​​I recently returned home from a desert retreat. I try to go every year. It’s the best place I know to get quiet and to heal. No work. No schedules. No social media. No news. 

​When I tell people that studying Spiritual Psychology changed my writing and life, they ask, “What is spiritual psychology?” ​

Have you heard the saying, “Writers don’t let writers write alone?”

​Writing can be complex and scary, and even though we do it by ourselves, we can also write with a community, and we can do it with the support of mentors and teachers.

I confess that I have a love/hate relationship with being seen. Part of me wants to shout what I’ve learned about creative freedom from my rooftop, while another part wants to hide in bed. But I figured it was time to throw off some covers and properly introduce myself. Maybe if you know me, I’ll also get to know you. That would be sweet.
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I recently found this photograph of me taken in 2008, when I published my first book, Secrets of My Sex, a poetry collection. In the background, you can see the photo I used for my book cover, a snapshot taken after a flamenco show in Spain circa 1982. After the dancers and audience cleared, my girlfriend and I commandeered the stage for an impromptu photo shoot.

​[Two seats left! Enrollment closes Saturday, January 21]

Is it hard for you to ask for help? It is for me. I think I should have my shit together; I should know what I’m doing by now. I believe I shouldn’t need help—and on and on. 

On New Year’s Day, 2023, I revisited my journal entry from January 1, 2022. 
 
I’d forgotten and was surprised to see I’d done an extensive year-end review and goal setting for the new year. 
 
When I looked at my fourteen hefty goals, I thought I’ve done none of them! 

​A few weeks ago, I woke up to a triggering text message. Its content doesn’t matter. But my reaction was a doozy. As with many life lessons, the hard stuff often becomes most instructive—if we’re paying attention. 
 
After indulging my negative thinking, I dashed off a snide text response. Then I joined my husband in the sauna and spewed self-righteousness and judgment. I tried to get him to agree that the sender of the text message was wrong, and I was right. He didn’t bite. So, I got mad at him.

Here’s the last video of my three-part series, “Overcoming Writing Obstacles.” I hope you enjoy it!
 
Enrollment for my fall writing circles is now open! If we’ve spoken and you asked me to save you a seat, now’s the time to claim it. I have one opening each in the Monday and Wednesday circles and several in the Thursday circle. I expect these seats to sell out quickly—first-come, first-served. Enroll today!

For years I suffered under the weight of a story I created in my mind about not being a good enough writer. I took rejections personally. I felt like I was failing at work I deeply loved and felt compelled to do. 

If that wasn’t painful enough, I felt like I was a failure. But failure is not an identity. It’s a fact of life. We all fail. When babies learn how to walk, they stumble and fall. The same is true for us when learning any new skill.