Following the Fox: Exploring your inner landscape
letter two {Seeds of Poetry}
I have no coordinates, only instincts. No destination, just the scent of something sacred - The Fox
This has been one of those weeks.
The kind where the yard crew reschedules three times, the dog gets sprayed by a skunk, and your house still reeks no matter how many skunk shampoos you’ve attempted. The kind where your partner has a medical scare, and your nervous system, already frayed by too many unexpected shifts, starts scanning every room for danger.
I had imagined a quiet stretch of time this week. I thought I’d write to you in a soft, dreamy flow. I thought I’d do laundry and drink tea and let my mind wander into the creative underworld. But instead, I’ve been pulled above ground again and again, to tend to unpleasant real life things (ugh).
But this is a good opportunity to share with you exactly how I do find my way back to my writing and to myself after moments of fear and chaos.
How we follow the fox…
A couple weeks ago, I shared about some of the tools I use to find my way when I feel lost and I also wrote about spiritual practices for those of us who don’t ascribe to mainstream religious paths.
Today, I want to share a bit about how I practice meditation and shamanic journeying. I’m often hesitant to talk about this part of my life, even though it’s a vital part of my creative process, because it took me a long time to find my way here.
Without diving into my full spiritual background, I’ll just say this: I was raised by skeptical, atheist, progressive professor parents in Central Illinois, where the dominant culture was evangelical Protestant Christianity. I spent my youth fending off accusations of devilry and listening to classmates announce they’d be “praying for me,” while I did my best to explain that I didn’t believe in hell, so their threats didn’t quite land.
So when I tell you that I’ve learned to travel within myself and speak with animals, plants, and inner guides, I want you to know: this didn’t come easily. It took me years to accept that the wisdom I found there was real, and that it could change me. I don’t need you to believe in magic to be here, nor do I need you not to believe in anything at all. I’m simply offering tools that have expanded my joy, deepened my insight, and helped me live more creatively in the world.
What’s below the paywall? A little story about my first shamanic healing, a recipe for a spring salad, and several creative writing prompts <3