HEARTBREAK
"Honor your heart— not just in its strength, but in its aching; not just when it is healing but when it is breaking from a pain that is Instigated by Heartbreak." ♡
"Honor your heart— not just in its strength, but in its aching; not just when it is healing but when it is breaking from a pain that is Instigated by Heartbreak." ♡
A BROKEN HEART STILL BEATS.
Instigated By Heartbreak: Kintsugi Through Poetry is a collection of poetry and prose for anyone who has ever had to piece themselves together after love falls apart. Drawing from kintsugi—the Japanese tradition of restoring pottery with gold—the collection engages with the idea that repair can be deliberate, thoughtful, and structurally beautiful.
Blending poetry with narrative prose, the book traces the emotional shifts that accompany loss, clarity, renewal, and the broader phases of grief. While the collection follows the arc of a single protagonist, it is not tied to any specific person; the narrative is shaped to echo the broader realities of heartbreak and reconstruction. Each piece approaches these states with care, offering a grounded space for individuals to recognize elements of their own experience.
Created for those who appreciate introspective writing and emotionally layered storytelling, Instigated By Heartbreak serves as a companion for those navigating significant change in love and moving toward a steadier, more intentional sense of self.
Releasing • November 28, 2025 Join The Instigated Collective.
WHAT IS KINTSUGI?
Kintsugi is a centuries-old Japanese art form that repairs broken pottery using lacquer mixed with powdered gold. Rather than hiding the cracks, it accentuates them, transforming a once-shattered object into something more beautiful for having been broken.
This practice holds a bold and enduring belief: that breakage is not the end of a story, but the beginning of a more resilient one. Instigated by Heartbreak draws from this philosophy as a guiding metaphor for the inner work of healing.
The heart may fracture under the weight of grief, yet each phase reshapes it in ways that are both painful and necessary.
A few things to love about kintsugi:
Each repaired piece is one of a kind; no two crack patterns are alike.
The restored object is often considered more valuable than it was before it broke.
Kintsugi is rooted in wabi-sabi, a philosophy that honors imperfection and impermanence.
Traditional kintsugi can take weeks or even months, as each layer of lacquer must cure slowly.
The craft became so revered that collectors sometimes broke pottery intentionally, just to have it repaired with gold.
What Early Readers Say About...
INSTIAGTED BY HEARTBREAK“A beautiful meditation on grief, self-worth, and the courage of healing.”
“The writing is tender without being overly sentimental and honest without being harsh. It captures a distinct emotional inner world in a way that feels instantly recognizable to anyone who has endured romantic grief.”
“Closing this book felt like exhaling after holding my breath for too long.”
Instigated By Heartbreak: Kintsugi Through Poetry
To those who found their way here,
I may be biased, being the author of Instigated By Heartbreak, but I wanted to leave a brief note as it begins its journey into the world. My hope is that it makes you feel less alone. It became a grounding companion for me while I was shaping it, and I believe it can offer the same steadiness to anyone moving through transitions of the heart.
I am giving it five stars because I know the intention, effort, and care that went into creating my first work. If it resonates with you, I hope it brings a sense of clarity and perspective. Thank you for reading, and for lending your voice to this book’s early conversations. May it continue to find the community of readers it is meant for.
With Love,
Afia
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♡ "Honor your heart— not just in its strength, but in its aching; not just when it is healing but when it is breaking from a pain that is Instigated by Heartbreak." ♡