An Introduction

I've never been particularly good at distilling myself into a line or a paragraph. Like many artists and creatives, mine has been a life guided by curiosity, opportunity, and deep, profound connection with the non-human natural world.

By day, I work in private philanthropy, guiding resources towards the world's most underserved peoples, initiatives designed to address civil society's problems, and investments made towards cleaning our oceans, skies, and soil. I also fund experiential and immersive theatre and storytelling. I have degrees in environmental law and environmental science. I was an ocean plastics advisor twenty years ago, when most people barely understood that we were facing catastrophe. I was a GMO advisor almost thirty years ago. I joined Greenpeace when I was five years old. That's a true story.

By night and by any additional time I have, I am a writer and a storyteller.

I am a contemplative Celtic animist and the myth, lore, and legend of my Scottish and Irish ancestry owns my bones. That's a true story too.

The trees raised me, and I do not remember a time where I was not in deep relationship with the world around me. I have not yet met a plant I cannot commune with and have a deeply green thumb, inherited from my maternal grandmother. Growing plants is my joy and delight, yet I live between a townhome in the high-desert with a patio and a deck, and a condo by the ocean. Perhaps one day there will be a garden I will partner with and tend, as my own kin. What an incredible treasure that will be.

For a time, after I burned out in the corporate world, I became an actress and worked in film and television. I still have an IMDb in the event I might one day want to return to the field. This has been crossing my thoughts a lot lately. Also true.

I live a life closely aligned with the seasons, following the Celtic wheel of the year and celebrate the four great fire festivals/seasons of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnasadh. I am a member of the Order of the Bards, Ovates, and Druids and though the teachings are quite modern, they are loving, gentle, inclusive, and resonate with the way I walk through the world.

There was a time I worked as a marine scientist and dove on seagrass meadows in the Caribbean. I spent a lot of time with fish, sharks, cephalopods, and myriad other species. I consider myself a landlocked mermaid. Last month, for the first time, I witnessed two basking sharks (giant filter feeders) off the Southernmost tip of Ireland and I almost jumped in to join them. No doubt I would have frozen. I would have considered that an exemplary death.

I love to dance. I love dance and story woven together. I once was on the Daytona Beach Salsa Team. This year I joined a poetry challenge and have written a poem every day since January 17th. Today is poem #147. Some of them rhyme and are long form, some are haikus and lunes. I have never been able to keep a daily journal. This is the first time in my 47 years I've looked forward to writing about my day, everyday, though some of the poems are channelled, the theme I'm seeing is that it is an account of my feelings about life. Fascinating. I've trained with the Institute for Poetic Medicine and I love poetry as a tool for wellness.

I write about many things. Lately it's been about the evolution of humanity. A life lived in reverent reciprocity with the non-human natural world around us. My curiosity about human connection and disconnection and the rise of AI and robotics. Celtic folklore, myth, legend, and tale. Contemplative animistic practice. The sheer beauty that is life on this our shared blue pearl.

I love to laugh and when I feel safe there's a standup comedienne that comes through me. Of the Greek muses, I think Thalia is my favorite, though I spend a lot of time with Polyhymnia and Terpsichore. They are incredible and I feel blessed when they join me.

I travel a lot. A lot. For anyone astrological, I have a stellium in the 9th house. I write about my travels, though less than people would like. Maybe I could spend a little more time jotting down my thoughts post travel. As an example, in the last 6 months I visited in (alphabetical order) Bhutan, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Well, I live in the US so I suppose that doesn't count.

I have been suicidal twice in my life. I had the keys in the lock and was ready to turn them. Once at 14, and again at 35. Both times I didn't leave this earthly plane because of my younger sister. I hope to never face that doorway again and for those who feel it is the only way out of the depth of their pain or loneliness or whatever prison they find themselves in. I understand.

I have married so many of my friends I've lost count. Well, I have officiated their weddings. I've also been so fortunate to bless babies and to sit with people as life is coming complete for them. It is a sacred practice and an honor to do so. In another realm, a parallel one, I am a druidic priestess living on a wild cliff with a goat called Carl, tending a nemeton, and advising leaders and people of power as to how to remain in their integrity and honor the needs of the land and waters as well as the people. Surely, surely this is also a true story.

I did not have children in this lifetime however I am Aunty to many, both of blood and spirit. I knew from a very young age that I came for the many not the few, and again, had there been an animistic order I could have trained into, it's likely my life would have taken that turn. High priestess and I share initials.

I do not have a favorite tree, however if you forced me to choose one, I might say the weeping willow. My favorite flower? Surely that's impossible. Again, if forced to choose, I might say the scent of the gardenia, the blossoms of the wisteria, the wildness of the golden yarrow, the global nature of the rose, and the mountain wash of my own namesake.

I was raised in a world of endless abuse, poverty, and neglect and it has shaped my choices away from art and towards security for the best part of 50 years. After much healing and a lot of work, I feel it softening. It has to, for the art I love and seek to partner with can't wait for much longer. Can't wait for any longer.

If there is anything here that peaks your fancy, you are warmly invited to join me on this journey. I have a Substack that I'm winding down in favor of this lovely Tuhat platform. Peace, space, and sharing. Small build by and for the people? Yes please.

I wish you a beautiful rest of your day or night, wherever and whenever you are. Thank you for joining me here.

Your kin,

Heather Louise Porter

h.x

Just so you know, most of my writing is lyrical and poetic. This is probably the most direct thing I've ever written! You can find out more about me in a few other places, my website and LinkedIn, if you're over there, please feel free to connect. Oh, and I never use AI to write for me. This art and craft is my heart and my life, and thus it shall always remain.