For most of her life, Barbara Courtney followed a conventional path. College, grad school, marriage, family, careers. In 2016, she was introduced to the work of author, educator and dharma teacher, Natalie Goldberg and a dormant creative vein was opened. Over a ten-year period, Barbara studied under Natalie’s guidance and mentorship, traveling from Cuba to Japan to Montgomery, Alabama. She participated in a year-long period of intensive study with Natalie at the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe and later assisted Natalie during several writing retreats in Taos.
Born and raised in northern Wisconsin, Barbara has called Martha’s Vineyard home for over forty years. In addition to putting words to page, she dabbles in painting with watercolors and making books in the style of her teacher, Laurie Doctor. She plants a messy garden and endlessly trains for long distance hikes. She begins most days in seated meditation and ends them with a session in her backyard sauna.
