Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with J. Claire of Colorado Springs, Colorado

We recently had the chance to connect with J. Claire and have shared our conversation below.

J., it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I love this question! I am being called to step into my true power and authenticity. It seems so easy but it is a daily choice and practice. Priming every morning through meditation and journaling sets the tone for the day and I believe it lays the foundation for your life. I am being pulled into the direction of building life on my terms, embracing my true self without fear and doubt and letting the magic happen.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is J. Claire, also known as Poet of the Wild—an award-winning poet, author, and creative dedicated to helping others connect more deeply with themselves and the world through the art of words. My debut collection Revelry won two American Fiction Awards in Narrative and Nature Poetry, was a finalist in Contemporary and General Poetry, received recognition as a Distinguished Favorite in Poetry: Journeys, Memory, and the Self by the NYC Big Book Awards, and won the International Impact Book Award in Poetry: Personal and Confessional Poetry.

My business was born from a desire to merge poetry, wellness, and mindful living. I write and share poetry that explores the beauty and complexity of being human and lead workshops that encourage creative expression as a form of healing. Currently, I’m expanding my work into poetry-inspired merchandise and pursuing yoga and meditation certifications to bring a holistic approach to art, mindfulness, and well-being. I am also working on the second book in the “R” series poetry collection!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The earliest memory I have of feeling powerful was when I was a child, maybe 7 or 8 years old. At the time, my family and I were living in Oregon and we owned 27 acres of land. I would often explore our evergreen lands in any weather condition and I remember feeling this overwhelming sense of power, joy, and feeling so light every time I would venture out into nature. I would ask myself questions about what I was seeing, feeling, and experiencing and I was the only one who could answer them. It’s a beautiful, powerful moment when you let yourself fully be you.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I started writing poetry when I was 12 years old which was around the time my stepfather became emotionally distant in our home. I could not verbally articulate the enormous pain this caused our family as I was trying to understand it myself so I turned to writing instead. My freeform writing grew over the years into adulthood serving its many purposes time and time again. In 2018, I remember finishing a poem and thinking “Wow, this is really good. I think this could really help someone” and then I thought “How can I make an impact if I keep this to myself?” and “Who will find me, these poems, if I hide?” A feeling just flooded my body and I had this urge of thinking/knowing – it’s time. I stopped hiding. I submitted a poem to a women’s online magazine. It was a poem about heartbreak and wondering what happens next. I received an email about three months after I submitted it that it was accepted and received its publication date. I started sending poems I had written over the years to family and close friends. I signed up to read a couple poems at a local event on Valentine’s Day and on my first publication day of the first poem to ever get accepted, I received so many messages about how much the poem meant to them and how they couldn’t quite put into words how they felt at the time of their heartbreak and loss but now they felt seen. The impact of the first step forward led me to finally start putting my book series together and now – the “R” series was born in May of 2025 with the first book, Revelry, released on the 1st of the month.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to releasing all of the poetry books in the “R” series. Each book is themed based on chapters in the human experience that touches on the ebbs and flows of life. Some examples of the themes include love, loss, and adventure. I am committed to this series because I truly believe my lyrical and visual poetry will help the world feel seen, understood, and a tremendous amount of joy. Perhaps even a sigh of relief. I would be doing the world a disservice if I did not try my hardest and gave it my all to impact as many people as I possibly could with my poetry. I don’t want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to feel lighter and happier if I could have something to do with it.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel the most at peace when I am in nature, with my husband, family, and friends, dancing, and writing poetry. These are moments and opportunities I do not take for granted and I am overjoyed with gratitude that these moments exist in time.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Images: Red Veil Photography and Jennifer Hughes Photography

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