A Powerful Lesson I Received from Grief

I heard something last weekend from a medicine woman who was quoting a mutual teacher of ours and it reminded me why the wild animals are my greatest teachers.

“Animals are innocent because they don’t have a story.”

The beasties are FREE because it seems they don’t have the capacity- as we humans do- to conjure up all kinds of suffering-inducing stories to torture themselves.  

I think the reminder of BEASTIES hit me as I’m in the process of preparing my 6th book for publication this fall. AND I have  A LOT OF STORIES swirling in my head about how I “should” be launching or publishing the book.

A few of my unhelpful “stories”:

If I write a book, it has to be critically acclaimed /world famous or I am a failure.

I don’t trust myself to do my own publishing and marketing…I’ll screw something up.

My writing isn’t literary enough….for that I’d need an MFA and then I’d be an excellent writer…maybe.

I must to generate enough income in the sales of this book to cover all the money I spent on the editors I worked with.

I don’t know what I’m doing.

About this new book:

It is THRILLING (because its a novel, and I have never done fiction before, SCARY (because I’ve been working on this project for four years and it means a lot to me) and, I’m longing to offer it to the world in a simpler way.

The traditional publishing world says it’s critical to get “blurbs” from famous authors and to create an effective marketing strategy and launch campaign so you can trigger higher visibility at Amazon.

Those things certainly have been important ways my books have gotten more visibility in the past.

But, THIS TIME AROUND, something inside of me says:

Let’s keep it simple. 

Let’s save our energy for a new creative project.

Let’s save it for friends and family and myself.

Let’s trust that the story will reach those who it needs to and that I’ll have the resources I need to write another book if I choose to!

If the book is meant to find a larger audience, it will somehow.

Of course, I will be sharing it here with all of you in hopes that you find this story inspiring on your own life path.

Is there something in your life or business that rather than doing what our culture or industries tell you “should do” ……it would feel better to do it differently?

What would it look like to do it your own way?

How freeing would it feel?

This weekend I also remembered a powerful teaching I received a year ago that helped me think about the release of my new book in a beautiful way.

After my mom died last fall in September, it was so heavy in those days just after she left the earth and something amazing happened that has stuck with me.

And it’s helping me now with this current publishing conundrum.  (CLICK ON 4:47 minute VIDEO BELOW TO WATCH)

I have a few local classes coming up…

• Monday, September 13th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
• Sunday, September 26th, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Cost: $48
If you are local or will be up north near Duluth this Fall, I’ll be teaching an introduction to shamanic journeying in person at Svalja Yoga.  There are two dates – so I hope one works for you!
You can find the details here and register. 

I’m here to help if you’d like support for making a non-traditional move in any direction.  We all need sacred space to be held for us from time to time..so we can find our way.  You can always find and schedule sessions here.  

with much love,

Sarah

P.S. My latest book is now on sale at Amazon for just $9.95!  (KINDLE is $1.99) I am running a promotion to help make it easier for the book to find more readers. If you already know and enjoy the book- I would be so grateful for a brief review from you- those help tremendously for books to find new readers.

It’s a wonderful time to buy it for yourself or a sister or one of your kids.  I’ve had several people share that they are reading it daily with one of their adult children and then texting or calling each other to reflect- how amazing is that?