Hi my name is Molly. Ten years ago I made a decision based on faith that would change my life and leave my identity shattered into fragments of the self I once knew. I am a survivor of childhood abuse and in 2005, at the age of 35, I chose to face my abuser in the High Court of New Zealand. After a lengthy trial process and giving my testimony in front of a jury and judge the abuser was successfully convicted and jailed with a sentence of nine years. Through that ordeal I developed, and still live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In order to deal with the trauma I took to Art as a way of making sense out of the chaos of child abuse, it's empowerment and its aftermath. My art is based on my deep beliefs and convictions in God and Christ. When I began the process of stepping out of my fear to 'do the right thing' I believe God gifted me with art. I say that art is my voice and form of activism both politically and religiously against family violence and abuse, across all genders, all races, all generations,
I am passionate about advocating for humanity and being a voice for the disempowered. I do not do art as a means to make money, The images in my art are given to me by God and then I am divinely directed whom to gift to. In my recovery my art gives my life a road, a direction, a calling.
Today, a decade on, I have little by little (through faith & perseverance) put the pieces of my fragmented self back into a semblance of purpose. I am driven to be open about my experience in the hope that I may help others that are struggling to survive in the grasp of PTSD too. For many years I believed there was no hope for recovery, an endless night lost in the darkness, then I came across Michele Rosenthal.
Michele Rosenthal is an award-winning blogger, award-nominated author, popular keynote speaker and workshop/seminar leader. A certified professional coach, Michele hosts the radio program, Changing Direction, and is the founder of HealMyPTSD.com. Michele educates, trains and inspires audiences to create change they choose as they rebuild their lives after trauma and adversity.
As I began to follow Michele on my personal quest for recovery through her daily e-mails, blogs & radio show, I found hope and direction. After submitting a quote on my personal healing through the practice of art for inclusion in an upcoming book of Michele's, I was invited by Michele to be interviewed on her radio program on the subject of Art Therapy and the use of Creativity to heal PTSD. You can hear that interview in the link below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michelerosenthal/2...
I'm delighted that my quote made it into Michele's latest book 'Your Life After Trauma'
"The number one thing that has helped me stay connected to my (new) identity is art. When I "cracked," I opened the door to becoming an artist"
-- Molly (Kahikatea) Marshall
For more about the book click the link below:
http://yourlifeaftertraumabook.com/
Now to my fundraising campaign and what it's all about. I have a calling. My calling is to travel to the United Nations in New York to hand deliver one of my paintings 'Eve's Return' https://www.facebook.com/kahikatea/photos/pb.25...
as a gift to Helen Clark, the Head of the United Nations Development Programme, and ex Prime Minister of New Zealand. My faith tells me to do so. Helen Clark has always been a huge inspiration to me, a woman of great strength, compassion, hope & courage. Helen is aware of my dream and has agreed to receive the painting upon my reaching New York. This trip means everything to me. I feel that this trip will be the glue that puts me back together again with new purpose and new direction, stronger than before. It is both a dream of closure and of new beginnings. At the same time that I am launching this campaign I am also for the first time exhibiting my works from the past decade in an art show simply called 'Kahikatea, the Exhibition'. My artist name is 'Kahikatea' and you can see more of my work here:
http://www.cptsdlight.com/molly-kahikatea-marsh...
What I need & What you get
My goal is to raise $10,000.00 to pay for airfares, accommodation and local travel for myself and my two companions, being my daughters. When I went through the court case my daughters lost their mother as they knew her as I lost my identity and my world crumbled around me. It is essential to me that they both be there with me to see their mother overcome adversity and achieve personal success on the other side of devastation, to empower them as women as I empower myself.
For all donations a Facebook, Twitter & Instagram link will be made available to you to share in the journey from start to finish, this is where my companions are vital as they are both great social media operators.
In addition for all donations over $20 a handwritten thank you postcard of 'Eve's Return' will be mailed to you from New York City.
Many thanks, Molly aka Kahikatea
