This month I’m inviting 30 magical authors to share how writing a book has created transformation in their lives as part of The Magical Portal Project.
And I wanted to have this conversation with Tara Jackson, author of EMBODIED: A Self-Care Guide For Sensitive Souls, because she’s in such a unique position right now.
Tara is one of our Unbound Press authors and was also part of the first round of the Unbound Writing Mastermind. Her book only came out a month ago, so I wanted to speak with Tara specifically about what it’s like to be an author in these first few weeks when a book is making its way out into the world.
Take a look at our conversation below and you’ll also find a full transcription of the interview if you’re a reader, rather than a watcher.
Find out more and join the free Magical Portal Project here.
Nicola: Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Unbound. I’m Nicola Humber, author of Unbound and Founder of the Unbound Press, and today I am delighted to be joined by Tara Jackson. Welcome, Tara.
Tara: Thank you.
Nicola: So this month, throughout August, as part of the Magical Portal Project, for all of these episodes of Unbound we are talking to different authors and focusing on the transformation that happens for us, as authors, as writers when we choose to write and release a book into the world. So, we’re kinda going behind the scenes of that process, and I wanted to speak to Tara. Tara’s already written a piece for the Magical Portal Project, which is amazing, but she’s in a very special position. Her book, Embodied: A Self Care Guide For Sensitive Souls literally just came out a few weeks ago, in July, so it’s very fresh out in the world and , because I’m a complete nerd with these things, I’m really curious, and I know that Tara had a fascinating… (well she might not use that word!) process when she was writing Embodied. She was part of the Unbound Mastermind, so I got to see first hand, Tara, I got to see what your process was like and the healing and transformation that you went through then, and Tara’s an Unbound Press author, as well, so I’ve been with you throughout the release process, but I think people are gonna be really interested to know what it’s like when you’ve actually released a book and those first few weeks when it’s making its way out in the world. Anyway, with that introduction, which was a bit long and rambling, thank you for being here. I really appreciate it.
Tara: Oh, it’s my absolute pleasure, Nicola. Thank you. And you’re like the book’s godmother ’cause you been there for such an integral part of it. It feels like that.
Nicola: Oh, I love that. I might start using that.
Tara: Yes! You should!
Nicola: Fairy godmother for books!
Tara: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. And actually, I was just thinking, just randomly, that it’s actually a year ago almost this week that I signed up for the Unbound Writing Mastermind thinking, I’ve gotta do this. I’ve gotta get my book out there, and I’m just like, oh my gosh, it’s like less than a year technically, and I did it. It’s like, whoa. It literally hit me yesterday, so I had to say that.
Nicola: Amazing. Yeah, I know. I’ve just been thinking it’s a year since I was just opening up the first round of Unbound Writing Mastermind, and how transformational that’s been for me, as well. Whenever we create something new, it’s always a risk to commit to creating something and sharing it with the world. It activates transformation. So thank you for bringing that up. How gorgeous, and how amazing of you to have got it written and for it to be out there in the world within a year. That’s a relatively short amount of time.
Tara: It does seem a bit surreal, but quite amazing, and feels like a long time at the same time.
Nicola: Yeah. Tell us, Tara, what made you first decide to write Embodied, or to write a book?
Tara: I’ve wanted to write a book since I was a kid. I was writing books as a 10 year old, 11 year old, little stories and stuff, and this book had been calling me probably for about the last four, five years, four years maybe, since I started my self-care, healing journey, you know, and just writing down things and getting intuitive guidance, and just as I kind of, sharing my journey in my own journal and then slowly on my blog, and it was just calling, like, you’ve got to do this, and I was like, what? I don’t know how this is going to piece together. I was so confused, but I just knew it had to be out there in some way or form. Yeah.
Nicola: And when it came to actually making that commitment, like you said, it had been there for a long time, it had been calling to you, so what was it like for you to go, actually, right, okay, I’m gonna commit and you’ve got support when you decided to join the Mastermind.
Tara: It’s like one of those things that I had on my list for the year of things that I wanted to do that year. I’ve had it on my list, monthly goals or things that I wanted, about two or three years. It was like, okay, you’re not doing this, you’re not, you know, you maybe just have to actually get that space so that you commit and do it and actually, that’s what I needed. I just needed to say I was doing it and actually do it, and basically commit to something.
Nicola: Yeah, exactly. It’s so powerful, isn’t it? I think we underestimate how powerful that is.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: Because, like you, before I wrote my first book it was on my, not to-do list,
Tara: Yeah, I know what you mean.
Nicola: My goal list. My dream list for years, and I never really made that strong commitment to doing it. So, yeah. Well done you for actually getting round to it.
Tara: It had to be written. It was screaming at me. It was like, you’ve got to do this, and it would just get stronger and stronger and I’d see other authors publishing books or saying they’ve written books on social media, and it was like, when you feel that comparison-itis sometimes, it’s a sign that that’s what you need to be doing, too, as well, sometimes. It was just getting louder and louder and louder, so I couldn’t ignore it anymore, basically.
Nicola: Okay. I get the message. I’m gonna do it! And what was it like when you started the writing process, once you’d made that commitment and you stepped into the Unbound Writing Mastermind? What was it like when you began writing?
Tara: Not what I expected.
Nicola No?
Tara: Not at all.
Nicola: In what way?
Tara: I think this is the beauty of what you shared and offered within the Unbound Writing Mastermind, is you showed me a different way. You made it okay to write in such a cyclical, flowing, beautiful, honoring my seasons way. So, some days I’d be walking in the forest near me and just recording, and then I’d transcribe that. Other days, it would be meditating and journaling. Sometimes, it was even just looking back through old journals and editing and updating stuff or blogs and things. It was such a messy, but beautiful kind of chaotic way of doing it and just pulling bits as they came up, ’cause it wasn’t like, yeah, start here, here’s the middle, beginning, and end, beginning, middle, and end. It was really not like that. It was just such a free, open way to write without that fixed expectation, which was so nourishing, beautiful, mostly.
Nicola: I think that can be challenging.
Tara: Yes.
Nicola: Probably is not for everyone. It would totally freak some people out, and I know when I was writing Unbound, actually, it was exactly the same. I had to write it in that way and that’s why I know I can hold space for others to do it ’cause I’ve been through it myself, but I know it can feel really challenging at times because we’re like, is this ever gonna come together?
Tara: It does. I promise you it does. It’s magic. I was actually, ’cause I didn’t think I’d be open to that, actually, in the beginning. I was much more of a linear thinker, or used to the old, you know, they systems and ways and processes of doing things. I’ve worked in that environment for a very long time.
Nicola: Yeah.
Tara: And I think it was that letting go and just trusting, which was a huge part of feeling safe in the container of the Mastermind, as well, and that commitment. It was all kinda came together and it did happen, yeah, but I do get how it can be a bit scary to do that and jump into that, yeah.
Nicola: Well, like you said there, most of us, we’ve worked in situations, we’ve been brought up to operate in this very linear, structured way where we’ve always got to have a plan, we’ve gotta know what’s next. So, to let go of that and say, “actually, I’m just gonna allow what wants to come to come, and when it wants to come, I’m gonna allow it.” I remember… I hope you don’t mind me sharing this. During one of our Unbound Writing sessions where we would come together like this on Zoom and everyone would go of and write, there was one day when you were like, “actually, I feel like I need to take a nap today,” during that. But that’s still part of your writing practice, recognizing, actually, I don’t wanna push through and write today. I’m gonna take some time for myself. So, well done you for really recognizing that and allowing yourself to follow whatever you needed and wanted to do at the time.
Tara: Thank you. Thank you. And I think, also, because of doing that, it did start to then piece together and I could start to see it forming into the structure it wanted to come into, but I couldn’t have told you that at the beginning. I really didn’t know that, and that was another magical part of allowing and trusting in the process that you offered and support. Yeah, had space for. Yeah.
Nicola: It’s like allowing the book to create itself in a way.
Tara: This is where I love the magic. This is where it gets magical for me. Yeah. Totally with you on that.
Nicola: Is that how it felt?
Tara: Completely. It’s like, and we talked about this, Nicola, it’s like the book became its own energy, its own being in some ways, and it kinda was telling me what to do, and that was just absolute magic. I literally get tingles just even thinking about this and how the book, throughout the writing process, what it wanted to be, and you encouraged this as well, of course, just connecting to it and following it and letting it lead you. Yeah, that was just such a magical thing that I never could’ve imagined and has opened up so much more in my own life, but yeah, I could go on about that for ages, so I’ll stop. I really will.
Nicola: Kind of wanted you to go on about it ’cause I just love it, because you know, it feels very magical to me. I’ve experienced the same, but to witness other women experiencing it, as well. This is really a thing.
Tara: Yeah, right? It’s really a thing! Oh, my god! I know.
Nicola: Magic does exist.
Tara: Yes! Oh, that makes me so happy.
Nicola: I know. So, Embodied is about your own journey of self-care, self-love, and providing this amazing guide to other empaths and sensitives, but in order to share your own journey, obviously you had to revisit times in your life that were painful and challenging, and this can be something, I know, that scares people when they’re thinking about sharing their own story or aspects of their own stories. I have to kinda go back into it. So, what was that process like for you, Tara?
Tara: Yeah, it was definitely a mix. There was a lot of resistance, and I know I talked about that a lot in the Mastermind, I had a lot of resistance. My body just literally went into freeze mode and didn’t wanna go into many of the memories and the things, to have to relive and to write them. I actually went through quite a few of my addictions again just to get to almost access that point. I started binge eating a lot. I drank a lot at one point. I tried weed for the first time in years just to kind of access that point, and it wasn’t what I expected, but I was actually able to go deeper with that. It was really weird that I did, but I allowed myself to without judgment because that was a big thing. That’s not how I wrote all of it, but that was definitely something that I almost proactively did, but also naturally intuitively wanted to do whilst writing it. It was like it brought up stuff that made me want to turn to addictions, as well as doing it to access the memories, if that makes sense. It was kind of a double approach there, but yeah, some of it was also just, I had some amazing other healers and supporters and friends and things that have held space for me and just also allowing myself to be in the messiness and actually, when we go into it, it’s never as bad as you think, I don’t think. Actually, for me, it was just allowing my body to feel it, and sometimes even just mourn it, or cry, release. I had anger come up, lots and lots of tears. It was really, really cathartic and healing in many ways, as well, but yeah, different ways to access it, but once I started, it got easier. Sometimes just starting and doing it, accessing one point, and realizing, okay, that wasn’t so bad; and I feel so much better and lighter and freer because I’d done that, and then going deeper in different parts; and there were layers, there were many layers of it, as well.
Nicola: Yeah. And you know, I was smiling as you were talking about that, which may seem a bit odd because you were talking about going back into these, some of these addictive patterns and behaviors, and going back into these painful emotions, but I’m smiling because you allowed yourself to trust your process, your unique process, and you went with it, you didn’t resist it. Like you said, it was just resistance coming up at times, but you trusted yourself, and your book, I guess, that it was gonna take you through all of these things that were coming up. You were gonna be able to move through them. It’s just so inspiring.
Tara: Thank you. At the time, I felt like a big mess, like what on earth are you doing here, Tara? Really? You’re supposed to be passed these things, or feeling that you’re not in them anymore. It was a bit crazy, but it was so necessary and perfect. It was perfect. It really was. Yeah, absolutely.
Nicola: And you speak there about that judgment that can come up in so many different ways through the writing process, judging the way we’re doing it and what we’re actually writing, and whether anyone will actually want to read what we’re writing.
Tara: Oh, my gosh, yes.
Nicola: Well, I know many times during the process, you were like, “maybe this is just for me,” and I know I’ve experienced that with my writing, as well. So, what helped you to know, actually know this is something that needs to be shared?
Tara: Yeah, the book. The book was like, “no. No. This is gonna be shared. No, sorry.” I was very close to not, actually, even towards the end. I really thought this was just for me to heal and I know that was a huge part of me having to write the book, as well, but it kinda told me, “no. You gotta get it out there.” I was like, “all right.” Yeah.
Nicola: I know, and I think we need to remember, if we’re feeling called to write a book, it is maybe very occasionally we’re feeling that calling because we need to go through the process, but there’s something about the release, sharing it with the world, which is such an important part of the process, as well, otherwise we’d just be feeling a call to journal or, yeah.
Tara: Yeah. It’s definitely. I’m starting to feel that now, obviously, that part of importance of the sharing, yeah, having moved into that phase now.
Nicola: Well, tell us some more about that. How has it been from the release date and seeing it, seeing Embodied out there in the world, seeing it on Instagram, people sharing their pictures as it arrives to them? I haven’t got my copy here ’cause I’m back in the U.K. and it’s over in the States. Show us your copy.
Tara: Oh, my book.
Nicola: I wanna see Embodied. Say hello to your book.
Tara: There you go.
Nicola: Oh, beautiful.
Tara: Yeah, actually, I do think it’s quite beautiful now, which was something I didn’t expect to think, but also, yeah, the first thing, which actually you helped me with was connecting to the book as a published book was also a different energy from me writing the book, and that was something magical that I went through with you, which you helped space me, and realizing that it’s got its own energy, and I kind of had to get to know it, and I’ve also then really followed many intuitive guidance, nudges, I felt to share the book, and that’s been really magical, as well, but yeah, so in terms of, sorry, how it’s now it’s out in the world, how that’s changed, as well, what it’s like sharing it. Is that what you asked?
Nicola: Yeah.
Tara: Sorry, I’m getting caught up in the book.
Nicola: No, I love it.
Tara: The magic of the book.
Nicola: Exactly.
Tara: I mean, I felt, I go through moments where I feel judgment and fear, intense vulnerability, I get those sick pangs in your belly sometimes because there’s things in there that are very vulnerable, and I do feel, family members particularly, or certain people who didn’t know this stuff about me maybe in my teens or 20s, and I’m like, “oh, my god.” So, there’s definitely moments of that, having it out there in the world, and also talking to people and they’ve read your entire story, know everything about you. It’s like Okay, you know. This happened. It’s like, all right, yeah. Of course. Why did I do this? Okay. There’s nothing. No, there’s still other parts, but that’s been interesting, but it’s not been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It’s actually been quite healing. It’s actually almost helped me to step up and share more, as well, and not care so much, not give a shit so much, basically, about what they’re saying. That’s been really liberating, and that’s just starting to come now.
Nicola: Yeah.
Tara: Yeah, being more open or more vulnerable, sharing more, and stepping up, and I can see that really increasing the next few months and et cetera, but it’s been also very quite magical having that out there. It feels like I’m, a bit like its kinda mother in some ways, and I just have to help it do what it needs to do, and that’s kind of it, really. Yeah. It’s still definitely settling, but it’s quite a magical, different part of experience.
Nicola: Yeah, yeah. And I love what you’re saying there about the book being out there in the world, although it can feel like challenging, vulnerable at times because, and I get that, when you’re speaking to people and it’s like they’ve read the new book. You’re like did I put that in there? God.
Tara: Yeah, I know.
Nicola: I can’t remember writing about that.
Tara: It’s like, I thought that got edited out.
Nicola: I know. Ah, I didn’t mean to leave that bit in!
Tara: I know. Yeah.
Nicola: But it kinda gives you that foundation, usually that base level then. It’s like, whatever you share from this point on, you can go deeper because that’s out there already and it kinda provides this, not like a safety net, but it is this gorgeous foundation for you. It’s like, well, I’ve done that, so yeah, I can take the next step. And also, talking about how your relationship, it’s a new relationship with the book once it’s published.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: … once it’s released, which is really, really powerful, powerful to recognize. So, has there been any unexpected magic for you that your book has created throughout the writing process or now that it’s been released?
Tara: Oh, gosh. There’s just so many small things, which make the big things. The healing was just the hugest thing and I actually feel like a different person. I really feel like it burst me. You know? When it came out there was quite a few other big things happening in my life then, but it was just such an end of a chapter of my life and that’s like that stuff is completely out of me now. It’s just there in a story to help, if any of it does, to anyone, but it’s not part of me anymore, and I’m now me, and that re-birthing has just been amazing. I feel like I can truly be me now without all that baggage and stuff I was kinda holding onto, I suppose, for many years. So, that has been huge, the biggest thing. And then, the, yeah, sorry. Go ahead.
Nicola: No, go on, please. I wanna hear what’s next. Go on.
Tara: Yeah, just the stepping up and being able to share more openly more about me, and suppose be seen even, because it’s out there. That’s so much.
Nicola: Yeah.
Tara: There’s nothing else now. Just, yeah, here I am. This is me. You can take it or leave it and yeah, that’s it, kinda thing. I’m just proud to be me now and just be seen, I suppose, and it’s growing, growing, that bit, but that’s been a really magical thing because you know, as a business owner, you need to be seen, I suppose, and that has always been a big thing for me, and don’t get me wrong, it’s not always easy, but it’s definitely helped me to share more of me and be visible, which I’ve been called to do more of in my business and have been resisting, so it’s helping me to do that massively. It really is.
Nicola: Yeah.
Tara: And I know there’s so much more that will come, but those are two big things.
Nicola: Absolutely. It feels like, I can feel this sense of liberation and freedom as you’re speaking, and you mentioned your business there, and I wonder how writing the book and releasing it has made you feel differently about your business or what you wanna do in your business. Has it activated any transformation there?
Tara: It’s totally cemented wanting to work with higher sensitives and empaths. Before, I was a bit all over the place with who I wanted to work with and help and support, and it’s totally, totally cemented that. I think that’s still kind of unfolding, but it’s definitely, there’s a few things starting to form now, which I feel a lot more grounded and strong compared to I was all over the place with my business before. So, it’s definitely emerging from that.
Nicola: Did you know when you started writing the book that it was gonna be specifically. I mean, there’s so much in there that’s valuable to everyone.
Tara: Exactly.
Nicola: But did you have that intention at the beginning that it would be for empaths only?
Tara: I didn’t. No, I didn’t. I have some in my work already and I have a group, Self Care for Empaths, which is already focused on that, so it was natural, and I am incredibly sensitive and empathic, so it was just like, this feels really, and learning later about people who are highly sensitive, addiction’s a very common thing that can happen, learning about more and more in that, it just felt like a natural progression for the book. It kinda came to me, as well. It was very much, yeah, one day, it was like a little light bulb thing.
Nicola: Yeah, yeah. That’s really helpful to hear, as well, because I know a lot of people can have a resistance to being really specific about who their book is for or who they want to work with, and it’s like, ooh, no. I don’t know if I want to make that declaration, but actually, it feels incredibly potent when you do that.
Tara: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, totally. I’m so glad I did. Yeah, I’m really glad I did. It just feels much more embodied, I suppose. It just feels really together. I’m really glad that happened, definitely.
Nicola: And actually, as your publisher and someone who’s helping to share your work, it’s so much, it feels very potent for me when I’m sharing ’cause I can say, “well, look. This is who it’s for.”
Tara: Yeah, exactly.
Nicola: Rather than, only just about self-care.
Tara: Exactly.
Nicola: So, yeah. It helps other people to share your work, as well.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: I mean, obviously your book is called Embodied. But what I’m interested in is how the process of writing a book kinda activates us or calls on us to embody our message an even deeper level, and I wonder, you’ve kind of spoken about that throughout this conversation. Does it feel like it’s done that for you?
Tara: Oh, my goodness. Yes. I was thinking about that this morning. I was like, just, even writing the self-care practices, et cetera, it’s always a journey, and I find with my own self-care there’s some days, some weeks, it’s all over the place, but since the book’s come out, I am being called into taking even better care of myself, and noticing how much more sensitive I am to everything and having to take care of myself, otherwise I feel crappy, et cetera, and noticing, on a weekly basis, that the self-care that I put into me and my time, my boundaries, my nutrition, et cetera, has just gone up crazily, and yeah. So, completely embodying even more and more and more and more. Yeah, really, that surprised me, as well. So yeah, thank you for bringing that up. Yeah.
Nicola: Yeah. It’s like your book holds you accountable.
Tara: Yeah, totally.
Nicola: You’ve written this now.
Tara: My book completely does.
Nicola: Yeah, I know. I find that with Unbound. I actually was just thinking about it. I’m like, yeah.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: It really does.
Tara: Absolutely.
Nicola: So, what’s next for you, Tara? Do you have a sense of what’s next? I know and I found this through working with you that you are, you’re so committed, you like following your guidance, your intuition, and it’s been such a joy to work with you because I love working like that, as well. But I wonder if there’s anything new that’s calling to you right now.
Tara: At the moment I’m just being told to take space and rest and replenish and just be in this, and literally just following the intuitive guidance, and I know it’s so weird to be at this place and not have any grand plans of stuff for what’s next. I really don’t. There’s something bubbling and it’s about my ancestry and my heritage because I’m adopted from India, and maybe moving into more of that kind of stuff, but more writing. I definitely know I want to write more books, but what, where they go, what form they take, I’m just being open to the present and what comes next.
Nicola: It will emerge. It will emerge.
Tara: It will.
Nicola: You know, we’ve talked about this, how when we write the first book, it does, it definitely clears the way for what wants to come through next, and I love how you’re just allowing that space.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: To kinda integrate and process what you’ve experienced.
Tara: Yeah.
Nicola: And whatever wants to come through next, and can I just say, for everyone watching this, Tara’s story, if you haven’t read her book, you really need to go and get a copy because throughout the Mastermind, I don’t think I read any of your writing ’cause you were like, I’m just kind of brining it together. And then, when I read Tara’s draft manuscript for the first time, I was like, I had no idea that this was your story, like your background, it is just so, I was literally laughing and in tears within the first five pages of reading it.
Tara: Oh, thank you.
Nicola: It’s just incredible. So, thank you for courageously sharing it with the world and birthing Embodied into real form. Yeah, so grateful to you for doing that.
Tara: Oh, I’m so grateful. I’m so grateful to have a fairy godmother for my book and who’s been such an amazing space holder and everything. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Nicola: Oh, you’re welcome. So Tara, for people who are watching this and would like to find out more about you and your work, what’s the best way for them to do that?
Tara: Just my website, TaraJackson.co.uk. Yeah, everything’s on there, all the links and stuff.
Nicola: Yeah, yeah. We’ll put a link to that below this video. So, like I said, Tara, thank you so much for joining me today and having this conversation. Like I said, I really wanted to speak to you because the book is so freshly birthed into the world, so it’s a very special.
Tara: Like a baby.
Nicola: It is! It’s a very special part. So, thank you for sharing that with us.
Tara: Thank you so much, Nicola.
Nicola: And we’ll see you again soon for another episode of Unbound. Bye.
Find out more about Tara and her work here.
