Substacks recommended by Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Recommended by Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

I read too many books on Zen and Buddhism. I highlight stuff that strikes me on my kindle and have this program that emails me 5 highlights a day. I pick one, write some thoughts on it and publish it. Hope it serves. Open to feedback.

Dharma brother Tuck has a brilliant mind and a boundless heart.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Voir Dire: To Speak True

By Nikki’s Substack

Conduit for Connection, exploring creativity and all the ways we find it.

Nikki Weaver is a friend, a founder, a mom, a dear heart. Her work serving incarcerated women to find their creative expression and voice is changing our world.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Sierra’s Substack

By Sierra Campbell

My personal Substack

With decades in this field, Sierra is poised to serve us with her experience tending to the dying and their families.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Refuge with Delphine Rose

By Delphine Rose ☽

Welcome to Refuge - A divine feminine space for shelter, healing, nourishment, connection and inspiration. To step away from the noise and remember what matters most.

Delphine is a seer, a dear human in service, a channel. Enjoy her expression; it's the real deal.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Fleeting, Breathing, Human Things

By Kateri Ewing

Writing & painting my way along the fragile and luminous thread called life... with wonder and awe.

Kateri is an artist, a writer, a heart of gold and a good soul; her work in all realms is just delicious.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

As Above, So Below by Tracee Stanley

Rest, nature, trusting the liminal 💫 Inspiration and poetry from author and teacher Tracee Stanley.

Tracee is one of my close friends, it's true. And. She's taught me to rest, to respect my body and to be present in ways I've never known possible.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Falling Free

By Miranda Ruth Gill

Finding meaning, when everything seems to be falling apart. Inspired by my journey through chronic illness.

Stay tuned to Miranda Ruth; she's finding her voice and it's already stunningly moving.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

STILL by Ben Katt

Exploring inner life, enhancing outer life through old school wisdom, soulful stories, and other mindful and mystical stuff.

Meeting Ben through his words, then an interview, he's an authentic, humble authority with heart and care.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Harvest with Kemi Nekvapil

By The Harvest by Kemi Nekvapil

Sharing insights, musings, and learnings on navigating leadership and life through the lens of nature. In The Harvest, we will consciously prepare the ground, sow seeds, cultivate, and harvest what matters to us in each season of our lives.

Kemi's generous spirit, wise mind and listening heart are why I'm eager to read her here.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet

By Amanda de Cadenet

Everything I can't say on social media and home of The Conversation Podcast.

For almost two decades, Amanda is a friend and an inspiration. She dares, risks, is honest, cares deeply.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

SoulStack by Beth Kempton

📖 Insights into the creative life from bestselling British non-fiction author Beth Kempton. ✍️Home of the SoulCircle writing community. All welcome ❤️ Global Top 5 Substack Education publication.

Beth. Beth. A few reasons to read: Her mind, her heart, her books, her words, her deep admiration of Japanese culture... she reminds me of what's essential in my life.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Rajanaka Studies, Auspicious Wisdom & Soulful Contemplation

By Professor Douglas Brooks

Rajanaka invites the study of comparative religions, philosophy, language, and mythology, with special attention to ancient India and eastern traditions. We offer practical, soulful conversation without dogmas or professions of faith.

My first philosophy teacher, dozens of notebooks and two decades later, i'm right here.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Golden Hour: climate, children, mental health

By Anya Kamenetz

The Golden Hour is a newsletter about thriving and caring for others on a rapidly-changing planet.

A longtime student and earnest human seeking change, Anya's writing is straight from the heart.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Poetry & Process

By Brian Funke

A haven, weaving words into life through Poem, Reflection, and Memory.

Brian's commitment to the craft of poetry impresses and inspires me.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

There Will Be Mistakes

By Matthew

Free thoughts and tales. Writing, mental health, sobriety, midlife.

Humble, caring, precise and full of heart, Matthew's writing is a place to which I turn for guidance.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Practice of Life

By Maia Duerr

Life is the gift we are given. We open it with intention and practice. Inspiration for personal and collective liberation.

Maia brings us the dharma edit, references, writers and sources for dharma as it pertains to us in the present.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Living in 3D

By Amy Brown

Life lessons in embracing desire in every decade from a late-blooming woman in her 60s, still in the process of becoming. We thrive by planting our roots in all three dimensions at once: mind, body and spirit.

Just in case you need a real conversation about the tougher aspects, Amy's writing is here.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Spirituality, Zen, and Culture

Teacher, poet, inspiration, podcast guest, if you're interested in Zen, this human is a must.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

StoryWorlds with Junot Díaz

By Junot Díaz

“So howled out for the world to give him a name. The indark answered with wind.” ― Samuel R. Delany, Dhalgren :: Reflections on fiction and worldbuilding, on diasporas and elsewheres.

As a writer, Junot's work and teaching is invaluable.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

One True Thing

By Kerry Snel

Zooming in on true moments to stay close to what is real.

Delicious snapshots of heart, soul and Nature are what you'll encounter reading One True Thing.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

ClearLife with Cecily Mak

Intimate shares on a range of topics including ClearLife, wellbeing, purpose-driven investing, parenting, and overall living with intention and an open heart.

Cecily's candor, insights and studentship have inspired me deeply since beginning to read her work.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Uplifters

By Aransas Savas

Quick doses of inspiration, proven mindset-shifting techniques, research, and stories, for Uplifters.

Worked with Aransas long ago; her energy and intent are infectious.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

David Whyte

Poems, essays and commentaries as well as insights from my Three Sundays Series.

You already know, most likely, but David's one of the greats of our time; his writing is built on meditation, listening, deep feeling and care, a significant part of my formation.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Reset: Holistic Health & Slow Living

By Kate Eskuri

Your digital invitation to breathe deep, nourish yourself, and slow down ✨ Join me weekly for holistic (and realistic) ideas on wellness, nourishing recipes, and intentional self-care.

Recipes, reminders and Kate's generous heart. A wonderful read.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Optional Optimism

By Jacki Carr

A writing space with Jacki Carr sharing stories, haiku and journal prompts that make you feel then think.

Jacki's heart is full of humor and care, and I love her writing.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Love Lives Here by Michell C. Clark

Love for self. Love for community. Love for the world. All interconnected. All essential. All here.

Heartfelt, personal and universal, Michell's work is balm for our times.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Letters From Love with Elizabeth Gilbert

This is heart work

Liz has a special place in my heart. Her books, obviously. But recently she told me she delights in my Glo classes, and I basically died. Read her for her mind, her heart and her love of the world.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Make Pure Thy Heart

By Paolo

Life through the lens of a curious vegan, absurdly optimistic creative. Centeredness & Clarity through creativity in the way we see things.

Paolo is a true, deep heart with an earnest desire to serve, and a capacity to clearly offer what he's learning to the benefit of all.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Growing FWD: by Kara Ladd

By KARA LADD

A mindful newsletter for soul-centered self growth. Subscribe to receive sends on transformation, transcendent self-discovery systems, holistic living, personal stories and products I'm loving. Let's get going & growing!

Sweet Kara is wise beyond her years, earnest and true.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Gratitude Journal

By Alex Elle

A virtual gratitude journal by writer and teacher, Alex Elle.

Alex has become a friend, she is the real deal, managing her family, her work and her responsibilities with creativity and care. Her writing is pithy and pure. I love her.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

barri grant | permission granted

By Permission Granted by Barri Grant

hard won wisdom and a permission slip come with every post. hope dealer since '93. as seen in The Washington Post and Psychology Today. your paid subscription supports scholarships to grievers. x, barri

When you wish to connect to your heart through the most quotidian, moving moments laid bare, turn to Barri. Her writing is exceptional, her sister Danna and I went to Cornell together, and I love them both very much.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Big Questions Collaborative Thinks

By Sarah Faye Cohen

I love asking questions. I love seeing where questions take us. I’m curious. These weekly posts ask, explore, and then offer prompts for you to discover for yourself. https://www.bigquestionscollab.com

Sarah is here to serve. She cares deeply; her studentship inspires my own, and her writing moves me to write more...

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Noted

By Jillian Hess

Tips from the world's best note takers

Enjoying these intimate glimpses of the notes of some of our favorite creators.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Great Women Artists

By Katy Hessel

Celebrating all things women artists

Because ART.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Jennifer New - Always Connect

Inquiring into community, interbeing, storytelling and the means to wholeness.

Jennifer is a fellow chaplaincy candidate and caring human whose focus on story changes the way I see my own.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

the natyrë journal

By Jenni Hulburt

Unearthing the sacred in the ordinary and exploring the wisdom and wonders of nature

natyrë is a meaningful, heartfelt, informative and inspiring collection of writings and recordings.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Poor Man's Feast

By Elissa Altman

The James Beard Award-winning narrative journal about the intersection of sustenance, nature, and the creative spirit (and sometimes, a recipe).

Elissa is one of the finest, most truthful writers, tells it as it is, in ways that help us relate to our innermost selves.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Matters of Kinship

By Katharine Winship

A newsletter about kinship in and between ecosystems on this beautiful habitable planet.

These descriptive, touching calls to action are a must if you care about our Earth.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Rest with Lizzie Lasater

Holding space for silence, and somatic self care. Free live 'Sunday Savasana Sessions' for subscribers.

A sister, a deep student and a skilled teacher, Lizzie is here to remind us how to listen.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Meditation with Heart with Kimberly Brown

Weekly meditations, practical Buddhist tools, and relatable insights to help you create a kinder, wiser, and more loving life.

Earnest, loving, nourishing, Kimberly brings what's needed.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

In Search of Supreme Beings

By Troy Putney

Photos, Poetry & Prose inspired by the multitudes of sentient life our singular planet sustains.

Troy is a heart of gold, a welcoming spirit and an inquisitive mind; enjoy his lyrical work.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Noble Try

By Isabel Cowles Murphy // TNT 🧨

Mining my inner-conflicts: motherhood & autonomy ⚡️ ambition & surrender ⚡️ sovereignty & culture.

Get ready to laugh, cry and feel connected to everything real about this life.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Clarity with Cory

By Cory Allen

My newsletter goes deeper into the ideas I share on social media, offering inspiring teachings on mindfulness, mental clarity, and personal growth.

Cory is wise with a heart of pure gold. His writing is clear and concise, moving us right to the task at hand.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Sarah Blondin

Words that bite at the bone and stumble toward understanding, for those seeking stability only the heart can provide.

Sarah is a huge heart full of wisdom for us.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Love Story

By Laura McKowen

Your life is a love story, just not the kind you think. An honest look at relationships, recovery, and writing from the bestselling author of We Are The Luckiest and Push Off from Here.

Laura is an attentive friend, a gifted writer, a point of light in the world of sobriety and a generous spirit. I love her work.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Horizon Lines with Chris Ferreiras

Poetry and prose on the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life, love, being & becoming.

Chris is a heart of gold and a sense of the sacred in his writing that always bends my mind a little bit.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Elevate with Yung Pueblo

By Yung Pueblo

Reflections on Personal Transformation and Relationships

Dear brother Diego Perez is generous with his insights; I read every letter he posts.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

The Corners by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Grace for fuck-ups. Prayer for the impious. A space for spiritual misfits.

Learn, laugh and weep with recognition.

- Holding Nothing with Elena Brower

Silentium

By Andō

A quiet journal on themes of interior silence — meditation, contemplation, silent prayer, stillness, and quiet moments. Written from a tiny hermitage in Cornwall, England by Andō.