Awakened Voiced Blog

Category: Prose

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

“Harrassment and assault can happen anywhere.” This reminder in Mary-Elizabeth Meagher’s piece is accompanied by powerful self-reflection. Healing isn’t easy, and Meagher takes us through

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“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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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