Love Letter to the Wild Self: A Rewilding Ritual

Before the world told you who to be—before schedules, expectations, and responsibilities tamed your instincts—there was a version of you that ran barefoot through the grass, built forts from sticks, sang into the wind, and felt a bond with the more-than-human world.

That self—the Wild Self—still exists. It lingers beneath the surface, like seeds buried in the earth or a stream flowing quietly under a frozen landscape.

But in modern life, we rarely take time to seek it out. One of my mentors, scholar and mythologist Dr. Martin Shaw, tells us about the wild self in the story of The Lindworm, which he shares in his masterful book Courting the Wild Twin. Shaw tells us that the wild twin “has your life’s purpose tucked up in its pocket. If there is something you were here to do in these few, brief years, you can be sure that the wild twin is holding the key.”

Writing a Love Letter to the Wild Self is a practice of remembering, reclaiming, and reconnecting with our wild twin—the untamed essence of ourselves. Whether you yearn for more adventure, playfulness, courage, or creativity, or seek to satisfy a longing that you can’t name, this simple ritual invites you to express deep love and recognition for the wildness within.

Why Write to Your Wild Self?

In many traditions, writing letters has long been used as a form of deep self-reflection. A Love Letter to the Wild Self is a way to:

• Acknowledge the parts of you that may have been forgotten or suppressed.

• Reconnect with desires, dreams, and emotions that live inside you.

• Explore how life might be different if your wild self was more fully integrated into your life.

This is not a letter of judgment or correction. It is a letter of love—a way of saying, I see you, I remember you, and I welcome you back.

How to Write Your Love Letter to the Wild Self

If you can, try to step into nature before writing—take a walk in the woods or sit by the water. If that’s not an option, open the window and feel the breeze on your skin. I recommend using pen and paper for this practice. At ReWilding: Lab, we begin journaling with this exercise as one of the first entries—a way to reconnect with the self and the wild.

Call Your Wild Self Back

Begin your letter by addressing the Wild Self directly, as if writing to an old friend or a lost love:

Remember the Wild You Once Knew

Think back to a time when you felt most free. Maybe as a child, running through fields, climbing trees, making up stories. Maybe in a fleeting moment as an adult—traveling, dancing, laughing uncontrollably.

Offer Love and Invitation

Reassure your Wild Self that they are not lost. Invite them back into your life:

• I am ready to listen to you again. Please speak to me of your wild and wonderful ways.

• You are welcome here—what do you hunger for? What can I nourish you with?

• Tell me, Wild One, what do you long for?

Pause after each question, close your eyes, and listen. See if an answer rises from within. If you don’t hear anything, just write whatever comes to mind. The wild self is wild because it has its own will. It will speak to you when it’s ready. See “Remain Vigilant” below.

Completing the Ritual

Once your letter is written, consider one of these ways to ritualize it:

• Read it aloud to the wind, fire, or water. Let the elements carry your words.

• Bury it beneath a tree or place it under a stone. Let the earth hold your commitment.

• Keep it in a sacred space and return to it often. Let it be a guide when you forget.

Remain Vigilant

If it has been a long time since you thought about your wild self or never knew you had one, don’t worry if it takes time before they make their appearance known. My advice: read Shaw’s “Courting the Wild Twin.” It’s a short, powerful book in which you’ll learn why the wild twin can be reluctant to return.

Join the #DearWildSelf Movement

Want to participate?

1. Write your Love Letter to the Wild Self using the prompts in this post.
2. Share a line or excerpt on Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn with the hashtag #DearWildSelf
3. Tag @ReWildingLab so we can feature your words!

Want more Wild Self journaling practices? Sign up here to receive a free "Wild Self Journaling Guide" coming soon.

RESOURCES: Courting the Wild Twin