Ascension

Amid life’s tempests—swirling and wild,
Terrifying for a lonely child—
Layers of protection form,
Around your tender heart, weathering the storm.

You dread the torrents will unravel it all.
When your world comes undone, who can you even call?
Still, you deny the chaos and strive to stand tall,
But pushing forward becomes a self-destructive thrall.

Deep down, you know you deserve gentler ways.
Like a swan, you long to glide above the waves.
Pause. Exhale. Invite self-compassion to grow—
In this condensed time and space, a healing rhythm, a tranquil flow.

Let sweet air expand the wings of protection.
Embrace choice—and divine comfort—within each action,
To shed constraints, 'til your soul is free to soar.
And before long, high on winds of change, you
Ascend once more.

Ascension speaks to the tender journey of healing our exiles—the parts of us locked away for protection, yet longing for redemption. Born on “Exile Day” of my Level 3 IFS training, this piece gently invites us to release the weight of old survival patterns and reconnect with the grace that has always lived within us.

It reminds us that healing is not about force or willpower, but about slowing down, softening, and allowing Self-compassion to lead the way. And when we do, we find that the freedom we’ve been seeking has been waiting for us all along.