and welcome to this space.
I’m Jan Elisaheth and I’m on a quest to live by daily rhythms and stories that nurture and support a life that values writing, slowing down, paying attention and connecting deeply with the animate world that nurtures us.
I founded and have been an editor at Cinnamon Press (an indie not for profit press) for over 20 years, working with hundreds of authors, leading workshops across Europe and writing poetry, novels and creative non-fiction.
I run Kith: for a Different Story, a writing community and mentoring programme hosted on Mighty Networks to share a passion for the writing life, which I believe is transformative, and to help others develop their writing practice at all stages. Writing is powerful. The world is shaped by the stories we tell.
I write a weekly journal: Alchemical Wonderings with letters about walking with herbs, connections to the animate world, navigating dark times with hope and without overwhelm and tending our stories. The journal is currently delivered by Substack, but I am winding down subscriptions there to focus on this space and so that income does not flow to a platform that assists misogyny, racism or hate speech. I began Terrain as a place to cultivate a quieter, more attentive life.
Alchemical Gatherings happen with four seasonal workshops plus a monthly gathering around the dark moon to write together Calmly by Candlelight.
Triskelewell is a space for all things herbal and our connection to the earth that is our only home.
I studied aromatherapy with the Well School and trained as a community herbalist with both the SeedSistas and The Plant Medicine School before qualifying as a herbal practitioner with The Plant Medicine School in Ireland. I’ve also studied Viatlist and Alchemical herbalism with the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. I love working with people who are seeking a relationship with our herbal allies whether through one to one consultations that are about exploring what wellness means for real bodies (finding rhythms to live with the stories our bodies are telling) or through leading workshops to dive deeper into herbal wisdom.
Terrain brings together my deepest work to help others explore your path in ways that resonate with you: spritual, creative and embodied, deeply rooted in the animate world. Together we will walk a path of transformation in a space where you are heard and supported by our herbal allies.
Connecting the terrain of body and heart to the land where you live and the landscape of your creative work is at the core of this work and draws on all my passions and expertise.
I trained as a yoga nidrā teacher with the Yoga Nidrā Network and use yoga nidrā in my personal practice and teaching.
My academic background began in theology with at degree at Cambridge University followed by a PhD in feminist theology, then teaching, followed by 14 years in ministry, which included training as a spiritual director. Although this is no longer my faith path, I have a practice of keeping the Celtic seasons and connecting with the animate world and a respect for all faith journeys and for those who are crafting creative lives outside any particular tradition. Over the last few years I’ve studied with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and completed both the Bardic and Ovate pathways.
I’m passionate about issues of equality, enjoy cooking and love slow travel.
I live in a tiny hamlet in a forest, in a white house with blue shutters and no TV but magnificent views of the river running through the garden, a small apple orchard and trees in all their seasons. I live here with my husband, a writer, artist and graphic designe,; and the youngest of my four adult children (who were all educated at home) and our vociferous cat, Freyja.