Hey, y’all!
I’m Ellie Spencer, a writer and psychologist hanging out in the midwest. I live in an old farmhouse with my partner and an array of animal companions. Some might say I am a glutton for punishment because I have a Ph.D. in psychology and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing, with equal devotion to both crafts. Because I have two careers, you might see me on the interwebs by another name.
My writing conveys a range of environmental and philosophical elements that draw humanity closer to the natural world and to themselves. When it comes to my psychology practice, I use mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to help folks living with chronic illness, grief, and anxiety.
I have a penchant for sprinkle doughnuts and fountain pens. Conversation, coffee, and internet cats fuel my writing habits, and I indulge whenever I can.
Every Sunday afternoon, I publish Without A Cloud, a weekly newsletter to cultivate mindful inspiration, reflections, and meditations on interconnectedness and the natural world around us. What I share is inspired by my own experiences with tapping into mindfulness practices, nature, and introspection.
What’s Without a Cloud?
I started brainstorming and writing Without a Cloud in 2022. Buring out at work, I made the decision to get more into my writing. And being a psychologist and a writer are two practices that often feel at odds and disconnected. More than that, though, I felt disconnected from myself, my senses, and the space around me.
I’ve been a therapist for ten years, but that doesn’t mean I am always good at practicing what I preach. The keyword is practice. I dedicated 2022 to reading and immersing myself in growing a mindfulness and meditation practice. So, I’ve read a lot of books written by zen-master Thich Nhat Hahn.
He uses several metaphors incorporating nature, including clouds. I love clouds. And now, I understand them much more deeply.
This newsletter’s foundation is based on a passage from one of the texts:
“Interbeing: If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are.
"Interbeing" is a word that is not in the dictionary yet, but if we combine the prefix "inter" with the verb "to be", we have a new verb, inter-be. Without a cloud, we cannot have paper, so we can say that the cloud and the sheet of paper inter-are.
If we look into this sheet of paper even more deeply, we can see the sunshine in it. If the sunshine is not there, the forest cannot grow. In fact nothing can grow. Even we cannot grow without sunshine. And so, we know that the sunshine is also in this sheet of paper. The paper and the sunshine inter-are. And if we continue to look we can see the logger who cut the tree and brought it to the mill to be transformed into paper. And we see the wheat. We know that the logger cannot exist without his daily bread, and therefore the wheat that became his bread is also in this sheet of paper. And the logger's father and mother are in it too. When we look in this way we see that without all of these things, this sheet of paper cannot exist.
The inspiration behind what I write will be generally pulled from how this perspective shows up in day-to-day life and how we are all interconnected with all things.
Subscribe for free to receive new posts, and join me in getting back to basics, uncomplicating our busy lives, and finding inner freedom.
Why subscribe?
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Join me as we dig into the day-to-day reflections and inspirations that show us that we are all connected with each other and the natural world.
I’ll take you behind the scenes in my writing studio and mindfulness and meditation practices. I’ll share my space in nature from my rose garden, hammock, and country roads. I’ll bring you the sunsets, and the flora and fauna of the midwest.
I also pull from my past life as a photographer and projects from my archive. I’ll share with you things I have learned about the human experience through photography.
Finally, I also dig into the more philosophical aspects of human nature and our interaction with nature and animals. I’ll answer questions like, “What is the meaning of life, anyways?”
There is always more to learn and explore, which means life is never boring, but at the same time, it can be overwhelming and frustrating. Without A Cloud is here to inspire and guide you, so you are empowered to connect with your life, and the world around you, and connect with each other through stories.
My hope is that you’ll join me.
A reminder about your subscription:
I write because I believe in the power of story. I’m a psychologist because I believe in the power of stories to heal and understand our interconnectedness better.
But! I need you to remember that while I am a psychologist, I am not your psychologist.
Nothing shared in this newsletter is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or other advice. Always seek the advice of your own licensed and qualified medical and/or mental health provider.
I’m here with you as myself—all of the beauty and imperfections included.
