Incandescence.

I Witness It In Women Every Day.

I was hesitant in asking for testimonials. The part of me AND YOU that would have us play small and quiet, stay safe, was heel digging.

When I set my inner critic, Estelle, in the corner with a cup of tea that I may have spiked with some Irish whiskey, and made the ask for testimonials, what I received were love letters—not in the traditional sense, but letters that serve as a testament to love in action.

Love that swirls and alchemizes within a space where two people are willing to step in: one to genuinely see, and the other brave enough to be truly, deeply seen. To then grow and evolve.

I have experienced this swirl of love both as the seer and the seen, and realized that being genuinely and deeply seen is a vital mineral that keeps the bones of a creative soul strong, vibrant. Upright in a world that can leave us osteoporotic and crumbling.

Let me be clear. This is not about me. This is not a call to increase my coaching practice. This is not a sales pitch. I am allergic, hostile even, to the notion of selling anything. My short stints in retail left me with rashes.

This is an invitation, an encouragement to allow your Self to glow, to be seen in a safe space saturated with love and respect. It might not always be in a formal coaching or therapy setting. It could be a dear friend, a magnificent tree, a cherished pet, or an open journal page that reflects your brilliance. Being accepted exactly as you are can be a powerful, transformative experience.

The women I coach are incandescent. Strikingly bright, luminous with a clear, intense heat. And they share an identical courage. The willingness to listen to the small, still voice of their soul that says;

My beloved, it is okay to be clear and bright, to be marked by brilliance of expression. You are here to be seen and heard, so that others might join you. You are here to be loved, beloved. Give yourself this and let’s see where it goes.

Here is where this courage has taken some of these women.

I wanted to say thank you for such a magical experience last week in our writing salon - I am somewhat beyond words at how much fun I had, and how validating it was for me, so huge gratitude for you and the space you held as I explored something really tender and vulnerable to me. Carissa

I was able to explore areas of my thoughts and conditioning I had previously never seen and from that, along with her unwavering support, I was able to see a whole new reality by shifting my old thoughts and patterns into far more expansive, fulfilling spaces. From this new perspective, I have been able to move into a new way of being and feel far more comfortable in my own skin. Sharon

I “met” Mel after reading The Sisters of Belfast; she was being interviewed as a luminary alumna of the Gateless Academy. She was funny, clever, humble, obviously exceptionally talented yet most importantly for me, she had written an incredible book by listening to her inner muse, by following the universal flow. Her availability to guide me through the completion of my Playbook for Self-Discovery felt like a divine sparkle shining on me and my project. I had no idea at that time that the process of writing and beginning to expose my Self though Substack publications would require the skills of a a gifted trauma-informed somatic therapist. Our sessions have unlocked the doors and welcomed in the ghosts and little girls of my past, and this precious body who has housed them all. With Mel’s loving support, we were all welcomed, seen, and transformed. Every.single.session. May you be so blessed as to receive time with this remarkable coach. Jill

I am amazed at the progress I have made as a Gateless writer. Mel’s expertise with writing, and particularly with the ways the inner critic can shut a writer down have refined my own writing practice. She has assisted me in untangling everything from family of origin dysfunction to recurring issues in my marriage that stole my thunder (as a writer and a human). She works deftly, with calm and firm assurance. The rapid trust she built with me has uncovered deeply held trauma that undermined my core worth and integrity. Together, we have gotten to the root of that trauma, and she has helped me create a structure--for writing and life--that has allowed me to turn down the volume of my inner critic and get out of my own way. I am grateful for her diligence and deep caring nature because it has allowed me to cast off self-doubt and disable self-sabotage and get my soul’s purpose writing done. Mel Maure’s therapeutic experience, coupled with her knowledge of writing foibles and how to unplug from them, has helped me immeasurably. Sarah

Let these words of love remind you to embrace chances to really see yourself, so that through you, the world can share in the richness of your soul and your incandescence. We need YOU.