THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES

Community Literary Journal

THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES PRESENTS:

THE SPRING COLLECTION: IN HIS GARDEN

coming in April…

The Spring Collection: IN HIS GARDEN Print Journal Coming in May 2025

The Way Back to Ourselves is proud to present our FIRST print journal arriving in May 2025. Enjoy the free digital collection in this stunning keepsake for purchase on Amazon in paperback and hardcover from The Way Back Books, an imprint of TheWayBack2Ourselves.com.

Listen to the poets of The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal perform their work with our NEW podcast, The Poetry Corner, a spin-off from The Way Back Podcast, hosted by Edward Holmes and Deidre Braley.

Mother
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Mother

In her poem “Mother,” Laurie Widmer Hess explores the spiritual complexities of motherhood.

Read More
Haikus for Hadley
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Haikus for Hadley

In “Haikus for Hadley,” poet Kimberly Phinney teams up with her young daughter to write four heartwarming haikus about motherhood and longing through infertility.

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 am so blessed to kick off our Advent series: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, inspired by Caravaggio’s Nativity and John 1:4-5.✨ 6 amazing writers will be joining us through the month of December to meditate on this theme: @deidrebraley @rosagilber
🎉Mark your calendars for 12/10! TWBTO will be celebrating our Literary Journal’s FALL COLLECTION: The Peace of Wild Things with open mic, celebration, and connection. ✍🏿✍🏾✍🏽✍🏼All published artists and authors of the journal are warmly in
✨The Way Back to Ourselves is honored to present our Advent series at the blog, A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.✨ Join us throughout the month of December as we make the journey toward Christmas and draw ever near to Christ’s eternal LIGHT. Enjoy po
🍁Happy Thanksgiving & God bless you all. I am SO very grateful for YOU.🍁 Here’s a little invocation for the day of thanks giving with a poetic touch. I pray it blesses you & that Thanksgiving fills you in some way—whether you
🎉The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal is honored to celebrate the six very special poets we have nominated for the Pushcart Prize: ✍🏼Karen Swallow Prior with “Of the Smaller Miracles” @karenswallowprior ✍🏼Nicholas Trandahl wit
🌲🍁🏔️ It feels like Christmas Day for the editors & me—& no doubt, you too, if you were published in our literary journal’s Fall Collection: THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS, inspired by the work of Wendell Berry! Why??? 🍁🍁BECAUSE
This week has been hard. I’m still struggling to process the sharp downward turn in my health the past few months. I can’t thank you all enough for your beautiful prayers & messages this week, as I faced appointments &a
🎉GIVEAWAY ALERT: THE PEACE OF LITERARY THINGS. Enter NOW through Sunday 11/17 at midnight EST to get in on these literary goodies to kick off the fall season.🎉 🍁We want to celebrate & highlight The Way Back to Ourselves’ creative, editi
🌌I’ve been taking long looks at the night sky lately. It’s helping me get by. I tuck my prayers and hopes in those stars. I see the face of God. It quiets my mind, eases my soul, and reminds me how small I am—and I like this ki
🇺🇸I know it’s Election Day, but I just wanted to break up your feed with some good news that isn’t political. ✍🏼I’m blessed to share that my essay, “A Promise in the Darkness,” was published in @ct_mag Advent Devoti
❤️‍🩹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