Shelter In Place Interview: Poetry to Inspire a Sense of Belonging

This is a special Soul Path Sessions episode. In 2020, Deborah began a poetic journey to share her experiences as a therapist and spiritual life coach during the pandemic. The result is "Shelter In Place" a book of incredibly thoughtful and vulnerable poetry. Brenda interviews Deborah about the process and the inspirations that informed her poems. 

From the book's foreward: "As a therapist and spiritual life coach I work with clients who experience anxiety and pain. This challenges me to work with my own shifting mental and emotional states. A poverty of personal experiences would deprive me of that ability to help myself and others. Some of my poems reflect deep suffering and fear that therapists generally hide from their clients. I experience my vulnerability as an unavoidable reality that helps me connect deeply with myself and others. My compassion rises from our shared humanity. I can be a therapist because of my own wounds and profound search for true healing of my mind. body and emotions.

Hiking in the forest or desert, lying on the grass, feet in a stream, walking by the sea, floating in water, warming on boulders, resting under trees, drinking in moonlight and stars has always been a path of healing. I know that if we lose ourselves in this beauty we heal. I know that deep surrender and humility allow us to connect to wisdom and love. Sharing our journey of awakening with each other provide strength, faith and community. It is in this spirit that I offer you these poems. May they provide shelter and a sense of belonging."

(Shelter In Place is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Place-Deborah-Meints-Pierson/dp/B0B42P7G97/ref=sr_1_3?)