Dear Shirley, Earth Angel:

I very much like the principle and practice of Strength without Aggression. These are some quotes from your poem. I read all of it.

Soul Fire
“When the flame ignites
You all add fuel to the fire”- critical people do strengthen the aggressive inner critic.
“…Burning away who I once was and stepping into who I truly am
Arising from the ashes, letting the smoke of forgiveness rise”- who you were from the beginning, was a good, innocent, loving and lovable child- that child does not need to be burned or forgiven.
“…I won’t change myself to be good enough for someone else”- please don’t.

“Within me is a soul fire, a strength within me that will light me to my purpose”- I like it.
“…With each layer you burn away, I step closer to my soul fire”- good imagery.

“…Erase myself and wash away all the lies I made myself believe
Glow with the inner fire of my soul”- do not erase yourself. Over time, erase what is NOT you, those lies.

“…I relax and reattach to my angelic self
And I feel the divine fire within again”- yes, do not erase but re-attach to whom you always were and are.

“For as long as my heart is beating, my wings keep fluttering and I fly above this world”- favorite line.

“I can’t say how long I’ve been encased in illusion
But I feel home at last”-the illusions, the lies are not home, they are distressing. Home is where the truth is.

“As long as my mind thinks, you can take away all of who you think I am, but what’s left is my soul in its radiant grace”- another favorite line of mine.

“You cannot take away the freedom of myself to choose my own life, to forge my own path and follow my own beliefs” – yes, yes, yes!

“With each layer you take away, you reveal more of my soul fire”- beautiful imagery.

“I tried in my life to make everyone happy while I just hurt and hide
I guess I forgot I had a choice; I let the inner bullies and the worldly critics push me to the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything”- excellent articulation!

“‘Let this earth angel unfurl her wings, awaken the fire in her heart and light up the world with her authentic voice.
For as long as I am still breathing and my mind keeps thinking, this earth angel is going to follow her heart home!” – my very favorite lines!

“…I might never be the one to fix a leaky faucet or pave the roof…the one who knows all of the life skills such as finances and map readings…the one who is a professional athlete”- My goodness, Shirley, how can you possibly be ALL these things- what unrealistic and impossible expectations you have had of yourself!

“I won’t be held back anymore
As my wings unfurl and I’m off dashing into the heavens.”- unlike your beautiful imagery of dashing into the heavens, free at last, free for all times, from the inner and outer critics, in this life, there is no such thing. The freedom you so desperately want, from the inner and outer critics, can be achieved gradually with incredible patience. Notice every time you are discouraged (and you will be!) by the inner/ outer critics, and repeat to yourself the truth, taking deep breaths, disengaging from the untrue, limiting thinking, focusing on your next task at hand, congratulating yourself for doing these things… until the next time you are discouraged (and it will happen)- repeat, make progress.

Thank you for sharing your latest poem!

anita