THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES

Literary Journal

The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal Presents:

COMING FALL 2024…

M A S T H E A D:

Editors: Sarah Steele, Kimberly Kralovic, and Ashley Whittemore

Founder and Editor-in-Chief: Kimberly Phinney

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief.  I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

MAY YOU HEAR THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS SPEAK INTO YOUR SOUL.

Listen to the poets of the Spring Collection: Renaissance read their work with our NEW podcast, The Poetry Corner from The Way Back Podcast, hosted by Edward L. Holmes II and Deidre Braley.

Holy Spirit, Help
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Holy Spirit, Help

Nathaniel Evans poem, “Holy Spirit, Help,” reads like a fervent prayer, as he asks God’s Holy Spirit to help him through his faith walk and the difficulties of this life.

Read More

The Way Back to Ourselves and our Literary Journal is not for profit and FREE for all to read and enjoy. If you believe in our cause and want to support our mission and the creation of our journal and other content, like our podcast and blog, please consider donating. Thank you. God bless you. You belong here.

Start your journey.

It starts today— in the small steps you take, the hands you hold, the prayers you say, the art you make, and the hard things you conquer… The way back isn’t as far as you think.

Get involved. Write for us. Attend our workshops and retreats. Hire us for creative counseling, editing, or speaking engagements.

CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM.

❤️‍🩹I’m not myself. I’ve been struggling quite a bit. This post couldn’t have happened without the love of a faithful friend coming beside me. It was her words that bolstered my weary ♥️ yesterday when I was finding it
🎶 It’s finally here! TWBTO is proud to present the reboot of The Artist’s Interview with writer, artist, & musician Joel Adock of @writtenwithinco. In this in-depth & inspirational interview, contributor @steve.can.draw sits dow
🎉This was a sweet birthday gift. I was honored to be interviewed by @raptinterviews last week, & I’d love to share this unique format with you. You can start with the sneak peek here & in the slides… and then find the link to
❤️‍🩹This post is about survival. It’s about choosing to live & keep living with all of ourselves no matter how extremely painful & difficult life may be. Live long enough, & you will face reasons to give up—to let it all
♥️I’m still learning how to make peace—how to love this new me & a body that doesn’t feel like me but has kept me alive. Today, on my birthday, I’m asking her to forgive me & help me keep learning. I also can&r
❤️‍🩹I come to you empty-handed tonight. I come from a place in need. I have always been a “giver” who grows uneasy when I am the one that needs to “take” or ask for help. I imagine some of you can relate. Breaking down
🎙️Friends, it’s the Season 1 Finale!! Come join me as I sit down and talk with Dr. Terence Lester @imterencelester, author, speaker, minister, professor, & founder of @lovebeyondwalls. This episode comes at “such a time as this,&rd
🍂🍁I recently finished reading Wendell Berry’s poetry collection, Leavings, & this line about October’s light grabbed me. I underscored it to come back to it—not knowing how badly I would need it when October came. To say the
🌀“Hurricanes on my outsides. Hurricanes on my insides.” These were the words I prayed as Hurricane Helene swept through FL, WNC, & others just last week. I was in the ER & then the hospital. Who knew I’d be praying these w
❤️‍🩹I was hospitalized over the weekend—right after Hurricane Helene ripped through Florida—& the news is hard. I don’t have inspirational words to give you right now. I think we are all grieving an avalanche of hard thin
🌀There is a hurricane bearing down on us. As I write these lines, we are without power, & I am listening to the winds rage against our home. I can hear the palm trees swishing in the night sky, as the rain pummels against our windows. The great