I My book of magical forest verse is in the works; I'm seeking an illustrator. PM me if you know someone ~ This little elf—his name is Roan ‘cause on his head, red hair has grown— has eyes so tiny, fingers three and just adores hot rooibos tea he lives among the spruce and pine (is tattooed where the sun don’t shine), his pocket’s filled... Continue reading

wooden doors for forest homes are what I make for elves and gnomes this door’s just been repaired by me so I’ll return it to its tree to keep the breeze from blowing in on little peoples’ kith and kin so, if you see a door with wear just call up Fairy Door Repair I offer service free of fees but in return, if you... Continue reading

within the trunk of this old oak there lives a group of elven folk who traded vintage acorn wine for high-end custom door design looking for a door unique they called me up just last week requesting the design I cast be one that’s made with skill, but fast I met them there beneath the tree was greeted by a PhD who specialized in mushroom... Continue reading

This video shares the message of a doll I made that feels relevant to these times. It's about how our rules and judgments can prevent us from experiencing a more colorful and creative life. Continue reading

“Who feeds you? Is there an elder or ancestor who helps guide your life?” The queries were unexpected; my answer was not. I was having tea with my friend Amanda when she asked me these questions. As a gift, she planned to make me a shrine to honor that someone who positively impacted my life and whose teachings continued to guide me. Without hesitation, I... Continue reading

You hold an innate power; it roots you in the knowing of who you are, of what you’re here for, and of what calls to you. As you develop in our culture, you’re affected by many strong influences that either support your innate identity or override your inner compass. Over time, you may feel yourself molded into a fabricated version of you, shaping you to... Continue reading

The launch of A Fierce Belief in Miracles took place on the evening of Sept. 22, 2020. I've uploaded the recording of that launch to youtube. I thought it was appropriate that I unknowingly recorded it in gallery view. Fifty people showed up to support the launch; others emailed, called, and sent flowers. I felt incredibly loved and supported seeing friends from all parts of... Continue reading

I was interviewed by Diane Dewey, host of Dropping In to Find Our Common Threads on Voice America Internet Talk Radio. Diane is a skilled interviewer and had some thoughtful questions. I hope you'll take time to listen to our conversation. Continue reading

I just completed a five-week virtual training with Lynne Twist. My time with this special group of women was both thought-provoking and inspirational. A few of the valuable take-aways from this course were: Feminine archetype leadership isn't measurable; it builds relationships. All positions create opposition; it's time for us to move from positionality to vision. To gain vision, we must relinquish our points of view.... Continue reading

This is the moment when writer becomes author. My first box of books arrived! The virtual launch will be in September, so watch for details or sign up for my newsletter. If you're wondering, crutches are at my feet. I'm still no-weight-bearing, but that's about to change. Looks like I'll be walking in the world in a new way . . . Many thanks to... Continue reading

A Fierce Belief in Miracles is featured this month by GirlTalkHQ--the global headquarters of female empowerment stories and voices--in their Girl on a Mission section. You can read the story and interview here. Continue reading

A big shout out to Betsy Graziani Fasbinder for her amazing podcast The Morning Glory Project: Stories of Determination. If you're looking for inspiration, this is a great place to find it. My interview with her has just been featured -- Anne Reeder Heck: A Fierce Belief Continue reading

Since childhood, cycling has brought me joy. After being assaulted on a morning ride, I felt fearful of getting back on my bike. For years, my body memory equated the joyful feeling of cycling with being harmed. Working through this fear meant getting on my bike--not once, but many times. Each ride has felt like an emotional workout--and I’ve nearly always felt stronger for it.... Continue reading

It’s been five weeks since I fractured my femur and I’ve been working diligently strengthening my leg so it will support me when I’m given the green light to walk again. Today I celebrate a 90 degree bend in my knee and am grateful for so many things, including my sweet pup, my herbal support, an easy way to connect with friends, and my patio... Continue reading

My book will be sent to print next Tuesday, July 28. This happens to be the same day I see my doctor for a 7-week follow-up and -- fingers crossed -- may get a green light to walk without crutches. I’m doing my best to withhold expectations. I was originally told 10 weeks of no weight-bearing. Still, there have been multiple synchronicities surrounding this injury.... Continue reading

Things are not always as they appear. Knowing this is a reminder to examine life closely, to dialogue with what enters my experience, to remain open and curious. Here’s a photo of my femur which was shattered two weeks ago in a cycling accident. For many, this photo may equate with pain, expense, inconvenience. There’s so much this photo doesn’t convey. There’s the intention I... Continue reading

I had a bicycle accident on June 10th involving a railroad track and the rain. I shattered my right femur. In my quiet moments of recuperation, I’m examining this incident from various angles. I can’t help but find parallels with another major life trauma. That day (thirty years ago almost to the day), cycling on some unfamiliar roads, I got a clear message not to... Continue reading

This morning I sat thinking My mind was just adrift Missed an angel lighting on my head With the moment's gift So caught was I amidst my thought This moment passed me by What precious gem may have been I cannot quantify Our focus is so crucial To creating our life's dreams So bless this precious moment It's more sacred than it seems The angels... Continue reading

Healing doesn't happen in a vacuum. The way I work with my individual wounds affects everyone. Last week's trauma occurred thirty years nearly-to-the-date as my last trauma that involved my bicycle, an ambulance, and the emergency room. You can read that story in my forthcoming memoir "A Fierce Belief in Miracles." Healing requires revisiting the pieces that have been hardest for us - often several... Continue reading

“You are not your fear.” These are words that came to me years ago when I dialogued with my emotion. At the time, I was working through anxiety and restlessness as well as an inability to breath comfortably. A respected elder encouraged me, “Invite your fear to the kitchen table.” I found this counterintuitive. I wanted nothing to do with the pain and unease of... Continue reading

This past year, I've been connecting more deeply with the forest and have completed several art installments there. Here's a recent piece along with my poem. magic in the forest surely knows no bound just yesterday upon the trail, this is what I found another tiny ladder ascending to a door curious ‘bout little folk, I couldn’t ask for more I rapped below the welcome... Continue reading

Update on Gunhild: She’s enjoying a little less work time on the farm and enjoys letting her hair down in the evening. Gunhild was pleasantly surprised on Valentine’s Day to receive a bouquet of yellow tulips and a ‘gaekkebrev’ - a Danish love note filled with funny rhythmic poems sent from a man to a woman. The man sending the gaekkebrev signs it using dots... Continue reading

Gunhild Pedersen owns a small organic pig farm in southeast Denmark. In her country, being unmarried on your 25th birthday gives people social license to cover you in cinnamon. Being tied to her farm, Gunhild had no time for relationships and fell victim to cinnamon pelting. Wanting to avoid the traditional peppering at age 30, she hired help for the farm, purchased a pair of... Continue reading

Eljin O’Driscoll lives in Puzzlewood, a magical woodland in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. Said to be one of JRR Tolkien’s inspirations, the ancient forest is home to more magical beings than one might imagine. Eljin inhabits one of the oldest yew trees—some 600 years of age—living in its hollow trunk with his friendly neighbors, the hoverflies, ladybirds and wood-boring beetles. He’s partial... Continue reading

Yevgeney Youssef was born and raised deep in the East Siberian taiga. He knows all the plants in the area and learned from his grandmother how to use them for healing. A descendant of the okapi of central Africa, Yev (as his friends call him) is partial to the warm short summers on the taiga but is drawn to the snowy barrens of the Baikal... Continue reading