Healing Through Words: Rupi Kaur

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But I think one of the things that’s helped me the most in recent years is forgiving myself for not being perfect at any of those things. I used to discover something that was really helpful, like meditation, and then I would be like, ‘I’m going to be the most perfect meditator in the whole world and I’m never going to be depressed again.’ And then I would ruin the experience for myself with such focus on the outcome,” she adds. Beyond writing, Kaur has developed a parcel of practices to take care of herself. The process isn’t perfect—and she’s just fine with that. 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?

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. Throughout the years, Kaur has had to deal with comments from the media of how her work is “too much or controversial,” or some argue that it is not even poetry. And, in extreme cases, states like Texas have placed a ban on finding another one of her hit books, Milk and Honey, at local libraries as well as high schools. 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.

It is written by a #1 New York Times bestselling author and poet who has a large and loyal fan base. For my review of this Handson book, I give it a 9.5 out of 10! The reason it does not get a perfect score is because it was not what I was expecting. I figured it would be just a poetry collection. Honestly, I’m not disappointed; I was pleasantly surprised of what this turned out to be. It may not challenge or surprise readers who are already familiar with Rupi Kaur’s style and themes. How do you grapple with South Asian cultural taboos and topics through poetry? Is this a conscious choice in your new work? 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

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.

Table of Contents

What do you hope readers – particularly those who've experienced their own trauma – will experience or take away from your writing? LESSONS ON HOW TO WRITE YOUR VERY OWN POETRY! No, you didn’t read that sentence wrong. Kaur delves into her stylistic techniques. For instance, our author here discusses on multiple fronts what the peach pit method is and how to use it. “I like to describe my shorter poems (the ones that are one-four lines), as peach pits,” she said. “This process is like removing the skin of the peach, then slowly digging through the fruity meat, until finally, I hit the center—the peach pit.” Overall, Healing Through Words is a must-read for anyone who is looking for a way to connect with their emotions and find healing in their pain. Kaur's words are a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. 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. 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.