I love the sacred writing sessions, I let the energy flow and guide my project and my pen. Today, the pen had me ponder how I am playing with fun ideas and ignoring the tough ones. I have one project that makes me cry every time I put focus to it. It's a happy ending, but there is dark truth before you get to bright light of it. Writing is a very spiritual practice for me, one that I am dedicate to everyday. Today I wrote this in my journal then transcribed to ChatGPT Then I promised myself to dedicate at least 1 day a week to the project with all the knots that tends to allow me to unravel my own truth. Titled: Knot to Become Undone. Here is the piece that was produced in today's Sacred Writing Session. 🪢Knot to Become Undone The hardest piece of writing is the one with the knot. Not a nautical knot that I can teach someone, or someone can teach me. Not a knot made with rope and practiced hands. This is the knot that was tied in fear. Quick. Tie it up. Too loose, and everything unravels. But with every stroke of my pen, it unravels mindfully. The wound that was dismissed. The hurt that was forgotten. The tightness tied so tightly that I could no longer see it. Slowly, word by word, it comes undone. Writing is my spiritual practice. I dream of truth. I laugh at the wholesomeness I feel. I feel seen by myself, for myself, all by myself. I write for me. Short stories and posts can be fun, flowery and shared with friends. And I love them for that. But I must still return to the difficult one—the one where every phrase leads me closer to the darker truth. Why is the truth so dark? It is hidden by this rope that casts a shadow from in all directions. All you can see is the rope. The truth is suffocating underneath it. There is a lesson there. And the lesson wants to be seen. By me—the person. By me—the writer. It wants to be understood. And perhaps, eventually.. ..It wants to be shared. Because when it all makes sense, the knot I made becomes something others can learn from.

So much of what we practice inside The Language Portal begins with pausing to listen. We become present, and the noise quiets. We stop trying to force the perfect sentence and listen for what is already there. Next week, I’ll bring some of this work into a much bigger room when I speak at Elizabeth Ocean's Catalyst event. And look at the women we'll be learning alongside! Renée Warren, Kristen Boss, Kelly Roach, Anita Guerini, Lady JB Owen, and Elizabeth Ocean are the keynote speakers, and many more women will share their wisdom throughout the week. I'm excited to be part of it, and I'd love to have some Portal Pals in the room with me. If you'd like to join us inside, drop CATALYST below and I'll send you the link.

When are you making space to write this week? If co-writing in The Language Portal isn’t already on your calendar, I’d love for you to choose a time and join me. Portal Pals (that's everyone): Tuesday, August 11 at 6:00 PM PT Wednesday, August 12 at 9:00 AM PT Sacred Writing Sessions (that's VIP ... join if you want to triple your writing time and group coaching): Wednesday, August 12 at 11:00 AM PT Thursday, August 13 at 9:00 AM PT What would become possible if your writing time were already on the calendar? Hit reply and tell me which session I’ll see you at.

July slipped away without a proper welcome to our newest members. Please share about yourself so other members can welcome you and make connections. Here's a link to the official post where you can read about other members to get to know each other. What is one thing you'd love for us to know about you? Share below and then to read about other member and get to know each other, please visit the official WELCOME TO THE PORTAL PARTY post! Lindsey Burch I am looking for my soul tribe NovelLife Architect Sharing my journey from ideas to finished books Jack Harper Ex-corporate, now figuring out the online thing. Love a good podcast. Annemarie Shrouder is a biracial, queer, mother of a pre-teen. She is the best selling author of Being Brown in a Black & White World.

The smoke is as heavy as our hearts here in the Okanagan. I've been quiet these past few days as friends, family of friends, and 20,000 people have been evacuated on the west side of Okanagan Lake. There is a provincial state of emergency in BC. Please take a moment to pray with me for all the people, homes, and animals affected by the wildfires in BC and in the Okanagan, and just south of us in Washington and Oregon. I pray no more homes and properties are lost ... 230 in the Quilpituk Creek Wildfire (west side of Vernon), and they are not yet able to access the loss in Summerland due to the Bald Range wildfire. I pray stillness in the air remains and rain falls gently. My family is safe and while life is uncertain and our hearts are sad, life does goes on even amidst the chaos. I was able to spend time with my son and granddaughter yesterday, go shopping and attend a baby shower for one of my best friend's daughter. And since I was in West Kelowna, I visited another best friend. (West Kelowna is directly across the lake from me, and the fire storms are raging out of control North and South of the their community). The lay of the land is hard to wrap your head around. Before I moved to Kelowna and worked in the Toronto office, I was so confused by all the colleges in the Okanagan. They were all named Okanagan College ... Kelowna Campus, Vernon Campus, Penticton Campus, and Salmon Arm Campus. The Okanagan Valley is a region in South Central BC where Okanagan Lake is surrounded by mountains. It is a four hour drive from Kelowna to Vancouver with two high mountain passes between us. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Praying your Sunday is peaceful. Some of our smoke is from the wildfires in Washington and Oregon. Where are you in the world? Are you safe? Let us bring you into our awareness and prayers.