It was September of 2009. I was sitting in my new living room by the beach in Ventura, after a decade in the jungle of Los Angeles, feeling the wide open space of a beginning and the ache of saying goodbye. As though it was dropped in my head by angels dancing on the ceiling, I had the thought to start a blog.

I had no idea how profoundly this decision would change my life.

The blogosphere can occasionally feel like a high school popularity contest, and I’ll admit it has triggered my “I’m invisible” story more than once, but the circle of people I’ve grown to know and love blows my mind and heart wide open on a daily basis.

Liz Lamoreux is one of the women who has come into my life, as if by magic. I’d long admired her words. Her jewelry was on my 40th birthday wish list. And then we ended up in each others’ circles and a real friendship was born.

I am thrilled to be the first contributor to her new guest blogging series, Circle of Kindreds, writing about the importance of believing in your own magic. Please join us in the circle. You are so very welcome.

with love + gratitude,
Alana

P.S. Another amazing woman I feel lucky to call a friend is Kristin Noelle of Trust Tending. If you missed the post I wrote there last week while she was away at the Wake Up Festival, you can read it here. It’s on another of my favorite topics – learning to be present with our feelings when life is hard.

P.P.S. If you’re not signed up for Liz’s “adventures in creative self-care” newsletter and Kristin’s Trust Notes, I highly recommend them. They are both like a breath of fresh air in my inbox.