The Thrill of Making a Difference: From an Interview With Julie Prentice

Welcome to The Women Behind The Poetry, where we interview women from the 'Journey of The Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry Project'! 

Today we introduce you to the lovely Julie Prentice, a wife of 42 years and mother to three sons who assists persons with mental health challenges to find their own paths to wellness and recovery.

I had a high school English teacher, Mr. Morse, who began to encourage writing what you were feeling rather than what you thought people would want to hear. I was part of a literary magazine, which published poetry and prose for the high school and families to read. Recently I discovered a few copies and found some lost poetry written during my late teens. Some I remembered and they formed a bridge between my younger self and the one I am today. Others are like another’s writing, no memory of creation still exists, but they were my words then and remain today

Writing about things that cause heartache, but result in the spirit growing and evolving are the easiest for me to write about. Spiritual, mystical and connections to those things attract me. Of course, people I know and things I have experienced cause poems to bubble up from the depths of who knows what?

Soul, spirit, self or the all and unknowable inspire me. Naturally, nature is a great inspiration and I feel a deep connection with plants, animals and the wonderful expressions of life that make up our world.

It is hard to write things that reflect negatively on people I love, though sometimes there is a necessary catharsis that results when old hurts or injustices are explored. Having dealt with demons from the past, they do become less powerful, less damaging and more understandable.

I draw inspiration from words and phrases I hear from others or from inside my own mind (though that might be an illusion). These phrases urge me to put things on paper, and work through me to convey what I think they mean to me, and might mean to others too.

I read poetry, and am inspired by the power of other writer’s words, which often spark a piece.

Everything by Emily Dickinson, Thoreau, Rumi and from Khalil Gibran and from Mary Oliver. My first book of poetry/prose that I can remember being in love with was called  ‘The Blue Fairy Book” and had a playful choice of words in children’s poetry. A.A. Milne wrote about characters that became my imaginary friends. First poem I memorized was “Jabberwocky”, an assignment for 4^th grade that my teacher rejected as not a real poem, causing me much pain. Fortunately that didn’t stop me from reading more ‘unacceptable’ works. Shel Silverstein, e.e. cummings and Sylvia Plath are others whose words influenced me greatly, with humorous, playful and sorrowful candor. I also worked with a group using ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron, a book I would highly recommend.

Other’s words often sink in deeply, replay in my mind. They can bring comfort or a shock of recognition that other people have experienced what I have.

When deciding to share one of my own poems, the main fear that would prevent me fro doing so is the fear that someone will hate it, or be hurt by it, or not accept the spirit in which the poem was written, as fiction not fact. The poems are always my interpretation of the way things happened. Self-doubt is an issue that wars with creative expression inside me constantly. Yet, I gulp down fear and write and share anyway.

To imagine that my message could make a difference for someone else thrills me…sometimes driving the urge to put pen to paper. I have also discovered myself inside the words, a self-awakening that I don’t think would happen without writing. Self-knowledge is powerful, without it we often repeat old patterns without understanding why.

Poetry is a lens through which I examine myself to learn more about the me I was, and the me I am, and the me I might become!

Writing a poem, for me, is very akin to a birth process to bring a poem to paper…and I believe birth is spiritually initiated. No creation exists without creator, and whatever that creator is lives inside me and causes words to spill out.

Writing is a release of what is often pent up inside, crying to get out, but that has no other outlet. 

I love words, playing with words and get great satisfaction when words flow out or sputter onto page, unedited and raw, or are painstakingly crafted, worked and reworked. Poetry has been a loyal friend, to which I can pour out the poison, the glory and struggle of life, and rejoice in the beauty of it. The blank page always listened, often when I couldn’t speak to anyone else.

I took a writing course ‘Writing the Womb’ by Isabel Faith Abbot that led me to the Women’s Spiritual Poetry website and eventually to this project. This group of generous, creative, loving women has rocked me in its cradle of warmth and respect. I have made new friends, ‘virtual’ though they may be, and feel connected to others in a new way. To know that others write because it is a need, not just a want, has been refreshing and validating.

I’ve learned and grown so much in the Journey of the Heart community, and have so much gratitude for my fellow poets.

Also, my deep respect and hats off to Catherine Ghosh and for her tremendous vision to have this group co-create something I feel is extremely valuable and timely: Women, writing about Women, for Women and for the World.

How would I describe myself? Well, I am wife of my life partner (together 42 years) and the mother of three fantastic sons. I have had successful careers in teaching/tutoring children and interpretation in sign language. My current vocation is assisting persons with mental health challenges to find their own paths to wellness and recovery, by working with them and sharing my own recovery journey. 

I enjoy writing, singing, crafting and engaging in a spiritual quest for connection with the universe. I love spending quality time with family and friends and making new ones as I travel through life. You can read my works here or on my blog here. 






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Julia W. Prentice: A deeply feeling Cancer, Julia has been writing since her teenage years. She is the mother of three sons, has successful careers in teaching children, interpretation in sign language and assisting persons with mental health challenges to find their own paths to recovery. Living with her love and partner of over forty years has brought contentment and much fulfillment. She writes like she breathes: incessantly, some in ragged gasps, some in whispering sighs, some in mighty shouts. Always she is driven to write. Recently after taking a women’s online writing course she has heard the universe telling her to share her writings. You may find them on her blog "A Shooting Star" here. 
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PLEASE CLICK "comments" BELOW TO SHARE A RESPONSE.

~If you are one of the poetesses from 'Journey of the Heart', and would like to appear in this blog, just click here to request an interview. We are excited to learn more about you!~

~If you write poetry and would like to share it on 'Journey of The Heart', click here for submission -guidelines. And thank you for your interest!~  

Interview With Kai Coggin

Welcome to The Women Behind The Poetry, where we interview women from the 'Journey of The Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry Project'!  

Today we introduce you to the dynamic and inspired Kai Coggin, a full-time poet and freelance writer from Hot Springs, Arkansas, who delivers powerful messages through her poetry. 

When and how did you first begin writing poetry?

I first began writing poetry in high school, but don’t really recall specifically important poems until college.  I was in an emotionally hostile environment as a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M.  My spirit and identity were stifled, and my femininity and sexuality became a target for hazing and abuse.  Poetry became the only life raft that I had; a way to keep my sanity when it felt as though my soul and light were slipping further and further away. 

I changed my major from Biomedical Science to Poetry and Creative Writing and met my mentor and creative writing professor, Dr. Chuck Taylor, who told me that my work reminded him of Mary Oliver and Anais Nin.  He called me a Neo-Beatnik Poet, and I felt like someone finally COULD SEE ME.  I put everything into my writing, and removed myself from the negative situations that were trying to get the best of me.

Poetry became a constant touchstone, a friend through growing pains, a lover when my lovers failed me, poetry was and is always there.  Poetry is one of the most important pieces of my life. 

Which subjects are easiest for you to write poems on?

It is easiest for me to write about Love, in its myriad forms. I write a lot about my love for women. There is this ongoing love letter that I have in my mind, writing itself over and over again in poems. These poems are to my beloved, to strangers, to a lover I haven’t met yet, to a child, to the Cosmos, but the common thread is always there; my heart.

Which subjects are the hardest for you to write about?

It is hardest for me to write about issues of justice, but on occasion, my soul gets pulled to do that work, to shine light on issues such as female genital mutilation in Africa, the plight of sea creatures, fascism, war, genocide, racism, political manipulation, women’s rights, gay rights, the list goes on.  Humanity is suffering right now, and it is the responsibility of the poets and the artists to acknowledge that suffering, but also to provide a beacon of hope, a light at the end of a desolate tunnel.  That can be the most difficult part for me, finding that light in a seemingly hopeless situation.  I do not like to leave my readers/listeners without hope, or in the dark.

When are some of your sources of inspiration in writing poetry?

Beauty.  Beauty is the biggest catalyst for my poems.  There could be a moment that I share only with nature, or with my family, my dogs, a solitary bird, a passing cloud, digging for crystals that are millions of years old, or just silence.  Silence brings the Divine, opens my eyes to the Oneness.  Besides Beauty calling me to write, I am most inspired by when a phrase pops into my head from some higher source, or from some passing thought.  Usually, I will build an entire poem from one phrase that keeps on pulsating in my head until I write it out.  When I sit down to write, the words pour out without edit, without blockage.  I am very lucky in that aspect of writing. 

What is your biggest fear or hesitation when deciding to share a poem with the public, and how do you move beyond it?

I don’t really have any hesitation with sharing my poems with the public.  I feel like I am bringing my light to the table by sharing.  Some people may not care for my spiritual poems, or my conscious/aware/cosmic subject matter, but I am not going to hide my work to appease anyone.  People have told me how much my poems have helped them, or made them believe in love, or made them want to hug their children, or made them strive towards their higher selves.  I will not silence my Art.  Not ever.

What is the most profound, meaningful or enlightening discovery you have made while writing poems?

While writing poems, I have been able to tap into (what feels like) a Cosmic pulse that I cannot really achieve by other means.  I do not meditate or practice yoga.  I write poems.  I look at the world around me with a microscope or magnifying glass, and freeze moments with my mind in order to dive face-first into the beauty of it, unpack it so that it may live forever. I will sit down to write sometimes, and this energy, this flow comes THROUGH me.  It is something that I hope to always be able to touch.

How is writing poetry a spiritual process for you?

I have been documenting the literal journey of MY heart in poems for a while now, documenting the striving of my soul as it burns through attachments and instances of trauma that shaped me into the numbed and broken person that I was just six years ago.  My poetry had new fire breathed into it when I met my Teacher and dearest friend, Joann, who has helped me break out of the subconscious patterns and chains of my painful past.  My past was not all bad, of course, but there were some painful moments that shaped me into a woman that I did not really want to become.  Over the past six years of knowing Joann, and learning to see myself as my Self, my SOUL, my poetry has been evolving infinitely. I am embracing the transcending nature of my being, and writing from a level that I had never achieved before, with eyes and heart more open to the world.

What function or role has writing poems played for you in your life?

Early on in my adolescent life, writing was more of a release for me, a therapeutic exercise, a diary of secrets, a collection of words that I wrote but could never say.  Now, writing is still those things for me, but I share my work with anyone willing to read/hear it.  I know that my feelings, my experiences, my doubts, my fears, my joys, my struggles are not solely mine, are not exclusive to my human experience.  I know that when I overcome a great struggle in my personality, or have a renewed purpose in love, and I can write that into a poem, I am helping the collective consciousness in some way.  We are all connected. My waking up is your waking up. Your overcoming is my overcoming.

Name some of your favorite poems, poets or poetry books.

I love anything by Rumi (especially The Book of Love), Rabindranath Tagore, Kahlil Gibran, Torkom Saraydarian, Mary Oliver, Sappho, Adrienne Rich, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Hafiz, Ai, Shakespeare, e. e. cummings, Ani Difranco.  I love the writing of Anais Nin and Jeanette Winterson (my absolute favorite); their writing touches me as poetry does. 

Some contemporary poets that have spoken to my heart with Beauty and Fire include Andrea Gibson, Jamaal May, Jeremy Radin, Rachel McKibbens, Airea D. Matthews, Dominique Christina, Muggs Fogarty, Natalie E. Illum, Ashlee Haze, Siaara Freeman, Sarah Myles Spencer, Katie Wirsing and Tarfia Faizullah.

What effect does reading the poems of others have on you?

Reading the poems of others puts me into their body almost, like I can see through their eyes, feel with their hands, experience with they heart. It is necessary, as a poet, to read what other poets are writing, and to see where your words sit among other words, how they float in the ocean of poems that are written every day all over the world. 

How did you first discover Journey of The Heart?

I discovered Journey of The Heart, through the updates of the Women’s Spiritual Poetry page on Facebook, and then moving over and checking out the blog.  It is a wellspring of pure Beauty.  I am so honored that the amazing Catherine Ghosh requested that I send her a poem to be included in this remarkable anthology. It is like joining hands with a circle of artists, and servers, and seekers, and knowers. I feel so seen in this space, and I am so filled with gratitude for that.

Have you publicly shared your poetry before doing so via this project?

Yes, I share my poetry online through my blog and I occasionally share poems on my Facebook page.  I love to share my work, and to hear whether people love it or hate it, whether it strikes a chord in them, or makes them think, or they just appreciate the beauty. 

I also share my work almost every week at a local Open Mic here in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where I live.  It is a poetry series called Wednesday Night Poetry and it is the longest running poetry open mic in the country; it has been going strong for over 25 years WITHOUT EVER MISSING A SINGLE WEDNESDAY.  I try to write a new poem every week to share, and that is a challenge that I gave myself when I started attending the open mic a year ago.  The people who attend WNP are like my creative family, especially Chuck Dodson, the host.  He has been this constant source of encouragement and support for me.  Hot Springs, as a community, has been a tremendous source of creative support for me this year, and I think that living in such a welcoming and nurturing artistic community has allowed me to have all of the successes that I have had over the past few months (getting invited to a writing retreat in New York, getting featured in a statewide newspaper, and the upcoming publication of my book, PERISCOPE HEART).  I am truly blessed to be where I am in this moment.

What has been your general experience of sharing your poetry on Journey of The Heart?

Journey of The Heart is a confirmation of my work as a (striving to be) conscious poet. It is a validation from the Universe that my poems and my heart are being heard.  Being included in this anthology is of tremendous importance for me, because I can see the healing and the beauty and the power that a collection of this kind is going to be when it is released on this upcoming Full Moon. Thinking about it makes my hair stand on end.  The pages are charged with the energy of 65 women and their WIDE OPEN HEARTS.  I cannot wait to fully immerse myself in this magic.

Any last words you’d like to share about poetry?

Poetry is something that means a great deal to me, and I hope to continue working on this craft with all of the awareness, the openness, the honesty, the healing, the surviving, the breaking open that I can muster. My personal poetic journey thus far will be released at the end of this year, in my first full-length collection, PERISCOPE HEART, published by Swimming With Elephants Publications. I am so excited to see what my next steps will be in this vast world of words.


Kai Coggin is a full-time poet and freelance writer born in Bangkok, Thailand, raised in Southwest Houston, and currently a blip in the 3 million acre Ouachita National Forest in Hot Springs, AR.   She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Poetry and Creative Writing from Texas A&M University.  She writes poems of feminism, love, spirituality, injustice, metaphysics, and beauty.  Kai has been published in Elephant Journal, Cliterature, The Manila Envelope, [empath], Catching Calliope and an anthology to be released this summer called Journey to the Heart. She released her first chapbook, In Other Words, in August 2013. Her first full-length book of poetry PERISCOPE HEART will be published by Swimming with Elephants Publications at the end of 2014. Kai knows that words hold the potential to create monumental and global change, and she uses her words like a sword of Beauty.  She can be found most Wednesdays at a local venue, reading her poems into an open mic, hoping the wind carries her words out to the world. Connect with Kai on her blog here, or on Facebook.  

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PLEASE CLICK "comments" BELOW TO SHARE A RESPONSE.

~If you are one of the poetesses from 'Journey of the Heart', and would like to appear in this blog, just click here to request an interview. We are excited to learn more about you!~

~If you write poetry and would like to share it on 'Journey of The Heart', click here for submission guidelines. And thank you for your interest!~ 

Interview With Savitri Talahatu

Welcome to The Women Behind The Poetry, where we interview women from the 'Journey of The Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry Project'!  

Today we introduce you to the lovely yogini Savitri, who is a life coach and healer from Bali, living now in Toronto, Canada. 

When and how did you first begin writing poetry?

Perhaps in the 5^th of 6^th grade and blossomed in junior high school. I loved reading poetry and started to write pages of “flow of consciousness” which later had a poetic “feel” to them. Although I’ve learned about quatrain, stanza, sloka, haiku, rhyme, etc., I have never written poems in a certain “form”.

Which subjects are easiest for you to write poems on?

The easiest subject for me to write poems on is about my connection to the Source and the process feels as though the words come through me, and not from me.

Which subjects are the hardest for you to write about?

Every subject is hard for me to write as I see myself as a medium, an instrument, and not a writer or a poet. Do you have any advice on how to shift that? Before leaving for Bali and India last year, I thought about starting a blog and writing regularly to share my experience with family and friends but that didn’t happen.

When are some of your sources of inspiration in writing poetry?

When my heart is wide open and the words, like life, just flow through me.

What is your biggest fear or hesitation when deciding to share a poem with the public, and how do you move beyond it?

Most of my poems came to me as “downloads”. I often feel a strong desire to keep them private because others may not understand the context.

What is the most profound, meaningful or enlightening discovery you have made while writing poems?

That the poems have their own unique voice, wanting to be born.

That I am an instrument of the poems, facilitating their births, not the creator.

How is writing poetry a spiritual process for you?

Each poem was often born after walking in nature, dancing or meditation, but also out of a period of longing, deep listening, and reciting a mantra.

What function or role has writing poems played for you in your life?

During trying time, I write as an outlet to express what which wouldn’t have had any expression otherwise. Writing has been a true and trusted friend.

Name some of your favorite poems, poets or poetry books.

I love the poetry of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rumi, Maya Angelou, Pablo Neruda, Rabindranath Tagore, Mirabai, Kabir Das, Hafiz, Omar Khayyam and many more.

What effect does reading the poems of others have on you?

Reading the poems of others, especially a few of those mentioned above, often transport me to a different reality, as if entering the poet’s private chamber.

How did you first discover Journey of The Heart?

I first discovered Journey of The Heart on Facebook when the posts appeared on my newsfeed. After awhile, I responded to your call for spiritual poems and sent my poetry to you, just to see if my poetry was in the same vein with your vision for Journey of The Heart. Thank you so much for providing me with an opportunity to explore another facet of my existence.

Have you publically shared your poetry before doing so via this project?

When I was in high school, I shared my poetry in the school’s newsletter. It was easy and natural because it was in Bahasa Indonesia. I did not feel any pressure to maintain the heart-felt essence as when writing poetry in English. 

What did it feel like to share your poetry for the first time on Journey of The Heart?

When Catherine shared my poetry for the first time on Journey of The Heart, I was not sure whether I should let people know or keep quiet about it. When I got over that inner talk, I shared the post with my personal, teaching and holistic healing facebook pages. It was quite an interesting feeling to see a part of me out there in the world and I am wondering if any novice poetess feels the same way I did.

What has been your general experience of sharing your poetry on Journey of The Heart?

It has been a delightful learning experience of sharing my poetry, with Catherine personally first, and then with Journey of The Heart. I thank her for her encouragement and for your kind words of support.

Any last words you’d like to share about poetry?

In the world of poetry, I found a world of beauty, enchantment and wonderment.

Savitri Ingga Talahatu was born and raised in Bali to musician parents from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. She is mother to a grown son and god-mother to a beautiful 17 year old god-daughter.  Savitri has been a multi-disciplinary teacher for almost three decades, having taught in the public system in Indonesia and in Canada, at universities and community colleges, women's shelters and senior residences. She currently teaches bhakti-infused Hatha and Kundalini Yoga classes, facilitates Yoga and Wellness workshops in Toronto, and at an annual Yoga teacher-training program in Bali.  Savitri is also a life coach, holistic health practitioner, labor and post-partum doula, childbirth educator and Reiki Master. In her spare time, she plays with a gamelan ensemble since its inception in 2001. You may contact Savitri though e-mail soulsanctuary88@gmail.com Or on facebook here. 

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PLEASE CLICK "comments" BELOW TO SHARE A RESPONSE.

~If you are one of the poetesses from 'Journey of the Heart', and would like to appear in this blog, just click here to request an interview. We are excited to learn more about you!~

~If you write poetry and would like to share it on 'Journey of The Heart', click here for submission guidelines. And thank you for your interest!~ 

Interview With Andreja Cepus

Welcome to The Women Behind The Poetry, where we interview women from the 'Journey of The Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry Project'!  

Today we introduce you to Slovenian Social Artist Andreja Cepus, whose inspiring work involves networking with people all over the world to usher in new ways of thinking, creating and leading. 

When and how did you first begin writing poetry?

I guess it came as a calling of my Soul that wanted to express herself. I started to write poetry in elementary school and it was just something that came out in moments of my solitude, when I was contemplating what was going on in my life at that point.  I couldn’t force it, it was just a flow and it came whenever I was in this special state of being, deep within. It stayed with me...but the flow was not constant. I never knew when it’s going to appear. There were long periods of time that I couldn’t write anything, but then came moments…when something was alive, awake within, a huge wave…and it wanted to come through, to come out to be shared. My soul was communicating with me and through me. And the feeling, when the poem was on the paper, was special, too. These are sacred, intimate moments when you give birth to creation.

Which subjects are easiest for you to write poems on?

My poems are usually the expression of my soul’s deep knowing and spiritual growth. It’s about the spiritual evolution and passion of diving deep to find my own diamond shining: like a state of being birthed and once it’s out, the shift is done. Poems are inspirations and invitation to us all…to step into our deep balanced center within and walk it in everyday life.

Which subjects are the hardest for you to write about?

Probably I could never write about anything that doesn’t touch me on a soul level.

When do you feel most inspired to write poetry?

I feel most inspired to write poetry when merged with Oneness: with all that is happening within and without. Nature is my pure Source of inspiration. Feeling connected, being a part of this big picture of Life, being One with nature within and outside me…these are moments of pure Being, Grace and deep Silence where I can only hear the voice of my own Soul weaving the new vibration into the matrix of Life. It’s like a breath of Life, paused in one moment, enriched there with the soul message…in order to be expressed and shared.

What is your biggest fear or hesitation when deciding to share a poem with the public?

At the beginning I was very shy about having my poetry read by others.  But when I allow my Soul to come through, a sacred moment is captured, and  expressed, and i realize they are very intimate expressions of my own truth.

At first, I wasn’t comfortable with being seen in such an intimate space, where everything is transparent. I had this limiting belief that my truth is not good enough to be shared; I haven’t considered myself as poetess! But at the same time, I felt if the creation is being birthed it might be for a purpose to have a life on its own. So, I set it (and myself) free.  And got encouraged by the feedback, when seeing that my poems can inspire others. 

What is the most profound thing you have learned from writing poems?

I would say that this has to do with realization that creative flow coming through me has a life on its own and it’s up to me to just set it free. I believe that poems are creation birthed in words and they are true essence of the soul. Words are potent and can ignite the spark in one who reads them, when they are embodying pure universal truth. I cannot expect, push, command or try here, when composing a poem. I can only give it an opportunity to emerge, and hold space for light to grow and spread however, wherever and whenever it wishes.  I also learned that this flow is effortless and that simplicity can be more powerful than any complexity. It’s the same with Life.

How is writing poetry a spiritual process for you?

Writing a poem is a pure spiritual process for me.  When I feel the flow of poetry it’s like a wave of light is running through me. I find myself in enlightened space, existing within the moment, merged with this creative force. And I always know when this process is finished, when all is out. It’s communication with the Soul on a most intimate level, and what comes out is always something that I’ve just integrated within me. After it’s out…I always feel that the poem introduced a theme that then comes alive in my everyday life in every detail, as if the poem needs to be embodied fully into every action, word and step that I do. It’s very conscious process and it’s also a very beautiful one. I love these sacred moments.

What function has writing poems played for you in your life?

At first, writing poetry was a catalyst for my emotions to come out. But then something changed. It became more of a communication process with my soul. My soul gave me deep insights on how things organically flow and grow and evolve. And I knew the time has come for me to fully embody this truth. These communications with my soul through poetry also gave me inspiration for new ideas, projects, and openings. Lately, and I guess this is now third stage, I’ve observed and realized  this is becoming a pure Creation process, for whenever a poem comes out, -a new one or old one- and is then shared and published somewhere, a new door opens for me in my life!

Name some of your favorite poetesses.

Quite a difficult task. ;) I love Maya Angelou poetry. There’s also Anais Nin. And there is also a great Slovene poetess Bina Štampe Žmavc that I really love for her just absolutely graceful and he-ART-istic way with words. There are many others also from Women Spiritual Poetry portal, that I just feel inspired when reading their poetry. 

What effect does reading the poems of others have on you?

When the poems of others speak to my soul they touch me on a deep level. I find myself immersed in another world and feel like diving deep, drinking from source and coming out a little dizzy, but inspired, enriched with new nuance of life’s colors.

How did you first discover Journey of The Heart?

Some kind of ‘coincidence’ happened. I’ve opened my Facebook and saw someone liking something on the page of Women’s Spiritual Poetry. I felt drawn to it and started reading. And there was fresh invitation posted for new poems to be presented. I felt my call and I answered.

Have you publically shared your poetry before doing so via this project?

Nothing big really. Some of them in some school newspapers and magazines. I had all my poems from my new era of writing prepared to be birthed in a book of poetry, and I even had presented it already to some publishers.  I got beautiful feedback, however was advised to try self-publishing it. I somehow then put this project aside but with knowing…that the right time will come.

If not, what did it feel like to share your poetry for the first time on Journey of The Heart?

I was honoured. I felt as my poetry is alive again and it was such a beautiful feeling.  After getting some beautiful feedback from others, I was especially touched. I realized that my poems really can touch hearts and maybe the time is coming for them to be shared. As I already stated, when this happened new doors opened for me in my life, too.

What has been your general experience of sharing your poetry on Journey of The Heart?

This was most beautiful sharing that I am still very grateful for. Love and respect present, warm circle of beautiful souls coming together and just simply sharing their souls. Not because of need or want, but because of simple joy of sharing, connecting, expressing, being, creating. Beautiful energy!

Any last words you’d like to share about poetry?

Poetry is the language of our divine feminine souls. Words, woven with pure light vibration, have such a transformative power and can infuse your life with inspiration.  Poetry holds a special frequency and once you tune to it, your life gets enriched with the touch of Creation itself!   

Andreja Cepus: I am from Slovenia and I like to call myself a Social Artist, as I feel that new ways of thinking, creating and leading in our society demand new professions & expressions. New ideas, solutions, creations, can be brought forth only through authenticity and uniting different aspects, dimensions, fields, views: Incorporating spirituality, business & art together. I've always seen my mission here and I can finally name it: Social Artistry it is. I bring that forth through creative communications, that are really my passion and divine feminine expression. My soul path includes the Service to Divine Feminine, which is the balanced feminine and masculine way, the co-creation of new era of magic of life. I am contributing to our new world from Being Within to expression without... with writing (articles, marketing communications texts, copywriting, editing), PR communications, organizing the events on Sacred Feminine Energy, facilitating Women's Circle events, interviews, hosting video talks, moderating, and co-creating higher good in different fields. I love nature, yoga, hiking, art, music, sound, communications, creativity, new ideas, circles, dance, authenticity, organic, sustainability, visionary leadership, networking, joyful co-creations, journeys, sacred way of being. You can visit my website here, or contact me at: andreja.cepus@gmail.com

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PLEASE CLICK "comments" BELOW TO SHARE A RESPONSE.

~If you are one of the poetesses from 'Journey of the Heart', and would like to appear in this blog, just click here to request an interview. We are excited to learn more about you!~

~If you write poetry and would like to share it on 'Journey of The Heart', click here for submission guidelines. And thank you for your interest!~ 

Interview With Jenn Grosso

Welcome to The Women Behind The Poetry, where we interview women from the 'Journey of The Heart: Women's Spiritual Poetry Project'!  

Today we introduce you to the very creative and curious Jenn Grosso, who travels between her two homes in Ontario, Canada and Connecticut.

When and how did you first begin writing poetry?

I can’t remember exactly at what age I first started writing poetry, but I can say that I really got much more into it in the 7^th grade. That year, my English teacher encouraged the class to write a little bit every day in a writing journal and the poem format had always really appealed to me, so I mostly wrote poems. He encouraged me with my writing and from then on poetry writing and daily journaling became a habit and a way to express myself. 

Which subjects are easiest for you to write poems on?

When writing a poem, I don’t really think about a theme or particular subject. I mostly follow an emotion and just let the words pour out.

Which subjects are the hardest for you to write about?

I would say that setting myself a subject to write about would be the hardest, it doesn’t flow the same when I try to force it.

When do you feel most inspired to write poetry?

I mostly feel moved to write poetry when I’m overwhelmed with emotions. This doesn’t always mean negative emotions, although most of my poems were written when I was dealing with difficult emotions, I’ve also written poems when I was in such awe of nature and life. Writing poetry becomes my way of sorting through my feelings, processing them and understanding it all better.

What is your biggest fear or hesitation when deciding to share a poem with the public?

I don’t really have any fears with sharing my poems or writing with the public. I strongly believe that we can all relate to each other through our experiences, however vulnerable they can make us feel in sharing them. I’ve never been ashamed of my messy emotions; we all have them and can embrace our healing through sharing these glimpses of ourselves.

What is the most profound thing you have learned from writing poems?

Since I write most of my poems when I’m processing difficult emotions, the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that any emotion, however strong and overpowering in that moment, will pass. For me this is very comforting, and I remind myself of this fact when I’m battling whatever freak out that is happening inside. Going through older poems, I can reread some of my struggles and I know that shortly after that whatever I was struggling with passed. Or at least the intensity of it passes and by writing through it I shed light in my dark corners.

How is writing poetry a spiritual process for you?

Writing poetry is most definitely a spiritual process and is very cathartic in my experience. Writing poetry helps me to sort through the confusion of emotions and allows me to lay all of it outside my own head. From this practice I better understand myself and how to weather the storms in my mind.

Where do you find your inspiration for your poetry?

For me inspiration for my poetry comes from what’s around me. On the outside of myself, nature inspires me tremendously. Understanding our natural world and how we are all connected is a constant source of awe and inspiration. Taking a walk in nature, a hike or sitting by the river gives me space and stillness inside to find the right words. While on the inside, the whole plethora of human emotions drives me to place these outside of myself on the written page so I can better “see” them. As far as other poets and poetesses who inspire me, Mary Oliver and David Whyte are two of my favorites.

What effect does reading the poems of others have on you?

Reading poetry is very healing for me. I’m not quite sure what it is exactly, but the emotions and passion conveyed in a poem, painting a picture through carefully chosen words really strikes a chord inside my heart. My favorite poems are like little healing talismans that I reread often.

How did you first discover Journey of The Heart?

I first discovered Journey of The Heart through a friend on Facebook who had contributed a poem and thought that it was a really awesome place to share my words. Catherine has done an amazing job of creating such a safe and beautiful place to do so.

Have you publically shared your poetry before doing so via this project?

I have publicly shared my poetry before doing so on the Journey of The Heart. As a teenager, I would create little zines where I included some of my poems and art, and traded those with others who did the same. Once the internet became a thing, I’ve since shared my poetry, writing and art on a personal blog. There have been a few different incarnations of that blog, but currently it’s over at perilsoftheliving.com.

What has been your general experience of sharing your poetry on Journey of The Heart?

Sharing my poetry on Journey of The Heart has been an amazing experience, what a beautiful community! Thank you so much Catherine for taking such loving care of our words and gathering together such powerful voices.

Jenn Grosso hails from a far and distant land impervious to the mundane and the conventional. Her eclectic interests always begin with an overwhelming curiosity, which catapults her into fanatical investigations and explorations. A lover of all creative mediums, she focuses most of her time on writing, painting/mixed media, yoga, meditation and picture taking. Jenn holds BAs in Psychology and Comparative Religion. She continuously thrives on furthering her understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection. With a penchant for all things beautifully extraordinary, Jenn recognizes the importance of honoring her shadow self, which in turn, creates a healthy respect for what lingers in its dark corners. Shamelessly wearing her heart on her sleeve, Jenn can typically be found with a book in hand, mala around her neck, and skipping to the beat of her own drum. Connect with Jenn on her blog' Perils of The Living', Facebook and Twitter. To view more of her photographic art, click here. 

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~If you are one of the poetesses from 'Journey of the Heart', and would like to appear in this blog, just click here to request an interview. We are excited to learn more about you!~

~If you write poetry and would like to share it on 'Journey of The Heart', click here for submission guidelines. And thank you for your interest!~