Wandering Willow is a space for reflection, rewilding, and deep connection—with yourself, nature, and the stories that shape your life. Rooted in Forest Therapy and a passion for storytelling, you'll find musings on nature’s wisdom, the heart’s wild truth, and the journey of remembering who you are.🌿 Weekly Posts are freshly foraged each Wednesday and delivered at 8 a.m. Eastern Time—no carrier pigeons were harmed in the making of this newsletter.

Earlier today, I gathered live with the radiant and wise Sherry Taveras from Momtemplative for a special live video conversation on writing, community, and the tender act of being witnessed. This gathering was part of a heart-led offering that blooms into the upcoming Rooted Word Circle—a space for gentle creativity and shared presence.

✨ You're invited to join the next Rooted Word Circle on Wednesday, May 21st at Noon EDT. Sign up here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

We gathered to talk about something close to both our hearts: writing, community, and the tender act of being witnessed.

It was part laughter, part truth serum, and entirely nourishing.

We talked about how writing often begins in solitude—in those quiet rooms inside ourselves, in the corners where no one else looks. And yet, something extraordinary happens when we step out of that solitude and into shared space. When we write together, something takes root.

Sherry spoke beautifully about returning to writing after becoming an empty nester, how Substack has become a place of reconnection for her. She reminded us that even if we feel rusty or unsure, our words still matter. That longing to be heard? It's sacred. And the courage to show up anyway? That's where transformation begins.

For me, writing was always an inner pull. A compulsion I didn’t fully understand but followed anyway. I began with what I now know as prose-poetry, soft and unstructured, more feeling than form. Substack felt like an unexpected gift—a space where I could simply show up and share, without needing a niche or polished plan. Just stories. Just truth.

We laughed about how hard it is to food blog (seriously—major applause to anyone who does!) and how surprising it was to discover we could simply... write our lives. And people might read. And respond.

That led us to talk about what it means to be truly witnessed. Not critiqued, not fixed—just seen. We both shared how transformative it was to receive a comment that felt deeply felt, like someone had taken our words into their own heart and let them bloom there. (Special shout-outs to Keith Fey and Alexander Lovell, PhD, whose generous words gave us both the courage to keep going.)

This is why I’m creating the Rooted Word Circle. A quiet, nourishing space to gather, write, and share (or not share) what arises. No pressure. Just presence. Just being together.

Writing can feel like a solitary climb—but when we add in a little play, some curiosity (and maybe even a few metaphorical bubbles along the way), it becomes something else. Something softer. Lighter. Maybe even joyful.

Sherry and I both agreed: writing is a path toward healing. Not because it fixes us, but because it makes space for us.

Because when we write alongside others, we start to realize we were never alone to begin with.

Thank you to everyone who joined us live. And to those who couldn’t make it, I hope this post feels like a cozy seat in the circle.

If you’re longing for a space to write and be witnessed, you're warmly invited to the next Rooted Word Circle. Come exactly as you are. No experience needed. Just bring your heart…paper and pen couldn’t hurt either.

With bubbles and bouncy-house dreams,

SamWandering Willow🌿 Reconnecting Through Nature

PS: Got thoughts on writing in community? Ever been surprised by what comes out when you write with others? I'd love to hear in the comments.

PPS: You can support my work (and coffee habit) here:

PPPS: Thank you Libby Walkup, Deanna Thomas, j.e. moyer, LPC, Neil Cunningham, and many others for tuning into my live video with Sherry Taveras! Join me for my next live video in the app.

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