HOW I GOT HERE
I feel I have been preparing for this my whole life, and I'd like to start by telling you all a little about my own journey to getting here. Before I even knew the word, "feminist," I felt it in my soul. Since I was young, I had an had an inner knowing of the power of the divine feminine. I majored in Psychology and Women's Studies as an undergrad, and to this day, I know that my education was not about the profession I would take on, but about my own personal growth. Understanding how being a female in the patriarchal western world shapes your experiences and perceptions is invaluable, as it gives us the opportunity to realize how history has tried to strip us of our innate power. What's more important though is that, when we view life through a feminist or gender lens, we begin to see how we can reclaim that power.
I have known that I would be an author since I was in high school, although I spent years not knowing how I would pull it off. As a feminist, I was determined to reach a level of independence, so when I entered college, I believed I would have to fit into a professional career to make that happen, and trust me, I tried that - with numerous restarts. And although, time and time again, none of those careers felt right to my soul, I gained life experience along the way. With the insight about the system that we live and the human experience, I found a deep inner wisdom that had always been inside of me, and finally, an understanding about how I can put all my passions together and focus on this project. We all have a role to play in the revolution, and this is mine.
You see, being a women's fiction author is only a part of my dream. When I think back to the many stories that changed my life - in some cases, saved my life - I know what a difference authors make in this world. I often remind people of a saying I learned when I was learning to teach children how to read: stories and both windows and mirrors; windows into the lives of others, and mirrors of ourselves. So, it's not enough to share my stories and my voice with the world; it's important to share as many "windows" as possible, so we can all understand the unique nuances of one another's stories, and it's important to provide readers with numerous "mirrors," so we all have hope of seeing our souls reflected back to us. Stories save lives, and I am proud to be a part of this movement.
I chose to name the web page and the newsletter, "Journey: Women's Fiction" because the power exists in both the details of our stories and the wisdom we develop along the way. We are made of more than the difficulties we face or our pain. Our stories are about more than the days we are hot messes or even our final chapter. It is our journey is what will live on, even after we are gone.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
I imagine that, if you're a woman's fiction reader and care about the same things I do, you'll agree - we need these windows and mirrors now, more than ever. It’s scary “out there,” and our fear is valid. Opposing forces are still trying to strip us of our power. But remember, if “they” are trying to strip of us power, this means they’re afraid too. It means they recognize the power we hold, and have doubts about their own power. This is why, in the most terrifying times, we must build a community and come together in a collective effort to let the power of freedom win over the power of control.
I hope it brings you strength to remember that this is not the first time in history that women are facing such things; our ancestors have walked this path. We all know the many ways that this has played out in history, from the burning of Witches to the modern-day laws that attempts to seize our rights to bodily autonomy and choice, identity affirmation, and our voices.
Rember, during the second wave of feminism, Carol Hanisch told us that, "the personal is political," and when we tell our stories – and those of our ancestors – we do this for not only ourselves and our children, but for our ancestors, too. So never forget that YOUR VOICE CAN HELP SAVE THE WORLD!
If you care about women's voices and enjoy reading about the journey, please visit the Journey: Women's Fiction page on this site, and support some of the soulful, powerful authors who I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
~ Peace and Love, Tracey
©Tracey Love, 2024. All rights reserved.
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