Dear Reader, How are you doing? The election news is big, and I’ve been taking time to process it. There are many people talking about and analyzing the election results, but I found myself feeling very quiet yesterday. I needed to go inward. I needed to slow down, to be with myself, and listen to my body. I encourage you to do the same. Take your time with your processing. Feel everything that you're feeling. Be gentle with yourself. Remember to breathe. Reach out to friends; hug people;...
30 days ago • 4 min read
Dear Reader, I spent last week canvassing in Philadelphia. For me, going out and canvassing is an act of love, an act of working for our world, for our country, and for all people in the ways I know best to do at this particular moment. Yesterday, when I got home, I spent some time trying to put my experiences into words and found myself unable to do it very well. Then my daughter, Simone, sent me an article she wrote about her experience canvassing in Michigan this month. I found it captured...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Dear Reader, As someone who thinks and writes a lot about the power of our voice, I want to share some resources that can help us use our voices this election season. This is a very important, nail-biting election here in the US. I want to offer resources that will both empower us and keep us centered and at peace within ourselves. I am also going to be hosting a 60-90 minute live Get Out the Vote Letter Writing Zoom Session this coming Friday, October 18th at 12:00 pm ET / 9:00 am PT. This...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, How are you? I hope this finds you well. I know many of us are living through very difficult things; whether it's storms or illnesses, economic insecurity, political anxiety or violence, I hold you in my thoughts. We are all individuals, and yet, we are also in this together. I got back from leading a beautiful retreat at Omega last week where I was almost completely unplugged. Spending time in community reminded me of how precious each of us is and how connected we all are....
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, There's still time to join my free poetry masterclass—the first time I'm offering it is tomorrow! This free class is for: Poets of any level who want to refine their craft. Prose writers who want to hone their language. Anyone interested in the art of attention and poetry as a sacred practice. In class, you'll learn: The three essential techniques poets use (applicable to every genre); and also... How to pay finer attention as a writer and person; How to communicate the unsaid,...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, It's a beautiful, warm day here in New England. It almost feels like summer again, but the leaves are starting to change, and the days are getting shorter. As we enter this new season, which calls for more subtle forms of attention, poetry can be a companion. I hope you'll join me next week live online for a completely Free Masterclass: The Poetry of Attention. I'm offering the class three times next week; sign up for the time that works best for you. The Poetry of Attention:...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, I hope this finds you well! Many of my students and clients ask me: how do I wake up my writing? My answer: Pay attention. Many then follow up: But how do I pay attention? How do I cultivate my ability to pay attention? My answer: One of the best ways is to study and practice poetry. The poet Mary Oliver once wrote: “Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader, I hope you're well! I'm spending these last few days of summer in Maine with my husband, Eric, and in this precious pause before the busyness of the fall begins, I've been thinking a lot about silence. One of my teachers, the Buddhist monk and activist, Thich Nhat Hanh, writes: If you don't have silence in yourself, you cannot hear the call of life. Your heart is calling you, but you don't hear. You don't have time to listen to your heart. So many of us don't have the silence and...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, How are you? How are your mind, body, and spirit doing? I'm writing to you today with a few exciting announcements, reminders, and reflections for the week :) Next Week! FREE Online Mini Writing Retreat on August 29th As I look ahead to the fall, I'm excited to offer a FREE online mini writing retreat. At this time of transition, use these 75 minutes together to center, come into your creative vision, and make a plan for your writing for this fall! A FREE Online Mini Writing...
4 months ago • 5 min read