In Review: The Meaning Method

In all my years of writing, Emily Tamayo Maher’s The Meaning Method is on my list of books that have changed my life as a professional author. Emily uses the chakras as a vehicle to attain an authorly flow. I was knee-deep in chakra work when I met Emily and discovered her book. In fact, it was through one of my posts about chakras that I had the opportunity to connect with her. My writing and my spiritual journey are two of the things that I am the most passionate about, and Emily was able to blend them together into a soulful guide that has helped me work through my own BS and take action to move my writing forward. The Meaning Method is the most valuable book I have ever encountered to help me connect my heart and soul to my writing on a deeper level.

Emily’s method is an especially perfect fit since the fiction series I’m writing is of a spiritual nature, but no matter what genre you write, this book will teach you how to get past your ego (that part of us that resists) and operate from higher self in order to share your message with the world. We all need to move through and get beyond the very real human BS that we experience. In January, I set the intention to publish the first novel in my series this year, although I couldn’t have told you HOW that was going to happen. I was no longer going to focus on the HOW, I just knew I was going to do it. It was only a few short weeks later that I met Emily; the first of many alignments that have begun to unfold since I took that leap of faith.

Let’s talk about some of the BS that comes with the experience of being human and how Emily helps authors overcome it so we can allow our writing the sacred place it deserves in this world. Emily devotes three to four chapters to each chakra. She leads us down the feminine path, which starts with the crown chakra.

The crown chakra is where we connect to something bigger than us, a place of divine inspiration. After all, spirit speaks to us through our imagination. In the crown chapters, Emily reminds us to surrender to our higher self, which means keeping our ego in check. Some powerful means of doing this are asking questions that direct us and trusting the signs we observe around us. This section was a lovely reminder of the higher purpose leading me to tell my story and the many hints from spirit that I receive along the way.

Next, at the third-eye chakra, Emily guides us in clarifying our vision and giving it structure. She encourages us to go back to the questions we formed and break them into smaller ones, and reminds us that the questions and answers allow for new possibilities. We need to be able to listen more deeply, which requires sitting quietly with ourselves. Since it is often the questions themselves that help us grow as we work through them, this section was especially powerful for me.

It’s obvious why the throat chakra is powerful for authors who have a message to share. In this section, Emily supports us in building confidence in our voice and shedding that inner critic. She explains that learning how to find a flow state helps us to express our higher truth rather than overthinking and trying to force something. She also reminds us that when we act from that place of higher purpose and express ourselves authentically, we make genuine connections and build an audience. Because my voice is at the center of my work, I found this section a great help as I learn to speak my truth.

At the heart chakra level, Emily highlights how, at the center of being an author, we must love the creative process. But it’s more than that, she guides us in the area of self-love, which means being patient with ourselves and the process and making our writing a priority. Since stories develops out of places of a myriad of emotions and drama, she also encourages us to use our own experiences and growth to help us develop our craft and become stronger storytellers. This reminds me of the saying in the trauma recovery world: the only way out is through.

Since the solar plexus chakra is all about willpower and action, Emily guides us to take risks to transform our writing career. There is so much action necessary in being an author: learning the craft, editing, networking, and understanding the publishing industry and marketing can feel like an overwhelming set of tasks. But, when we set goals, take risks, and trust our gut about our decisions rather than feeling as though we must always follow trends and industry standards, we can’t help but make progress. Even when we make a choice we wouldn’t repeat, we have learned something. This section helped me gain serious momentum as I put turned my passion and purpose into actionable steps.

At the sacral chakra, with a focus on emotion, passion, procreation, and connection, Emily reminds us about the importance of staying flexible and learning to adapt as we move toward publication, the ultimate form of connection for an author. Even for those who take the independent publishing route, we have to rely on other professionals like coaches, editors, and marketers along the way, so she also guides us to trust our gut about our partnerships.

Finally, at the root chakra, the place of security and strength, Emily emphasizes how powerful it is to be confident about the story we are telling, or, in some cases, the movement we are creating. She gently nudges us to stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zones a little at a time and be generous with our audience, whether it be sharing personal stories, or offering one-on-one meetings or freebies like short stories. It takes that inner safety and confidence to prepare us to launch our book into the world. I’ve done lots of work in the root chakra, so the need to stand strong when sharing a piece of my soul with the world resonates deeply with me.           

As I read The Meaning Method, I was able to get beyond my ego more and more, shedding limiting beliefs and reducing resistance that previously held me back. Emily’s book has inspired me to get more passionate and serious than ever about my author career, especially as she brought me back to my higher purpose, reminding me that, “your story matters to more than just you.”

~ Peace and Love, Tracey                                    

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