Wild Hearted is an intimate collection of writing chosen from over 2000 pieces of work, written by members of the Wild Hearted Writers' Circle. You will experience raw, heartfelt pieces, written by Yogis, Shamans, ex-Mormons, Healers, Artists, a former stuntman, and a globetrotting female data scientist - that will touch you and leave you changed forever.

The stories in Wild Hearted are defined by their authenticity, rawness and open-hearted courage. The writers dive deeply into themes of love, loss, God, shame, adventure, joy, hope, and redemption.

The voices of the Wild Hearted Writers' Circle will touch your heart, ignite your spirit, and connect you with your own journey of personal growth. Whether you find yourself laughing at moments of shared joy, shedding tears or feeling the warmth of inspiration from the depths of these stories and poetry, our ultimate goal is to connect you with yourself.

In the poem, This Body, artist Lauryn Hill begins, "My lips, these tits, my dimpled voluminous hips, swaying from side to side, holding me like a church congregation. . . ." In her piece, Tumbling Into Faith, scientist Anj Bee writes, "Slowly you forget how it feels to move through the world with magic pulsing through your veins. Slowly you forget the sensation of dancing in the rain. Survival strips the sacred from life."

Coach Martha Jeffers details in her piece, Ceremonial Journey, "As if snuggled peacefully in the soft arms of what seemed a giant teddy bear, I gave myself permission to descend. Permission to test the boundaries of my consciousness to find a key I've been searching for all my life. . . ." Author Arminda Lindsay writes, "While I was busy exploring, excavating and reimagining God, I left my outward-facing light flashing I'M FINE, because deconstructing a lifetime of religious dogma doesn't keep the lights on; outward appearances do." Artist Astrid Vineyard Herbich writes in her poem about love, "Isn't falling in love always reckless? Equally the most mundane and magical thing in the world."

May the stories you encounter here be a stepping stone in your own exploration, a testament to the resilience of the human heart, and a source of inspiration to continue your path of growth and healing. As you venture forth, remember that you are not alone; you are part of a vast, interconnected tapestry of explorers, all on their own extraordinary journeys toward authenticity, joy, and wholeness.

Contributors: Astrid Vineyard Herbich, Martha Jeffers, Sherí Kelsey, Motty Kenigsberg, Iona Russell, Betsy Gibson, Patrick Faulwetter, Arminda Lindsay, Mick Breitenstein, Anj Bee, Sara Falugo, Lauren Hill, Janelle Nelson, Erika Bridges, Iona Russell.