About the Author

For most of my life, I’ve been an ordinary person doing ordinary things - school, career, marriage, and parenting - all while riding the usual ups and downs of daily life. A history of Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) compounded these responsibilities and created an undercurrent of sadness that went undetected for decades, but eventually caught up with me after a series of losses. The end of a 25-year marriage, an empty nest, and the death of my dad were lead weights dragging me down into full blown depression, ultimately crashing at rock bottom where I faced an unthinkable choice - live or die.

Facing the Dark Night of the Soul is no joke - especially when you are living alone. But, with a little help from some friends, I stumbled through a spiritual forgiveness exercise that launched me out of the darkness into inner peace. More chaotic and disruptive than your usual spiritual awakening, what I endured is referred to as a Spiritual Emergency or Mystical Experience. It saved my life, so I have no regrets, but it was a wild ride. Having been on the brink of oblivion only days earlier, and then to suddenly and inexplicably find myself at peace was a tremendous relief.

Not being in any way spiritual at the time, I had no idea what had happened to me, however, I was familiar with the famous quote, ”Enlightenment is the end of suffering.” Wow, the Buddha really knew what he was talking about…but wasn’t enlightenment for monks and famous mystics? How had someone like me broken through to inner peace? I’m just a regular person - so ordinary as to be overlooked or unseen altogether. But maybe that was the point. Perhaps I went on this journey to prove that enlightenment is not just for the ‘spiritually deserving few’. It is available for everyone, and the choice is ours to make.

I encourage you to stop the roller-coaster, step out of the ordinary, and reclaim control of your life. Ditch that ego and remember your soul.

Cheers,

Denise