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Rhoda Weber Mack's avatar

"Magic is always trying to find us, but it pings off the hard surface of our armor until it finds its way in....Sometimes that crack is trauma: a pain that can no longer be borne."

It's still a mystery to me the way pain, trauma, even terror, open us up to the sublime.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Well said, Rho.

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Grant's avatar

Hi Katherine this is Grant from Crestone. I live in Longmont now and am still doing my work. A healing friend of mine saw your post and of course said it was a must read for me. So I joined Substrat yesterday and love the format. Please contact me as I would love to chat with you. Beautiful writing. Thanks for sharing.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

So delighted you found me here! I texted the number I had for you and sent a LinkedIn message but nothing seemed to connect. If you scroll through these comments you will see a few people interested in seeing you. :) I'll DM you with my phone and email.

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Amanda Verdery's avatar

Oh my gosh, I just have to say how incredible it is that you reconnected here through this piece!! Wow!! I'm inspired.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Right?! Pretty wild.

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Sara Mozelle's avatar

I wept as I read parts of this.

I’ve been embodied pretty deeply for the last couple years, but recently I realized I am constantly bracing. Constantly tightening my right shoulder and side of my neck. I need a magician to help me release whatever is held there. I think I’m ready, and I’m certain the universe will align me with someone.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful work.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

This hits in the heart. Thank you so much for reading deeply, and I hope you find the magician who will help you shed this bracing.

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The Fuzzy Middle's avatar

Sara, this helped me immensely (i had 2 sessions with another somatic therapist): https://youtu.be/81mwNldEhXw?feature=shared

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Sara Mozelle's avatar

Wow..this is extremely valuable. I’m so grateful for you taking the time to share this. Something to explore for sure.

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Jack Jackson's avatar

The armor is real. But so is the magic!

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Exactly!

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Shannon Connolly's avatar

Fantastically written! I've had similar experiences & can certainly relate. Isn't it beautiful to return to your body?

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

It's possible there's nothing more beautiful!

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Hemlock Hobo's avatar

Dang! What an enthralling read. I felt really pulled in to the narrative.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thank you!! I love to hear it 🥹

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Steve's avatar

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. I’ve had some magical experiences down in that valley… You’ve captured the mana of the place beautifully. I hope you share more. 🙏🏼

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thank you so much. It’s such a particular energy down there, isn’t it??

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Steve's avatar

Indeed. I’ve spent a fair bit of time down there and it certainly has its own energy and definitely magic. It’s a place to very mindful of what one wishes for while down there.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Hahahaha. Oh god, that's so true...

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Alyssa Snow's avatar

This was a really gorgeous essay. Thank you so much for sharing.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thank you so much for reading and sharing your appreciation.

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Amy McGrath's avatar

This really resonated. Thank you.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thank you for reading, Amy.

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Holly Crawford's avatar

Beautiful share.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thanks for reading, Holly.

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Morgan Magauran's avatar

Powerful and brave, I'm so glad you came through, not everyone does.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

It's so true.

Thank you for reading.

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Willie Smarch's avatar

This one sentence, echoing, “I braced for the impact of living…”, resonates as if in a chamber where sounds returned three times. Like I’m the rock being perfectly skipped across glass calm water, the eccentric circles of relationship, divorce, single hood, and enjoying myself as much.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

This is such a gorgeous sentiment. Thank you for reading.

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Michele Cambardella's avatar

Beautiful piece, Katharine. It is holy work. I have had several types of work similar to this. Life-changing and spirit-led. Thank you for bravely sharing what is so hard to put into words.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

I feel lucky to have readers that are engaging so deeply with this story! 🙏🏽

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Three Score and More's avatar

Nice to get the full story. See you on Notes challenge.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

By the way, I sent you a direct message, if you are still interested in a book!

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Thanks for reading!

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Jane Morgan's avatar

WOW....What a spectacular piece. Thank you! This line...."but in truth I’d been analyzing everything, staying above it, telling stories and thinking thinky-thoughts while remaining as numb as possible to the body beneath." - deep exhale

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

Isn't that how we are trained to live? Still catching myself in it.

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Amanda Verdery's avatar

Being found is the greatest magic ever forgotten. What an incredible story that shows us the stunning way of life that invites us to be sought out, as Rumi said, by what is seeking us. I think it's a deeply feminine art, in fact, led by listening and trusting our intuition, and perhaps that's why it's been forgotten... Thank you for sharing your tale with us. Blessings to you.

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

A way of life that invites us to be sought out. What a beautiful phrasing. Thank you for reading and mirroring this back to me, Amanda!

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Dog Star Healing's avatar

What a beautiful story, beautifully told. I love the courage you found to meet your pain. We need more Grants in the world!

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Katherine E. Standefer's avatar

We do! Thank you for reading.

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