Wild longing, intentional devotion

Devotion is both a blessing and a curse.

A mentor recently told me that, for my relationships and career to thrive, I must learn to direct my devotion wisely.

During the coronavirus pandemic, I experienced a sudden exodus of the people, places, and activities that once grounded me in my identity. I moved to a new city, quarantined away from friends and family, and broke up with someone who meant the world to me.

It was excruciating. It was also full of profound spiritual excavation and soul composting.

Now in my early 30s, I’ve crossed a threshold into a new kind of adulthood. I’m alone—a place I never thought I’d be. Without a spouse, children, or the historical rites of passage women have always been given to indicate their status in society, I returned to poetry as an opportunity to reinvent my relationship to love—starting with myself.

This collection explores the polarity between two forces inside of me (and maybe, dear reader, inside of you): wild, romantic longing and centered, focused choice.

The series is called Intentional Devotion.

Collect it on OpenSea now.

It includes 1-of-1 poems exploring seven kinds of devotion:

• Part One: Devotion to Myself, or Poems as Self Portraits

• Part Two: Devotion to My Higher Power

• Part Three: Devotion to Partners or Lovers

• Part Four: Devotion to The Earth

• Part Five: Devotion to My Family of Origin

• Part Six: Devotion to My Community

• Part Seven: Devotion to My Children

The beauty of modern life is that we get to prioritize which parts to focus on, and when. Everyone has the responsibility to explore their own relationships with each type of devotion and decide how much of themselves they want to give to each.