Sift.

A healing path disguised as a writing practice.

12 years ago I found myself sitting at the table in one of

Laurie Wagner’s much-lauded Wild Writing™ classes.

I’ll admit, when I signed up I didn’t know what Wild Writing™ was and wasn’t entirely clear on what I would get out of it, except for maybe more well-written blog posts.

As it turns out, it wasn’t a “writing” class at all.

What I found was a life practice
I would return to it over and over again because…

…IT’S A REFUGE

…IT ALLOWS ME AND MY FELLOW WRITERS TO UNMASK

…IT’S COUNTER-CULTURAL, BUCKING THE NARRATIVE THAT WE MUST CHASE IMAGE AT ALL COST

…IT’S A MINDFULNESS PRACTICE AT ITS MOST ALIVE

…IT’S FUN IN THE MOST UNEXPECTED WAYS

…IT ENDLESSLY OPENS THE MIND, EYE, AND HEART

…IS A CONTAINER BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE SACRED AND THE MUNDANE IN EQUAL MEASURE

…IT CUTS THROUGH THE NOISE

…IT LEAVES ME REALIGNED AND REORDERED

…IT EASES MY BREATHING

As I have made the practice of Wild Writing™ my own I have come to call it:

Sift.

So what exactly is Sift?

The practice goes as follows…

  1. I read a poem aloud and select a few lines from that poem to use as possible jump-off lines for our own writing. The poems used in Sift are narrative poems not Shakespere. We use poems because poetry is a powerful side door into the truth of our lives.

  2. We write quickly, listening for what wants to be said, allowing the creative unconscious to come through onto the page. We keep the pen moving steadily so as to outwrite the part of us that wants to sound clever or impress people with the perfect turn of phrase. We tell the truth, even if that truth is boring, vulnerable, or contradictory. We do this for 10-15 minutes, pen never leaving the paper. What comes out comes out. 

  3. Everyone in the group takes turns reading what they wrote out loud. As each person reads they are witnessed, held and appreciated but no comments or feedback is offered.  As the teacher, I write too. I stumble too. I spill myself on the page too.

  4. We repeat a few more times.

Poem. Write. Read and Listen. Repeat.

Seems simple enough? 

It is.

Maybe it seems scary too? 

When we stop trying to appear like we have it all together (or are a “good” writer”) and allow our truth to be seen by others it can feel scary. 

It is in this simplicity, vulnerability, and edginess that healing and magic happen. I have experienced it every time I have sat at or led a Wild Writing™ or Sift table. 

I can’t wait for you to experience it too.

Just like we don’t have to call ourselves yogi to practice yoga we don’t have to call ourselves a capital W writer (though you can) to practice Sift-ing. And just as we get on the yoga mat to practice so much more than moving our body, in Sift we get on the page to practice much more than writing. 

I believe this practice is for you if you’re hungry to…

  • Be in spaces that feel both gentle and expansive

  • Hear your own voice.

  • Tame your inner critic.

  • Connect with other humans more authentically

  • Give a voice to whatever is stirring inside you.

  • Have a tether in this uncertain world.

  • Stop trying so hard

Is Sift for you?

Who am I?

Hi! I’m Rachel.

I really like frozen custard, naps, and going to thrift stores. I live in the Bay Area but my heart is also in Tucson, Arizona. I think Antiques Roadshow is the best TV show. I’ve been helping folks hear and feed their truest hungers for most of my adult life and Sift is just an extension of this incredible work.

You can dive into my full bio and details here, but if you’re curious about how I came to teach Sift after 20 years of working with people around their hungers and 13 years as a coach, intuitive eating counselor, and retreat leader, read on.

My life has long been committed the belief that our hungers are wise and our job is to hear them and honor them. I know of no other practice as potent for hearing the truth of what we hunger for than Sift. 

As my career as a coach and intuitive eating counselor has evolved it has become clear to me that I am only interested in spaces where being our full human selves is welcome, where there is space to be multifaceted, where having all the questions and none of the answers is just dandy. This is Sift. 

I have led Sift groups in the past but this year I decided to deep-dive into the practice and become a certified Wild Writing™ teacher. I’ll complete my training this summer but can’t wait that long to circle around a table so I’m offering two spring groups.

I need this practice now.
The world needs this practice now.
I imagine many of you need this practice now.  

  • I signed up for Sift with Rachel not knowing what to expect but with the intent to challenge myself (and with a dash of inner-critic fear). Rachel's outline of the program doesn't do justice to the experience of being in it. It's like a weekly meeting with myself, sometimes a time to release and be playful, sometimes a line into something deeper. I enjoy the process, which naturally facilities presence, and it's been an honor to sit in communion with other women and to hear the stories they choose to share. Perhaps the best thing about Sift is it's without expectation and judgment, truly. I can flow into and float out of our weekly sessions.

    Olivia K.

  • Sitting at the table with a group of thoughtful women is my weekly retreat. And I mean that in the most sacred, spacious, nurturing way. Rachel offers a gentle invitation and I get to set aside my to do lists, relentless perfectionism and over functioning ways to be guided into JUST BEING with words and the wisdom that pours onto the page. For two hours, I don’t need to control anything. I don’t need to be clever. I get to show up and be present to a circle of women who are present to me, too. When the time comes to return to the lists and obligations, I do so with a profound sense of restoration and renewal. Thank you.

    Michelle F.

  • I love Sift for bringing together an amazing group of women. The structure is helpful for introverts like me (not a lot of small talk). This group has been incredibly helpful and supportive for helping me process some difficult life events as well as finding my voice. Rachel is offering a beautiful gift to the world!

    Jeena C.

  • Sift is true self-care. Bubble baths are nice, but patience and space for one's self-discovery is a truly long-lasting, impactful way to care for one's self. The practice of writing and sharing has given me a chance to ground. The practice of tuning out the world for two hours has shown me that there is always time to connect with my desires. The practice of showing up has shown me that an environment that will hold a space for non-judgemental expression exists. The practice of writing and sharing is a life-long game changer.

    Sarah S.

  • I took Rachel's Wild Writing course at a moment when I was struggling to find my creative voice (and wondering what I would do with the time I was not spending dieting). With Rachel's gentle guidance and Sift I was able to unlock my buried love for writing and years later, I still use this practice.

    Rebecca N.

The Nitty Gritty

WHEN

Spring 2024 groups are currently in progress and Fall groups will be announced in late summer.

Sign up below to be notified when new groups are announced.

Where

Both virtual (Zoom) and in-person (Bay Area, CA) groups will be offered in Fall 2024.

Cost

For each 8-week group, the cost is $550.

Get on the list!

Questions?

  • No. Not at all. Those topics, like all aspects of our lives are welcome on the pages of Sift but these groups are not topic-specific.

    That said, this practice deeply feeds me and I know it will do the same for you as well.

  • You’re in good company here if you don’t identify as a writer. This is a healing and listening practice, not just a writing practice.

    If you do happen to identify as a writer, this practice will only serve to make your writing more authentic and evocative.

  • No. What is shared in each circle stays in each circle. Whatever you share will be left there.

    If you have to miss a call, you miss a call.

  • Please use the contact form on my site to reach out with any questions. I’m here to help you understand Sift and if its the right practice for you.