|
TThe Silver Braid
In our program, we have developed a symbol to describe the set of tools and techniques that we find useful on our recovery path. We use the symbol we call: "The Silver Braid." The Silver Braid is a symbol of both integration and interconnectedness. Your recovery and participation in this program is vital for the creation of "The Silver Braid."
Today, with the help of other recovering survivors, and our suggested techniques for recovery, you are empowered to re-vision and rebuild your life. Strand by strand, as one survivor connects with another, together we create "The Silver Braid." Finally, the cycle of victimization ceases, and we create a new community where there is absolutely zero tolerance for sexual abuse. We become a part of the solution for a healthier life for both ourselves and others.
To get a sense of what the image of the braid implies on a personal level, imagine a silver braid that connects your inner experience to your outer experience. The strength of your "Silver Braid," is equivalent to the strength of your "core personal integrity."
We believe these are important concepts for survivors to grasp since during the abuse process our core of personal integrity was damaged. To survive the sexual abuse, we split off, disassociate from our inner, authentic experience. We call this "The Split."
How then, can we begin to strengthen "The Silver Braid?" How can we attain or experience a strengthened core personal integrity? We can begin by sensing, knowing and beginning to trust in the validity of our own feelings. We can continue on our path by rebuilding an awareness of how our thoughts, words and beliefs (internal) are connected to what shows up out there (external).
When we can begin to recognize how our inner wounds (the aftereffects) have played into our patterns of victimization, we can then learn more effective ways of responding to others and our own internal dialogues, or "self-talk."
We are creating a new collective consciousness. We are breaking through society's denial. Together, by sharing our painful secrets, we each contribute to this"braid," and each "strand" creates a new collective experience, where sexual exploitation is de-glamorized, de-mystified, and ultimately stops.
What is Core Personal Integrity?
In a normal childhood setting, we, over time experience a correlation between our inner experience and the outer results. In other words, we learn that there is congruence between our thoughts and words and the resulting actions. We call this congruence our core personal integrity.
When we experience abuse, neglect and abandonment, our core of personal integrity is broken. To survive, we often must disassociate, or split off from our true authentic experience, or it would be far too painful. We learn that it is not safe to experience core personal integrity.
The concept of the Silver Braid helps us visualize the process of integration. As survivors, we will need to find ways to strengthen the Silver Braid, that connection to our core personal integrity. Here are a few suggestions for healing:
The strength of our "Silver Braid," comes from one survivor talking to another. We do not do this work alone.
We go to meetings.
We create a Recovery Notebook to place our aftereffects checklists, and our thoughts about our growth.
Together we work to uncover, discover, and discard the symptoms that no longer serve or empower us.
We explore bringing God into our lives. We define this as higher power, or just Spirit. It's our choice.
We use creativity to assist in our healing process.
We begin to see that as we heal, as we help another survivor, as we share our experience, strength, and hope, the Silver Braid reaches across all boundaries. For just as sexual crimes affect our lives, sexual healing and developing personal integrity causes a ripple effect around the world. | 
