happened.

But it did. The wrapping paper is proof of that.

I wish I could had been back to my home. The home that I cherish most.

But it couldn’t happen tonight, for whatever reason.
Sometimes your world lights on fire,
By: Amanda Suarez
Tags: PTSD, Trauma, Survivor

Sometimes your world lights on fire,

Because it needs to burn down.

It hurts a version of me that doesn’t exist anymore, a version that is a ghost

because she burned in that fire.

She surrendered herself to the flames,

and sometimes in her memory I shoot fire

into my arms, I don’t know why it’s done

In her memory, silly scared little girl

She would like that,

But she’s dead now. She’ s dead,

and I lived, and I don’t know if that’s good.

I don’t know if its better to cry crocodile tears

Or fly with dragons, because as nice as the sky is,

The water is safer, and sometimes in the waves,

I see her there, that old ghost, but she can’t see me.

I wish I could hold her hand, palm sweaty,

And tell her she will be alright.
When I Punched the Walls Until My Knuckles Dripped With Blood
By: Neeramitra Reddy
Tags: Mental Health Awareness, Trauma, This Happened To Me, Mental Health, Bullying

As I wave goodbye to the librarian and walk out of the library clutching “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, I feel a sudden and powerful blow to my stomach that empties the air out of my lungs and leaves me gasping for breath and reeling in pain.

Still bent over and clutching my stomach, I look up at his grinning face and him saying, “Ups” before jogging away. I slowly trudge back home, seething, and grinding my teeth.

I shut myself up in the bathroom and overwhelmed by rage and frustration, I punch the walls with tears streaming down my eyes, until my knuckles drip with blood.

Why? Why the hate? Why always target me? Why want to make me hate life and feel like shit always? Why me? Just why?

My mom rushes over and bombards me with questions but I don’t utter a single word. My mind is blind with shame, rage, frustration, disappointment, and unhappiness.

“Well, calling it fighting would be wrong — I was getting beaten into a pulp while managing to land a blow here and there.”

The next day, I patiently lie in wait, and as soon as I get the chance, I sneakily walk up to him, scream “Ups” and punch him in the back. He kicks me in the stomach and before we know it, we are fighting like dogs.

Well, calling it fighting would be wrong — I was getting beaten into a pulp while managing to land a blow here and there. The others enjoy the show, grinning and prodding him on. They like it. They love it.

Stirred by the commotion, a teacher walks in and to no one’s surprise, everyone blames me. As the teacher reprimands and lectures me on good behavior, I stand still, barely able to hold myself back from breaking down.
Do you have a personality or trauma reaponse?
By: Fahim Chughtai
Tags: Mental Illness, Trauma, Psychology, Personality, Mental Health

We believe this is who we are. I am still working on 'me' plus what is deep programmed conditioning .or, what are patterned responses that once allowed me to survive painful experiences.

That’s why this work is so powerful .it’s us returning home — is us becoming who we are. It allows us to be the real, highest version of ourselves.

Most of us exist in an unconscious, autopilot state. We don’t notice our patterns, our thoughts, our trauma responses.

That’s why awakening can be painful--- we have to look. We have to look at how we hurt others. Even more distressing, we have to look at how we hurt ourselves.

When we begin work, we can feel shame plus sadness. Sometimes, we think of profound confusion. the more we learn WHY we do things, the more conscious we become.

The more we can learn—unlearn—the more we heal.

All behavior makes sense when you understand that it allowed you to be safe or allowed you to be loved.

Then, you can understand the trauma responses in others. You can also choose to set boundaries around behavior, plus decide how people have access to you.

What trauma responses are you learning.

Six common trauma responses

Self-betrayal

Self-betrayal is a coping mechanism from childhood, where we learned to neglect our own needs, wants, plus desires for love or approval.

Sarcasm, defensiveness, or chronic negativity

These are defensive mechanisms that keep us from being vulnerable or experiencing betrayal or pain.

People pleasing

People-pleasing is a behavior pattern where we attempt to control people’s perception of us to be seen unconsciously; he

And, or loved.

Performing a role

(The achiever, the enabler, the caretaker, the peacemaker, the entertainer)

A coping mechanism where we attempt to take on roles and traits that are most desirable to parent-figures that becomes a pattern in

Adulthood, leaving us feeling anxious, depressed, and isolated.

Trauma bonds

Relationships are re-enactments of our earliest childhood dynamics.

Trauma bonds lack secure attachment secure between two people.

Dynamics include:

Fear of self-expression, fear of abandonment, punishment, shaming, a push-pull dynamic, emotional withholding, an expectation that another adult can meet all of our needs.

Dissociation

A feeling of being physically there plus mentally “spaced out” where we don’t feel connected to ourselves or others plus may not have many memories of past experiences (including few or no childhood memories)
Entropy Tinted Glasses
By: Doug Ecks
Tags: PTSD, Trauma, Self Examination, Poetry, Family

Entropy Tinted Glasses

Photo by Elias Schupmann on Unsplash

my eyes

are the reverse of rose tinted

seeing only flaws

expecting the worst

even from those who love me best

what happened to me growing up

to tilt my axis of esteem

taint my worldview this way

I don’t know

but when I hear family

I think enemy and fear
Get Out and Stay Out
By: Doug Ecks
Tags: Trauma, Getting Away, Poetry On Medium, Surgery Recovery, Family

Photo by Blake Guffin on Unsplash

The first thing I would tell my past self

my younger me

stay away from surgeons and

get the hell away from your family

and once you get away

stay away.
“Honor Thy Father and Mother” — Sure, If They Earn It First
By: Alexandria Thibodeaux
Tags: Child Abuse, Trauma, Parenting, Trauma Recovery, Personal Development

“Honor Thy Father and Mother” — Sure, If They Earn It First

Photo by NCI on Unsplash

Ten commandments and religion aside, this notion that children are forever expected to morally obligate themselves into showing unparalleled reverence for their parents, biological or otherwise, is a dogma that fuels the plague that is generational trauma.

Of course, there are parents in the world who are deserving of high respect and great esteem from their children because they have earned the respect of their children. Yes, I said earn.

No human is deserving of automatic respect without reason; respect is to be earned — there are no exceptions. This is why the concept of humility is problematic to our human psyches, and in turn, to our human culture and society; each human is equal to another, including parents and their children. See my article on why we should stop using the word humble, below.

To be clear, the Oxford English Dictionary definition of respect is: “a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.”

I want to underscore in this definition: “elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.”

The abilities and qualities parents have used to achieve the nurturing and rearing of a kind and capable human being to positively contribute to the world is worthy of respect from their child/children. And yet, truly nurturing, loving parents worthy of respect are rare. ACE scores, which stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, are traumatic events that occur in childhood (ages 0–17 years). The CDC provides the following examples:

* experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect * witnessing violence in the home or community * having a family member attempt or die by suicide

The CDC continues:

Also included are aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding such as growing up in a household with: * substance misuse * mental health problems * instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison

ACEs are a major detriment to mental and physical health and are associated with mental illness, chronic disease, and other health issues, as well as substance abuse in adulthood. And ACE scores currently exist at alarmingly high rates. According to the CDC, “About 61% of adults surveyed across 25 states reported that they had experienced at least one type of ACE, and nearly 1 in 6 reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs.”

The good news: ACEs are preventable with genuinely nurturing parenting. And part of genuinely nurturing parenting is the revocation of parents not expecting their children to respect them out of the womb, simply because that’s what’s been expected traditionally and historically before humans evolved into more emotionally intelligent animals.
The Key
Tags: Release It, Trauma, Inner Child, Self Love

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

My own shadows have haunted me for years, I have never really understood myself. I tried to dig within the depths of my soul, It was a constant battle of fear rejecting me to see what I held within. I always knew I had this fire within me, just waiting for its catalyst. “Hopefully one day”, I thought to myself.

I carried on with my life, yet everything still had never made sense. I could not find the strength in me to heal the terrors I went through as a child. I knew my shadow of the younger me was too scared to dig deeper. Growing through darkness makes you afraid of actual good things. Pain, tears, end up feeling more like home. That was all I knew. I did not know what it was like to live in the feelings of safety.

I was a seven-year-old kid as he was a teen boy. He took advantage at any moment possible. He would wrap his hands around me as if he owns me. I was always told to never let a guy touch me at such a young age but yet, that did not give me any justice. It still happened. Multiple times.

It was not just barbie dolls and playing house, It was running away from this monster so I could be protected. All I wanted was protection over happiness. I was too young to completely understand the damage it has given me. I grew up and I decided to not care anymore. I decided to absolutely abandon my inner child. I left her more abandoned than she has ever felt.

I found love within relationships as I grew older, they became homes. They became a place where a part of me finally felt love. Finally felt protected. I could never be alone, I was too afraid of what someone in this cruel world could do to me. Relationships were the light through the darkness for me. I finally felt like no one could hurt me. But one after the other, they all proved me wrong. I at least knew that love was the most powerful thing to ever be created. I just have not found that yet. “But I Will,” I said to myself. Through all the ache, through all hatred, I knew there had to be something other than just pain.

I was wrong about it all. I was reaching for something else this whole time, It felt so never-ending. I constantly wanted validation from others. I constantly wanted others to build a home for me. Never once have I thought about building my own home, for myself. To hold my inner childs hand and give her the most love she has ever experienced. I finally reached within me. I loved myself more than I ever have. That self-love was the catalyst to the fire burning inside me. I became secured, understanding of who I am, and not only that but knowing why I exist. That was my key to healing the broken within me. I am the Key.
How do you heal trauma? Pleasure + Play.
By: Serena V Amoroso
Tags: Trauma, Stress Management, Stress Relief, Stress, Nervous System

Trauma is NOT in the event. Trauma is STRESS energy. Trauma is in your nervous system response to an event.

This is how two people can experience the same exact situation, let’s say a car accident, and one will experience trauma while the other will not.

It all comes down to your nervous system response and aftercare.

👉( ALSO — trauma is not only BIG T events, trauma is dysregulated stress energy. If you are experiencing micro stressors every day and do not regulate your nervous system that will create a trauma response in your body. )

Your nervous system impacts EVERYTHING. Your brain, your endocrine system, your immune system, your digestive system, your cells — everything!

If you do not start at this foundational level on your growth journey then you will most likely experience difficulty with lasting, sustainable change.

⚡️𝘚𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮?⚡️.

𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔. 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙐𝙍𝙀. 𝙀𝙈𝘽𝙊𝘿𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏. 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙐𝙉𝙄𝙏𝙔.

This is why being supported with embodiment + pleasure work is so powerful. It allows you to increase your capacity for stress, regulate your nervous system in real time and navigate the world without collapsing into fight, flight or freeze.

💖Love your nervous system nerd,

Serena

@serenavamoroso

PS — join me to embody healing through pleasure in Feminine Magnetism. DM for info.
Practice POST-VITAM to remember 2020 positively
By: Navi Radjou
Tags: Health, Trauma, Healing, Personal Development, 2020

Do the POST-VITAM exercise to end 2020 positively.

After a crisis, individuals and organizations do POST-MORTEM to identify the root cause of what went *wrong* so we avoid a similar crisis in future. Sadly, rather than enable introspection & growth, Post-Mortem leads to Victimization and Blame.

Instead, I suggest you practice POST-VITAM.

Identify what you did *right* in 2020 that made you come ALIVE during Covid-19 crisis and reflect on how you can *amplify* these factors in 2021.

I did my own Post-Vitam and learned a lot about myself. In Q1, all my speaking engagements got cancelled, and my income plummeted. I was scared. But being an Enneagram Type 2 (The Helper), I am wired to help others. So I did dozens of free webinars throughout 2020 to inspire/motivate others.

In doing so, I felt more ALIVE in 2020 than ever in my adult life.

The life lesson I learned in 2020 is: “As long as I am aligned with my Swadharma (my true Higher Nature), the Universe will take care of me.”

Positive psychology (and trauma studies) shows that “You Create Your Past in the Present.” Post-Vitam will help you store your 2020 memories — however traumatic — with “positive charge” in your brain (and nervous system) so every time you recall 2020 in the future its memories won’t “trigger” a big negative charge
The Trauma in Trusting a Flawed System Part 1
By: Meena Ali
Tags: Trauma, Parenting, Metoo, Medical, Black Women

I called my own OB/GYN the next day and was informed that the medication was never approved and that I wasn’t to take it due to its dosage being far too high. When I went into the office for an examination, my OB/GYN told me that my vagina was still red and visibly irritated from Dr. Kmetzsch’s examination. It was also ruled out that I had no yeast infection. When I reached out to patient affairs at Richmond University Medical Center, I was told that they’d reach out to me in the early weeks of October. They never did. I contacted them again and was told that they’d follow up on the investigation. The follow up consisted of a typical my word against his response and well wishes and apologies that felt more like an insult than anything. I was irate. I called patient affairs back and was told that I could speak directly to the head of the Resident OB/GYNs department. To no surprise, he was a man. A man who felt it was necessary to tell me that he’s known Kmetzsch for eighteen months and was surprised to hear my story and how when he spoke to Kmetzsch, he too was floored. Imagine how I felt knowing Kmetzsch all but ten minutes and having to lay down for an examination that felt more like imposed foreplay from a silent predator who had to get off before he was seen as suspicious. I was told that they are both sorry that I feel the way that I do and that my experience was a learning experience for the residents doctors. Richmond University Medical Center is a teaching hospital, however, how do you teach a resident doctor how to do his job without misdiagnosing a patient and leaving them feeling violated?
Sword of Truth
By: Joe Fletcher
Tags: Poetry, Trauma, Insights, Wellbeing

The ghosts of your trauma come flying in fast

Bringing in the horrors from your past

They trap your life in purgatory

Put you in jail, will you ever be free?

You hand down your life sentence

For all your crimes, there’s no penance

You sit in the corner of your cell

Your eyes become a fountain, you’re condemned to hell

And then the reaper’s at your door

You feel there’s no hope, you’re rotten to the core

You devise a plan that could set you free

Plead so hard, ‘Quash this misjustice for me’

Asudden this feeling from deep inside

Starts to bubble, as your guide does arise

For you there is always a beacon of hope

You are never broken, you can cope

You are as innocent as a child

You’re not evil, or defiled

You only acted from what you knew

Did not realise, your thoughts were not true

Thoughts just appear as they come and go

Don’t believe them, just stay in the flow

God forgives, encompasses love

He is benevolent, pure as a dove

You're an angel in disguise

Your greatest teacher, so very wise

Let your mind settle and you’ll be fine

You’ll be guided to pour, your stale, pungent wine

The present moment is all that exists

The past only lives, in your thought created mist

So live in the depths of Abaddon no more

Forgive yourself, open Apollyon’s cell door

Forgiveness is like Michael’s sword

That defeated Lucifer, saved man from being gored

So hear God’s truth say you no longer need scream

Go live your life child, any sins I redeem

Trust you are perfect, you are not damaged or lost

You’re Claíomh Solais, that lights the world

And melts Ymir’s frost
Her Legs Are Heaven
By: Jen Kennedy
Tags: Trauma, LGBTQ, Poetry

Photo by Zane Lee on Unsplash

Trigger Warning: this piece talks about an experience that involves sexual abuse, specifically rape.

My mom told me I had legs that went to heaven growing up, and even into adulthood that phrase was still used as a compliment.

As a kid, I loved it. It made me feel pretty and long, and holy. The older I got, the more I began to think otherwise.

The summer before my freshman year, I conditioned with the older high school kids in the preparation for joining the cross country team. I made the team by the time mid-August rolled around. My legs were the strongest they’d ever been, and I was proud of the strength I’d built.

That strength was tested two weeks before Labor Day weekend 2009. I remember I’d come home from a cross country meet when the electricity was cut due to unpaid bills. I don’t know how we were already behind, we’d only just moved in.

My mom was alone and crying. I hated to see her like that and asked what I could do, and she didn’t hesitate to tell me.

In her defense, she wasn’t right in the headspace. For context, my siblings and I moved out of her house shortly after due to unrelated reasons. That’s another story for another day.

The guy who claimed to be our landlord came by a few days after my mom and I spoke, and I did what I thought at the time was helping my family not be evicted from yet another home. I didn’t know how evictions worked in the legal sense. I was very young and unknowing of so much. I wish I could go back in time and tell 14-year-old me that I didn’t have to do what I did. I would tell her to tell someone. Anyone.

As I lay on the bed and felt him force himself inside of me, I panicked and tried to break free. Detach. I didn’t want to do it anymore. I couldn’t.

My legs led to the heaven he wanted so badly. He didn’t deserve what he got, my legs couldn’t protect me. The months of conditioning and building up strength didn’t matter.

Disassociation became a good friend of mine.
COVID-19 Trauma and How It Impacts Marriage
By: Quentin Hafner
Tags: Relationships, Trauma, Covid 19, Marriage

If you’re married, then might have experienced a challenging time over the last few months with the advancement of COVID-19. For many people, the COVID-19 experience has become a traumatic event triggering heightened emotional stress responses, i.e., flight & flight. Whenever couples are experiencing fight & flight stress responses in a relationship, it can feel emotionally unsafe and wildly conflictual. A fellow therapist friend, Kerry McCoy, LMFT, and I did a 45-minute podcast on how the worldwide collective traumatic experience of COVID-19 is impacting marriages and what we can do to stay connected to our spouse during this challenging time. We talked about the different responses people have to trauma and how this might show up in marriage.

Kerry and I both practice a type of therapy called Emotionally Focused Therapy with couples and its main focus is to increase the security and sense of safety in relationships; something that is needed more than ever now.

At the end of the podcast, we leave you with 5 Connecting Questions During COVID-19 you can use to engage your spouse in a conversation around how this collective trauma may be impacting them, and how you can get re-connected and find your emotional footing.

CLICK HERE IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN THE 12-WEEK RELATIONSHIP SUPPORT GROUP
Trauma: A distressing and disturbing experience
By: Nivesh Pai
Tags: Health, Trauma, Life, Mental Health, Wellbeing

WHY TRAUMA OCCURS?

Physical or Sexual abuse

An individual may be exposed to a bad upbringing in their childhood which affects his/her later life. Therefore, affecting his/her self confidence.

Loss of a loved one

A friend, parent, teacher, or pet may have recently died leading to psychological trauma affecting an individual’s mental health. However, opening up to others can help cope up with the stress.

Physical pain or Accident

The loss of a limb or paralyzed hand in an accident can severely affect a person’s mental health leading to emotional distress, lashing out anger on others, embarrassment, and lack of energy.
Angel Number 66 — Adoption memes
By: Thoughtless Delineation
Tags: Trauma, Life, Adoption, Ascension, Spirituality

I’ve put together 66 Adoption memes.

Whenever your angels communicate using a repeating number or group of numbers, the repetition is meant to provide emphasis and power to their message.

Whenever a number is repeated in an angel number, its vibrational essence is amplified. In this way, angel number 66 resonates with a higher frequency of unconditional love, faith, and healing.

The angel number 6 brings the energy of stability. It represents our need for balance in life and our ability to create stability through problem-solving, seeing clearly, curiosity, grace, with dignity and signifies love, compassion, generosity, and determination.

It’s earthly energy is about more than just physical and financial needs. As it also brings the energy of peace, honesty, integrity, healing, justice, conscientiousness, and humanitarianism. Everything on the earth is part of our greater family including adoptees and we need to be treated as such.

See what resonates with you, and share it! Don’t forget your hashtags #!