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.

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

Let Me Tell You About Hazel

“Let Me Tell You About Hazel” holds a meta-narrative, a story inside a story — we meet J. Askew and we also meet Hazel, their

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

Beastman

With a compelling voice in a powerful story of experience with pedophilia, Jackie Bluu surges forward with a righteous desire for her trauma to be

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

Reclamation

Rev. Dr. Barbara Edema reframes the concept of gaining back what was “lost” in trauma in a way that allows for new gentleness and self-compassion.

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

A Drowning at Dog River

Kim Conrey examines sexual violence in the context of the social systems we’re raised in that so often perpetuate it. Conrey bravely shares her story

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

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

In November

Karissa skillfully writes about the experience of living as a silent survivor and, when she felt ready, breaking that silence. With “In November,” she illustrates

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

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

Sexual Predation Recovery

A follow-up to The Nightingale post two weeks ago, Silver Damsen shares her research and resources on where else this frequently silenced or dismissed idea

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

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

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

Create, connect, & heal

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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