It happens every September 18th – I think about 1974 and Father (Rev. Moon) speaking at Madison Square Garden. I think of New York City plastered with posters claiming “September 18th Could Be Your Re-birthday!”
It’s going to happen even more this year, because this September 18th to the moon and back will be released. How could I not pick that publication date when my publisher said to me, “pick a Tuesday in September.”
Every former Moonie who reaches out to me gets it. They laugh (on the phone or online) and say something like, “Great day!” It is an auspicious Moonie day.
But next week at roughly this time is IT. The book is out. The book will be birthed. I will be re-birthed.
People ask me if it was cathartic to write my memoir. I’ve generally answered that it wasn’t, because by the time I wrote my memoir, I had told my story many, many times. On the other hand, however, I’ve come to realize that, at least in some ways, it was, because in sifting through and remembering all that I could to get it all down, I realized some of the good of my childhood. I realized some of the love that surrounded me that I don’t think I’d recognized before. That must have been cathartic.
This is a wild week in my life. I’ve been working on this book, in some way or other, for about twenty years. I started it when I was trying to get pregnant with my second child…who is now sixteen. And I tried to get pregnant for 4 ½ years. You do the math. It’s a bit astounding.
But this week I celebrate. This week I enjoy. This week I am rebirthed.
This September 18th could be your re-birthday as well. Join me!
I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!
Fantastic! A birthday and a re-birthday in the same week!
Can’t wait to read it.
Much love,
Bobby
Yes and yes! Much love!!!
I am glad that you can look back and remember/recognise the good and the love in your past. It is easy for those of us who have left religions or cults or abuse situations to look back and simplify things i.e. ‘It was all wrong.’, ‘It was evil.’ ‘I was deceived.’ The reality is there is no black or white, just grey. There is often good and ‘bad’ to be found in all situations. Not all those in ‘cults’ are evil or bad, as we know. Because we were in it too! And we know we are simply human as are so many others chasing a dream or ideal. Now it’s matter of sifting through the memories – claiming the good and beautiful and recognising what wasn’t. I’m still sifting through my memories now and I take great comfort to see you leading the way for me. x
Wow. Thank you Wendy. Yes to all of that. It’s not all or nothing, good or bad – to me. It’s a mixture. I’m a mixture. And finding the good and the love has given me so much more good and love. For me. Thank you!
Wow?❣️❣️❣️??
Lisa,
Congrats! You’ve given me added impetus to publish my own memoir.
In 2018 two memoirs have emerged dealing with the Transcendental Movement (TM) founded by Maharishi; “Maharishi and Me” (Shumsky)and “Greetings from Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendental Childhood” (Hoffman). Shumsky shares her twenty-two years of intimate, personal involvement with Maharishi and his varied institutional efforts to embed his ideals in the Western world. Hoffman shares how she was “born into” and raised through high school at the TM headquarters in Fairfield, IA.
Now we have your memoir! Great. I preordered the Kindle version and can’t wait to read it.
Thank you Jack. This first few days have been amazing, and largely because of connecting with people like you!