From Amy:

This episode, in which my dear colleague and peer Orla Collins interviewed me in 2023, introduces my 52-card Tiny Altars oracle deck. My books are available through distributors other than me, and I haven't been interested in opening a storefront to sell these decks. I already tried that with my first book and my first products, and I could do that again, but it's not where I want to put my energy. And I only want to focus on what I am truly here to do as a working creative. I could market the cards to someone else, a distributor who could make them available widely. I do believe they're that good. But I don't want to.

I grew up watching my sign-painter grandpa make branded gifts for his clients, and his remaining golden yardsticks (two that I use daily) bring me profound joy. So instead, I only sell these cards locally in Minnesota and make them available as gifts to my Courageous Wordsmith clients that I work with personally. Which is an intentionally small group. That doesn't make the cards any less powerful or any less profound or any less beautiful. They are in fact the capstone of my self-appointed curriculum on the path to becoming a working creative, my odyssey while I healed myself from the intensive trauma of my teaching career. Now I do what I want. And so... since for all these many reasons, you can't buy the cards on the Internet, I have held off on releasing this episode until now. And then, recently, I listened to the beautiful gift that my friend Orla gave me.

She would not let me deflect my attention away from what I have accomplished with these cards.

These cards represent the complete set of my life-coach-meets-narrative-craft questions around which I framed Tiny Altars. The cards in turn shaped the final book revisions. Both are distilled thanks to that process.

So here's why I'm sharing this episode now:

Because it gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it is to put your creative work into the world, and to remind you that maybe you too feel like hiding as I have, but there's good work that you have to share, however you do. You have choices and agency about how you show up in the world. And furthermore these cards are now, more than ever, at the heart of my work in Courageous Wordsmith, including my recent premiere one-day Writing Revival. So you might want to work with me.

And as I say, for those of you without an artist grandfather to model your life on, who still want to be a real-life working creative, it helps to know what it might look like for you.

Orla Collins, aka the Irish Orlacle, profoundly understands how constant people-pleasing damages relationships, drains energy, producing anxiety, anger and despair. Originally from Dublin, Orla lives in Toronto with her husband, is mum to four, young adults, and a snuggly goldendoodle. Orla loves a well-made cup of tea, speaks with a soft Irish accent, swears occasionally, while using her experience and humour to help her clients dissolve unhealthy, inherited, people-pleasing patterns, strengthen their intimate relationships, and create peace in their homes.

Orla's podcast: Tea with the Irish Orlacle

Instagram: @orlacle_coaching 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orla.collins.5811/ 

Website: www.orlaclecoaching.com

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Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

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