Celebrating the Divine in Daily Life –  Interview with Susan Kirsch

Celebrating the Divine in Daily Life: An Interview with Susan Kirsch

In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of peace and authentic expression can be a challenge. Susan Kirsch, a poet and creative practitioner, offers a compelling approach through her unique process that pairs intuitive coloring with short, mindful praise poems. This article explores Susan’s inspiring path from civic engagement to personal artistry and spirituality, focusing on her upcoming book, Simply Go*d: Praise Poems Celebrating the Divine in Daily Life.

A Journey from Public Service to Personal Creativity

Susan Kirsch’s background is rooted in influence and community service, where she worked extensively to improve cities and engage citizens. After dedicating years to this public service, Susan felt that chapter of her life was complete. Her focus shifted dramatically toward poetry and coloring, forms of creative expression that had been quietly present in her life for over two decades.

Rather than starting with writing, Susan begins her creative process by coloring. This intuitive, expressive coloring practice is designed to quiet the mind’s critical voice, establishing a calm space from which genuine creativity can flow. The coloring is simple, often completed in five minutes, and without expectations of artistic mastery—its purpose is pure expression and mindfulness.

The Power of Coloring and Praise Poems

Following her coloring session, Susan writes a short praise poem inspired by what she observes, imagines, or feels. These poems are concise—just one page—allowing for focused reflection and celebration of moments often overlooked in our daily lives.

Importantly, Susan’s coloring and poetry are not necessarily connected thematically. While the coloring is unrestricted and spontaneous, the poetry adopts the structures and clarity of the written word. This dual practice helps engage different creative faculties and balances free expression with mindful composition.

Understanding Ekphrastic Poetry

During the conversation, Susan explained the concept of ekphrastic poetry. This form of poetry draws inspiration from another art medium—traditionally visual art, but possibly music or sculpture as well. The poem responds to and reflects on the source material from the poet’s unique perspective, often making a subtle reference to the original work.

While Susan’s own coloring and poetry are not strictly ekphrastic, she has contributed to ekphrastic poetry contests where poets write inspired by paintings, photographs, and sculptures. This form highlights how one creative medium can spark another, deepening artistic expression.

Simply Go*d: A Series Rooted in Mindfulness and the Divine

Susan’s forthcoming book, Simply Go*d: Praise Poems Celebrating the Divine in Daily Life, embodies her creative philosophy. The title deliberately highlights the asterisk within “Go*d” to suggest an ungendered, inclusive source of goodness—one not confined to traditional religious dogma but open to interpretation as God, goodness, nature, or any spiritual source.

This book is the first in a series drawn from decades of Susan’s journaling work. It invites readers to rediscover the divine in everyday moments and to find joy in simplicity and presence. A second book titled Simply Go*d: Praise Poems for Everyday Mindfulness is also forthcoming, with an increased inclusion of intuitive coloring alongside poetry.

Who Benefits from Susan’s Praise Poems?

Susan’s work resonates particularly with readers who may feel disconnected from traditional religious frameworks—those she lovingly calls “recovering” from structured theologies. The poems and creative rituals offer a gentle but profound antidote to modern stress, anxiety, and cultural turmoil by reconnecting readers to a source of hope and goodness.

Many who are not usually drawn to poetry find Susan’s accessible style welcoming. The focus is on celebrating small wonders—the flower growing in a crack, the blue sky—transforming everyday encounters into moments of mindfulness and gratitude.

Creativity as Healing and Community

“What the other part of the title that I really like is the simply— that this is simply good, simply God, that we’re led to believe in our culture, which is such a consumptive, you’ve got to buy things to be happy culture. We forget about how many things are simple.” – Susan Kirsch

Susan emphasizes returning to simple, non-material experiences as sources of true happiness and satisfaction, such as the safety of home, friendships, and nature’s beauty. She draws inspiration from diverse cultures, like her experiences in Malawi, where community joy and generosity thrive despite economic hardship.

Sharing the Creative Process and Future Plans

Launching in National Poetry Month, April, Susan plans to engage readers and fellow creatives through Zoom calls, poetry readings, and garden parties where she will demonstrate her coloring and writing process. She hopes to encourage others to explore mindfulness practices in their own ways, whether through poetry, visual arts, gardening, or simple daily rituals.

She also speaks highly of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA), praising its supportive community which provides vital resources and encouragement for indie authors navigating publishing challenges.

Final Reflections

Looking back over the last few years of her creative journey, Susan acknowledges the challenges involved in creating and publishing her books but also embraces the uncertainty and surprises that come with artistic exploration. She urges others to stay open and follow the “breadcrumbs” of inspiration that daily life offers.

For those interested in exploring Susan’s work further or joining her creative community, her website SusanKirschCreates.com offers access to excerpts, coloring samples, newsletter signup, and purchasing options.

Key Takeaways

• Mindfulness through creativity: Combining intuitive coloring with short praise poems helps quiet the critical mind and foster authentic expression.
• Embracing simplicity: Finding joy and presence in everyday moments can ground and uplift us amidst modern stress and complexity.
• Inclusive spirituality: Susan’s use of “Go*d” symbolizes an ungendered, broad understanding of divine source or goodness beyond traditional religion.
• Ekphrastic poetry: Poetry inspired by another art form invites fresh perspectives and enriches creative practice.
• Community and healing: Creative rituals offer meaningful tools for personal healing and can inspire collective well-being and hope.
• Support for indie authors: Organizations like BAIPA provide essential resources and camaraderie for self-publishing authors.