Wounded Word Process
Stitching Light Into Darkness
My intention today is to share a practice that has allowed me to integrate, embody, alchemize, and express emotions that are often overlooked or unwelcome—the low vibrational frequency emotions. These are the feelings society teaches us to avoid: anger, grief, despair, and resentment. Yet, as Brene Brown reminds us, “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Rumi echoes this truth: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
This practice, which I call the Wounded Word Process, emerged as a way to stay with these emotions and engage with them in a meaningful, creative way. It started with the simple idea of “stitching a word.” For me, working with feelings through words can be challenging. Vocalizing emotions often feels overwhelming, and I needed a process that invited me to stay present with a feeling longer without getting lost in the narrative behind it.
The Process: Stitching a Word
When I write a word as if it were stitched, I create space to explore the feeling it represents. Stitching slows me down and shifts my focus from analyzing the emotion to embodying it. Here’s how you can try it:
Choose a Word: Ask yourself, What word is coming up for me? What word best describes how I’m feeling? Give yourself permission to dive into the lower vibrational frequencies on this chart:
Write It Down: Use a script that feels natural or fluid for your hand.
Mimic Stitches: Transform the script into small shapes that look like embroidery stitches.
This process mimics actual embroidery, where a needle pierces through the fabric, just as emotions pierce through the surface of our consciousness. As I draw the stitches, I ask myself deeper questions: Where am I feeling this word in my body? What other sensations or experiences does it bring forth?
The Metaphor of Embroidery
Embroidery becomes a powerful metaphor. Each “stitch” is like diving into the feeling, puncturing the surface, and resurfacing with greater awareness—like the rhythm of breath or the movement of a whale diving and emerging. Each stitch invites me to stay with the feeling, to embrace it without judgment.
When I stitched the word wounded, it brought up the metaphor of agitating a wound to encourage healing. Like roughing up the edges of an infected area to clear toxins, I allowed myself to feel anger fully, to see it as valid, and to let it move through me. This act mirrored the skin’s process of regeneration—new growth without infection.
Instead of burying anger, despair, or grief under layers of unacknowledged pain, I practiced sitting with these emotions, trusting that they too are part of my human experience. The act of stitching brought light into the darkness. With every puncture of the surface, I practiced willingness—to feel, to heal, and to let the light enter the wound.
A Practice for Healing
The Wounded Word Process reminds us that healing isn’t about avoiding the darkness but meeting it with compassion. By stitching words, we embody the bravery to stay with our emotions, trusting that they hold the key to transformation. Each word becomes an invitation to feel deeply, to sit with ourselves in our rawest moments, and to let the light shine through.
Next time you feel overwhelmed by a low vibrational emotion, grab a pen, choose a word, and stitch it. You might just discover the infinite power of your light.
Let me know what word comes up for you when you try this process—I’d love to hear about your experience.
Invitation to Collaborate
We’d love to see your creative process and collaborative work! Share your process videos, images, or reflections on social media to inspire others and build a community of creative collaboration. Use these hashtags to connect and promote this transformative practice:
#WoundedWordProcess
#CreativeHealingJourney
#NonverbalCollaboration
#ArtAsHealing
#BodyVoiceArt
#SynestheticArt
#TrustTheProcess
Tag me
so I can celebrate your work and share it with our growing community! Let’s inspire each other to explore, create, and connect through this unique practice. I can’t wait to see what you create!