Song of Ourself
“Ourself not yet a word recognized in the English language (and was not a term Whitman used). But we felt it necessary to capture the ideal we are striving for: not an aggregate of multiple selves, but rather one shared self, expressed and vitalized through the many. This notion counters certain conventions for defining subjectivity and collectivity, but when challenging cultural norms, a new vocabulary is often needed.” (https://www.songofourself.com/)
Cover photograph by Emma Hunter
In late March 2017, I called my youngest sister, Abby, wondering if it was ridiculous to spend over $1000 on a writing class with New York Times bestselling author, Martha Beck, PhD. I was having a hard time with spending the money since I had left my corporate Tech job on medical leave the previous year and decided it was best for my mental health to not go back. Even still, once I reframed it and reminded myself that I was a Sephora VIB Rouge member (meaning I spend at least $1000 a year on my beauty products) and, at the time, traveling the world with no job, trusting I would be fine. There was no question.
From here, we begin my major investments in myself through trusting spirit, though that is another story for another time and place.
Back to the course, Writing Into Light. The class began in April with virtual sessions, homework and office hours during a time when I would be traveling mostly alone through Europe and Asia nursing my wounds. My own version of Eat Pray Love. (side note, I took it as a sign of fate when I read Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love was going to be a guest lecturer.) This class was the soothing my heart and soul needed in order to be seen again. I relished and soaked in being in community with like-minded, bright, creative people from all over the world and from all walks of life. While in my personal life I was in a dark and lonely place, here, I was not alone. I wrote dark, heavy pieces laced with light wandering through some of the most beautiful and wonderful places - Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Taiwan, the Philippines and many more. Life once again showing me the light and the dark.
I spent time writing about magic in Spain, mind fucks in the Philippines, these poems became a safe place to explore my feelings and thoughts - the ones that couldn’t be conveyed or even touched upon in any other way. This was the vessel through which all things would be channeled. All the woes, sufferings, delights and awakenings, I had been witness to.
At the end of the course, many of us were inspired to keep up the work and communit, and thus, started the creation of Song of Ourself: Voices in Unison.
The digital copy came to life in 2018, the published print version in 2019 and now our audiobook is available!!!! Finishing touches were made on 2/14/22 and it is so fitting as this has been such a work of love. Free digital and audiobook available.
Collectively, we are proud recipients of the Bronze Medal, General Fiction/Literature in 2020 Living Now Book Awards.
We hope our words bring you comfort, connection, and whatever else it is you need during this time. May our words be balm to your tired souls.
