I remember enjoying writing when I was in grade school. When I went to Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut, I was proud to have a poem published in the school newspaper. For a long time I didn't think about writing until my kids were grown. It was my life experience that propelled me to write spiritual poetry and eventually The Awakening of the Heart.

One summer I began going to the creek by our home every morning to write. I trusted the voice that told me that the essays I was writing would someday be a book. I didn't have a computer and still don't. Therefore, my book consisted of 15 notebooks written in pencil on yellow legal pads. Ten years later, I would be retrieving the material from the attic and beginning the long task of getting it published-a process that involved many challenges that I won't go into here.

Writing the book required a great deal of courage and trust. I would literally hear the words in my mind and write down what I was hearing. I had previously taught meditation classes and am blessed with the gift of clairaudience-the ability to hear spirit voices-so I definitely had the background to receive channeled material. Out of love, my Higher Power lead me to believe I was channeling material from another light being. However, in reality I was channeling my Higher Self. God in His infinite wisdom knew I wouldn't feel adequate enough to say that I was capable of coming up with all the wisdom on my own. It wasn't until the book was published that I became aware that it was channeled by my Higher Self. We all have that divine part of us that we are capable of tapping into at any time.

The reason for the lapse of time between the writing of the book and publishing it was that I had to experience all that I talked about in the book. In December of 1991, while my 15 notebooks lay in the attic, I underwent a significant spontaneous spiritual awakening. This profound life-changing event precipitated several years of healing that included further extraordinary journeys into consciousness and intensely challenging work on the inner planes. This inner journey, awesome and powerful as it was, and my subsequent healing, gave me the necessary lessons and trials to prepare me for the publication of my book that contains wisdom now backed by my own experience.

For example, I learned to have greater acceptance and patience with the things I want to change within myself. I also gained greater knowledge and wisdom through becoming honest with myself at a deeper level than was previously possible. Further, I gained greater love and understanding of others and myself as I learned to trust in the process of healing and growth to which we all aspire.

Lastly, I found greater peace in learning to trust in the infinite intelligence that lies within us all. It was from this place that I developed my Back to Basics workshops on personal and spiritual growth.

The workshops involve creative writing. I believe we are all happiest doing what we like to do best, wherever our talents lie. I'm happiest when I'm writing and being of service at the same time. It is a great antidote for depression and boredom. I find when I follow my heart and my talents;, I'm blessed with abundance. However we all have dry spells and times when we're not necessarily productive. Yet, it is at these times that we're experiencing much necessary growth and enlightenment. Seeds are being planted and sooner or later, with faith, the results will manifest.