Michelle Ortega is a speech-language pathologist, whose poetry and writing have been widely published online and in print. Her chapbook, When You Ask Me, “Why Paris?” was released in July 2025 (Finishing Line Press), and her microchap, Tissue Memory (Porkbelly Press), was released in February 2022.
Michelle is currently a Board Member and Teaching Artist for Arts by the People, a non-profit organization where she creates and facilitates Writing LAB programs as well as the annual Ekphrastic Residency.
Read more of her work at michelleortegawrites.com
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Michelle’s Links:
Instagram: @michellebelleslp
How do your creativity and spiritual life help you belong to yourself, others, your places, and the divine?
Creativity is an essential part of my self-expression, and how I share my deepest self with the world around me. Sometimes that expression is in simple ways of curating my home, sometimes it's a quick snap of a detail with my iPhone. But the most meaningful practice for me involves emptying myself of the day's or week's "noise", often through journaling, so that I can hear what's going on with myself beneath the business. Poetry, writing and black and white film photography are my go-to's, but I also enjoying interacting with other art as well.
How have your creative expressions and spiritual practices helped you become more of your full self?
I am not one who writes quickly or prolifically, when I return to an idea several, or many, times over, I am attending to thoughts and ideas that require time to surface and refine. When I devote that time to my inner world, I find myself to be more peaceful as well as being filled enough to care for others. When others connect with my art, I feel as sense of belonging that transcends physical attachment or location, and it motivates me to keep writing.
What do you behold regularly that nourishes your creative soul? (Nature, art, music, TV shows, etc?)
Listening to music and having spontaneous "dance parties" (á la Meredith and Cristina) is a part of my daily life. Current listens are Olivia Rodrigo and, as always, The Cure, INXS, Tears for Fears, the Ramones and other 80's music, both classic and one hit wonders. A few others in between those muscial eras, including Taylor Swift. I also enjoy reading poetry and novels, andhave been playing around with cyanotype paper.
What good things are you bestowing on yourself, others, your places, and the broader world?
I provide space and support for my patients to heal and develop/recover communication skills, and while I facilitate writing workshops and residency, I am nurturing other writers and their work as well.
What do you want more of for your creativity and spiritual life?
I have been creating nurturing space for myself, especially anticipating the cozy season upon us in the Northeast. Hand-poured candles and clean scents help ground me, soft blankets and nourishing, simple foods are prepared on the weekends to sustain me through the week.
What do you want less of for your creativity and spiritual life?
Less leading others in their writing and more time for my own work, which I have managed to do for this upcoming season (the rest of 2026 into 2027).
Is there anything else that you'd like to share that defines or represents this current season for you creatively and spiritually?
Right now, I am in a season of listening and waiting. I know some deep writing is on my horizon, but I haven't been able to connect my thoughts and feelings with words on the page for poetry or prose. Instead, I have been increasing my morning journaling, as well as free-writing ideas without the intent to edit or create something specific. I know thise practice will help me connect with the next poems and prose that I will write, when it's in the right time.
A Note from Charlotte: Michelle submitted this several weeks ago and I’m behind on posting it, so you need to know that Michelle has had a big creative breakthrough in the past week or so. She was right! Some deep writing was on the horizon, and the creative things are happening again.
Thank you for the chance to ponder these questions - I look forward to reading how others have responded!
Learn about the purpose of the Spiritual Direction for Creative Souls™ Checkup Series here. And if you’d like to participate and be featured in this series, please complete this Google form. I’ll reach out within a week or so to let you know when your checkup responses will be published.
Want to Connect with Other Creative Souls & Feel Less Alone in Your Creative Practice?
Become a paid subscriber to participate in Group Chat for Creative Souls with at least three prompts and facilitated group chats each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
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Co-Working + Co-Writing for Creative Souls at least five times each week. Co-Working + Co-Writing schedules will be sent out every Sunday for the upcoming week.
Thank for being here. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can email me at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com but know it may take a week or so for me to respond. This is a lovely and full season for me, but I also need a lot of rest, solitude, and breaks from email.
Much love to the creative souls. May we flourish anyway and take some time to reflect on our creativity and spiritual life.
💚 Charlotte