I was interviewed this week by a woman doing her PhD project on healing and transformative doll making. One of her questions for me was “does a doll have agency of its own?” “Absolutely,” I replied. For the purpose of her study, she needed to challenge my belief, saying that most people would contend dolls are inanimate objects, and a belief in dolls having their... Continue reading

Writing a book is a milestone; its completion, a turning point. As I take steps toward publishing, I’m feeling an inward shift—an adjustment from the solitude of deeply-focused days immersed in words to whatever is next. I have thoughts about what’s to come, but the thing is, these thoughts are simply that—thoughts. They’re ideas I spin in my mind to give me focus, to hold... Continue reading

My manuscript is in its final days of editing, and I feel excited for the process of birthing it to the world. I’ve spoken with numerous authors about the publishing process, about the path they’ve taken or not taken and why, about the challenges of marketing a new work. I'm now seeking my path to publishing. I’m considering how much of the publishing process I... Continue reading

Some 15 years ago, a woman encouraged me "get behind your eyeballs." I thought this a funny phrase. I spent much of my time spinning thoughts of past and future in my mind and found it challenging, if not impossible, to simply be in the present moment, so this phrase was aptly directed towards me. I've since had extensive opportunity to be present with myself... Continue reading

My childhood home had a pair of beautiful sugar maples in the side yard. When I became old enough to climb trees, my father hung a rope ladder from one of the maples; this gave me easy access to the interior haven of its branches. As a young girl, I played here often. I claimed a special spot - my legs perfectly straddling a hefty... Continue reading

I hike daily in the forest near my home and get to experience nature up close. I often carry my camera to capture the beauty, the changes of seasons ~ and an occasional surprise. One morning I had the good fortune to glimpse the morning sun through the red crest of a pileated woodpecker perched on a tall oak. I’ve encountered bear cubs (not taken... Continue reading

I hike most mornings with my four-legged Szoke. We wind in and around the trails in Pisgah National Forest which is just a stone’s throw from our home. Most days we explore the paths near the creek and rarely venture towards the ridge. There are plenty of treasures to discover on the familiar lower trails and I don’t often look beyond them. This past week,... Continue reading

In the 90’s, I devoted 5 years to teaching assertiveness and self defense to women and girls in western NC. I held deep passion for this work. The core component that called to me then and continues to inspire me to do the work of empowering women is that when we pay attention, listen to our inner compass and are confident in who we are,... Continue reading

For over 20 years, I held a belief that didn’t fully serve me. Soon after I was raped at age 26, I began to experience pain in my hips. Energetically, I felt such a direct correlation between the rape and the pain that the two became strongly linked in my mind. My belief that the trauma had produced the pain led me to find a... Continue reading

This weekend, I took my daughter and her friend to the movie Inside Out. The movie explores the emotional world of a 12-year old girl who moves to a new city. I was pleasantly surprised that it emphasized the importance of all our emotions -- that it’s normal to have moments when we’re both joyful and sad at the same time. At one point, the... Continue reading

I awakened four young grouse this morning as they slumbered on the forest floor. They rose up suddenly at my feet amidst the wild geranium and the mayapple. A muffled drumming erupted as they took flight, their striped tale feathers flashed in several directions. Then they were gone. A client asked me yesterday how to choose a spiritual practice. I encouraged her to take time... Continue reading

Letters of Reference for Anne Heck Download Anne_Heck_Recommendations Continue reading

Mixed Media Art I've always loved creating. When I was younger, my mother, an avid quilter, taught me to embroider and sew. These skills were invaluable to me throughout childhood and into adulthood. Over the past 10-15 years I've used my creative abilities to connect with my emotional and spiritual... Continue reading

Vitae OBJECTIVE Obtain a teaching position that utilizes my passion for teaching to create a positive, comfortable and inspirational learning experience for students. QUALIFICATIONS Excellent at organizational leadership, presentation, facilitation and teaching. Deep knowledge of subject areas of Chemistry, Physical Science, Biology, Environmental and Earth Sciences. Extensive people skills that... Continue reading

Anne Heck Science Educator Community Organizer ~ Speaker ~ Facilitator ~ Writer ~ Artist Personal Statement My path to becoming a teacher began when I was a young girl. I spent lots of time outdoors and used to teach imaginary students beneath the tall pines in our front yard. I... Continue reading

My childhood home had a pair of beautiful sugar maples in the side yard. When I became old enough to climb trees, my father hung a rope ladder from one of them; this gave me easy access to the interior haven of its branches. As a young girl, I played here often. I claimed a special spot - my legs perfectly straddling a hefty limb,... Continue reading

There’s a lesson about gentleness in my midst. It has a familiar face, and I’m humored I didn’t recognize it sooner. I'm not one to give in easily. It's been my nature to set a goal, hold clarity and be consistent in my efforts towards that end. This strategy usually produces the desired result, but has had its downfalls, not the least of which is... Continue reading

I wrapped myself in sunny afternoon silence as the new year was about to dawn and considered what takeaways I had gleaned from 2013 that may benefit others as we open the door to a new year. The past year pulled and pushed me in more ways than I know how to describe. As walked a painful path, I found myself grateful to have some... Continue reading

In this lovely holiday season, I'm appreciating the ways in which solstice holds the mirror for our inner experience. Solstice, a time to celebrate nature's renewal and our connection to the earth, is also a time for inner renewal and of bringing more light to the world. It's a time in which we can choose to connect with our shadow, pay attention to what it... Continue reading

The latest in the world of dolls, this one has a fascinating story. Until recently, I’ve not felt I was a strong dreamer. Lately, however, dreams, creativity and daily experience feel melded together in a mystical soup that continues to amaze and inspire me. I had discovered the rhododendron root at the site of a local archaeological dig in July. It had been extracted as... Continue reading

My son was recently home for fall break. While here, he happened across a doll I made several weeks ago. This one, named Painbody elicited a response of “ooh, this makes me feel yucky inside.” She made me feel yucky too, which is why I hid her, thinking she was out of sight. When she came in a vision, I knew she had something valuable... Continue reading

For those of you who follow my doll-making journey, you know it's much more than craft.The spirits that choose to come into form always do so for a purpose; each brings a teaching - or many teachings - to those who choose to listen. In Hopi tradition, dolls called kachinas were religious icons, embodying spiritual beings who taught the Hopis how to live on earth... Continue reading

I don’t often get this intimate, but this is simply where I find myself. Sometimes, our stories help weave our hearts in a way that shifts energy, perspective or direction, so I’m being intentional in sharing this piece. I've been on a healing journey for over 20 years ~ my initial focus was to heal the trauma of rape. This trauma and other stresses have... Continue reading