I’m guided to write by the Universe.
Contributor
Written by
She Writes
July 2018
Contributor
Written by
She Writes
July 2018

This guest post is by Leah E. Reinhart, a hair stylist and angel card reader turned author. When the market crashed and business was slow, her hair clients encouraged her to write a memoir after hearing some of her stories about her unusual childhood in Oakland, California. Her memoir, Manifesting Me is available now.

I started writing for one particular reason; or so I thought.  The recession finally affected my business, as a hairstylist at the end of 2008, and I needed to find a way to earn money from doing something else.  I’ve told stories while doing my clients’ hair to a point where a few suggested I write my story.  Fast forward to 2018, my first book, a memoir - Manifesting Me - is now published and in the world for others to read.

This journey has evolved into much more than a money making venture. In fact, that would be a joke for any other author reading this.  It takes money to make money – even in the book world.  I am blown away by my epiphanies in this book adventure.  The creative side of writing and the business side combined gets me excited in a spiritual way. 

I have always considered myself to be spiritual in the non-religious sense.  I opened my own hair salon – Wellness Garden Tool Shed - in the middle of 2016 which included angel card readings, jewelry made of energy stones, self-help books in all areas, and the garden filled with herbs and healing flowers, along with hair care services; aiding in mind, body, and spirit. All of this was happening at the same time as I was getting my book ready for publishing. 

Working with the team of She Write Press gave me opportunities I would never have had if I had tried to self-publish. From the title, the physical design, the cover of the book, editing, coaching, advertising, pretty much everything.  This doesn’t seem very spiritual, but it really is.

Coincidences

I started this process with a company I thought, with my naïve mind, was reputable.  It turned out not to be what I had expected.  Not knowing how to proceed, I remembered my past client worked in a bookstore and contacted her.  It was kismet. She happened to be hosting a “how to” event at her store which literally was coming up in the following week of my inquiry. The “how to” speakers were Brooke Warner – publisher of She Writes Press, a few She Writes Press authors, and Linda Joy Meyer – founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers.  Coincidental? I think not.

I hear a lot of talk about coincidences, but I personally don’t believe in them.  I believe like energy attracts like energy – Law of Attraction.  I met the perfect people to guide me in a positive and creative way.  I had never been an avid reader due to my dyslexia, but the authors I had met at the event had very interesting stories. I had to read them.  Much to my surprise, I could relate to both of their memoirs. In fact, they were eerily close to my own experiences.  One of the authors even had the same names in her family as I.

I submitted my sample to She Writes Press, which then goes through a vetting process to see if I had a worthy story. They thought my story had merit, but it needed some refining. This was the feedback I expected to hear, never being an adamant writer.  As all of this was going on, I would pull angel cards to see if I was heading in the right direction.  All of them said yes.

Angel cards work by reading your energy. If the reading is positive, it’s up to you to keep the momentum. If the reading is negative, you might need to make some changes in your energy in order to get a different outcome.  The cards do not tell your fortune, due to free will.  You have the power to change your energy anytime.

Releasing Your Book

There’s nothing quite like having your memoir come out into the world, let alone being a first time author.  Like one of my She Writes sister said, “It’s like losing in a strip poker game, and you’re the only one left standing naked.”  It’s very surreal.  On the day of my launch party, I was going with a blue color scheme to match my book cover.  As the day progressed, I realized the color blue is used for the throat chakra. Throat chakra represents your voice and how you feel you are heard.  I’m telling my story, much of which most people aren’t aware, exposing myself and being vulnerable in order to help others.  Is this another coincidence? 

The Blue Epiphany

Although I had some reservations and anxiety, which led to an outbreak of shingles on my neck, as the pub date crept closer, I noticed my usual raspy voice that hasn’t hit a high note in years, has been able to sing to some Donna Summers.  Is that another coincident? Here I thought I was trying to heal others with my story; like the memoirs I had read, but the reality was, I was healing myself.  I thought I needed validation from others all this time, when it was my own validation and acceptance of my story. 

Not only is the cover of my book in blue, my salon has different shades blue.  Normally I read into lots of signs, but I honestly hadn’t given any of this much attention until my launch party.  I had many signs leading to this point in my life and realized in this journey, my writing a book wasn’t about making money at all. It’s about the soulful journey and healing it brings to others struggling.  It’s about contributing to society in a positive and healthy way.  What you focus on is what you will bring into your life. It’s about clearing all the chakras, healing old or new wounds – others’ or mine -  caring about others, and enlightenment.  Whether I make money or not is irrelevant. I’m guided to write by the Universe. The joy I get from writing is my compass.

 

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