...Wow....
Jun. 4th, 2003 12:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
capri0mniReceived this letter in my email box yesterday... kind blew me away:
Dear Ann--
I had a wonderful experience at a conference this weekend called Women
and Power which I hope to tell you more about on Sat.
There I had a shamanic healing journey. Some images came up for me, and I
thought I would like a story that incorporates these images, but many
things are requiring my writing time at the moment. Then I thought- Ann !
So here's my idea: I would like to commission you to write a story for me.
It's sort of like doing an Art Garden piece, except that I want to pay
you for it, as one would pay any kind of healer. So think about what you
would charge.Of course you retain all rights to publishing it, etc.
[snippity, snip].
Then I thought that this could be a very cool thing, if you are open to
it. People could hire writers and artists to create healing art for them,
or as gifts for other people. Think about it. if the idea sits well with
you, I will announce it at the Art Garden. I myself am very excited!
See you soon-- Love, Irene
This is big. I mean, I've long thought of poems and stories as potentially magic -- in the literal sense. But to have someone else actually willing to pay me to write something for her as a healer. ...the mind boggles... . Yesterday, I asked to sleep on it, and it was pretty much the only thing I could think of all day -- am I a strong enough person to live up to that kind of responsibility, not only for her, but for others who might come to me for help after she announces the service at the Art Garden on Saturday?? Am I mature enough to be entrusted with another person's pain???
But over the last few years I've come to the realization that writing in general (and writing stories in particular) is a deeply spiritual act for me, and I have been looking for a way to use my craft in the service of others... from my unsuccessful attempt to start a storytelling workshop, to my frustrating attempts to invent a storytelling game, to my idea of selling my poetry on CafePress merchandise. Now, it seems, the spirits of the universe are opening a path for me to follow, and pointing to it with flashing neon arrows... So then the question became "Is turning away a request for help because of fear better than trying and failing?" And it struck me that if I make my decision based on fears, that path may close to me forever... and there is no guarrantee that a different path will ever open.
So a little while ago, I wrote back and said: "Yes. I'm willing" (not exactly in those words, but...)
Now, I have to decide how much to charge....
So ...Wow... It looks like my life is about to take a sharp right-hand turn. I definitely did not see this coming at the start of the year...
Wish me luck!
Dear Ann--
I had a wonderful experience at a conference this weekend called Women
and Power which I hope to tell you more about on Sat.
There I had a shamanic healing journey. Some images came up for me, and I
thought I would like a story that incorporates these images, but many
things are requiring my writing time at the moment. Then I thought- Ann !
So here's my idea: I would like to commission you to write a story for me.
It's sort of like doing an Art Garden piece, except that I want to pay
you for it, as one would pay any kind of healer. So think about what you
would charge.Of course you retain all rights to publishing it, etc.
[snippity, snip].
Then I thought that this could be a very cool thing, if you are open to
it. People could hire writers and artists to create healing art for them,
or as gifts for other people. Think about it. if the idea sits well with
you, I will announce it at the Art Garden. I myself am very excited!
See you soon-- Love, Irene
This is big. I mean, I've long thought of poems and stories as potentially magic -- in the literal sense. But to have someone else actually willing to pay me to write something for her as a healer. ...the mind boggles... . Yesterday, I asked to sleep on it, and it was pretty much the only thing I could think of all day -- am I a strong enough person to live up to that kind of responsibility, not only for her, but for others who might come to me for help after she announces the service at the Art Garden on Saturday?? Am I mature enough to be entrusted with another person's pain???
But over the last few years I've come to the realization that writing in general (and writing stories in particular) is a deeply spiritual act for me, and I have been looking for a way to use my craft in the service of others... from my unsuccessful attempt to start a storytelling workshop, to my frustrating attempts to invent a storytelling game, to my idea of selling my poetry on CafePress merchandise. Now, it seems, the spirits of the universe are opening a path for me to follow, and pointing to it with flashing neon arrows... So then the question became "Is turning away a request for help because of fear better than trying and failing?" And it struck me that if I make my decision based on fears, that path may close to me forever... and there is no guarrantee that a different path will ever open.
So a little while ago, I wrote back and said: "Yes. I'm willing" (not exactly in those words, but...)
Now, I have to decide how much to charge....
So ...Wow... It looks like my life is about to take a sharp right-hand turn. I definitely did not see this coming at the start of the year...
Wish me luck!
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Writing is Healing!
Date: 2003-06-04 01:02 pm (UTC)Re: Writing is Healing!
Date: 2003-06-04 02:28 pm (UTC)Absolutely! The Gods, Spirits, Beings, Energies, What-have-you of the Universe certainly seem to be calling my bluff:
You say that storytelling is at the core of being human -- that the storytellers were the first shamans and magicians, who helped their clans to overcome great challenges? You call yourself a storyteller? Okay then -- Prove It!!"
I think that is why I finally said "Yes." As daunting as the responsibility is, it's nothing compared to the idea of saying: "No thanks! Not interested!" to the Gods...
... Just look at what happened to Jonah... I really do not want to end up in the belly of a great blue whale... :-)
Re: Writing is Healing!
Date: 2003-06-05 06:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-04 04:08 pm (UTC)It sounds like a *great* opportunity and imnsho luck doesn't have anything to do with it, you're a great writer and storyteller and the more people who find that out, the better! :)
Luck may have nothing to do with my *writing*, but...
Date: 2003-06-04 04:33 pm (UTC)