Wellspring Writing Workshops

Breaking Out of a Chrysalis:

A Healing Journey through Writing and Nature

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART ONE: 2024

 

THE POWER OF BLUEBIRDS AND WRITING 

Baby bluebirds teach me to combine nature and writing. 

 

LESSONS FROM A TURTLE ON WRITING AND THE BODY

I watch a snapping turtle give birth. One of her lessons: “Don’t take shortcuts; slow and steady wins the race.”

 

LEARNING TO WRITE IN THE FOREST

The forest teaches me to write—braiding is the right way, one story at a time.

 

MYSTERIOUS HEALER IN THE FOREST

A healer arrives in the forest and shows me a story I carry in my leg 

 

WORKING WITH BIRDS

Birds teach me that we are one, we are one, we are one.

 

FIRST AID IN A FOXHOLE

My slasher-editor gets healed in a foxhole.

 

WHAT INVASIVE VINES HAVE TAUGHT ME ABOUT SHAME

Invasive vines are a lot like toxic childhood shame—neither has your best interests at heart.

 

HOW TO BREAK OUT OF A CHRYSALIS

Forest creatures work together to help me break free from childhood defenses.

 

 

PART TWO: 2025

 

CONVERSATION IN A FOXHOLE

I meet my internal critic in a foxhole. 

 

VISIT FROM A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK

A red-shouldered hawk gives me advice on my novel. 

 

WRITING AND THE FOREST

Nature brings me a stick that looks like a hip joint, and reminds me that I used to play with salamanders as a child.

 

LESSONS FROM BITTERSWEET ON A SLASHER-EDITOR

Invasive bittersweet vines teach me about my slasher-editor.

 

FIRE IN THE HOLE

Stored trauma inside me is revealed through a prescribed burn on my land.

 

VISIT #2 FROM A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK

A second hawk visit helps me free the trauma in my body.

 

A ROOMFUL OF THREES

Visitors from a dream teach me about creativity and communication. 

 

FOX AMONG THE VINES

An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.

 

WRITING IN A BIRD'S NEST

A bird’s nest holds me as I write.

 

GRACE AMONG THE BIRCHES

I hang out with birch trees and get advice on how to heal. 

 

HEALING WITH GRANDMOTHER TREE

Grandmother Tree gives me forgotten memories of my mother. 

 

I SAW MY TEENAGED SELF IN A THERAPIST'S OFFICE

I find myself coming from and going to therapy at the same time.

 

BIRCH TREE STORIES

Birches lead me through childhood memories and share some memories of their own. 

 

YELLOW SNOW

I notice yellow snow at the base of oak trees, and fawns tell stories of fairies and tannins.

 

THE ARRIVAL OF WINGS

An angel appears above my mother’s shoulders and lifts me out of an illness.

 

MAGIC OF A VERNAL POOL

Fairy shrimp, fingernail clams and spotted salamanders lend me their magic.

 

LEARNING TO WRITE IN THE FOREST

The forest helps me grieve my father, and birds show me how to write about it. 

 

LIGHT IN THE FOREST

Three bright lights lead me to a supernatural connection. 

 

BETWEEN TWO PINES

Two pines help me heal in memories of my mother’s kitchen. 

 

WAKING UP WITH DEER

Mama deer and fawns help me to slow down. 

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BAT, A MESSENGER OF CHANGE

I sleep in a bat cave and learn how to transform. 

 

SHAKESPEARE IN A STONE

Shakespeare visits my land and tells me where he got the idea for As You Like It.

 

STORIES FROM THE MARSH

I hang out with marsh ghosts and they tell me their stories.

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MY TEMPLE IS A SWAMP

Swamps are full of contradictions and characters—and so am I.

 

HEPHAESTES, ROCKS, AND A LIBRARY SCENE

A very human Greek god helps me understand my writing. 

 

DON'T INTERRUPT THE MAGIC

I lead an imaginary client through a forest therapy meditation, and find myself healed by a pine tree.

 

BLESSINGS OF A GROUNDHOG

A groundhog blesses my Nature Writing Cabin.

 

HAMADRYADS AND ME

I learn about hamadryads—magical figures connected to trees—and realize I might be one of them.

 

HOW CHARACTERS ARE BORN IN A FOREST

A new character emerges from my body and makes her way into the forest. 

 

UNDERSTANDING NATURE'S CODES

A butterfly and a plant teach me how to think.

 

ATHENA'S OWL

An owl shows me the truth and teaches me how to defend myself. 

 

FEATHERS LEAD TO ANGELS

I find a feather in the forest, which leads to a childhood angel.

 

DOOR TO MY WILD SELF

The universe gives us characters when we get wounded.

 

WRITING WITH VINES

Vines take me back to a painful experience in college.

 

 

PART THREE: 2026

 

GRIEF LIKE AN INVASIVE VINE

Invasive vines teach me how to process grief.

 

ADVICE FROM A DARK-EYED JUNCO

A dark-eyed junco advises me not to run away from pain.

 

FOLLOWING NATURE

When a tree tells me to do something, I follow through.

 

SALAMANDER, O SALAMANDER

Salamanders teach me how to absorb wisdom through my skin.