About The Clearing

A community for wild minds, winterers and enchantment-seekers

I always write to find my point. Over time, I’ve realised that I’m trying to create something very specific here, and it’s a place rather than a topic. I’m clearing a space in which we can gather, and see each other, and ruminate over the question of how to live.

That’s a big question, isn’t it? But we’re all circling it. Most of us are weary of the same old story, the noisy encouragement to bring about endless growth, to stay positive, put on a brave face and hide our uncertainty. Many of us are wondering how we can be more gentle with ourselves and others, can learn to bring rest, integrity and beauty into our lives. And I hope I’m not alone in being heartily sick of gurus, the people who claim to know all the answers. It’s a scam. Nobody knows the answers anymore—too much is changing. We need to figure this out together. 

That’s why this newsletter is named The Clearing. I love the image it conjures, an opening in a dark forest; a safe, secret place where we can gather. Perhaps an enchanted place, a place where magic lives, where the possibilities are different. I also like the connotations of the word ‘clearing’—the process of finding clarity, of silt settling in the water, a de-fogging of the mind. Will it all come clear eventually? I don’t know. Probably not. But, as you know by now, I don’t believe that we should be seeking to finalise our happiness and contentment. The process is the point. 

My aim is to create a place to dream and to awaken, to find the world’s quiet magic and to revel in the luminous mundane; a place to ask questions and to hold space for complex or incomplete answers; a place that invites connections with other like-minded souls. I hope you’ll come there with me.

About subscriptions

If you subscribe for free, you’ll get a regular newsletter, extra information about each new podcast episode - and of course, all my my news and live events. Upgrade to paid to take part in the community, with journalling prompts, community questions, deep dives and essays. There is also The Retreat, a special tier for people who want to work a little more closely with me, which includes four online retreats per year.

Understanding the tiers

Free Subscribers:

• A monthly newsletter.

• A non-fiction book club, for lovers of life writing, wisdom and ideas for living. 

• Ad-free podcast episodes and transcripts.

• Keep up with my news and events.

Paid Subscribers:

• Everything in the Free tier.

• Exclusive essays, deep dives and recommendations.

• Weekend journaling prompts and community questions.

• Membership of an incredible community, including access to the comments.

The Retreat:

A space within The Clearing for deeper reflection, deeper play. If you’d like to work a little more closely with me and support the ecosystem that I’m creating here, The Retreat offers some exclusive benefits:

• A personal thank-you note and welcome pack including a signed, dedicated bookplate.

• Digital retreats: Four times a year, I'll lead you in a live online retreat (3 hours long), guiding you thought reflective or creative process that feels right for that moment. These gentle gatherings will ease you into a process of personal transformation and repair.

• Support the community: Your membership will sponsor an annual subscription for someone who can’t afford it.

Going paid isn’t for everyone; I completely understand that—you’ll still get a vibrant stream of content as a free subscriber, and my deep appreciation as always. The paid subscriber offer is aimed at people who’d like to take part in more community offerings, as well as those who have the brain-space to read a little more from me (I mean, sometimes I think that I don’t have the brain-space for that, but I’m grateful that you do). If financial constraints are the only thing stopping you from upgrading, keep your eyes peeled for our regular free offers.

Personal sustainability

In the spirit of this newsletter, I want to unpack this a bit, because I will never, ever be on my game year-round. I never am. I get ill sometimes, or take a holiday. Sometimes I have deadlines that take up the entirety of my being, and so I can’t find any more words. I’ve developed an offer that I think is as manageable as possible (curtailing my worst over-promising instincts), but I will be bringing my whole humanity to this place, and I hope that will be understood. Every now and then, I might find a ‘supply teacher’ to take my place; if I need a month off, I’m interested to see that some creators pause subscriptions for a while. But however I manage it, I will be honouring my own need to rest. I think it’s important to voice that. You are invited to do the same.

Thank you for being here.

Take care,
Katherine