Dear Friends of Poetic Medicine, How is your summer? I hope summer is bringing uplift and flourishing green. For millions of people, however, especially in the American East, Mid-West and in Europe, summertime is bringing extreme, life-threatening heat. The fires in Canada have sent intense smoke into the northeast part of the country. That level of heat and smoke aren't anything to mess around with. Please keep yourself hydrated and as cool as you can be. Please find safe an

March 10, 1939 to March 1, 2026 “I am sure most of you would agree – my mother was unique. Some of you have shared wonderful notes and words to describe her many qualities. One that stands out to me is her determination. When she was determined to learn something, she never gave up. In the late 1960’s she wanted to learn more about meditation.” Debby McIsaac - McRock from her Eulogy on April 18, 2026 Self Realization Temple, Encinitas, CA I am writing to you in appreciation

Iona Poetry Community Field Trip Writing Together as a Celebration of Mary Oliver The poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” And surely that is true for her many readers who have been inspired by her close observation of nature and her living relationship with the woods, ponds, marshes, birds and wildlife where she lived on Cape Cod. To celebrate her, the Iona Poetry Community sponsored its first Mary Oliver Day this year on February 14 by ta

Dear Friend of Poetic Medicine, …whose morning-time begins, like fresh linen smoothed flat by the weathered hands of this one life That’s Where You Can Hear Good Singing These lines I am drawing out from my poem January 1 say that in some way we, that you and I, even with our weathered hands, have fresh linen to start this year with. I have quoted this from Rainer Maria Rilke many times: You must give birth to your images. They are the future waiting to be born. I want our fu

Dear Friend of Poetic Medicine, Thriving & Comfort, in the Room Together I hope you are well and thriving. This time of year, a transitional passage into the new, could be considered a place where you envision the possible. I cheer that possible for you. If this letter finds you in a more difficult place, I am sending gentle encouragement and comfort. Comfort? Yes, comfort may be what most of us long for, especially in these days of harsh, hurtful actions and rhetoric in some

Dear Poetic Medicine Friends, The months roll on and on! This morning I am feeling that this is different than what relationships are about. When I begin this letter “Dear Poetic Medicine Friends” I slow down and someone’s face will appear. I slow down and drop inside to hear what my heart wants to say to you. The Choice to Slow Down In order to “drop inside” I slow down. I must slow down. Wherever that mysterious place is, the clock isn’t ticking. Good fortune my heart is be

Wayne Gilbert: July 1, 1950 - September 23, 2025 Mari Alschuler: May 3, 1958 - September 20, 2025 I am writing to share news about the deaths of two brilliant people in the field of poetry therapy. Wayne Gilbert and Mari Alschuler are those brilliant people and practitioners. I met Wayne and Mari in the same year – 1995. They died this September. Their blessing, the direct experience by which I treasure each – 30 years of goodness, courage, love, vulnerability, giftedn

Dear Friend of Poetic Medicine, To begin this letter I want to pause to remember Mari Alschuler -- an important person in my experience...

New Poetry Circle opportunity for Individuals Living with Parkinson’s and/or their Care Partners Sponsored by The Institute for Poetic...

If a line or phrase resonates with you, we invite you to use it as a starting point to create your own poem. We welcome you to share your...