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Writing Your Way to Independence
Bindu Books 2006 ISBN #159477056-5 My first impression upon seeing the title of this book was: "This is not only a book for teens ... it is a book for those that want to heal." The intended audience may be teens, but the sentiment, and the process, applies to anyone that is hurting and wants to heal. I have read Julie Tallard Johnson's work before ("Teen Psychic"), and I know that she writes from her heart, and from her soul. This may also be a time to note that Julie is a licensed psychotherapist and creative writing teacher. This book comes from her life, and her work. Julie works with ancient story (from myth), anecdotal story (her own, her friends, and her clients), and wisdom words (from many diverse sources and cultures) to create a wonderful "talking circle". The voices are clear and concise ... one knows immediately when the pipe has been passed on to another person (in a talking circle, the one who holds the pipe has the privilege of speaking until they pass the pipe on to someone else). On the outside edge of each page are words of wisdom ... quotes from people like Maya Angelou, Albert Einstein, Nadine Gordimer (African writer), Gloria Steinam, Sanaya Roman (American psychic and author), Pierre Teilhard, and individuals listed by their first names only, such as Hannah, age 17. Some of the wisdom words are from ancient times, some from recent past, and some from the present. What they have in common is that they address the individual, and ask us to be the best that we can be. Throughout the book are stories, discussions, and exercises, all aimed at showing us how, through the tool of journaling, we can gain a clear view of our past so that we see where we came from, how we got where we are today, and how we can stay on our individual paths for the future. This book is meant to tear away the illusion of what we are hungry for, and allow us to discover what the real thing is, one how we can get it for ourselves. We each have a creative flame inside of us. It fans our sense of purpose, and gives us direction. This inner fire is the essence of our divinity. Each chapter in this book offers simple ideas for writing, grouped around a specific theme. The book can be read from cover to cover, or worked with in little sound bites, addressing whichever chapter interests you the most. Each chapter has questions that can be addressed int he reader's journal, as well as exercises and meditations to do. Then there are the "Off the Page" activities ... activities that allow the reader to take the theme of the chapter actively into their daily life. We read thoughts, such as the following, from Sanaya Roman: "Look at yourself through your soul's eyes. See the beauty of your being." How can this "not" stop someone in their tracks! Julie notes that being ourselves is the greatest gift that we have to give the world, and that through journaling we learn to recognize our own gifts. These are the questions that we are left to ponder at the end of the introduction: "What have you gotten out of writing in a journal?" "Describe your relationship with your journal." "When you are all finished with this book and its process, what do you hope will be different in your life? What will be the same?" Many different subjects are addressed in this book, including "Finding your own song", "Dreams and Oracles: The Language of the Spirit", "Nature's Peace: Finding the Self Through Nature", "Getting In the Flow of Writing and Life", "In the Name of Love", "Rituals and Meditations for the Writer's Life", and "The Afterlife". They are addressed through the eyes of a teenager, in a discussion type format - the reader is never talked down to. There is a great respect between Johnson and her intended audience ... if there were not, much of the words in this book that come from Johnson's teenage clients would not be there, for the simple reason that they would not be conformable sharing. No one is ever put down, no one is ever made fun of. Whatever is being discussed is treated with seriousness and dignity. Options are shown, but no demands made. Compliments are given, with sincerity and from the heart. The teenage years are difficult years, and putting "rules" on them will not make them easier, or better. Julie's ace in the hole is that she shares snippets of her own life - as a teenager, and on through the years. You laugh with her, and you cry with her. You honor her, and you respect her, as she honors and respects you, her reader. The questions in this book are broad enough to leave room for writing, yet concise enough to have deep personal meaning. The exercises, meditations and rituals are well thought out and well presented. In places, it is noted that the reader may wish to have a trained person with them if they are addressing issues that have the power to frighten them. This is common sense, but it is also courtesy and caring, and lets each individual know that they are not alone in being overwhelmed by their shadows and fears at times. I feel that this book could be used alone, in collaboration with oracles, such as the I Ching or the Tarot (something that Julie does mention in the book), in personal meditation and/or ritual, as well as with group work, and group meditation/ritual. A very broad manner of journaling is presented, in a very spirited (and spiritual) manner ... anyone, of any age or background could make excellent use of this material.
Bonnie Cehovet
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