"It is not merely the "shadow" side of our personalities we overlooked, disregard and repress. We may also do the same to our positive qualities." 

The intertwining of light and shadow within us spreads into our lives like the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa, carrying along with it the clouded and flowing emotions. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci used the "Sfumato" technique while painting Mona Lisa. In Italian, "Sfumato" means "smoky" or "blending into the air and disappearing like smoke."

The mystery of Mona Lisa lies in the shadows skillfully imprinted on her face, merging with the other colors. Does her smile carry a dignified air, a subtle sadness, a hopeful or cunning expectation, love that enhances understanding and compassion, innocence, or perhaps an alluring, masked calmness? Each time, this smile, like the shadows within us, changes depending on how we look at her, and how we have wearied her, just as it reflects how we embrace the shadows within ourselves.

Sometimes, our shadows are like an uninvited guest knocking at our door, sometimes like a thoughtful guest bringing an armful of gifts, and at other times, they feel like a troublesome, incurable visitor... The shadows, promising us the light that is uniquely ours, can be warriors we face on the battlefield, the ones we bow down to in reverence, or sometimes the ones we witness effortlessly and long to reunite with. No matter which side we approach them from, they are a part of us.

At first, it wasn’t easy to meet and understand them. Fortunately, my passion for "writing," which began in high school and deepened over time, has been a compass leading me toward my shadow side and unknown territories. In challenging days, sharp turns, moments of uncertainty, or when darkness falls over life's open seas, it has been a reliable shelter, like a precious gift and a timeless beacon of light, offering both clarity and peace.

Though I embraced this gift at an early age, finding my own style took a bit of time. During my university years, my involvement in theater groups, followed by a deep interest in European cinema, enriched my writing. As it grew, my search also transformed. Additionally, through working in various educational institutions, my desire to find solutions to the problems students face led me to areas such as Inner Child Work, Mind-Body-Spirit, Sense of Worth and Competence, Womb Wisdom, Creation Workshops, Ego, Balance, Archetypal Apothecary 'Luna' with Light and Shadow Sides, Ways of Compassion, Feminine Energy Work, Kundalini Yoga Training, and Magnetism Seminars. With training from both local and international experts and attending seminars, I have been able to expand in various directions.

Studying the works of experts, researchers, and authors I follow, such as Peter A. Levine, Debbie Ford, Carl Gustav Jung, Brené Brown, and Karla Mclaren, deeply impacted my exploration of our shadow sides and played a key role in my transition to absurd comedy, as well as inspiring my works in this field.

By combining art and writing, I have always believed in the power of addressing these confrontations in a more artistic language. I continue to write creatively and, outside of sets, produce content that will raise awareness about the shadow sides of life for readers and support them in observing them with grace. For me, writing is not just a form of expression; it is a deep exploration and a personal journey of transformation. I would love to accompany you on your journey as well on this platform, which nourishes fragility, simplicity, and sincerity.

I hope we meet, and that this encounter enables loving connections for all of us.

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With love,

Leyla