A.R. Mitchell's Blog, page 13

May 11, 2023

The Return from Victorious Adventure

The Return from Victorious Adventure

The Return Process has the following moments…

Magic Flight - escaping with our treasured knowledge

Rescue from Without - guiding ourselves back to a normal when our journey took so much out of us that we’re struggling to return to normal

Crossing the Return Threshold - keeping the wisdom of our healing adventure close to us, and figuring out who to share it with

Master of Two Worlds - learning to stand in both the normal world and the world of our ongoing healing adventure. We’re still healing, but we’re getting better.

Freedom to Live - This is the point where you learn to live fearlessly… knowing that you still have challenges, but you do have powerful tools to move forward. You also have enough ability and energy to face the next adventure.

The Freedom to Live lesson is the last piece of the monomyth, but since I’m a writer, I’ll spend a few lessons teaching you how implement this process in your storytelling - with both fiction and non-fiction. (And yes, there will be fan fiction, so hang on! Plus more updates about my own fictional characters.)

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on May 11, 2023 06:01

May 4, 2023

The Return to a Better Empowered Normal

The Return to a New Normal - A Better Empowered Normal

Thanks for reading Chronic Writer by VintageInkSlinger! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

A quick review of the monomyth…

There are three big categories- Seperation- Initiation- Return

Separation called us into the adventure, where we stepped across a threshold into the tough stuff of healing and facing the things which make us fear.

In the Initiation phase we faced those fears, and while it wasn’t fun… we’re here today… which means we won. It wasn’t fun but you won. The things that have frightened us can no longer hold us captive - because we survived.

Certainly we’ll have rotten days where we unfortunately slide back into mindsets which will attempt to drag us back to those places, but we know how to escape and have the tools to create our own victories.

The Return section is the process of going back to the world of people who haven’t been on adventures… and they’re happy with their small lives. They’re normal.

And that ‘normal’, can be a little scary, because you’re different. You were different when you started your adventure and were separated from the normal - but now you bring extra wisdom and skills back into their bland world.

And that can make you a target. Not because you’re bad, or did anything wrong - but because being different is hard. You used to probably hide what made you different… however, after your healing adventure, you won’t be able to hide.

There’s something about adventure and healing that makes you physically and emotionally different. You stand taller. You don’t want to walk with the crowd. Sometimes, because you’ve been through things, you recognize with wisdom where the crowd of normal people are going, you know where it leads and you don’t want it to be your destination - AGAIN!

This is good. This is wisdom. This is right. This is you using your shadow skills, to act as wisdom - like the meeting with the goddess - and saving people. Maybe not literally. The most famous ancient prophets and modern voices to raise alarm, are almost never listened to. They are marginalized because some people aren’t ready to change their behaviors or don’t see the need to change.

But you are different. And its wonderful. You’re going to go back into the normal with healing and wisdom, and people will recognize and respond to that.

You will be returning carrying your healing. Your healing is your healthy new normal. And that healing will give you the confidence to deal with the smaller normal, hostile, non-adventurous world.

As we go through the final portion of the monomyth it is important to keep your healing and yourself protected as you begin to interact with others who don’t know the tough journey you went through.

You don’t have to save anyone other than yourself.

Try to find people who you can trust and who will respect your healing.

Continue to work on your healing, knowing you can always return to your work and go through the monomyth again and again as situations or themes appear that you need to work through.

Next week we’ll go over the steps in the return process.

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on May 04, 2023 06:00

April 27, 2023

Refusal of Return

Refusal of Return

At this point in the mythic quest, the goal has been accomplished and the main character may just want to sit and enjoy the victory. And we should enjoy our victories.

But in the ancient myths these victories occur in realms that normal people don’t live in. They aren’t good or bad places, they’re just different.

Way back at the beginning of our journey we learned that answering the call to adventure meant stepping into a different world. One that made us seperate from the other people who didn’t have an adventure.

Sometimes things that happen force us to feel different than others, and the adventure through the monomyth brings us the skills to heal.

Once we have these healing skills, we continue to have a different skill set because of our life experiences. It doesn’t matter how long the healing process takes, it always sets us apart.

This different realm… the heroes’ journey realm… won’t keep us stuck but we often do want stay in our victories. However, If we stay in the victory of one moment for too long, we stop looking for the next adventure.

When we stop looking for the next adventure, or questing to discover, we lose out on what life could have for us.

This is called Refusing to Return.

Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t want to go back to the way I was!” And that’s a good thing. That’s the right attitude and goal. But you’re not returning to the way you were when you first started.

You get to return with skills, wisdom and story.  And that triumph is worth the journey!

At this point, if you feel secure enough… look back where you were when we first started this and do an inventory of the things you’ve learned. Not just me or this blog - but in life as well.

Those learned things turn into skills and wisdom.

When you pass on those skills and wisdom - you do that through stories.

And that’s why your stories are amazing!

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on April 27, 2023 06:00

April 20, 2023

The Ultimate Boon

The Ultimate Boon

This is the achievement of the quest! This when you get the goal you set out to achieve. This when the guy gets the girl, the princess is able to rule the kingdom, the detective solves the case, the archaeologist gets the artifact….

For those of us working through trauma - the ultimate boon is not an object, but an accomplishment. We’re often afriad to trust ourselves, so our smallest victories don’t feel real enough to count.

But they do count.

Small accomplishments lead to bigger and bigger accomplishments.

So - take a goal. It should be something you’re challenged by, but not too intimidated by, and say, “I can do this.”

I’m sorry the following is a really big project, but I thought it was important because this blog focuses on writing.

For instance - if you wanted to write your life story, because you thought it would help others, you can start by writing. “I want to write down my life’s story, because I think it will help others.”

Then answer some questions.

Who - Who will my story help?

What - What kind of help will my story give?

When - If it helps, you can set a time, a place and a word count.

Where - Where does my story take place?

Why - Why is this important to me to share?

How - How am I going to share it?

I used writing as an example, but there are plenty of other ways to share stories: videos, podcasts, audiobooks and other recording methods are just as valid as a book with printed or digital words.

Books are built one sentence at a time and that sentence doesn’t have to be written. Dictation is a valid option. Earl Stanley Gardner the author of over 900 works, most well known for the mystery courtroom series Perry Mason, dictated all his writings, as well as keeping a day job as a lawyer. In an era without computers he employed multiple secretaries to keep up with it all.  So, don’t ever feel like you have to physically write or type out a book if your brain doesn’t like writing, spelling or reading.

I also released Red Trouble two days ago! My first novel is now availble on Amazon! If you pre-ordered it, you should have recieved a notification or now be able to download it as an ebook. (Paperback hard copies are available - But I’m not sure on timelines for printing, shipping and recieving.)

If you bought copies - please drop an honest review. Ten reviews and Amazon will start promoting the book and me as an independent author.

If Red Trouble’s intrigues are too serious or not your cup of tea - there are plenty of other stories I’ve written on my Amazon writer page. A. R. Mitchell: books, biography, latest update

And they need reivews too!

Perpetual Disclaimer for this blog series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on April 20, 2023 06:01

April 13, 2023

Apotheosis/Deification

Apotheosis/Deification

I talked last week about putting our pieces back together.

In the aftermath of Easter, I’ll be discussing the end result of putting the pieces back together.

A quick review:Trauma breaks us into piecesAtonement is the process of putting the pieces back together again into a whole.

The ancient peoples’ considered that if you had been through the most scary thing ever, and faced it down - that meant you deserved god-like status. Most people in ancient legends had to die, or at least end up in the afterworld to achieve this. (There are stories featuring both the underworld and the heavenly realm, so the location doesn’t matter for this concept.)

Meaning: You have to be a god to have it all together.

We’re not. We’ve got lots of pieces and imperfections scattered all around. And its ok. We’re trying to function - not micromanage the world.

But there is a certain wisdom that comes with healing. And with the concept of atonement, that means that the wisdom we’ve gained has to be given to others.

Do you remember the post several weeks ago about Encountering the Goddess? I said it was about wisdom.

Its this wisdom and life experience which allows us to turn around and help others who are struggling.

So, we may not look divine, but when we reach out to help others… that’s close enough to share the light of goodness.

Here’s an example in story action from Red Trouble. You can read more of it on Wattpad, or pre-order it on Amazon

Parents Hawk and Karina have just rescued Veronika (age 12) from her controlling state sponsored step father, Vladelstock, who Veronika has a massive case of misplaced loyalty toward. And Hawk Morrison finds himself a sudden step father to a young woman who has no idea what a healthy relationship looks like.

Red Trouble is told from Hawk’s perspective. (Also called first person)

Red Trouble by A. R. Mitchell

(Excerpt)

Soviet Occupied Berlin Germany

June 4, 1947 (Two Years After the End of World War II)

11: 45 pm

​Karina wrapped her arms around the girl, speaking quietly. She looked up at me. “Hawk – I just found out where my son, Peter, is.”

​I moved forward, not wanting to scare Veronika.

Karina smiled at her daughter. “Veronika, this is Hawk. He loves me – as your father should have. Can you tell him?” ​

She shook her head, hiding against Karina. ​“That’s all right,” I replied gently, watching as Karina tried to  comfort her daughter while attempting to hold her own emotions together.

​I offered my arms to Karina. She leaned into me, as Veronika watched us interact. There was surprise in her eyes. ​I touched Karina’s back and pulled her close. “What is it?” ​

Karina took a quiet, yet shaking breath. I could feel her trembling against me as we stood together. “Order 270 was issued by Stalin. It made every Soviet prisoner of war under suspicion for treason. It allowed them, their wives and their children to be imprisoned.”

​“He’s imprisoning children because their parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time?” I whispered, forcing my voice to stay calm. ​

“Yes.” Karina swallowed. “My former husband truly did betray Russia. But that is no reason to send my son to prison with him.”

​“Or leaving his daughter in the care of a –”

​Karina’s expression warned me. I followed her gaze. ​Veronika was studying us with interest. I was guessing that Vladelstock never showed affection like this. I carefully reached out to Karina’s face and ran my hand down her cheek. Then I turned to Veronika, bringing Karina along beside me and told both of them, “We’ll find Peter. I promise.”

​Veronika replied to me in English without any emotion. “I was told by Comrade Vladelstock that Peter was at Vozrozhdeniya Island.”

​Karina collapsed.​

​“Momma!”

​I caught my wife as she fainted, lowering her to the ground. Veronika stared at her mother. “What is wrong?”

​“Karina?” I asked, leaning over her. I put my ear inches from her mouth. “She’s still breathing…” ​

“What should I do?” Veronika was in tears. “This is all my fault, is it not?”

“No, sweet, Veronika. This isn’t your fault.” I reached out and touched her shoulder. She jerked away from me.

​Karina opened her eyes. “Hawk? What happened?” ​

“You… just… fell…” ​Veronika looked over my shoulder. “I remember the last time you did that…” ​

Karina took a breath. “I do too.” ​

“He was mean to you...” She looked at me. “But you… aren’t.” ​

Karina smiled at me. “Veronika, Hawk has never been mean to me. He is a very patient, kind man.”

​Veronika stared at me. “Then I will come with you. We are going to rescue Peter?” ​

“Yes.” I smiled at her. Then I kissed Karina. “Feel better?”

​She gave me a weak smile. ​

“I’ll get you over the border, and then we’ll figure our how to rescue Peter.” I helped her to her feet, my hands on her waist. Karina stiffened, and then relaxed as I readjusted my grip.

“Everything all right?” I wondered. ​

She nodded. “I – I think I just need rest.” ​

I gave a slight smile, remembering Howard Air Corps Base. “Yeah. We haven’t had much of that.”

​There were three knocks on the door. ​

I pushed Karina into the shadows, making sure that Veronika was hidden away with her. ​

Delores entered the room with Fedosia. “We must get you out of Berlin before dawn.” ​

I looked at the women and motioned to Karina from the shadows, taking her into my arms. She was trembling.

Veronika stood beside her, equally frightened. ​

“Thank you,” I told Fedosia and Delores. “Our son’s life may depend on it.”

Hawk is consistently throughout the Red Trouble series, reaching out to his step children and his own children making certain they are cared for and reassured through the traumas that they face. One of the things he constantly repeats to his war traumatized children who expect to be yelled at is, “You don’t survive hell, and beg God for a family just to be angry at them all the time.”

You can read more of Red Trouble on Wattpad, or pre-order it on Amazon. It will be available in ebook and paperback April 18 (2023).

(And yes, Peter does get rescued and home safe.)

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on April 13, 2023 06:00

April 6, 2023

Atonement or Abyss

Facing what holds the ultimate power and becoming fearless…

In this part of the monomyth we’ve struggled through a lot of things and it doesn’t feel like we want to struggle any longer. But we need to be this weary in the journey to frankly - not care anymore.

…Because in our moment of reckless disarray we end up facing the thing we fear the most.

For many of us when we get weary, we don’t think as well as we should, things get more frightening than they ought to be, and that can lead to some poor decision making.

However, sometimes this atrocious decision making can work in our favor - when we’re forced to face the things which frighten us the most. In this weary place, we can let our emotions out because we have no other choice. We can’t hold things together anymore because we’re just too stinkin’ tired of all the BS - and we face the thing that we are the most frightened of.

In ancient mythology the things that terrified people were all powerful father figures (who may or may not be good at parenting), and death. For those who have experience trauma - the most terrifying thing is the trauma incident.

When trauma occurs it messes with our logical brains and we go into survival mode, because we don’t need a logical brain. But this embeds the memories in a different way. Trauma overloads and breaks brains. Putting the pieces back together often means facing the big ugly of whatever broke us.

But this is also an atonement.

If you’re from a religious background, you’ve probably heard of atonement. But forget all that. I want to teach you something different.

Atonement is putting the pieces back together.

Revenge relies on us to go after and do something against the person who hurt us.

But revenge relies on the other person. It relies on the wrongdoer’s punishment to fulfill the victim.

Atonement is the coming together of the conflicting pieces in an effort to do good against the wrong.

This does not mean you forgive the wrongdoer. It means you are taking what is wrong and broken, gathering up the pieces and putting yourself back together.

This atoning restoration is the opposite of revenge.

In revenge - you are the victim. You are relying on the other person to be punished for their wrongdoing against you.

In atonement - you are the victor. You are relying on yourself to do better than what has happened to you.

This never means that it’s easy. But as you put the pieces of yourself back together, you will find yourself facing the trauma. And facing that, bit by bit - you will bring yourself to a more powerful place… because it wasn’t fun, but you won.

With atonement, you will become more powerful than your trauma. Your trauma won’t be able to hold you captive any longer.

A few reminders in this process…

You never have to go through this alone. (And you shouldn’t - there are mental health counselors available.)

Your pieces are in the past.

Your emotions are not good or bad. They’re just emotions.

Emotions may feel deadly, but generally they’re not. They’re just emotions.

You don’t have to pick up all the pieces all at once.

And last, you will be more powerful than what broke you into pieces.

If you want to see this in story action… You can read a section of Red Trouble on Wattpad, or pre-order it on Amazon. It will be available in ebook and paperback April 18 (2023).

World War II soldiers and Holocaust survivors Hawk Morrison and Karina Sokolov struggle with the evils that broke them into pieces… and you’ll get to see how the quest to get their children home makes them stronger as a couple, because it forces them to confront their brokeness, put the pieces back together and accomplish their goals, fulfill their needs and return to relationship with each other.

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on April 06, 2023 06:01

March 30, 2023

Temptation

Temptation

This is the moment when the hero is tempted to give up. Its worse than the Belly of the Whale moment and the Road of Trials, because its exhaustion. Exhaustion causes our brains and bodies to not process information well. We need a break to heal. We need sleep. And we just want to stay in this place because… as much as we don’t like it… it seems like the best place to take a nap.

However, this is the worst place. The exhaustion pressures us to give up. We’re not finished yet. We may want to take a break, but giving up on the healing process at this moment… we would abandon the quest.

It would be like making camp in the middle of your vacation and saying, “Wooo! We got here!” …when the reality is that your desired destination is still far away.

Temptation isn’t always some big showdown between you and a rotten choice. As trauma survivors you’ve already been caught between a big showdown and a rotten choice.

Temptation is often quieter. It looks a lot like powerless.

I call this “camping in the ruins.”

In my dystopian short story, John Ransom, my lead character lives in an old military bunker. He knows there’s something beyond the city of apocalyptic ruins that he lives in. But all he can manage is guarding his bunker, and gathering supplies. This is his daily effort. He doesn’t move forward. He’s mentally stuck in that ruined city. And his mental space keeps him from physically leaving the city. He has the means and methods to escape - but exhaustion and emotions keep him there.

For John Ransom - hope is a temptation. He’s shut down everything emotionally, and just goes through the survival motions. (I’d send out a link - but I’m still writing John Ransom.)

We all have emotions. We all deal with powerlessness. We all deal with temptations. We all deal with exhaustion.

These things don’t make us failures. They make us human. It’s the decisions we make in these moments which teach us and help us take our next steps.

Camping in the ruins is fine for a night, or a few days to heal up and process emotions. But you can’t live there.

We’re coming up on the Jewish holiday of Passover (and the Christian holiday of Easter)… both these holidays have significance for those who are attempting to be free of trauma’s takeover of their lives. Why? Because they’re about freedom. Essentially, the divine figure of these relegions leaned down over his creation and whispered, “I’m not going to let you camp in the ruins any longer.”

For the ancient Israelites that looked like leaving Egypt where they’d been enslaved for close to five hundred years.

For the Jews who declared Jesus of Nazareth their long awaited Messiah, it meant that their God hadn’t forgotten them, and took on the powers of darkness, giving them agency to go out from their homes and yell, “I am not abandoned and forgotten!”

So, go ahead, sleep in the ruins for a night, but you don’t have to stay there. Don’t abandon or forget your quest. The ruins are not your final destination.

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on March 30, 2023 06:00

March 23, 2023

Reversals

Reversals

A reversal is an ancient storytelling technique, similar to a plot twist. (Its not on the chart, please don’t be confused.)

A plot twist a writers technique which should surprise the reader and should be different from what was expected to happen. For instance, in fairy tales dragons are supposed to be threatening to princesses - but if the princess doesn’t show fear and tames the dragon, that’s a plot twist. Another plot twist would be if the damsel in distress got herself out of danger and didn’t need a knight in shining armor to rescue her.

A reversal is to take the expected standard and reverse it often from the expected bad into something good. For instance, the trouble making kid grows into an adult who becomes the town sheriff when the expectation was for him to continue to be a troublemaking outlaw just like the rest of his family.

The difference is that the reversal elements rely on culture’s analysis of what’s good or bad. This underlies the importance of culture in telling stories. Stories have been used to teach since time began. Reading these stories today, we have to know the realm the story exisists and what’s normal for them. This helps us understand their worldview and helps us decide if we want to accept that worldview as our own.

Many of us know some version of the Prodigal Son or Child. A person usually a late aged teen or young adult asks their parent for their inheiritance early, and then proceeds to spend it carelessly - often doing the things that the parents warned them not to do. They eventually run out of money, come home to their parents in shame and say, “I’m sorry. I don’t deserve to return as your son or daughter, can I work for you as employee, just so I can have something to eat?”

The parent accepts - but insists their child still remain their child. They are not employees, they are their children and much loved children who are welcomed home.

The source material for this story is in the Christian Bible and its told by Jesus of Nazareth. But that’s not the original story.

The original story is that the child returning in shame and asking humbly for a job, was rejected by the parents. And that story was told by the relegious leaders of the era, who used it as a shaming control mechanism to keep people in fear. When Jesus started telling that story to his original audience, they all knew what was coming…. and they got surprised!

Jesus pulled a reversal. He took the expected, culturally acceptable turn of events and flipped them into a redemption story. As you heal and find yourself less stuck in the bad things, you are going to realize that the healing process was and is going to be your reversal story.

For a reversal to happen in fiction…

Cultural expectation + plot twist + bigger story that changes hearts and minds = reversal

Here’s a story where I have a reversal:

You haven’t met him yet - but one of my favorite characters to work with is Mason Jaymes. He’s the rejected illegitimate son of a war criminal, who overturns and reverses the entire evil legacy of his father… not by might or power, but by the courage to stare trauma and evil in the face, and then stand against it with empathy toward survivors. This is a fictional reversal.

For a reversal to happen in your healing journey…

Working through the pain of what happened + defiance of limiting beliefs = healing from traumatic life experience

You’re not going to reverse what happened to you, as in going back to the person you were before the trauma. But you are going to go from wounded to healing in progress - and that’s the reversal.

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on March 23, 2023 06:01

March 16, 2023

Meeting with the Goddess

Meeting with the Goddess

Today we’re talking about the Meeting with the Goddess. Again, this format is from ancient mythology, so belief in the supernatural is normal. There’s no division between normal and natural and supernatural in the ancient worldview. For more info on this worldview check out my post on Supernatural Aid.

However, many scholars have pointed out that many legends where a goddess is met… are not positive encounters. The goddess or female lead is often diminished by these moments. And its trauma based, because ancient cults and their practices often looked similar to modern human trafficking, domestic violence, or forced marriage.

Ok. Deep breath. We’re not going there.

Take a moment.

I will not lead you into darkness without revealing a greater light to get you out.

This is one of those moments…

For us modern people who aren’t always comfortable with gods or goddesses… we’ll have to think of the meeting with the goddess as an encounter with wisdom.

In the mythology, the adventurer will meet the goddess and she will give them something, usually a divine object with a purpose that is revealed or fulfilled later in the quest. The hero didn’t know this object exsisted, but the goddess always gives them several things:

The object or objects

Instructions on how to use the object

Hope to go onward!

In dealing with trauma we have to process what happened in order for the healing to begin. As we start to deal with the things that have happened to us, we re-experience the sorrow and unpleasant feelings.

After we have re-lived a portion of the events… it feels like the Road of Trials. If we’re not aware that re-experiencing the horrible things is just a step on the way to healing, we lose hope.

That’s why we have to meet someone who can give us the hope and the tools to move forward.

The objects don’t have to be special to anyone but ourselves. We’re not worshipping these objects or saying that they have special powers - but we are recognizing them as a tool. And we always need skilled teachers to help us figure out how to use the tool.

This is the moment where our Shadow skills, get tools. And we get instruction on how to use those skills for our benefit from someone who’s been down the path of healing before.

Their experience and wisdom gives them power, and they are willing to hand that power down to us, along with the instructions to use it wisely.

Essentially - this is a moment where we get to glimpse the freedom of what is to come with our healing. And it looks divine when we as humans get to take our crappy life experiences and turn them into reversal.

And I’ll talk about reversals next week.

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

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Published on March 16, 2023 06:00

March 9, 2023

Quest Review

Since we spent a month on one topic, I want to give a quick review of the entire journey we’ve been on together.

What is a Monomyth - A monomyth is a story structure that is a often a quest used from the very first written stories and through our modern stories.

The Quest for Healing - We are going to use the quest structure of the monomyth to go on a healing journey.

Seperation from the Normal - Trauma seperates from ourselves and creates an abnormal situation, regardless of what we wanted or had planned for our future.

The Call to Adventure - Our response to fear dictates our next action.

The Refusal of the Call - When we refuse adventure and the healing journey we become victims of fear. And sometimes we need some help.

Supernatural Aid - This is a moment when the main character recieves help. That help often takes the method of something that looks supernatural, but can also be us as humans learning the skills of new thinking and worldview shift as we tell ourselves stories with less fear.

Crossing the First Threshold - This is the moment when we move into the unknown and can’t go back - the only choice is to move forward into the unknown with hopes for a better future.

Seperation and Initiation - When trauma seperates us from the the normal, the crossing of the threshold moves us into initiation. Initiation is an event or experience that puts us on the journey toward something bigger. It is the choice we make to start the journey of healing.

The Shadow - the Shadow is a set of skills that helped us get through the trauma. Its like the hero identity that allows them to do things that an average person would not be able to do.

Belly of the Whale - This is our darkest place in the journey of healing. We are meant to escape this place - not carry it with us. It wasn’t fun - but you won.

Road of Trials - this is a series of challenges, often the most exciting part of your favorite quest movies. But for us trying to heal this isn’t easy, its a long journey full of challenges. Defiance is part of this as you learn to rewire your brain and body by using compassion and courage. If you don’t know what those things look like - find a character from a story who does. The power of a story is that heroes/sheroes - both ancient and modern can give you courage to borrow as you heal.

Road of Trials Part 1: The Road of Trials

Road of Trials Part 2: What it is, What it Isn’t

Road of Trials Part 3: Discovery

Road of Trials Part 4: Defiance & Fiction Piece from The Seven Swords of Diya

Road of Trials Part 5: Commentary from: “It Wasn’t Fun - But You Won”

And finally - a big thank you to those who took part in my free story giveaway on Valentines Day weekend. My short romantic comedy, Love & Shotguns had twenty-three downloads, which is about twice as much as my other giveaways.

But the most important news - Love & Shotguns was number #1 on Amazon Kindle’s 30 Minute Romance Reads for most of Saturday… which means thanks to you, my story outranked the toxic unhealthy romances for nearly an entire day. (On Valentines Day weekend no less!)

I received seven reviews - if I get ten reviews, Amazon will start to promote it at no cost to me. You can post a review on Amazon by going to your account, click on purchases, find the item you want to review, and click on the ‘more’ button.

Love & Shotguns

Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:

I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.

Mental Health

Your stories are amazing!

Chronic Writer

Share Chronic Writer by VintageInkSlinger

Thanks for reading Chronic Writer by VintageInkSlinger! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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Published on March 09, 2023 06:01