an anthology

creative stillness reflections.

A true labor of love describes the Spring 2026 release of the Creative Stillness Anthology, led by poet, community builder, and author Dhayana Alejandrina. Birthed from the Creative Writing Hour and Gatekeeper Press, I’m excited to share some reflections about the release of this beautiful work of art for the community, and by the community.

a collective reading

This past week, as a community, friends, family, and loved ones we celebrated the Creative Stillness Anthology release. As featured writers, we heard each others pieces, ranging from poetry to essays, that share the collective theme of creative stillness. I was truly blown away by the overwhelming beauty of hearing each featured writer recite their contribution to the anthology, my own piece included.

A plethora of perspectives and stories came together, each reading on both Thursday and Sunday night was a circle with Creative Writing Hour artists who share a deep appreciation for the art of writing and the teaching of creative stillness.

Dhayana Alejandrina, author and curator of the Creative Stillness Anthology, shared a reflection to us as featured writers:

“Thank you for all your voices, your spirit, your expression, and your presence. It was truly an honor to witness each of you step into your work and share it so openly, gently, and fiercely. What we created together is meaningful, powerful, and deeply connecting, and it’s a reflection of the care and the intention each of you brought to this anthology. Thank you for allowing me and the team to curate this with so much love and care!”

The depth of connection is continuously being birthed among us as creatives and I can’t wait to witness what we continue to build together as a community.

the story behind the creation

I joined the Creative Writing Hour in January of 2024 during a time of my life where I was being initiated into another layer of rest and stillness. I began delving into poetry intentionally in ways I hadn’t before. The Creative Writing Hour gifted me with a space to not only write, but also meet other writers, poets, and creatives. Our community has been a stronghold of sharing experiences, stories, and love for the art of writing.

Before the Creative Writing Hour, as an interdisciplinary artist, I had spent a lot of time pouring into dance as a creative outlet. I was culturally and classically trained as a dancer since childhood into early adulthood. A few months into joining the community, I experienced an injury that completely transformed my relationship with dance. As a result, I was catapulted into exploring writing as an introspective tool that transformed into an outpouring of expression from pen to paper.

My featured piece in the Creative Stillness Anthology touches on creative stillness from the lens of rebirth and transformation. Reciting the poem brought full circle this initiation into what my life has become and the ways I have evolved. I can’t wait for us to feel, touch, and see these words in written form to hold, share, and extend to others.

about the anthology

I’m so honored to be a member of the Creative Stillness Anthology Committee, we all brought and continue to offer so much intention into its birthing and creation. So much gratitude to Gatekeeper Press for gifting our community the means to bring this anthology to life. Thank you to all 26 writers for sharing this creation together.

Creative Stillness is a collective anthology of poetry and essays that honors the spaces where creativity is shaped, restored, and reclaimed. Organized into four sections—The Weaving, The Centering, The Offering, and The Surrendering—the collection moves through the natural rhythms of the creative life, exploring cultural memory, identity, grief and joy, mental health, healing, and artistic devotion.

Interwoven journaling prompts invite readers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their own creative voice. Intimate yet expansive, this anthology serves as both a literary offering and a companion, reminding us that rest can be generative, stillness can be transformative, and meaning can take root when we slow down enough to listen.

Pre-orders are live. The pre-order package edition is an exclusive release of only 50 curated packages, each thoughtfully assembled by hand. We are in preparation for this continued season of celebration as we welcome in the Spring 2026 release. The ripples continue to reach far and beyond.