When people think of trauma, they think of the extremes: veterans of war, survivors of genocide, or malnourished refugees. Our minds instinctively consider those who have been exposed to the harshest realities our world has to offer. But in truth, trauma is rather common and impacts millions of people. Trauma is often caused by interpersonal conflict, inflicted by one person on another. Meaning, those who suffer from the impacts are often the people we love and hold dear-and don't even know it. Or they are the strangers we see on our way to work, or out running errands. They are the adults walking around with small, wounded children within them-dying for a way to heal, recover, and live a fulfilling, healthy life-without the wounds of their childhoods. They are the adults who have suffered from neglect, mistreatment, and even abuse as young children-and their suffering has seen no end. Unrealized, these traumas are passed down from generation to generation even when most parents insist, they will do better than their parents did.
This pervasiveness is exactly what Valerie Johns has noticed, and experienced, throughout her personal and professional life-and is what's driven her to spread awareness, connect with others who are suffering, and help create a path forward. Drawn to the subject of trauma and healing by her early childhood abuse, Valerie became an expert in all things healing, and found solace and comfort in the written word too, becoming a poet and published author. Throughout her healing journey, and her journey to help others, Valerie found that many books in the space are often too academic, too prescriptive, or too dry- leaving an entire readership unmoored, lost, and entrenched in insufferable pain. While prescriptive self-help and more hands-on help can be wonderfully helpful to those suffering, Valerie has recognized a need for something much more intimate, vulnerable, and creative. Using the written word, those who are wounded can discover the deep chasms of pain within themselves and feel inspired and encouraged to explore even more deeply.
Drawing from her own personal experiences and professional expertise, "Ashes in The Milk" answers this call and bridges the gap between self-help, vulnerable narrative, and prose. Broken down into powerful, entrancing stanzas, readers are invited to find hope and solace in Valerie's writing, in search of their holistic healing and peace. "Ashes in The Milk" will remind readers that their greatest path to healing lies within-all they must do is walk down the path.
