18 Comments
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Sara Perry's avatar

This is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Thank you so much, dear Sara. I just adore you. xo

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Sara Perry's avatar

The feeling is SO very mutual. I am brimming with love and gratitude for you!

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Celeste Boudreaux's avatar

Wow, Julia. So, so true, so necessary, and so beautifully said. All love to you!

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Celeste, thank you. This really means so much. All love right back to beautiful you. xo

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The Mess + The Magic's avatar

Stunning words that both grounded and gutted me.

Julia, your words continually serve as an invitation to pull up a chair and stay awhile with myself. As a woman who’d stood in her own shadow for decades, so enthralled and blinded by the light of others that she’d failed to notice her own, this poem spoke right to my soul. I no longer live between the lines of these saddest things. I am a songbird finding her voice. A spark learning to burn, burn, burn. An unfolding gift from the mud. But when we’ve touched sadness before, it leaves its own fingerprints on us in return.

Julia, I was meant to discover your work and wisdom, and here you are, right on time.💫

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

"I no longer live between the lines of these saddest things. I am a songbird finding her voice." I am so moved by these words from you. I am celebrating your beautiful unfolding! I'm pretty sure I can hear your song from here. Thank you (so, so much) for taking the time to read my words...I am so happy to be connected. Love love love to you, dear Jennifer.

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Kathy Stilwell's avatar

Wow! What a provocative poem...a welcome reminder for when things seem murky, and your next small step is lost in the haze. Trust in your light, no matter how dim it may feel. Trust it's shining somewhere hidden from your view.

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Kathy, yes...trust in your light. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my words and for leaving yours here for me. These connections mean so much. Tons of love to you. Julia xo

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Kathy Stilwell's avatar

Hi Julia,

This is the first time I’ve encountered this page. I tend to avoid SS. I was led your way through your poetry…first in Poetry of Presence…it’s a pleasure to “connect” with you.

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Catarina Peterson's avatar

Dear Julia, this sums exactly what I wrote in my diary today. Coincidence or God’s nudging to say: “Child, what you experienced is part of a shared tapestry of life?”

It couldn’t have landed at a better time. I feel so validated in my quest for meaning, healing and growth. Thank you & Blessings

Cat

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Ah...beautiful connection. This is so beautiful, Catarina. And now as I read your message I too feel God's nudging. Ripples. Love, love, love to you. Julia

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Mark Primavesi's avatar

Thank you Julia for these words and you reading them. Living in the dark seems to be a usual state. I, this named "I", doesn't experience itself as sacred, at least, no more sacred than that fallen leaf, that special tree I greet each late evening (so silent it is, so still, so rooted, so vibrant). Expecting or contriving to have a hold on the sacred I gave up long ago. When showing up for a period to be consciously awake to the presence of Silent Silence, my wordless hope is that this "I" does not impede the free flow of the sacred from and to my brothers and sisters, human and other-than-human. May I find appreciative joy when this communion happens, usually as unexpected and beautiful gifting, where giver and giftee are hardly aware of what has happened. But each is aware of fleeting joy in that moment. The saddest thing is drifting unawares into overwhelm when gifting if poisonous. Hineni, Emanuel. May my antenae be sensitive and on the alert, to give and receive random acts of kindness, love and trust. Thank you Julia, very special giver, very precious sister, for all that you generously do for us. All my love and gratitude, Mark

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Mark, there is so much bubbling up in me as I read your words. It is beautiful to be connected with you here...I feel such a kind gentleness from your you-ness and it is deeply appreciated. I send you love, my friend. Thank you for taking the time to read, to listen, to be here.

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Julie Barton's avatar

So beautiful! Thank you.

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Julie, I so appreciate you & your deeply touching poetry. I always feel you deeply. Thank you for taking the time to read in the midst of all the busy and hard. Julia xo

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Jeanne's avatar

Julia! Thank you so much for this poem, life-saving words. Every one. I don't exaggerate when I say I'm doing each of these saddest things to myself, even more lately when perspective seems harder to come by and panic takes hold. And this poem is a perfect reminder that it is sad depriving ourselves and those around us ... of us! I do lift others and forget to lift myself. This poem is also such a needed reminder to step back and see through a different lens. A loving lens. To remember our worth especially when we don't think we can. 🥹💕🥰💝🥲💝💖

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Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

A big sigh from me here Jeanne (after reading your honest words). You are the brightest light, my friend, truly. And in this dark darkest time, we need your Jeanne-ness more than ever. I mean it. Shine shine, dear Jeanne. I'm out here in the dark looking for the candle of you.

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