Healing Through Words: Rupi Kaur

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The literary and publishing world was and still is extremely elitist, and exclusive.Social media has helped to democratize the industry and allow readers find work they resonate with that they weren’t finding in bookstores. It allowed authors who wouldn't be accepted by traditional gatekeepers to find their audience. Social media has made this genre accessible and I think that is a beautiful thing because accessibility creates opportunity, and only through opportunities can we break barriers and progress as a community.

New York Times bestselling author Rupi Kaur presents guided poetry writing exercises of her own design to help you explore themes of trauma, loss, heartache, love, family, healing and celebration of the self. It may not appeal to readers who are looking for more structured and formal guidance on poetry writing techniques and forms. I’ve found over the years it’s not going to be just one thing for me. No matter how busy I get I’m still going to see my therapist every two weeks at minimum, and I know exercise is the No. 1 thing that helps with my anxiety. I’m open about being on medication, and also I know meditation has really helped.” The book has received widespread praise for its honest and vulnerable portrayal of the human experience. It has touched the lives of millions of readers around the world and has become a beacon of hope for those who are struggling with pain and trauma. Grounding the experience are the workshops she led in her largely working-class immigrant community outside of Toronto.

Table of Contents

Whether you are going through a difficult time or simply looking for inspiration, Healing Through Words is a book that will touch your heart and leave a lasting impression. It covers a wide range of themes that are relevant and relatable to many people, such as trauma, loss, heartache, love, healing, and celebration of the self. So, Kaur seems to have a clue. On another note, some may not be aware, but she started off with performance-based poetry in her younger years. Going to community gatherings and readings to share her pieces with the world! “While doing giddha (a popular folk dance for women in the Punjab religion), [the ladies] sang boliyan (couplet style verses),” said Kaur. all the time. It’s important to reclaim power over our own bodies and to enjoy our sensualities. How do we go through sexual trauma and then transition to finding people who make us feel safe, with whom we can have the amazing erotic experiences we deserve? The prompts in chapter two are designed to facilitate that. I think so many of us grew up without reading literature that reflected our experiences. Poetry taught in the west, always felt so far away from my reality. Personally, I couldn’t find poetry written by a Punjabi-Sikh woman and immigrant from a working class family. I think social media has proven people are hungry for that.

As a proud Punjabi-Canadian woman, I approach South Asian cultural taboos very intentionally in my work because they are a part of my lived experience.My writing is a reflection of my identity and my thoughts. I write heavily about what it is to grow up in my community, and what my community has experienced. Although, I was told these were ‘taboo’ topics when I first started writing about sexual assault, domestic violence, and genocide, it was hard for me to understand, because they were so present in my daily life. It felt effortless to write about them because it didn’t feel like I had another choice. Writing is something that happens to me. The poetry that wants to be written comes through me — I don’t like to control it.Absolutely. The approach changes with time. I’m not the woman I was when I wrote my first book, so that approach I used to create milk and honey didn’t work for my other books because I was in such a different place. I created a new approach for the sun and her flowers, and then a brand new approach for home body. Poetry and writing feels very instinctive for me so I try to listen to what I need in the present moment, rather than what worked in the past. A lot of the elements stay the same though. I have to be in tune with my emotions and thoughts and feel inspired! Here, Kaur talks to Mashable about the power of poetry, her ambitions for the new publication, and how she hopes to continuously spark conversation with each stanza. You explore themes of love and sex. You write that your inner “defiant voice” gave you permission to not be knee-deep in trauma all the time, and helped you redefine toxic ideas of love. How did you—and how can readers—make that transition? Rupi Kaur: I use free writing to tap into my inner thoughts. I might wake up one day and think, Oh, I should be writing about this, or about that. But it’s really when I let go and allow my subconscious to take the wheel that the healing process starts. The book is aimed at readers who are going through difficult times in their lives and are looking for a way to express their emotions and find solace. Kaur uses her signature style of short, simple, and powerful poems to help readers connect with their inner selves and find comfort in their pain.

When I heard that Rupi Kaur would have a new book out, I just went for it. I didn’t even read the description. Rupi is an auto-buy for me every time. So imagine my delight and surprise when this book turned out to be guided writing exercises rather than a book of new work. For a really long time I’ve been facilitating writing workshops within my own community. They were small and intimate, so that we could have a safe space with one another,” she says. For years, I wrote almost exclusively about sexual abuse and the violence that’s inflicted on women’s bodies. And eventually I thought, Maybe I don’t want to do this

It may not be suitable for younger or sensitive readers who may find some of the topics or language too mature or triggering.

If you haven’t heard, New York Times bestselling author Rupi Kaur just released a book on Sept. 27 of this year! However, it’s unlike her usual forte. Most would naturally assume Healing Through Words is another poetry book we have seen before, but you’ll never guess what was in store. You don't need to be a writer to take this walk; you just need to write — that's all. ( From Simon & Schuster) You don’t need to be a writer to enjoy the book. It’s for anyone who wants to dig deeper into their personal experiences. I designed these writing exercises in a way that is meant to make writing easier, so that no matter what stage of writing you’re in, you can get something meaningful out of the book. I’m hoping that when people experience Healing Through Words, they're inspired to add writing into their self-care practice. You write the first thing that comes to mind without stopping to edit or revise or to be concerned with whether or not what you’ve written makes sense. You’re not trying to I remember Khalil Gibran’s On Joy and Sorrow, and On Marriage, and my stomach turning in that way that it turns when you fall in love or something like that. And I remember starting to write and creating all those early drafts which of course I would edit and edit. And I got to a point where I knew a poem was done when it would make my own stomach turn,” she says.

The book is peppered with examples of her past work, and perhaps my one complaint about this book is that I had hoped to read some new work. All the same, it was a joy to revisit some of my favourites and her greatest hits. Leigh Haber: There’s an exercise at the very beginning of the book suggesting readers spend a few moments taking deep breaths, meditating on the word trauma to see what it conjures, and then allotting a few minutes to free writing.