Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Nelson.
Hi Chelsea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started writing poetry in my bedroom as a kid while listening to The Cure, Nirvana, and Nine Inch Nails. I always had a longing inside of me that never seemed to go away – but writing and listening to music in my room alone made me feel like I was a part of the larger world. A part of the art of humanity. And, poetry has been a big part of my life ever since.
I went to Utah Valley University and majored in English and Creative Writing and was the editor in chief of the literary magazine there. I really found my stride in my writing and had so many amazing mentors and professors. I knew that I wanted to do something creative when it came to my career after college, so I kept my options open when it came to work, but always had some kind of creative project happening in the background. I worked in restaurants for a long time and ended up in event planning for a number of years, which really piqued my interest in food and beverage. So, after college I started a food blog called Nosh Maven. That blog launched me into the food writing community in Salt Lake City, and I wrote for several local publications – mostly focusing on craft cocktails and bar programs. I also started graduate school at Westminster and got my masters degree in Professional Communications and Rhetorical Theory and Writing. Once I graduated, I started a career in marketing and worked in nonprofit for several years before ending up in the tech world. I still have day job in tech and enjoy it, but I am about to make another big shift!
All of these experiences have culminated in leaning more and more into my art and poetry and building community there. I share my work on social (@RitualandCraft), and also pepper in cocktails once in a while still as well. Ultimately, this year I felt it was time for a big change and to start working towards something that will shift my career into a new direction. I am headed back to school to become a certified life coach with Martha Beck’s Wayfinder Lifecoach training and I am really excited to use all of my personal and professional experience to help other find their most authentic selves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can’t imagine anything more boring than a smooth road in life! And of course, like anyone else, there have been bumps and obstacles along the way. For me, most of that bumpy road was a journey to find what kind of life I wanted to live. Over the years, I found that most traditional ways of being left me feeling boxed in and losing myself. I have had to give myself permission over the years to pave new paths, choose things that are scary, and leave behind “safe” places in order to grow and live my most authentic life. Poetry is one thing that has always been my north star. I know that when I am not writing – something about my life is not in alignment. I must seek out new experiences and paths at all times, and sometimes people don’t like to see others breaking away from what’s safe and changing their minds. But, the more I have chosen myself, the easier it has become – and right now I feel like I have finally found my true stride.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The first thing I would ever describe myself as is a poet. It is my true essence and how I see the world. Before mother, before woman, before my professional career – before anything. It is the lens that everything in my life is filtered through.
You can find much of my work on Instagram, and I also have a poetry blog at inthewayofbeauty.com. I write mostly confessional poetry and it I use poetry as a way to gain clarity on my feelings and emotions. Every poet has a different voice and finds inspiration in different things – my writing is mostly relational and representative of my internal world.
The rituals I have built around my writing will also inform my coaching. Things are very much still in the works, but you can find info on my coaching vision at ritualhivecoaching.com. I will start taking clients likely around the end of 2025!
Any big plans?
Ritual Hive Coaching. That’s the big one! I am also hoping to self publish my first book of poetry by the end of 2025.
Contact Info:
- Website: ritualhivecoaching.com and inthewayofbeauty.com
- Instagram: ritualandcraft
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-nelson-mpc-3672963/
