I have been keeping a journal since I was nine years old. And I’ve been writing poems and stories at least as long. I memorized my first poem—“Little Tree” by e.e. cummings—when I was 11 because I wanted to be able to partake of the magic of reciting a poem. Writing helps me make sense […] Continue Reading
Creative Sparks
Real tools and firelight for artists and dreamers to create inspired lives
A Guided Journey to Your Heart’s Dreams
To create the life of your dreams, you first have to know what your heart’s dreams are. You have to grant yourself permission to dream. In this post I offer you a gentle, guided journey to uncover your heart’s dreams and get connected to a sense of possibility. You can do this in the comfort […] Continue Reading
Busyness Kills Creativity—Slow Down and Care for Your Muse
Busyness wreaks havoc on your creativity (and your health and well-being). When you fill all the crevices with work, running around, and noise, you don’t let inspiration come to you or notice things that might spark your imagination. You don’t give your muse what she needs to thrive. In my last two posts, we’ve been […] Continue Reading
Questioning the Lie of Not Enough Time
In my last post, I invited you to look at your relationship with time and begin to shift that relationship into a more loving, friendly one. Bringing awareness to anything we wish to transform is always the first step. Now, let’s dive deeper. How can you actively cultivate a healthy relationship with time? Begin by […] Continue Reading
Transforming Your Relationship with Time, Part 1
How is your relationship with time? Do you feel you have enough? Do you move through your day with ease and flow? Are you spending your time on what you love most, what nourishes your heart and soul? Or are you frantic and rushed, or scattered, distracted, unable to use your time well? Are you […] Continue Reading
The Magical Child, the Wounded Child, and Your Creative Self
We each have a magical child living in us that is intimately connected to our true self and gifts, what we are uniquely good at, and what fascinates and delights us. The magical child holds the key to your wonder, joy, imagination, curiosity, enthusiasm, and playfulness. You need to cultivate a healthy relationship with this […] Continue Reading
A Beautiful Practice to Grow Self-Esteem and Confidence
“Cultures of domination attack self-esteem, replacing it with a notion that we derive our sense of being from dominion over another.” ― Bell Hooks, Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics I took a brisk walk this morning, down and up a steep hill, a loop walk through the tree-lined streets of my neighborhood. As I […] Continue Reading
Finding the Good: Radical Hope in Hard Times
These last weeks I find myself suffering mightily over all the pain in our world, the scary and heart-rending situation in the Ukraine and so much else that is alarming and upsetting. So, I want to share with you something that might offer an antidote, respite and well-being in these stormy times: the radical notion […] Continue Reading
Stunning Books of 2021: My Top Ten Favorites
Last year wasn’t all bad. I read a lot of books, some of them quite wonderful, all of them good. 42 books to be exact, including a mix of poetry, books on the craft of writing, novels, memoir, and other non-fiction. And that doesn’t even count the spiritual books and books of poetry that my […] Continue Reading
How Do You Know If Your Art Is Good?
“Do I have a future as a poet?,” my student asked me during our coaching session the other day. “You have a present as a poet,” I replied. “You are writing poems and enjoying it. It is bringing blessings to your life.” Over the years I have been asked this question in one form or […] Continue Reading
