The Tiger Moth Spirit by Eleni Johnson
“If you want to write, lass, you crack on,” my husband told me one day, as he handed me a brand new laptop. He always encouraged my dreams. Little did I know that twenty years later I would be writing a book about his death.
I’d been working on a fiction novel for years, but had so many complex characters that I struggled to put it all together and moved on to writing short stories for women’s magazines. However, after his death, I was told twice that I would finally write a book, but it would be completely different than the one I’d planned to write and spirit would help me, and so The Tiger Moth Spirit was born.
This heartfelt memoir explores the universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, offering a relatable and inspiring story for readers of all backgrounds. The essence of the book is about love. The love of a mother, wanting love, finding love and losing love; culminating in the realisation that learning to love oneself was the most important love of all.
After the sudden passing of my husband, I found myself alone in a foreign country and embarked on a journey of healing and self-reflection. Grief is not just the loss of your loved one, but the loss of your identity and the life you both led – you lose everything. Discovering who you are now and what life you want to live in the future, is hampered by the conflicting urge to not let go of what you had, for fear you will be letting go of him too.
It was only through meditation and a spiritual awareness, that I found the strength and inspiration to move forward in my life. I had a spiritual awakening, as I questioned everything about the world – religion, life after death, reincarnation, our reasons for being here and much more. My house was filled with butterflies, my garden with feathers and other signs came from above that I just couldn’t ignore.
Excerpt from The Tiger Moth Spirit – Author’s Note:
I wonder how many of you remember the day you became alive? I don’t mean the day you were born, but the day when you let go of your subconscious mind and your soul fully embraced your human form. The day when you were suddenly aware of your thoughts and feelings; the touch of your skin, and stretching out your limbs like a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon, delicate and ready to fly.
I remember that day as clearly as if it were yesterday, the day my life really began. I was around three or four years old, and it is said that conscious thought begins around that age for most. So how do we function until then? How do we learn to grow, eat, sleep and walk, without being aware of ourselves and our thoughts? Scientists may have a theory, but I like to think that our souls are transitioning from one dimensional world to another, as I trust they do in death.
You don’t have to believe in the soul to read this book. My story isn’t new – motherhood, wanting to be loved, and significant loss – but my journey of self-discovery and resilience is my own. It often takes a loss or a life-threatening illness to bring us to our senses and question all that we know. Even in the depths of grief, it’s truly a gift to review our perspective on life, and remember why we came here and what really matters. Although, deep down, I have always believed in the soul as being the essence of who we are, other than just cells and DNA.
All I ask, is for you to keep an open mind, as we explore the ups and downs of life together through universal experiences. I must warn you, though, it’s a bumpy ride in places, for as soon as I transitioned from my cocoon of subconsciousness, I hit the ground running. Some religions believe we choose our lives and come here to learn lessons, in order to work our way up the heavenly ladder. If this is true, I must have signed up for extra-curricular activities to expedite my place with the angels!…
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Available in the Bookshop at elenijohnson.com where you will have options to buy there or on Amazon and other vendor sites.