writing for healing

WORDS WAY OUT WEST

/ Edwina Shaw / Leave a comment

Recently I’ve been out west in southern Queensland facilitating writing workshops for the wonderful QLD Writers Centre as part of the QLD government STAY CONNECTED initiative to help older women in regional and remote areas.

I enjoyed my adventures out bush – apparently once we go further west than Roma, it’s officially “bush” – you’re not really outback till you’re out there. The rivers were drying up ahead of the long dry coming, but the trees, especially the bottle trees around Roma, were magnificent and the architecture in the towns told stories of more prosperous days. 

The highlight of these trips for me was, as always, connecting with the wise strong women who endure so much out there, but find strength in each other and their creativity. I visited Mitchell, Injune, Surat, Roma and most recently Charleville, almost to the edge of the desert. So many stories from early settlement and of course, the ancient stories of the sovereign peoples of the land, are just waiting to be told. The women I met have powerful stories of their own, with many working hard to support and encourage others in their communities. I just love the way women do this. Power on my friends.

I did lots of driving and saw more dead kangaroos than live ones, but I also explored many rivers, meditated sitting in the riverbeds, found treasures and birds and mysteries and in some places a deep unsettling disquiet left from the hidden wars and brutal massacres that took place on this country. 

Whenever I tell people I’ve recently been out to all these towns, they come back with stories of their own about grandfathers, or aunties or other ancestors who began or ended out west. Not so very long ago, Queensland was much more rural, with many of our families working and living on sheep or cattle stations or other farms, or teaching, nursing or providing other services in these far-flung places once connected by a vast rail network.

Everywhere I went I was heartened to see a thriving arts and craft culture attached to the libraries or in community centres. Creativity is important, even or especially, out far from all the stimulation of the theatres and galleries in the cities. Saw my writing friend Gillian Wells out there as well, keeping everyone entertained with her books.

Best of all, apart from the warm, wise women whose company I enjoyed and their stories that stayed with me, was the quiet and the stars. And I’ll never forget some of the great characters I met. I’ll always remember Patty’s vice-like hug 🙂

Thank you QWC for sending me out and to the women who bravely shared their stories and trusted this city girl with them.

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Lots of love

Edwina xx

WRITING FOR HEALING

/ Edwina Shaw / Leave a comment

Sunrise, Mission Beach FNQ

Do you have stories that demand to be told? Recurring memories that won’t let you go, no matter how hard you try to forget? A whole lengthy catalogue of repeating traumatic memories that won’t let you rest? Get those stories out of your head and onto the page and you’ll begin a miraculous journey of healing.

Believe me. I’ve been there. My first book Thrill Seekers is made up of the memories that wouldn’t let me be, transformed into fiction. The process of doing this taught me many things about how we can use writing to transform the stories we tell ourselves. The act of creating a work of beauty from the pain we endure is a great healing act.

I am passionate about the power of story to heal the emotional wounds and scars we carry. For many years now I’ve worked with people who have suffered unbearable trauma, helping them to express their truths and find their voices. So much healing comes from telling our stories and having these stories heard, acknowledged and believed. Watch the session HERE.

Kerstin and I in the Arts Nexus recording studio in Babinda.

While I was working in Far North Queensland recently, my dear friend and fellow writing teacher and retreat facilitator, Kerstin Pilz, and I recorded a session for the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival’s year round program on Writing for Healing . Join us for this fascinating discussion on how we have both used writing as a powerful tool for helping us to clear grief and traumatic loss and moved forward in our lives.

Kerstin and I at the Babinda Boulders – in the heart of Wanyurr Majay. Madanji country

Whether you are interested in beginning to tell your own stories or if you work with people who need to have their stories heard, this discussion will help you make a start and find new ways of using writing for healing.

Be brave! For many years I was too afraid to begin unearthing my stories, thinking I’d fall apart and never be able to put myself back together again. But the opposite happened. Yes, there were tears, many many tears, but this is how we wash our wounds clean – with tears and telling. But I didn’t fall apart, I started to come back together again.

Find your voice. Tell your stories. Healing is within your own power.

With lots of love,

Edwina xx

A new dawn is on its way.

Remember if you need a hand to hold and some words to comfort and uplift you when going through grief and loss my Guide Through Grief is available now in all good bookstores.