Healing the Shadow Self

Hello, beautiful souls,

Many of you might wonder how a healer or lightworker could write a dark novel; let me enligthen you.

I was never destined to write a novel that fits neatly into a category; that's just not who I am. It's like the quote from Dirty Dancing, ‘No one puts Baby in a corner.’ I am a free spirit and always will be.

For seven years, I worked as a healthcare assistant at my local hospital. Although I had to conform to some extent, I always carried my light with me and was open about being a healer, which benefited both my colleagues and the patients. I witnessed a lot of death on the ward, particularly in palliative care, and I always felt it was an honour to help someone transition into the spiritual realm. Speaking gently to them and their soul just after they passed, I noticed their bodies always relaxed, and they appeared completely at peace. There was one instance where the passing happened so suddenly without any warning; I knew their soul had departed instantly. The nurses tried in vain to revive them, and that's when I realised it was time for me to leave. My soul knew I would face my own grief a few years later, though I was blissfully unaware of this, happily married to my husband, my soulmate. We had recently married, and life was wonderful; we were happy and deeply in love.

Fast forward to 2013, we moved from Deal to Bude, Rob’s hometown. Unbeknownst to me, I had brought Rob home, as I had initiated the move. That year was incredible for us, both living our dreams—Rob surfing almost every day while I immersed myself in the spiritual community. On 14th March 2014, my life changed dramatically; sadly, my beloved died unexpectedly at just 49. I remember every moment of that tragic day; my heart was deeply torn on a soul level, and it was painful and raw. I may never know what exactly happened, but Rob always enjoyed keeping everyone guessing, and he certainly has, bless him.

Before relocating to Bude, I would go out of my way to avoid looking at my shadow; my focus was always on love and light, angels and fairies. Grief provided me the chance to confront my shadows and face my fears. On the outside, I appeared fine, but internally, I was a complete wreck. My understanding of life after death offered some comfort, but it didn't eliminate the pain. Somehow, I managed to get by; having my cairn terrier, Jenna, gave me a reason to wake up each morning, but I knew I needed help.

Assistance came from a wonderful friend who offered me valuable insights, and through her, I learned transformational healing; that was my pivotal moment. It allowed me to confront my shadows, knowing I was fully supported. When you face your shadows, you see them for what they are—just shadows—and these shadows are there to assist us, as they are part of the human experience. Recognising the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beauty is why we are here: to experience life, which can be extremely challenging yet utterly magical and beautiful.

Many healing practices tend to avoid confronting the darker aspects of ourselves, but eventually, your shadow will demand attention. Shadow work is not frightening; in fact, it is incredibly freeing, allowing you to become the best version of yourself. As Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, famously said, “No mud, no lotus.” This means that without facing challenges, we cannot grow. Similarly, life's ups and downs enrich our soul, enabling us to blossom like a lotus.

Years later, I joined a writing group and discovered House of De Vries. I questioned why I was writing such a dark novel, but deep down, I knew it was something I had to complete and publish in this lifetime. In 2023, I achieved this dream. For those who have read my book, there's more beneath the surface. Yes, there is quite a bit of sex, which is part of the story, but if you look beyond that, you'll find a deeper message. My aim is to reach those who are not spiritually aware, reminding them that everything is an illusion; some will understand, and some won't, and that's okay. It might subtly provoke them. One of my main characters, the Lord, symbolizes our deepest fears. He is very real to my protagonist, Sophia. I intentionally left out many backstories, as they are meant for my prequel, which I am currently working on, titled ‘Into the Shadows.’ This will explore Sophia’s inner child, offering readers insight into her character and perhaps even prompting them to heal their own inner child. Recently, I reviewed the backstories I had written and felt a twinge of self-doubt, wondering how I could do them justice. But I pushed that doubt aside, remembering that I have written and published a book before, so there's no reason I can't do it again. Then I experienced a mild case of shingles, which spiritually signifies 'healing the inner child,' providing me with further insight!

Writing "House of De Vries" was a challenging task for me as an author, but I pursued it with the belief in a greater purpose. In the prequel, you'll discover more, and in the sequel, everything will come together, so I must continue writing.

This is how a lightworker/healer can create a book that might not fit neatly into conventional categories; it is as unique as you and me.

Please approach my book with an open mind and pay attention to the subtle clues woven into the words; there are many. There is much more to this world than meets the eye, so broaden your perspective and think outside the box, and you'll uncover wonders that will make you question everything. “Everything is energy, and that is all there is to it,” as Albert Einstein said.

As a healer, I now facilitate Soul Alchemist Healing, assisting those ready to heal their shadows and embrace their divine truth, empowering them to live their best lives. Are you prepared to do the same...? I know I am. Join me on a journey through time and space to rediscover lost parts of yourself.