Welcome Rachel Irene to the Wildflower Tribe!
It is an honour to announce the first official wildflower of the Wildflower Tribe; Rachel Irene, from Capetown in South Africa. She is also known as @driedflowerpoetry on Instagram. She is a Wildflower Journaler here on AWH and she will be writing weekly poems! At the end of this interview you‘ll be able to request a poem and/or a topic that she’ll be writing about here on AWH’s Journal. Now.. I’ll let her tell you about herself!
Here’s an interview I did with Rachel for you to get to know her better and what she’s all about.. enjoy!
And remember to welcome her in the comments below!
Name // what does your name mean?
Rachel Irene – Rachel means ’lamb’ and Irene means ‘peace’
Instagram // tell us what your instagram is all about:
My Instagram @driedflowerpoetry is where I share my writing/poetry using my favourite things – flowers and a vintage aesthetic!
Who are you?
I am someone who tries her best to live a life that is pure and clean. I hope to always see the good and not develop a negative life-view. I believe one should find at least one thing to smile about every day, and although I tend to stress out about everything and take a lot of things too personally, I’d like to live a peaceful life making art and helping others. I am not a very confident person, but I give my whole heart to what I am passionate about, even if my methods are a bit different to the usual. I don’t easily express my emotions (besides writing it down in a round-about way) and I show the people I love how I love them by giving gifts or things I have made (such as a poem).
What parts of being a wildflower do you resonate with the most?
Having a slightly different view point, and going after the things I love, even when others frown upon it.
Where or what makes you feel at home, like you belong?
When I am connecting with other wildflowers/ writers on the internet, being in nature with my favourite books, or just being by myself, writing my heart out by my desk.
Tell us about your passions, what drives you, what does it looks like in your life?
My passions include music, writing and books. My life goal is to honour the Creator with the gifts He has given me, and to be able to support myself financially with my talents – writing and teaching music. With writing, I write because there are words inside of me..I don’t think I could just stop writing, there is always something, so that keeps me going.
What dreams are you chasing? How did it/they start?
My ultimate dream is to live a quiet life writing full time and teaching music lessons. My goal is to be able to support myself through my talents, and not have to have another job just to make ends meet. My dream is also to make a difference with my writing, to reach people and help them with my words. For as long as I can remember I have been writing, and I’ve always enjoyed helping people/volunteering. This dream kind of came about when I realised that my life looks quite different to most, and when I stopped to think about what I want my future to look like, it has always included a little cottage with a huge library where I could teach, write, and hopefully own my own little second-hand bookshop.
What do you do when you have setbacks?
after crying over it a bit, I go back and see what I can adjust to make it work better. I also pray about it.
Can you tell us about a “breaking through the concrete” moment in your life?
I think I’m still trying to figure everything out
What do you do or where do you go to rest and heal?
I go to my room or workspace and just take time to read and be quiet. I also like to go for walks and just be in the stillness of nature.
What or who helped you bloom into who you are?
My parents, mainly. They have always supported me, and never forced me to get a regular job or go to university, if it wasn’t what I needed at the time.
In what ways do you wanna help others bloom?
I want to help people understand that their dreams are not crazy, and that they deserve a chance to live in peace and pursue whatever makes their hearts sing.
What have you been through and learned that you wanna help and give to others?
I have learnt that people will say hurtful things and that being true to yourself shouldn’t be dependent on another person’s thoughts or emotions.
What do you wish you were taught in school?
I was homeschooled for most of school, so I suppose I was given the freedom to learn what was important to become the best version of myself. And that everyone learns completely different… Don’t compare your growth to another’s.
If you were to launch a course or teach a class what would you teach about?
I’d like to teach music and flute, specifically!
Why did you join the Wildflower Tribe?
Because I believe in what the Wildflower Tribe stands for. I don’t think there is any other place, or home, that is dedicated to just expressing yourself and your creativity.
Why do you think other wildflowers should join too?
It is a place where you can breathe and relax, and actually call yourself an artist without fearing what others might think.
and last, but definitely not least, what will you be doing on AWH?
I will be planting a garden of poetry within the Wildflower's Home, for anyone to come and sit among the fragrant roses, or to pick a few flowers to press and preserve. I will write for those who need to express their thoughts and whatever wildflower thoughts come into my own heart
5 quick questions - just for fun :
Last note you wrote or last photo you took on your phone
last photo I took was of my poetry for Instagram, and I don’t really write notes on my phone.
Best compliment you’ve ever received?
that I am a gifted writer and that I am a gentle person.
If you could be any age for a week, what age and what would you do?
30 seems like a good age… and I’d go to Shakespeare and Co. in France (I’ve never been overseas before) and buy as many books as I can, because adults can do what they want, haha.
If you could personally have witnessed ANYTHING in history? What would you like to see?
Honestly, I think I would like to witness creation, to see what the world looked like before man.
Favourite people to follow on IG?
ooh… I have so many! Some I like are @incalico @ofmothandmoon @quietwilderness @awildflowersjourney @bethanyfolkmusic @annesparow
As promised, here are a button where you can request a topic that Rachel will be writing about in her next poem on AWH.
