
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.

FEATURED: Anemone Blue and Other Poems
Kristine Amundrud writes an anthem of revival and renewal in “Anemone Blue” and reminds us of spring’s new life brimming beneath the surface in her poem “True Leaves.”

FEATURED: Wayfinding in Spring and Other Poems
In her garden-inspired poems, author Jody Collins prayerfully meditates about the deepest themes of life: what it is to become, heal, and know.

FEATURED: Flowers in My Belly and Other Poems
Deidre Braley, writes about nature, love, longing, and faith in her divine poems “Flowers in My Belly” and “Dark Night of the Soul at Dawn.”

FEATURED: Spring Stirring
From gnarled trees to the farmer’s steaming coffee, Mary Folkerts gives her readers imagery in “Spring Stirring” that walks from the despair of death to the first hope of new life.

FEATURED: A Thousand Wild Tomorrows
Edward L. Holmes II beautifully articulates the journey we take to embrace the wilderness inside each of us with audacious hope and energy in his verse.

FEATURED: For All the Mothering Trees
In her poem “All the Mothering Trees,” Tasha Jun’s beautiful imagery of nature reminds us of the new life that comes in the wake of the changing seasons.

FEATURED: The Shape of Mountains and Other Poems
Kate Lab writes about renewal, faith, and the power of nature in “The Shape of Mountains” and her other imagistic and moving poems.

FEATURED: Ninth-Circlers: A Modern Sonnet
In his haunting poem “Ninth-Circlers,” Zachary Bartles harnesses the sonnet form to meditate on his Inferno-esque themed poem, which is a true modern feat made in homage to the Renaissance.

Martyrpiece and Other Poems
Courtney Moody writes about the laborious sacrifice of the artist’s work, the pain required to grow, and the beauty of a new age of renaissance in her trio of poems.

In the Kitchen on Ash Wednesday and Other Poems
Through the lens of the seemingly mundane, Katie Drobina eloquently reminds us of the hope we have in her poems “In the Kitchen on Ash Wednesday” and “Birdsong.”

Dandelion in February and Other Poems
In “Dandelion in February,” Elizabeth Houseman recognizes those who truly see others and make them feel like they belong. “The Woman I Am” is both lament and anthem for accepting the path before you, even when it looks different than you imagined.

The Mother Tree and Other Poems
In her maternal poetry, Chelsea Fraser mediates on motherhood, life, anticipation, and wholeness in her nature and literature-inspired work.

Light Spill and Other Poems
In her trio of poems, Alexis Ragan celebrates life, light, spring, and the beauty of second chances after a dark season in her life.

Nature Study and Other Poems
Bre Strobel reflects on change, growth, and gentle wisdom in her poems “Nature Study” and “Burnout.”

The Dance of Sorrow: A Prose Poem
In her immersive and intimate prose poem, Bri Odom tells the tale of heartbreak, loss, and a renewal of faith as she moves through powerful nature imagery, like trees and storms.

Hold the Divine
In her brief yet poignant poem “Hold the Divine,” Mariana Mosli mediates on the great banquet that awaits us in the Spirit.

Rain Is My Revival
Joel Adcock shares his rhythmic poem called “Rain Is My Revival,” exploring how life’s rains can revive the soul.

Beauty in the Hard Edges and Other Poems
Deborah Rutherford brilliantly paints images of beauty and hope. Her words capture transformation while pointing toward God. Spring breathes life into our souls, and it’s on the way in her poetry.

A Prayer for Spring
Spring invites us to taste the promise of renewal, and “A Prayer for Spring” is a stunning depiction of hope. Cheryl Safarin provides strength, upholding us as we bloom.

Open Up and Other Poems
Sarah Steele once again challenges us to lean into the process of becoming and embrace the world around us in her beautifully relatable poems, “Open Up” and “A Better Gardener.”
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.