Ashes in the Milk (eBook)

'The unconscious is a curious thing a clever and elegant landscape with creeks that join with rivers and rivers that flow into oceans that raise the waves to awaken us into the wholeness we were meant to own.' Come, read a bit, then sit at the kitchen table with me and share the stories that never had words before.

Valerie Johns, MA, MFT is a poet, author, and therapist with a passion for helping others heal from their most deep-seated wounds. Professionally, Valerie is a lifelong writer, beginning in second grade when Mrs. Best put her first poem to music and the whole class sang it. As one of Jack Grape's first students in writing poetry by The Method, she went on to work as the Poet in Residence at Pacific Palisades Elementary School where she published the children's work, held poetry readings, and taught them how to write from their authentic voices. She has written blogs for sites like Elephant Journal and has published two children's books, 'Why a Fly?' and 'What I Heard and What You Said.' As a clinician, Valerie earned a master's degree in clinical psychology and is trained in hypnosis and many mind-body therapies. She was also an adjunct professor at Antioch University, Los Angeles for 12 years, and has had a thriving private practice for over 30 years. Whenever she tells her story of recovery, she closes with the stories of finding her first horse, raising him as he raised her, and finding Buddhist-informed psychotherapy early in her career. Throughout each of her professional pursuits - writing, and therapy- Valerie has sought to use her love of prose and writing to help heal herself and others no matter their story. Through her newest work 'Ashes in the Milk', she hopes to reach those who have long suffered in silence and have needed a bright light guiding them forward towards remembering their own stories and finding their deep healing.

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When people think of trauma, they think of the extremes: veterans of war, survivors of genocide, or malnourished refugees. Our minds instinctively consider those who have been exposed to the harshest realities our world has to offer. But in truth, trauma whether endured in childhood or experienced in adulthood (or both), is rather common and impacts millions of people. Trauma is often caused by interpersonal conflict, inflicted by one person on another. Unrealized, these traumas are passed down from generation to generation even when most parents insist, they will do better than their parents did. Drawing from her own personal experiences and professional expertise, Valerie Johns "e;Ashes in the Milk"e; bridges the gap between self-help, vulnerable narrative, and prose. Broken down into powerful, entrancing stanzas, readers are invited to find hope and solace in Valerie's writing, in search of their holistic healing and peace. "e;Ashes in the Milk"e; will remind readers that their greatest path to healing lies within all they must do is walk down the path.