And There You Are


Hello Friends,

This week, I’m thinking about where we end up.

One day, you’re a cheerful turtle, spouting water for kiddos in the summer heat. The next, it's rainy autumn, the kids are older, and you’re left on the sidewalk, hoping some other family picks you up and takes you home.

Or, one day, you’re twenty years old, living with four friends, trying to figure out your life, and the next, you’re heading toward seventy and wondering what happened to your knees.

Now, I doubt anyone reading this is a turtle water spout, and who knows how old you are and what your life condition is, but we all have to face change, don’t we? Including this changing world, as we reel from the realities of climate change, war, economic uncertainty, and all the rest.

There is a lot that feels out of our control, as if we were the toy turtle left on the sidewalk. But other things? We have still have choices we can make on the daily.

Every day, we can choose to show up to our varied conditions and find ways to help, ways to create, ways to care for ourselves and others. We don’t have to mourn the way things were, and we don’t have to settle for the way things are.

We don’t have to just end up somewhere, as if we have no will or choice.

What helps me remember my power to choose? As usual, that's the small actions:

Each day, I choose to write something new. Every day, I take a walk and notice something interesting or beautiful. Every week, I find a way to offer help. Sure, I get angry at the way the world is, but I also revel in the beauty of it. Both of those are choices as well.

How about you? Have you just ended up somewhere? What are you choosing right now? What helps you remember to choose? What is getting you through these times?

Best wishes — Thorn


News:

There's a new installment of Magic, Creativity, and Life up on your favorite podcast outlet or my YouTube channel. It's with Tarot reader Rashunda Tramble.

For the month of October, 50% of proceeds from ThornCoyleBooks will go to hurricane relief. That includes my oracle deck and ebooks.

T. Thorn Coyle

Read more from T. Thorn Coyle
250 books, .99 only. We Seek No Kings a fantasy book with dragons over several other fantasy novels

Hello friends, This is a rare extra email! I wanted to let you fantasy lovers know that there's a huge book blast of .99 fantasy romance novels today! Here's a list: FaRoSociety/Bookblast. We Seek No Kings, my epic fantasy with motorcycles, dragons, and swords is .99 today (and the rest of this month) on all retailers. You can also buy the discounted fantasy trilogy at thorncoylebooks.com. be well - Thorn

A candle flame: Holy Brigid: In these times of conflagration That engulf the skies at night… Light the fire that guides our way. Kindle within us the flame of inspiration. We speak your name.

Hello friends, February 1st is the Feast of Brigid in many traditions. Brigid was both a saint who helped the people and the Goddess of poetry, healing, and the forge. I have honored her for decades, as a patron both of my writing, music, and my activism. This weekend, I call upon Brigid's presence to heal hurting communities, and to strengthen those trying their best to help. Below is a poem I first wrote in 2015 and updated in 2025 (by changing one word). I offer this poem to you once...

Charms that read "I will" spill out from a small bag

Hello friends, I’ve been working on the special goodie bags for the high level backers of my Evolutionary Witchcraft Kickstarter so I can deliver the special editions in February. One of the things I’m including are charms stamped with the words “I Will.” That phrase, “I will,” is key to so much of my personal practice. “I will” helped me to commit to studying and writing fiction decades after giving up. “I will,” gets me out for my daily walks, and goads me to do some modest strength...