Shadows to Light: a journey to empowered motherhood
A collection of poetic vignettes (2025)
This book is for anyone who was raised by emotionally immature or unavailable caregivers.
Shadows to Light: A Journey to Empowered Motherhood is a collection of poetic vignettes about growing up with a mother who had difficulty loving, and the slow, layered work of learning to mother myself. This book is for anyone who was raised by emotionally immature or unavailable caregivers; especially those who are navigating identity, grief, and legacy in the aftermath. Some stories will land with tenderness. Others may overwhelm. But all are offered with the hope of creating connection, reflection, and a sense of shared experience. I don't offer advice or neat solutions. What I offer is a story. Witnessing. And perhaps a soft place for your own truth to land.
For the ones who grew up unseen…
“This book is for every 80s/early 90s daughter whose mother said: you can do it all but you’ll never be enough.” (reader: ashley)
Book Excerpts
I needed to release the invisible rules. I had absorbed about being a “good mother.”
The guilt. The anxiety.
The myth that I had to earn my worth through endless self-denial.
I am beyond the wound. My wound transcends me. It leads me. But it no longer defines me.
Not as a woman.
Not as a mother.
Show me, Universe, what is blocking me from stepping into my power?
How can I deepen my awareness of what’s beneath the surface?
Who needs to be invited in so my light can shine?
About the author
Morgen V. is a therapist, writer, and mother who has spent years writing stories on the backs of napkins and torn notebook paper. Her work is focused on healing intergenerational trauma. Fueled by strong coffee and a stack of library books, she lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and two wild-hearted boys.
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This book is a creative work and is not a substitute for therapy. If you’re seeking therapeutic support, you’re welcome to explore my clinical offerings separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For podcast interviews, articles, or other media inquiries, please reach out to me directly via email: morgen@vida-idilica.com
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Yes. Bulk orders are available for book clubs, therapy practices, organizations, and community groups. Please email directly for inquiries: morgen@vida-idilica.com
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I offer author talks, readings, and facilitated conversations for bookstores, libraries, book clubs, professional groups, and community spaces. These gatherings often focus on themes of emotional neglect, cycle-breaking, motherhood, and healing through witnessing. When reaching out, please include the event type, location (in-person or virtual), preferred date(s), and audience size.
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This book is not a clinical guide to IFS, but it is deeply informed by an IFS way of understanding the self. Throughout the book, you’ll see attention to younger parts and protectors—offered through story and reflection rather than therapeutic instruction. No prior knowledge of IFS is needed to read or appreciate the book.
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No. This book is a creative and reflective work, not a therapeutic service or a replacement for therapy. If you’re seeking clinical support, you’re welcome to explore my therapy offerings separately on this site.
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This book is being shared intentionally through independent channels and Barnes & Noble. Choosing not to sell on Amazon allows me to stay aligned with my values around creative ownership, accessibility, and supporting independent bookstores and communities.
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An audiobook is not available at this time but will be in the future. Stay tuned!
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This book is for readers who grew up with unavailable caregivers, are navigating identity and legacy, or are parenting while still healing themselves. No clinical background is required.