I announced the official submission of my book, Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature yesterday. The book has been online for almost a month now but as a summer 2024 release, it felt too soon to share. I’ve been relatively quiet about it but yesterday something stirred in me. Whether or not the timing was ‘right’ I needed to celebrate the accomplishment. I re-installed Instagram to share and that’s when I saw a post from Great Lakes Wolves reminding me it was the wolf moon, the first full moon of the year marking the time when hungry wolves can be heard howling in the night to rally their packs for cold winter hunting. It felt like a good time for me to howl, too.
As the wovles howl in this video, you can hear a conversation between me and Wolf Conservation Center Education Director, Regan Downey who I quote in the book.
It is a wonderful and strange feeling to release an all-consuming project; a lens through which I viewed and examined the world since the book’s conception. The four sections of the book —enclosures, rehabilitation, soft release, and homing — follow the arc of an injured animal’s return to nature and home. And, in our case, a more embodied, instinctual self. A self that heeds circadian rhythms, embraces pleasure, maintains necessary boundaries, and is able to express anger instead of bottling it up inside. I explore my love for more-than-human animals as a lens through which I more clearly see myself and my animal body that works so hard to take care of me even when I've criticized her and tried to push her away. Celebrating the lives of 23 animal kin, I share aspects of our common ground while shedding misguided stories of separation. The first chapter (and many others) celebrates wolves.
It comes out in August. I can't wait for you to read it.
Now that the book has been submitted, I have more breathing room to catch you up on offerings I’ve been meaning to share:
REWILDING THROUGH WRITING
It’s difficult to convey the depth, connection and inspiration felt in the Rewilding Through Writing groups. The intimate online gatherings offer writers a safe space to strengthen their craft, build confidence in their voice and receive constructive feedback. Some writers like
(who writes the beautiful Songs For Tala) have continued through many cycles and seasons. It has been an honor to hold space for her creative process and experience her work (and the work of many others) as it evolves.Sometimes students say it best:
"Rewilding through writing is a precious and intimate group experience that brought me in touch with aspects of my writing I had not yet explored. Vanessa is not only a beautiful writer and accomplished author, she is also a wonderful facilitator with so much wisdom to share about writing and the nuances that come with developing, honoring, and honing your personal craft.” ~ Monica Rodgers, The Revelation Project & The Revelation Project Podcast
If you’ve been curious about the workshops, you can now sign up for an intro session on February 1st without the commitment. Or if you’re ready to go for it, we still have space in the spring session. Use the code WEEDS+WOLVES for a Substack discount.
I should mention that for now, Rewilding Through Writing groups are solely for women. Personal material is often shared and I want everyone to feel free and uninhibited in their creative exploration. I’ll have additional offerings for all soon.
ONLINE PLANT WALK DATES ARE ON THE CALENDAR 🌱
It wasn’t until I studied herbalism and learned to forage food, becoming truly intimate with the land under my feet, that I began to feel like an animal aware of her ecosystem. A veil was lifted that had stood between me and the natural world. Home to countless plants, insects, birds and fungi — whose health and well being is inextricably connected to ours – the land around me came alive.
This is the point of the online plant walks. I hope to inspire you to get outside and become more intimate with the land under your feet. If you’re a paid subscriber, these are free! I’ll send you the Zoom link the morning of each live online walk.
I’ve updated my site and you’ll see a few more events there. I revise it regularly.
HAPPY HOWLING 🌕
I cannot wait to read this! And the cover art - WOW!
Beautiful and congrats. Stunning cover! Can’t wait to read and so excited to see your illustrations!