Blog Voices from Our Community

Read stories, updates, and reflections from artists, staff, and survivors. Here, we share the heart of Awakenings — one post at a time.

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Stressure

A contribution to our July prompt, Rev. Dr. Barbara’s word “stressure” comes from others telling a survivor how to heal, thinking they know best. Sometimes

  • Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Six Ways to Set A Bad Example

These vignettes by Carly Noble illustrate the ways in which the world around young women, including the people in their lives who should be protecting

  • Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Vulification

In this response to our July prompt, D.A. Simants creates a new word to describe a perpetrator’s act of weakening and causing harm. Although the

  • Prose
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Bad Dreams

This letter by Addison Post, a response to our June prompt, opens in a version of reality that’s difficult to interpret — a dream. Post,

  • Memoir, Prose
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When the Voiceless Whisper

Sometimes the places where we hope to find the most safety turn out to offer safety and recovery in some areas but not in others.

  • Essay, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

When The Fairy Tale Ends

Dr. Reverend Barbara Edema revisits The Nightingale with a piece that adds to our prompt to retell fairy tales and myths. She compassionately acknowledges the

  • Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

The Girl With The Wooden Helmet

As our first contribution to The Nightingale’s monthly prompts, this piece is a wise retelling of “The Girl With the Wooden Helmet,” originally of Japanese

  • All Authors, All Formats, Fiction, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Reflections on April: Awareness and Poetry

The Nightingale Editor and Awakened Voices Associate Editor Megan Otto shares reflections on April. Reflections on April: Awareness and poetry by Megan Otto April is

  • Letter, Prose
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My Voice

Dr. Reverend Barbara Edema has been a frequent contributor to Awakenings publications, and we’re pleased to share more of her encouraging, affirming message. In this

  • Essay, Memoir, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Kills 99.9% of Germs

Jorie Rao delves skillfully into the aftermath of an assault. The piece explores the tiny sensory details that form whole memories and how those memories

  • Memoir, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Held

Take a journey through Kimberly Cunningham’s poetic piece as she shares her arc and offers help and healing to others. Cunningham uses rhythm in the

  • All Authors, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

If You’ve Got a Bell to Ring…Ring It

Thinking back to Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court, Wendi White examines her own experience as a member of the same generation. With an open,

  • All Authors, Memoir, Prose
Simple black and white line drawing of a bird perched on a diagonal branch, with its beak open as if singing.

Dad

Sandra Shaw Homer takes us through the complicated years of her childhood with grace and skill. It’s a piece that speaks to the prevalence of

  • Memoir, Prose
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Mine by Kelsey Anne Rankin

My skin has traveled. I’ve walked with her under the guidance of many hands and through the meadows of many sinking, breathing bodies. I learned

  • Prose

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Find your place in our circle of creators, where every artistic choice is valid and every emotion is welcome. Healing isn’t linear, nor a path you have to walk alone.

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