The body can heal from violence or illness. So too does the mind.
The mental scars are hidden, though, and those wounds can be held open for years or even lifetimes if they are not balmed. Sometimes even physical problems can be related back to what the mind is doing.
Heal Thy Self is a book of stories that line up like stepping stones - 31 in total - between the reader and a better life. Each story is one of survival, trauma, abuse and how the writer overcame those obstacles.
All of them are nonfiction and three of them were penned by Prince George writers.
Heal Thy Self is the latest anthology of collected personal disclosure stories by Sue Urda and Kathy Fyler under their Powerful You Publishing label. It was through another contributor, Angela Hanna of Montreal, that local reiki master Rachelle Delorey was introduced to the book during the story submission phase. Delorey was acquainted with Melanie Noulett and Jackie Rioux through a course they all took together in Thought Field Therapy.
Soon, all three were writing their accounts of intense personal pain, how that played a role in systemic dysfunction throughout their lives and how they overcame that and got their lives on new, positive tracks.
All three stories required shocking personal disclosures from each of these local people. All three told The Citizen that laying bare their darkest personal histories for the whole world to see was not as daunting as one might think.
"If you don't talk it out, the different kinds of abuse patterns keep going," said Delorey, proprietor of Perpetual Transformation, an emotional healing service she provides.
"We are getting to the point of if we can express the story and not cry anymore, then you know you're healing," said Rioux, proprietor of Ladybug Wellness.
"There is a collective consciousness, and being able to share your story brings people into that connection point, realizing that they are not alone, or they can heal too. That helps us and it helps everyone else who have maybe gone through similar things, or who are in a position to help," said Noulett, who runs Tiger Lily Transformations.
Rioux added that just the act itself of disclosing painful secrets or unburdening heavy emotional loads has healing properties.
"It just flowed out. I think I did one round of edits," said Noullett, who is also a writer of music and other forms of composition. "I am used to the writing process, but this was different. It was enlightening self-reflection and now I find I'm using the same thought process when I make music, and I'm using music a lot more in my reiki practice."
"It's almost funny now, having released so much of all that happened to me, what I now find to be triggers," said Rioux. "Looking back, the simplest things were triggers before. I totally understand when I hear about people who suffer from PTSD getting triggered by things that seem so simple to the outsider, but for those who are suffering, a totally mundane thing can send you off the deep end."
Delorey said society has greatly advanced in the way it handles hearing about trauma suffered by friends, neighbours, even close family.
"It used to be taboo to talk about so much of the things in this book. You were told to suck it up, or it was your business and nobody else's, or it was something immoral. Now we know that these things happen, they are actually all too common, and the thing to do is work with people to support them," she added. "We can't be afraid of people telling their personal truth."
Rioux said "we have all overcome things, but we are all unique. There are 31 different ways of healing in this book, and they all give a light to show people maybe how to do their own healing."
"Just putting all this out there, these different perspectives, might give people the acceptance they need or the inspiration they need to try different things for themselves," said Noullett. "What's important is to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Your physical condition is tied to your experiences.
"Your worst trauma is often the key to your life's biggest gift, biggest purpose," said Rioux.
All three are now considering writing entire books based on the chapters they contributed to Heal Thy Self.
The book is already available online and through participating locations in Prince George. All three will be at a book signing event on Saturday and musical performance by Noullett at the Prince George Farmers' Market. The book can be purchased in advance at Ms. Lorea's College of Esthetics and Nail Technology, 3 Sisters Rock n' Gems, Ave Maria's, Be Unique Beauty and Wellness, InJoy Studio and Boutique, and from any of the authors.
