New Project Idea

When I started this project in 2004 in San Francisco, CA my goal was to empower Survivors, to give them back the voice that was once lost or was not heard. I started by meeting and photographing women in SF and the Bay Area. I also met with women in San Jose and Santa Cruz who opened their hearts and shared their stories with me. As I wanted to expand the project it was difficult to find a way to meet to them in person to photograph them to help share their stories.

With the prevalence of social media now I have been thinking of a way to open up the project world wide with it being easily accessible for participation.

My goal is to have a photo of each survivor with the caption "I'm a Survivor". They can also share their story and Regain their Voice.

Below is a sample:

Please help spread the word, participate, share, help bring awareness to sexual assault. For survivors to heal and to help with prevention. You can be apart of something big! #regainyourvoice

Happy New Year

Happy 2013 to you all. We have all made it this far on our healing journey and I wish you all well. When things get tough just take is one day at a time; and I always say when things get really hard, take life one second at a time. Just remember that in this world there is always someone who loves you.

Healing thoughts,

<3 eliina

Call for Submissions!

Meeting Tango

I would like you all to meet someone. His name is Tango and he is my horse. Tango is one of the biggest factors in my healing process. Working with animals in general I find to be so therapeutic, they force you to become present in the moment, animals are honest in a way I find human's aren't.

Besides riding a horse, ground work is such a powerful modality. The idea that I can get a 1,000 pound animal to move around and do what I am asking of him is so empowering. That many years ago a 200 pound man overpowered me, but I have control over my space of an animal that is 5x that is just amazing.

Tango and I found each other 3 years ago, when his previous owner brought him out of the pasture he looked directly at me, walked to me and put his head against my stomach. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged his head and I knew he would be mine.

Today he has helped build my self-esteem and self-worth up more than any human could. He mirrors how I am feeling in the moment and that gives me the opportunity to pause and reflect that is going on with me. When he closes his eyes and we are forehead to forehead, I am truly 100% present and it is an amazing feeling.

Here is my Tango.

Enjoying the simple things in life

This is a great video I found online, it is about ducks that were rescued from an abusive environment and they had never been in water before. At first they are very unsure, even afraid of something that should be innate to them. Then once they knew what it is, to see the joy they are experiencing is beautiful. It made me think about survivors like us who may be afraid to experience things in life due to past trauma, but look at how much joy there is to be had if we just take a risk and jump into that water!


Rescued ducks experience water for first time in amusing video

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

I am embarking on taking Regain Your Voice to book form to help other survivors of sexual abuse.  I am titling the book:

Regaining Their Voice: Stories of Healing and Strength 

I am inviting you to share your story with others, of your of healing and strength to help others in their journey to healing from sexual abuse.

To share your story please click on the link below to submit your story anonymously.

Submit Your Story of Healing and Strength