JOURNALING
Keep a journal? Journaling has been so helpful in writing memoirs. You don't have to write pages all the time just a few notes about what happened when can stimulate a larger memory. A note of a beautiful day working on this art piece which will be the North Wall in my treatment /yoga/meditation room. Really enjoying the process. Our orange cement mixer reminds me of the one we had in Wisconsin as a child. I remember my father teaching me about cement and concrete and how easy it is to go from not enough to too much water. Yesterday Marc said how ironic it is that such a course material requires such precise calibration. I molded a tiny shelf in the concrete near one of the bottle windows. It will be home to a crystal after the room is finished. The sidewalk feels like it will take forever but one form at a time it too will happen a lot like life. So happy to see the sun again. Glad the garden thrives (so far) despite the torrents of rain. Loving the fresh kale, remembering how good things are when they are fresh from the garden, when you can thank the plants directly who nourish you. Grateful.
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I am now working on Thirsting for Joy the sequel in my new Mountain home in a different part of West Virginia. We call it CROE'S NEST. My husband, Marc Harper, has written a song about some of our adventures in the first year here and calls it This Old Dog ('s gonna have to learn some new tricks), listen to it by clicking on the button.
Marc Harper is a singer-songwriter who now resides in the Romney area of West Virginia. He has published 5 CD's the latest is entitled Heading for the Hills. You can hear Marc on his website and in various Open Mics around WV. He will be performing at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV May 18 and 19 from 1-3 pm.
The third edition is available in both paper back and e-book formats. See the links at the bottom of the pages on this website to link to Amazon to purchase either format. This edition is slightly expanded and I hope all the edits have been taken care of now. If you find something, please let me know. I am now turning my attention to creating the next book, Thirsting for Joy. I love hearing how this book inspires you. Email me at Lyneahmarks@gmail.com.
Vickie Batts has recently joined the Health Center of Hillsborough. She is a Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist, Energy Healer and Physical Therapist. We are so happy to have her on staff with us. Vickie is reading Thirsting for a Raindrop and says: "It's been a long time since a book has captured my attention on a daily basis. I desire to know what the next chapter may hold. I have to be careful reading it in the morning because it's almost made me late to work several times now. I hope there's a sequel. Sometimes I only have 15 minutes to read at a time. Loving it! It also helps me to feel strong and weak at the same time as you/your character remind me some of my life too. Any woman who can relate to being authentic, hardworking and blindsided by a divorce will be able to relate to your stories. Your book is empowering to all women! You have inspired me to be a woman of many more talents than I presently have!" I am so grateful for your words, Vickie. FYI, several men have also told me that they relate to the divorce part of the book, so it seems to translates across genders as well as ages and locations.
Vickie Batts has recently joined the Health Center of Hillsborough. She is a Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist, Energy Healer and Physical Therapist. We are so happy to have her on staff with us. Vickie is reading Thirsting for a Raindrop and says: "It's been a long time since a book has captured my attention on a daily basis. I desire to know what the next chapter may hold. I have to be careful reading it in the morning because it's almost made me late to work several times now. I hope there's a sequel. Sometimes I only have 15 minutes to read at a time. Loving it! It also helps me to feel strong and weak at the same time as you/your character remind me some of my life too. Any woman who can relate to being authentic, hardworking and blindsided by a divorce will be able to relate to your stories. Your book is empowering to all women! You have inspired me to be a woman of many more talents than I presently have!" I am so grateful for your words, Vickie. FYI, several men have also told me that they relate to the divorce part of the book, so it seems to translates across genders as well as ages and locations.
Recently, Martha came in and it was so nice to reconnect. Martha said, "I have been enjoying your book so much! It is so full of life and color, sounds, music, scents, humor and wisdom!" Thanks Martha! It makes my heart sing to know my book has touched another person. It makes the writing work worthwhile.
Martha Kelder, a talented artist who works and teaches painting in Chapel Hill, NC brought me this card. I am planning on taking her next painting class. Martha's drawing of a pepper is so real you want to eat it. It's been too long since I've painted and I'm looking forward to renewing my relationhship to water colors with Martha's guidance. Martha brought me this beautiful card. Ah, yes, it makes me thirst for a raindrop.
Martha Kelder, a talented artist who works and teaches painting in Chapel Hill, NC brought me this card. I am planning on taking her next painting class. Martha's drawing of a pepper is so real you want to eat it. It's been too long since I've painted and I'm looking forward to renewing my relationhship to water colors with Martha's guidance. Martha brought me this beautiful card. Ah, yes, it makes me thirst for a raindrop.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, January 10, 2014 By Tina M - See all my reviews This review is for: Thirsting for a Raindrop (Paperback) Lyneah has truly had an interesting life. I had a hard time putting this book down. Her spiritual journey is a real metamorphosis into becoming a gifted healer. she is an inspiration for my own spiritual growth.
Picture taken around the time of the Otter Creek Wilderness backpacking and near death experience trip. How in the world did I sit on that sharp rock?
A great friend has just marked one year since her husband died. They were married for over 60 years and the adjustment has been difficult to say the least. She called me recently to say Thirsting for a Raindrop is the first book she's been able to read since her husband's death. "I just wasn't able to focus. I loved your book so much that I was able to focus and take it in. I enjoyed this book so much. Your experiences are overwhelming and what you have done by sharing them is to bring my life back to me. Thank you."
Another friend from High School in Chicago called me for the first time. " I loved your book. I'm off my ass! You have taken all my excuses away and I am beginning anew to do things. Thank you for the inspiration. I will read the book again. I have already recommended several people to order the book and to call you for healing sessions.
Another friend from High School in Chicago called me for the first time. " I loved your book. I'm off my ass! You have taken all my excuses away and I am beginning anew to do things. Thank you for the inspiration. I will read the book again. I have already recommended several people to order the book and to call you for healing sessions.
It is often easier to receive praise from friends than from family. That's why this is so special. My Sister-in-law, Pat, supported this effort by buying a book and this is the letter she took the time to write long hand. How many people do that anymore? This means so much, Pat, thank you. Pat helped my mother so much in her last year. I will be forever grateful for the tender loving care she provided.
Here are a couple of pictures from CROE: Center for the Rehabilitation of the Over Educated. That's me approximately age 27 with Charlie and a few of our dulcimers. The photo on the left was taken in the shop and the right at the house. My professional photographer daughter, Alex is likely to yell at me that they could have been cleaned up so much more, but here they are as they are. Charlie was always proud of his work. He loved to make music. He told stories of when he used to walk all the way to town (about 11 miles to the dance) to play fiddle for dances on Saturday nights and then walk all the way home. This was after a full day of farm work. It was just a normal part of life then.
Well the baby book is one week and four days old now and already it’s had two parties :) Below you’ll find some images from the book signing party Nature tried to invite herself as the guest of honor, but people came out in spite of the beautiful gigantic flakes decorating the triangle. About 45 people came by to show their support – which those of you who have lived here in NC know is no small number in the snow! Even when the beautiful white stuff falls from the sky and doesn’t stick, people usually only run to the grocery store. Everyone seemed to have a lovely time and I couldn’t be more thankful for such loyal friends and fans!
The second party for our little livre was at the Body Mind and Spirit Expo the following weekend (paparazzi photos below ;)
The Expo was wonderful and especially interesting for me given the questions people asked.
One of the questions posed was “Was the book channeled? Did you just sit down and write as it came to you?” I had to smile. The book was a labor of love. The idea for the book did come to me through intuitive guidance and the chapters and what stories to include and exclude were all intuitively guided through meditation – but the writing was all hard work, as were the many rewrites.
I did of course have help from my friends. Sometimes inspiration or guidance about the book would come to me through synchronized meditation with other people and I, of course, send first edits out to many trusted people to read and critique, but in the end this was truly just good old fashioned blood sweat and tears and I mean tears!
It is amazing though. Each person who read the first draft had one key thing to say to me. Some of the feedback I received was easier to embrace than others, but in the end I realized that a lot of what was said was what I needed to hear and it helped me rewrite the book many times and make it better and better with each rewrite.
Another great question came from a young man who asked “What was your biggest take away from the near death experience?” I thought about this for a moment and answered that I thought it was getting back on a spiritual path. At the time I was on a material path and the experience reminded me that spirit is the reason why I’m here and that there is work for me to do. Hopefully I am in the process of doing that work with publishing this book. It is my hope that the book will speak to those who read it.
I thought it would be helpful for both of us if I posed the question back to the young man – what did he think my biggest take away was from the near death experience? He thought it was humility because I had gone on the backpacking trip as a dare.
Interesting. I had to admit I hadn't taken a dare like that since. It did give me a better sense of what it means to be out in the wilderness with nothing but what you can carry. I made sure to learn valuable survival skills after the experience but instead of giving up on trekking out into the hills, I became an avid hiker for many years after my experience. Perhaps it made me a little wiser. Hopefully my related experience in the book will help others in their path. I certainly hope so.
It is so gratifying and interesting to hear what people say about their personal experience with the book. Some people who ordered their advanced copy came up to me and said that they couldn’t put it down. Others said that they made themselves read it a chapter at a time so they could saver it. But the biggest compliments for me were from the people who found some personal connection with the story. A few have said that I told their story giving examples of a particular cord the book struck for them. It is inspiring and humbling to hear that this book has touched so many people already!
Thank you all for your feedback, support and love throughout this process of "birthing" this book. Please keep emailing me with comments, and questions. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts and encouragement! And if you’ve been inspired, please take a few moments to pass on the inspiration to someone you know. Future posts will include photos from earlier times.
The second party for our little livre was at the Body Mind and Spirit Expo the following weekend (paparazzi photos below ;)
The Expo was wonderful and especially interesting for me given the questions people asked.
One of the questions posed was “Was the book channeled? Did you just sit down and write as it came to you?” I had to smile. The book was a labor of love. The idea for the book did come to me through intuitive guidance and the chapters and what stories to include and exclude were all intuitively guided through meditation – but the writing was all hard work, as were the many rewrites.
I did of course have help from my friends. Sometimes inspiration or guidance about the book would come to me through synchronized meditation with other people and I, of course, send first edits out to many trusted people to read and critique, but in the end this was truly just good old fashioned blood sweat and tears and I mean tears!
It is amazing though. Each person who read the first draft had one key thing to say to me. Some of the feedback I received was easier to embrace than others, but in the end I realized that a lot of what was said was what I needed to hear and it helped me rewrite the book many times and make it better and better with each rewrite.
Another great question came from a young man who asked “What was your biggest take away from the near death experience?” I thought about this for a moment and answered that I thought it was getting back on a spiritual path. At the time I was on a material path and the experience reminded me that spirit is the reason why I’m here and that there is work for me to do. Hopefully I am in the process of doing that work with publishing this book. It is my hope that the book will speak to those who read it.
I thought it would be helpful for both of us if I posed the question back to the young man – what did he think my biggest take away was from the near death experience? He thought it was humility because I had gone on the backpacking trip as a dare.
Interesting. I had to admit I hadn't taken a dare like that since. It did give me a better sense of what it means to be out in the wilderness with nothing but what you can carry. I made sure to learn valuable survival skills after the experience but instead of giving up on trekking out into the hills, I became an avid hiker for many years after my experience. Perhaps it made me a little wiser. Hopefully my related experience in the book will help others in their path. I certainly hope so.
It is so gratifying and interesting to hear what people say about their personal experience with the book. Some people who ordered their advanced copy came up to me and said that they couldn’t put it down. Others said that they made themselves read it a chapter at a time so they could saver it. But the biggest compliments for me were from the people who found some personal connection with the story. A few have said that I told their story giving examples of a particular cord the book struck for them. It is inspiring and humbling to hear that this book has touched so many people already!
Thank you all for your feedback, support and love throughout this process of "birthing" this book. Please keep emailing me with comments, and questions. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts and encouragement! And if you’ve been inspired, please take a few moments to pass on the inspiration to someone you know. Future posts will include photos from earlier times.
Three readings and book signings in one month and it was so wonderful to hear people's questions. Some were deep and let to deep discussions, others amusing and fun, others very insightful. It is wonderful to hear what others get from this book. One person asked for a snake story and I chose one that is not in the book (maybe in the second book) and even my husband said he had never heard it before. Thanks to Dulce Levitz for her photography. See her page on Facebook: Dulce Levitz Photography-Fine Art. Here are some pictures from the book readings/signings.
Hunter wrote: First off I want to say great blog! I had a quick question that I'd like to ask if you don't mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing. I have had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Kudos!|
Hunter
Really good question. On my website, www.bodysoulandangels.com there is a series of five exercises by Rudolph Steiner. They are designed to help you quiet your mind and focus your attention. Steiner says the exercises build spiritual organs of perception. You are welcome to download them. Spend at least a week on each exercise. The first one is to focus on one object, such as a pencil, for five minutes. I have taught this series with a group (the group energy helps carry everyone in a good way) and I recommend doing discernment prior to starting. There are instructions for how I do this in Thirsting for a Raindrop. Then have a pad of paper and a pen with you. Turn phones and other distractions off. Sit in silence and notice what comes up. For most people, a laundry list of things you need to do/forgot to do/etc. comes up. Write these down so you have them somewhere and this frees you of them for now. If you can imagine a pencil, do so. If not, hold one in front of you, stare at it for a time, then close your eyes and repeat this until you can hold an image of the pencil in your mind. Keep using the same pencil, same color same number, same degree of sharpness, etc. Contact me if you wish to be in a class, I do them with phone conferencing so anyone can join. I've been doing these exercises for 15+ years now and every time I lead a group I do them again and get something new out of them. They are simple, but do not mistake that for easy. They are very worthwhile. This has taught me how to clear my mind quickly and focus my attention. Hope that helps. Thanks for writing.
Hunter
Really good question. On my website, www.bodysoulandangels.com there is a series of five exercises by Rudolph Steiner. They are designed to help you quiet your mind and focus your attention. Steiner says the exercises build spiritual organs of perception. You are welcome to download them. Spend at least a week on each exercise. The first one is to focus on one object, such as a pencil, for five minutes. I have taught this series with a group (the group energy helps carry everyone in a good way) and I recommend doing discernment prior to starting. There are instructions for how I do this in Thirsting for a Raindrop. Then have a pad of paper and a pen with you. Turn phones and other distractions off. Sit in silence and notice what comes up. For most people, a laundry list of things you need to do/forgot to do/etc. comes up. Write these down so you have them somewhere and this frees you of them for now. If you can imagine a pencil, do so. If not, hold one in front of you, stare at it for a time, then close your eyes and repeat this until you can hold an image of the pencil in your mind. Keep using the same pencil, same color same number, same degree of sharpness, etc. Contact me if you wish to be in a class, I do them with phone conferencing so anyone can join. I've been doing these exercises for 15+ years now and every time I lead a group I do them again and get something new out of them. They are simple, but do not mistake that for easy. They are very worthwhile. This has taught me how to clear my mind quickly and focus my attention. Hope that helps. Thanks for writing.
This is a recent picture of the urban log cabin mentioned in Thirsting for a Raindrop. It is over a hundred years old now. It was built as a country home when Durham was much smaller. This area is quite urban now and when it was built it was a horse and buggy ride from downtown.
Wade and Frances left. What year do you think this picture was taken?
