Interview with Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat, author of 'Voodoo in My Blood'
ABOUT DR. CAROLLE JEAN-MURAT
Dr. Carolle was born and raised in Haiti to a family of healers, herbalists, midwives and shamans, and was educated in Haiti and the best universities in Mexico, Jamaica, and the US.
After completing her postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology in Wisconsin she settled in San Diego in 1982. She soon was regarded as one of the best ob-gyn around—tall and regal, a lone black female among the elite. But her success harbored a secret: when a patient entered her office, Dr. Carolle could quickly and intuitively see the root cause of her patient’s illness, often times knowing she could help the patient without having to put her under the knife. She knew she dared not make these claims aloud. Struggling to fit in with the Western medical paradigm, her intuition and vision were best left unmentioned until she had no choice than to quit.
In 2005, she built the Dr. Carolle’s Wellness and Retreat Center of San Diego, the only place in the world where you can get UNSTUCK by spending as much time as you want – a few hours, one day, or a weekend with her. She helps those who want to quickly discover the root causes of their dis-ease, which usually are hidden emotions. She provides guidance on how to bring them to consciousness, and how to effectively deal with them.
Dr. Carolle has worked extensively with female veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to sexual trauma during their military experience – MST, to include in-depth assessments, providing specialized alternative treatments, and testifying on their behalf at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In July 2012, she joined forces with Tara Wise, the founder of the National Military Women Veterans Association to help bring MST – military sexual trauma to the forefront.
Dr. Carolle continues to provide free intuitive gynecological care to the people of Haiti and underserved women through Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul Village with Father Joe Carroll, and Native-American Health programs. In 1993, Dr. Carolle founded the non-profit organization, Health Through Communications Foundationand its Angels For Haiti Project to provide the underserved with education, health-care, and hope for the future. Seewww.HealthThroughCommunications.org.
As an international motivational speaker, Dr. Carolle brings her message of self-empowerment to women through her award-winning books, CDs, DVDs, live workshops and training programs, radio, media appearances andvirtual events.
To find out more about Dr. Carolle and her work, please visit: http://www.drcarolle.com
A: I have been writing books since 1987 when I started with my memoir. As a medical intuitive it has been very difficult to fit into the Western paradigm of medical practice so I use my books to teach about intuitive healing.
Q: Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?
A: It is the story of a US trained OB-GYN, born in Haiti who could intuitively see the root cause of her patient’s illness, struggling to reconcile Western medicine with her healing heritage. A spiritual journey of self-discovery; an awakening to live life “close to the bones” of innate identity. I wrote it for many reasons, not only to help me understand myself, but to demystify what people think about Voodoo – a word that conjures up images of black magic rituals, dolls bristling with pins, sacrificed chickens (or people), and zombies rising from the grave. In reality, Voodoo— a word meaning “spirit is built around ancient practices brought to Haiti (“Land of Mountains”) by West Africans slaves beginning in 1501. It emphasizes the honoring of nature and the importance of ancestors.
Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced writing it?
A: Having to relive the sad moments of my life – which were many. Also realizing that I still struggle with the stigma of having “Voodoo in my blood” and being at odds still with society and family members – even though I totally embrace the gift that I have inherited being the granddaughter of a Voodoo priest and shaman.
Q: Do you have a press kit and what do you include in it? Does this press kit appear online and, if so, can you provide a link to where we can see it?
A: I am in the process of putting a press kit together and it will be online.
Q: Have you either spoken to groups of people about your book or appeared on radio or TV? What are your upcoming plans for doing so?
A: I have had many in person, radio, and TV appearances, as well as book signings. I also use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and my blog since the book came out and plan to continue to do so. I also told my friends and patients to get it and refer it to their friends.
Q: Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing who he/is is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it’s necessary to have one?
A: Many publishers want you to have an agent. My books Menopause Made Easy and Natural Pregnancy A-Z where published by Hay House; Louise Hay is my friend so I did not need to have an agent. My current publisher Bettie Youngs used to be my agent……unhappy with the publishing world she started her own publishing company. I guess I am one of the few lucky authors who could go directly to a publisher and have their works published.
Q: Did you, your agent or publisher prepare a media blitz before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?
A: I work with Jackie of Lauderdale Media and there were many press releases; the book was represented at the international book fair in Germany as well as in the New York Book Fair.
Q: Do you plan subsequent books?
A: Is It My Hormones or Something Else? How to Find What Is Really Happening to Me & What to Do About It is in the final stages of editing. I am presently working on two manuscripts: Painful Sex No More – Preventing & Overcoming Vaginal Pain Before & After Menopause and Moving Beyond Sexual Trauma: A Victim No More.
Q: Thank you for your interview, Dr. Carolle. Would you like to tell my readers where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy your book?
A: My website is www.DrCarolle.com; my phone number is 619-850-5030; Voodoo In My Blood can be purchased at www.Amazon.com.
ABOUT VOODOO IN MY BLOOD
Born and raised in Haiti to a family of healers, US trained physician Carolle Jean-Murat came to be regarded as a world-class surgeon. But her success harbored a secret: in the operating room, she could quickly intuit the root cause of her patient’s illness, often times knowing she could help the patient without surgery. Dr. Jean-Murat knew that to fellow surgeons, her intuition was best left unmentioned. But when the devastating earthquake hit Haiti and Carolle returned to help, she had to acknowledge the shaman she had become.
This mesmerizing story takes us inside the secret world of voodoo as a healing practice, and sheds light on why it remains a mystery to most and shunned by many.
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