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Walking with Aletheia: a survivor's memoir
On March 1, 2022, Logosohia Books will publish Walking with Aletheia: a survivor’s memoir by Jean Hargadon Wehner, sexual abuse survivor and contributor to the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary series "The Keepers."
Walking with Aletheia explores how one person experiencing the resurrection of repressed, violent memories of child sexual abuse leaned into her fear, finding the courage to transform her life through self-compassion and the support of others. A survivor of years of sexual abuse by an uncle and members of clergy and other adults at her Catholic high school, Jean was terrorized into silence, including witnessing a murdered nun's body. Jean dissociated from these traumatic experiences until the age of 27, then through journal writing, conversations with the child within, and her spiritual and psychological inner work, she began to recover the memories she had suppressed from her younger self, and to heal.
While Jean's tragic experiences are the groundwork for her book, Walking with Aletheia is more notably about the journey—through time, perseverance, and inherent wisdom—to find one's true Self. Jean’s story is one of hope and psychological and spiritual growth. Her path is one of discovering the traumatized children within herself who yearn, as she does, to be reintegrated with her adult self. Jean refers to these parts of her youth as her “personas”. The author also shares how she was assisted in her deep meditative periods, which she describes as her “quiet”, by the power of imagery. This assistance came from spiritual guides, who arose in her quiet in the forms of humans and animals, to protect her and to guide her in finding the courage and compassion to love herself.
Walking with Aletheia is a story of how one woman—through time, perseverance and inherent wisdom—found the courage to confront her demons, ultimately leading to a place of resilience, hope and walking with “Aletheia” – the Greek goddess of truth. How, in the end, one can see the power and healing effect of the mind by leaning into the truth.
Walking with Aletheia explores how one person experiencing the resurrection of repressed, violent memories of child sexual abuse leaned into her fear, finding the courage to transform her life through self-compassion and the support of others. A survivor of years of sexual abuse by an uncle and members of clergy and other adults at her Catholic high school, Jean was terrorized into silence, including witnessing a murdered nun's body. Jean dissociated from these traumatic experiences until the age of 27, then through journal writing, conversations with the child within, and her spiritual and psychological inner work, she began to recover the memories she had suppressed from her younger self, and to heal.
While Jean's tragic experiences are the groundwork for her book, Walking with Aletheia is more notably about the journey—through time, perseverance, and inherent wisdom—to find one's true Self. Jean’s story is one of hope and psychological and spiritual growth. Her path is one of discovering the traumatized children within herself who yearn, as she does, to be reintegrated with her adult self. Jean refers to these parts of her youth as her “personas”. The author also shares how she was assisted in her deep meditative periods, which she describes as her “quiet”, by the power of imagery. This assistance came from spiritual guides, who arose in her quiet in the forms of humans and animals, to protect her and to guide her in finding the courage and compassion to love herself.
Walking with Aletheia is a story of how one woman—through time, perseverance and inherent wisdom—found the courage to confront her demons, ultimately leading to a place of resilience, hope and walking with “Aletheia” – the Greek goddess of truth. How, in the end, one can see the power and healing effect of the mind by leaning into the truth.
- GenresNonfiction
294 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
About the author
Jean Hargadon Wehner
3 books9 followersI am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and an advocate for sexual abuse survivors, their families and the people who work with them. I hope my book 'Walking with Aletheia: a survivor's memoir' will be of help to anyone who has experienced trauma and their support communities. I was finally free to share my personal healing process after contributing to the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary series The Keepers, made by Ryan White and Jessica Hargrave. In addition to my writing and advocacy work, I originally trained as a Spiritual Director and am now a Nationally Certified Reflexologist, Certified Life Coach and Reiki Practitioner.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 26, 2022
✨Firstly I would commend the author for writing such a book I genuinely think that it was a really difficult and courageous act altogether for the author to write about her life occurrences and publish it.
In this book, the author writes an honest description of the brutalities caused on her by evil people. She is a survivor and this book is a memoir of how she tolerated years of rape by her uncles during her childhood, by Baltimore Catholic priests at Keough, and even some Baltimore police officers.
✨Mostly she writes down about the journey of how she recovered from this atrocious and despicable sexual abuse to wellness and wholeness by way of meditation, therapies and more. Her story is deep, shows courage to other humans, and gives hope to others who are survivors of sexual abuse.
It is about the struggle she does to reintegrate all of her broken pieces of soul.
✨Reading this book was more than horrific and heartbreaking for me at the same time.
Hats off to the author for jotting down such an incredible book I am just stunned and don't have enough words for the author to praise the author for such an applaudable work.
✨I appreciate her for putting up with her soul and providing us better insight into the life journey she's gone through trying to put the pieces together. This book is a one sitting and hearts wrenching read that ends on a positive note but if you are someone who cannot read about the sexual abuse I would suggest going over this book slowly since it is emotionally draining.
✨I think moving forward into the future is the only through healing and the author did a good job in that. It has been written in a simple and lucid language style which make it easier to comprehend and go through. Well done Jean Hargadon Wehner.
In this book, the author writes an honest description of the brutalities caused on her by evil people. She is a survivor and this book is a memoir of how she tolerated years of rape by her uncles during her childhood, by Baltimore Catholic priests at Keough, and even some Baltimore police officers.
✨Mostly she writes down about the journey of how she recovered from this atrocious and despicable sexual abuse to wellness and wholeness by way of meditation, therapies and more. Her story is deep, shows courage to other humans, and gives hope to others who are survivors of sexual abuse.
It is about the struggle she does to reintegrate all of her broken pieces of soul.
✨Reading this book was more than horrific and heartbreaking for me at the same time.
Hats off to the author for jotting down such an incredible book I am just stunned and don't have enough words for the author to praise the author for such an applaudable work.
✨I appreciate her for putting up with her soul and providing us better insight into the life journey she's gone through trying to put the pieces together. This book is a one sitting and hearts wrenching read that ends on a positive note but if you are someone who cannot read about the sexual abuse I would suggest going over this book slowly since it is emotionally draining.
✨I think moving forward into the future is the only through healing and the author did a good job in that. It has been written in a simple and lucid language style which make it easier to comprehend and go through. Well done Jean Hargadon Wehner.
August 2, 2022
I pre-ordered this book and received it months ago and started reading it immediately, but I slowly read it and processed it for months as Jean suggested. All I can say after finishing the final chapter tonight is - wow. Jean Hargadon Wehner is a truly amazing women/survivor! Her story of horrific abuse, starting with her uncle and then culminating with the horrific Priests and others at Bishop Keough, is mind-boggling in its intensity and severity. It is remarkable that she was able to survive and had her own "personas" who helped her do so. I was deeply moved by so many of the chapters and very impressed with her efforts to work with a team of helpers to discover her fragmented parts and bring them together with the help of all of her wonderful spirit guides. It is astonishing to me to read about her healing journey and see how far she has come. I have had the privilege to see Jean in readings and she is a beautiful and genuine person who is so inspirational to all who meet her. She truly wants to help share her story with other survivors, and as a fellow survivor, I so appreciate her sharing her truth. I believe her statement at one reading was "No one is coming to save us - we survivors have to save each other." I think this is true and I know Jean is helping so many survivors with her painful and transformational memoir. I would highly recommend it to any survivor or therapist who works with trauma victims and believe it should be awarded the highest honor for its beauty and honesty in the midst of the darkest experiences. Jean is a light in what can be a very dark world. Thank you for sharing your life story with the world who loves you and believes every word.
January 1, 2023
A very sad memoir, but I'm so glad that I read Jean's story. I have watched "The Keepers" on Netflix so many times, I don't even know why. Just horrible how the Catholic Church protected pedophiles for many years just to keep from being in the news. My hope is that one day that someone will be able to see the records of Joseph Maskell and see just how many times he was accused, and what was said about the horrible acts he committed. So many people have seen the Keepers and read the survivors accounts of what happened, and pray for the strength for these amazing women and men the he abused to keep going. Because many did not survive it, from drugs, suicide, just awful outcome for so many, but Jean is a survivor and we are so behind her trying to bring out into the open the atrocities committed and then covered up for years and years. Hopefully one day the murder of Sister Cathy will be uncovered.
July 19, 2023
Read on a recommendation for 2023 challenge. Not something I would've picked up on my own. Interesting because of its tie-in with The Keepers. Difficult to keep track of the chronology as well as the imagery characters. I just don't really want to read about trauma in my free time unless it's for work.
December 13, 2022
Very difficult to read. It’s important for Catholics to know how hard the church makes it for victims of clergy sexual abuse to be heard and get help. Jean makes clear the difficulties she faced in trying to bring her horror to light in the 1990s.
January 11, 2022
It reaches deep into a part of your heart you didn't know was there...haunting, chilling, devastating and beautiful.
June 15, 2024
This book is HEAVY. She endeavored an insane amount of abuse and I applaud her courage of working through it and sharing her process of how she overcame and thrived.
February 23, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
unpleasant topic but monsters force people's tales to be told every day. no exceptions. Jean Hargadon Wehner was a victim and now she tells the story of her life after the abuse discussing what became of her mind and her faith as well as the eventual exposure of the abusers and the murder of Cathy Chesnik. both gripping and heartwrenching and leaving you shaking in fury. perhaps best if you have a strong stomach
unpleasant topic but monsters force people's tales to be told every day. no exceptions. Jean Hargadon Wehner was a victim and now she tells the story of her life after the abuse discussing what became of her mind and her faith as well as the eventual exposure of the abusers and the murder of Cathy Chesnik. both gripping and heartwrenching and leaving you shaking in fury. perhaps best if you have a strong stomach
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews