June 2023
Wellspring Mother Artist Feature:
bethany Howard
We’re delighted to introduce mother-artist, Bethany Howard, a poet and author currently residing in Connecticut. Words are both her creative outlet and the way she processes both the good and the hard things in life. She is a source of encouragement and wisdom, sharing her love for the creative process of writing and mentoring women to follow their purpose and passions in life. Her powerful tag lines “Permission Granted” and “Take Up Your Space” encourage women to step into what they were made for.
Thank you, Bethany, for sharing your wonder, courage, and wisdom of the mother-artist journey!
Mia + Jess
Bethany Howard
WELLSPRING: Where do you look for inspiration?
BETHANY: The leaves, the waves, the endurance of hope that cannot be explained, the bravery of other women, the wind, the way love keeps showing up, as well as conversations with others and those I have with myself. I read other poets and marvel at the way they use their words; I am inspired by Joy Harjo, Maggie Smith, Kate Baer, Danté Stewart, David Gate, Cole Arthur Riley, Madeleine L'Engle, and KJ Ramsey, to name just a few!
WELLSPRING: What excites you about what you are working on right now?
BETHANY: With writing I always feel like I am on the edge of discovery which means I am either staying away from the edge (not writing) or leaping off the cliff and trusting the parachute. I am working on my writing right now. I want to get better at discovery and the articulation of what I see and feel once I leap.
“The gifts, the way you are made, is no accident and what was put within you did not change when you became a mother - it is still there and still needs to be expressed because it is who you are. Your creativity is your wholeness.”
WELLSPRING: Please share how/where you see your faith intersect with your creative expression as a mother artist.
BETHANY: My faith both empowers and informs my writing. I write because I must. I write to understand, to honor, to point to truth.
WELLSPRING: How has your motherhood journey impacted your creative process or your way of seeing/thinking?
BETHANY: My identity as writer came along with the birth of my son. I understood more of who I was made to be and was made cognizant of both my lack and my strength when I became a mother. The mothering of my three babies has made me fierce. I see and feel so much more because of my mothering, and as a result, I have more to say. To be honest, my mothering journey often requires much more of me than leaping over the edge to write, and so I always have that perspective right in front of me. It's a reminder to sit down and write through every season, even the hard ones.
WELLSPRING: What encouragement or wisdom would you share with another mother wanting to pursue her creative call?
BETHANY: We want our children to step into who they are made to be. If we want to invite them into wholeness in an authentic way, in a way that compels them, then we have to do the same. The gifts, the way you are made, is no accident and what was put within you did not change when you became a mother - it is still there and still needs to be expressed because it is who you are. Your creativity is your wholeness.
WELLSPRING: Please share with us where we can see, read, or experience your creative work: (i.e. social media, website, exhibits, concert info, blogs, books, etc...)
BETHANY: You can connect with me here: www.bethanyhoward.com and follow me on Instagram @bethanypermissiongranted
Also, check out my book: Permission Granted: Embrace Who You Are, Cultivate Courage, Impact Your World. It’s a book of over 30 poetry pieces and journal prompts to empower women to take up their space.
A beautiful sampling from Bethany’s book featuring her poem “Hello Dream”.
We hope you enjoyed this Wellspring Mother Artist feature!
Stay tuned for more, we’ll be releasing two each month as part of our Open Call Collaboration, you can check out the details here. Interested in being featured? Send us an email over at wellspringmotherart@gmail.com with a statement of interest and share your Instagram @ handle or other social media presence.
