About Author Cindy L. Herb
Just a few short years ago, Cindy L. Herb was extremely depressed. A stranger had raped her at the tender age of nine. Shortly afterwards, family members reacted in ways Cindy had not expected. Ultimately, the most damaging effect was from her mother's actions, who *'hushed*' the incident. Neither Cindy nor anyone else in the family was allowed to discuss the tragic events of that fateful Sunday morning in 1966.
Soon those horrific events took a toll on Cindy in the form of depression and health issues. When she was at the brink of death in 2006, an angel guided her to seek out a spiritual healer. Almost immediately, Cindy's outlook and health began to improve. Furthermore, although she had never written anything in her life, she began journaling her painful childhood experiences. She soon realized her book may benefit others and decided to publish *Awakening the Spirit: The Open Wide Like a Floozy Chronicles*.
As a motivational speaker, Cindy L. Herb now specializes in Mind Body Spirit healing, concentrating on emotional healing for Rape Victims and Physical or Sexual Abuse Survivors. However, virtually anyone can benefit from her story of overcoming adversity.
Read Cindy L. Herb's Expert Advice
About "Awakening the Spirit: The Open Wide Like a Floozy Chronicles"
*Awakening the Spirit: The Open Wide Like a Floozy Chronicles* is an autobiographical narrative and inspirational story of shamanic healing by author Cindy L. Herb.
The book details the many adverse and troubling circumstances Cindy faced throughout her life, beginning in childhood as a rape victim. In dealing with her life-changing events, Cindy questions the purpose of her life and the actions of others.
In *Awakening the Spirit, *she chronicles her journey of pain and ultimate healing, providing the simple process she uncovered that permitted her healing…leading to a life full of love, good health, and happiness.
Excerpts from Awakening the Spirit: The Open Wide Like a Floozy Chronicles
"My cat's in the vegetable garden. I saw him over there. Can you crawl under the fence and get him?" He pointed to a section of the garden where some plants were growing close to the house. As he spoke, he fidgeted with the bottom of the fence, as if trying to make room for me to crawl under it. "Here kitty, kitty," he called.
As I drew closer, he suddenly changed his mind and said, "Oh no, he's not here. I think he ran down the alley." I was somewhat relieved, because I thought I would cut myself as I wiggled under the narrow, sharp fence. I had nothing to protect my legs or arms. I was wearing a white, short-sleeved, cotton blouse that buttoned in the front, a pair of old, faded red shorts, and a pair of worn tennis shoes.
He now looked back in the direction from which we had just traveled. He stood and started moving back towards Prescott, coaxing me to follow. He was out in front of me, but he periodically looked over his shoulder to make sure I was following him. He crossed Prescott and advanced into the alley on the other side of the street, moving towards Hawthorne Avenue.
It was at this point that I became hesitant. "I think my sister's going to get mad at me. I better get back," I said as we trekked along.
"Oh, I saw him run right up here, and I know we can find him quickly," he said as he pointed straight ahead. He seemed to hoof it much faster now. As he paced along, I fell behind, vacillating about whether to abandon the search. We crossed Hawthorne Avenue.
All I could think about was getting back to Mary. We had been gone more than a few moments. How long could this take? As I caught up to him, he was stirring around some Pampas grass in someone's backyard. Pampas grass is a tall grass that grows in large clumps and bears huge feathery white plumes in the summertime. It can reach several feet high, and this clump was taller than this man's height. I figured the cat must be there.
I floundered, moving closer to him. He was kneeling down by the big bushy grass. He was looking at something under the tall blades. There were also clusters of red Cannas all around the yard. Cannas have wide leaves that resemble banana leaves. They can grow several feet tall and support a rather hefty flower at the top of their stalk. Whoever owned this yard had a love for high grasses and big flowers. It was impeccably groomed, and it looked good. But after that day, I would hate Pampas grass, Cannas, and the color red for a very long time.
______________________________________________________________________________In the past, although I did not always totally ignore my instincts, I never really gave them much thought. I did not fully understand the source of those unexpected impulses. However, now I am paying closer attention to them. As I do so, my instincts become stronger.
In the past, when I did listen to my instincts, it paid off big! Therefore, I know it is the right thing to do.
A good example occurred when I decided to build a house several years ago. I had already decided where I wanted to build. I spent almost a year perusing the community, scoping out the various builders and their developing neighborhoods.
As I drove from builder to builder, checking out their offerings, I was always drawn to the sign of one particular builder. It was located on an empty tract of land. Within a few months, the builder began construction on the site. As soon as the road infrastructure was completed on this site, I began to drive around the developing neighborhood. Each time I drove through it, I felt a tingle of energy.
Within time, I had visited all the builders in the area, except the one builder whose neighborhood so attracted me. I had not visited them because they had not yet situated a model home on the site. However, now it was imperative that I speak with them, so I called the telephone number listed on the sign.
The builder's sales associate answered the phone promptly and gave me directions to the nearest model home. It was only a few miles from the developing community. I drove over to visit with her immediately. The minute I stepped into the model home, I just knew I had found the perfect builder for my home.
As I left the model home that afternoon, my inner voice told me to take another drive over to the neighborhood with which I had become so enamored. Within minutes, I was driving slowly through the neighborhood. Suddenly, a lot jumped out at me. It was a large, vacant lot, adjacent to one of the few houses already built. As I put the car into park, I could see the hand of God, outstretched over the lot.
Without a moment's notice, I picked up my cell phone and called the sales associate again. "I am in my car and looking at a lot. Can you tell me what I need to do to secure this lot?"
After establishing which lot I was referring to, it was confirmed that the lot was available for purchase. I reserved the lot and construction began!
After looking for almost a year, I instantaneously decided to pick a certain lot based on a gut feeling I had. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only was the construction process thoroughly enjoyable, despite what I had heard to the contrary, but the lot proved the envy of the entire neighborhood.
My lot was the only house in the development that came with a large tree. It was a hackberry tree that I had not even noticed when I called and asked the sales associate about the lot. That was because it looked more like a bush than a tree from my vantage point, as it had never been trimmed. None of the other houses had trees, as the developer, as is typical, had wiped all brush and trees from the landscape in order to make construction easier.
When I chose my floor plan and was in the initial building discussions, I asked the foreman to keep the tree, provided it was not located too close to the house, as that may have caused foundation problems later. As it turned out, there was ample distance from the tree to the house. In fact, the tree was perfectly located, directly in the middle of my backyard.
One day after I purchased the lot, I drove my best friend over to see the future site of my home. As I was showing her the lot, I pointed out the tree. She said, "That's an ugly hackberry tree. Cut that thing down!"
However, I knew better. I told her that even though she thought the tree was an eyesore, she would change her mind after I had it trimmed. After all, it would provide shade, no other property had a tree, and most importantly, it was alive.
Shortly after moving in, I did have the tree trimmed. After pulling off many of the bottom branches, the shape of the tree was fantastic! It is balanced in its branching, has a wonderful canopy of foliage, and is a refuge for wildlife. The birds sing and the squirrels frolic in that tree. I love it and so does Drusilla. She could not believe the change in the tree! Had I not looked beyond what was there, I would not have been blessed with such a wonderful gift.
Many years earlier, I bought a buffet and china cabinet at a rummage sale. I paid three hundred dollars for both pieces. Both of them were very old and weathered. When my sister saw them, she said she would not have given twenty-five dollars for them. I told her to wait until I had refinished the pieces, because the wood was good. I was right. As soon as I refinished them, she could not believe the transformation. I still have both pieces of furniture and often get compliments on them.
Many times, we each make the same mistake. We cannot see what is deep within and therefore we discount the value. We all have common decency within us. We are good. It just takes some trimming, molding, and polishing to bring it out.