The Clearing with Katherine May Kaitlin Curtice’s sanctuary of the subconscious
Jan 17, 2026
Kaitlin Curtice, an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation and author, shares her insights on creating a mental seaside cottage during the pandemic. She explores the beauty of aging as a healing process and the wisdom found in stillness. Kaitlin discusses the significance of retreats, emphasizing the art of listening to both nature and ancestral voices. With reflections on storytelling, communal ties, and the importance of rituals, she highlights how these practices can deeply nourish the spirit and creativity.
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Imagined Seaside Cottage During COVID
- Kaitlin Curtice created a safe seaside cottage in her mind during COVID that she still visits for comfort.
- The interior is sensory-rich: a big window, a fire, reading chair, and the sense of being older and wiser.
Aging As Tenderness And Healing
- Aging for Kaitlin means shedding shame and holding herself with more tenderness, not just physical decline.
- She imagines her future self in her 60s or 70s as a guide toward self-acceptance and wisdom.
Encountering Presence On Iona
- On Iona, Kaitlin felt the voices of rocks, wind, water and ancestors while leading a ceremony with Alastair McIntosh.
- She experienced humility as a guest and deep presence in the island's layered stories.
