Tiana Swank

"Did you
know
that you
can float

on water?
Nothing needed
'neath your feet?
Have you even bothered?"

Nah, I don't
under-
stand
that

Hey, check out
my cool invention!
You needn't
ev'n pay attention!

Just hop
right in
And it
takes you there

You can
float
without
a care!

I'll make a-million!
No, maybe three-!
I'll be rich!
Just watch. You'll see.

"You already are,"
returned The Star
And then
went Home to Thee.

...Current:

Feeeel my 💗💗💗

✴✴✴

July 25 Edit:
The book spoken of here is not my first work scheduled to go to publishing, so I will make a separate post for the most up-to-date plans, when the time comes :)

Thank you!

✴✴✴

The book is officially written —

We are getting ready to launch a campaign as it is currently in editing and formatting phase.

I'd so appreciate your help in forming our "FAQ" with the campaign, as, up 'til now, few know it's even currently written.

Thus, what is a question you'd have, so we may be able to list and answer it on the campaign prior to launch?

TIA :)

We were
born...to
C R E A T E

Spoiler alert: Renounced my membership about a year ago…

· · ·

Morning!
Eesh…my heart is pumpin way bad right now…

So, I’ve been posting here just about daily for the past 2ish weeks, and I realize today why. (Ha, which means I’ll probs step away for a bit again lol. Idk we’ll see)

(Told myself that if I wasn’t needed ‘til 10a this morning, I would come clean about the following on here.)

Normally, this sort of thing is personal; doesn’t need to be declared to all.
However, I have felt a sort of…indebtedness?? to my social media, because…ever since around the time of Coraleen’s birth, I sort of…built something intimate with y’all, and…that’s mattered to me ♡
However, that “[intimacy]” was often tied to my sincere testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and love for my God—often replete with relation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in at least some way.

In moving forward with what I feel with *all* of me is my real “mission,” The Symone Foundation, and all that entails, I’ve been feeling the call to be completely honest with my *heart* (that greatly includes my willingness to show up socially—in *all* social settings—in my unabashed truth as well).

It was at the end of August 2017 that I had received one of only two experiences of its kind thus far: a very *real* visual/audible gift of a fork in the road (like…sent-from-heaven sorta thing):

“Tiana, [Sunday] was only a type of things [to come]. You can either [stay] or continue down the road [I] have led you down.”

My response:
“Staying! Thanks!”
(“Just gonna pretend now that *that* didn’t just happen. …La-di-daaaah!! Just honoring my full self over here! K?!”)

For. 4.5. Years…

Stagnant…
I literally could *not* move forward in either direction…
Because I was trying to choose…*both*

I remember attending a *PoWeRfUl* all-women’s retreat about a year after that “fork” experience…

Mostly—if not all—women in attendance were members of the church. And…I felt like I was living a lie… But, conversation between a few of them, whereby I got to listen in on, brought one of the hostesses to say, “And [God] said He counsels *very few* to leave.”

Me, in my head: “...And I’m one of them…”

Another: “But…why would He ask anyone to leave?”

*sigh*

To step away from all that is potentially cryptic—to clarify:
About a year ago (February 2022) I had removed my name from the records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And it is my current understanding that I will not return.

A couple things:

[EDIT: This short segment here was a generalization with a tone I don't like:]
It’s interesting, because not a single member of my ward had asked me why I left, but several had inferred “typical” reasons (none of them accurate).
[End of EDIT]

On the other hand, I was *overjoyed* to enjoy a couple conversations with a fellow woman who has felt a similar pull in her life. It’s been pleasant to be able to lean on each other.

Anyway, there really is no aim here besides letting something off my chest to friends[+] of mine I just personally feel obliged to relay this to. (You know I’ve enjoyed sharing these sorts of parts of me with ya for a while, as inspired ♡)

*Phewf* Well, anyway, gonna get back to work here in a sec. But…hey, thanks for receiving this part of me too ♡

(I feel really awkward right now; revealed.)

♡T

...

Happy Friday!!

Remember not to ever, ever quit ♡

Hello old friends ♡

"Silence really is golden," I thought to myself this morning after sending something quite vulnerable off to an intimate group of close relatives.

You see, I was raised in an energy of oppression.

When I had experienced my first abusive encounter at around age 3 (as far as my investigating has uncovered) none of it was retained in memory except the abuser saying, "Don't tell anyone or I'll go to jail."

..My three-year-old brain didn't want this person going to jail! That was a bad thing.

..It later transposed, as my mind continued to develop, into, "Don't talk."

Talking left my heart wide open to share truths! Not all truths are easy to swallow. Not all truths protect everyone. Some truths leave abusers and oppressors vulnerable to prosecution, investigation and more.

However, not all silence is a bad thing either.
..Let me explain...

When I retreat from social media for days, weeks, months on end...I am in a place of solitude so I can get with God on another level. I am in my sacred space of creation so when I come back I have something *better* to offer my people.

This morning when I shared this vulnerable truth with the intimate group, there was no response. Not a bad thing!

Speaking up for yourself can sometimes perplex others; it provides space for contemplating. We are all human and far more aware of the miles our own shoes have traveled than anyone else's.

I remember when I first launched my blog in 2016! My people were *so excited* in the teasers leading up to it!
..When I launched?
..Silence...

I had no idea what to do about it.

Luckily an incredibly wise woman—sadly no longer available to speak to in this world...—counseled me to be at peace. That the silence wasn't a bad thing. ...Today, after several years...I *finally* get it...

When I am away for a while—when I am silent—remember...that silence is *Golden*!

..I cannot *wait* to show you what I've been up to!
Watch out world....Tiana Swank has been unleashed.
Unabashed, fully-honest, world-shaking Tiana...

One way to unleash (at least what I'm experiencing in my journey) is seeing just *how prevalent* oppression *still* is...in your very own neighborhood... Maybe even in your very own home.

I am so done self-preserving... It's time to speak up; speak out; turn over some tables; and trust that God truly *will* continue to protect me.

After all, charity *never* faileth...
And I do this...for *them*

[EDIT: I had posted this elsewhere beforehand and from such we since surpassed receiving the number of journals requested! Thank yooou!!]

~ ~ ~ ~

When I went to my first ever retreat, I was in a very strange place.

I had convinced myself over and over again that I was completely healed from my past of violence and sexual confusion. I refused to believe that the abuses of my life were still affecting me, yet while at that retreat I had joined in a time of art journaling. And sure enough, it started out nice. All the flowers at the top of my painting were in full bloom. Their faces shone beautifully, and their colors were bright.

And then, it was revealed.

All the blackness and paint splotches I had made underneath and all over, showing me in the end that I still had a lot of work to do. I’ll be honest, it rocked me for the rest of the day. I had woken up to the truth that there was much to be done in my healing journey still.

Well, that retreat was a blessing that still affects me so positively to this day.

At that retreat, we were treated like queens. We didn’t have to pay a dime to attend. We gathered together at a giant table for three gourmet meals a day, and were fed by chefs who were more than happy to serve us. We ate well, we were taught by professionals about the brain. And one of my favorite parts was the muay thai (it was a happy place for me to be able to beat up on someone without consequences—in all seriousness).

And you know what?

There were volunteers and contributors of all sorts that really made an impact.

To this day, I still have each item I was gifted at that special retreat I was blessed enough to attend over 4 years ago. I have the necklace, the super comfy yoga socks, the blanket (still on my bed every night), and this journal.

This journal was the first of many of its kind in my life.

It started out serving the purpose of recording the experiences that happened at this retreat, and turned into a journal of getting out that splotchy blackness, so the brightness of my spirit could shine. It became my healing journal. Then what was a journal designed for “out with the old and in with the new” became a journal by which I also began recording my ideas in. And boy, did I get a TON of ideas as I cleared out the darkness and pain!

Now, as I am passing it on: the experience of some luxury and pampering to women who deserve it more than most any other group of women I can think of; the opportunity to gather together; the lessons received from creating with art supplies and heart; and donations of different kinds—

I am reaching out to ask for your contribution.

We need journals.

And just like this precious one in my hands, we need journals with YOUR touch.

There is something so special about having something donated to you in a time of need without knowing who the giver was. Over 4 years later, each of those donations that touched me then still touch me to this day.

We need journals for these special women-without-homes to begin THEIR healing journey. So they can begin by recording what came up for them in their experiences with art therapy, being seen and validated, and more.

If your heart is willing, please comment below.

We need 8 in total at this point in time.

Please respond with the number of your comment in chronological order. First comment is “1” then the second to comment types a “2” and then on until we reach 8.

Thank you in advance

We aren't qualified until AFTER we answer the call.

We don't see it all clearly until AFTER we act.

We don't reap the reward until AFTER our faith is tried.

Time and time again, we have to step forward first, without knowing beforehand how everything will unfold.
We don't know what we will endure along the way.
And many times, we aren't clear on each step when we first commit.

So, the number one priority ought to be:
Trusting.

Do we trust the process?

In whatever we do, in whatever we feel called to, or whatever we know we SHOULD be doing:

Do we TRUST?

Because I think that is the lesson. Trusting. Seeing our Savior's hand reaching out as He looks us in the eye and asks:
"Do you trust me?"

Do you trust?

What we do first thing in the morning makes all the difference.

Whether it is the time we wake up, if we look at our phone for scrolling first thing or not, grabbing a pick-me-up beverage over a piece of fruit, if we journal, pray, study, bathe...

There are endless options on how we can commence each new day.

And today, I want to ask you.

What do you do first thing in the morning? And if you want to go that extra mile, how does it help you throughout your day?