In Conversation with Danielle Coffyn

7 Questions on Writing About the Divine Feminine and Spirituality

Feb 28, 2025

Hello beloved reader and welcome new subscribers!

I first discovered Danielle’s writing by falling in love with this poem of hers:

If Adam Picked the Apple

There would be a parade,
a celebration,
a holiday to commemorate
the day he sought enlightenment.

We would not speak of
temptation by the devil, rather,
we would laud Adam's curiosity,
his desire for adventure
and knowing.

We would feast
on apple-inspired fare:
tortes, chutneys, pancakes, pies.
There would be plays and songs
reenacting his courage.

But it was Eve who grew bored,
weary of her captivity in Eden.
And a woman's desire
for freedom is rarely a cause
for celebration.

If Adam Picked the Apple: A Book of Poems is now available for purchase.

Amazon describes it:

Pushcart Prize-winning poet Danielle Coffyn’s collection, “If Adam Picked the Apple” is where accessible poetry meets profound craft and metaphor.
Originally hailing from Belgium and now residing in St. Louis, Missouri, Coffyn blends her cultural background with her perspectives on the challenges faced by women today. From the complexities of aging and body image to the nuances of relationships and the weight of patriarchy, this collection invites readers to explore their own narratives through her relatable vulnerability. …
With titles that challenge conventions and provoke thought, "If Adam Picked the Apple" is a celebration of resilience.

You can also find her inspired work at her Substack:

1) Why are you drawn to writing about spirituality and/or the Divine Feminine?

While spirituality and the Divine Feminine aren’t the primary themes of my writing, I find myself drawn to them when reflecting on my place in the world as a woman. I’m especially interested in deconstructing the narratives of Divine Women—figures like Eve and Pandora—to examine how their portrayals have shaped societal perceptions of women and influenced the way they are treated.

2) How does writing about spirituality affect you, in your work and/or personal life?

My spirituality is deeply rooted in nature—the trees, the mountains, the rivers, the air we breathe. Spending time outdoors, away from screens and the demands of daily life, is essential to my mental well-being. Because nature is both grounding and restorative, it naturally finds its way into my writing. Much of my work is shaped by the spiritual connection I experience in the natural world.

3) What is an experience you have had that is perhaps the most mystical and unexplainable in the rational/material realm?

This is such an interesting question, and honestly, not something I’ve thought much about. I can’t say I’ve had a distinctly mystical or unexplainable experience—but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened in ways I may not fully recognize. I’ve experienced intense night terrors since childhood, which makes anything connected to the mystical or the afterlife feel disorienting, so I tend not to dwell on it. That said, I have many friends who have had profound mystical experiences which I find fascinating.

4) What is the first memory you have that there was something else besides the material realm?

For me, this awareness has emerged more in adulthood, especially when I fully immerse myself in nature. The natural harmony and balance between living beings—when left undisturbed by humans—feels truly extraordinary. It’s impossible not to sense a higher intelligence at work, something beyond human comprehension. And I’m okay with that—I don’t need to understand it to believe in it.

5) What do you hope for, for your writing?

I hope to write poetry books that readers return to time and again—for comfort, for inspiration, for a sense of connection. I want my words to linger in a reader’s mind long after the last page has been turned, offering something new with each revisit. The writers I admire most are those who expand my perspective, challenging me to see the world in ways I hadn’t before. That’s the kind of writing I aspire to—work that resonates deeply, shifts perspectives, and invites readers into a space of reflection and discovery.

6) Who is a writer or other creative artist who makes you feel inspired, helps you to remember we’re spiritual beings having a human experience, and perhaps makes you cherish Mother Earth just a little bit more?

Mary Oliver’s work is infused with a deep reverence for nature, capturing its beauty in a way that feels both sacred and grounding. Her poetry reminds me to slow down, to pay attention, and to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. When I feel stuck, depleted, or overwhelmed, I return to her words and am reminded of the quiet miracles unfolding all around us—the resilience of a wildflower, the hush of snowfall, the steady rhythm of the tides. Through her work, I remember that we are not separate from nature but deeply intertwined with it, and that our planet is nothing short of remarkable.

7) What are the words of wisdom and/or spiritual principle(s) that you come back to time and time again that give you solace and uplift your heart?

I don’t follow any specific principles, but I’ll share a short poem I wrote—one that reminds me that life will always be complicated, messy, and painful. And yet, like nature, we are more resilient than we ever realize.

How to Make a Life

It’s not too late. The sun still rises
& so do you, hips wide with desire.

Learn another language. Be humbled
by your ignorance. Listen more
than you speak. Become fluent
in silence. Feast on poetry. Befriend
those unfazed by your battlescarred
palms. Divorce shame & self-loathing.

Let your sequoia heart be licked by fire—
you too are wired for survival.

BIO:

Danielle Coffyn (she/her) is the author of If Adam Picked the Apple (North Meridian Press, 2025). Her work has appeared in The North Meridian Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, Litbop, and others. She is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. She currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri with her son and pup.

Please also note: this series of interviews will live under the tab labeled “Alchemical Conversations” on this Substack, with the intention that the space will become a kind of resource of writers collaborating in reclaiming the Divine Feminine. Perhaps each string of words each of us writes is a thread in a vast, intricate, and beautiful tapestry we are collectively weaving—each row of this evolving fabric moving us toward an evolution of consciousness, a deeper awareness of the spiritual dimensions of our ecological crisis, and the healing needed to restore a harmonic balance with Mother Earth.

Next week I’m very happy to also bring to you

Sally Gillespie

’s responses.