Interview With Author Renee Baribeau
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Award-winning Hay House author of Winds of Spirit: Ancient Wisdom Tools for Navigating Relationships, Health, and the Divine (Nautilus Gold Winner). Renee’s groundbreaking work bridges ancient wind wisdom with modern-day tools for personal and collective transformation.
She is the creator of the Wind Walker’s Wisdom Oracle, a 64-card deck and guidebook inspired by ancient wind spirits, designed to help individuals find clarity, purpose, and direction. Her new book, A Pilgrim’s Guide to Walking Wisdom: 11:11 Insights, February 5, 2025, offers practical guidance for navigating life’s transitions with grace and courage.
Renee co-hosts the widely acclaimed podcast The Shamans Cave alongside Sandra Ingerman. Together, they share insightful rituals and tools to address humanity’s most pressing challenges, offering wisdom for personal growth and collective healing.
As an inspirational speaker and workshop leader, Renee has delivered transformative programs for organizations such as The Shift Network, Omega Institute, and C4 Addiction Conferences. She is also a sought-after voice in the fields of mental health and addiction recovery, drawing on her 11+ years of leadership experience.
A dynamic Soul Coach and Entrepreneur, Renee empowers change-makers to navigate the winds of transformation with confidence. She is passionate about reintroducing Ritual and Ceremony as vital tools for finding balance and direction in our complex world.
Renee is a contributing writer for Energy Magazine online, Medium, Spirit Destiny Magazine and more.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is A Pilgrim’s Guide to Walking Wisdom: 11:11 Insights. The inspiration for this book came during a time when I was reflecting deeply on my life. I had been feeling the weight of aging and the nagging sense that I might have missed some unknown opportunity. Then, as if by divine timing, I learned about an 11-day walk on the Portuguese route to the Camino de Santiago. The idea instantly resonated with me, and I knew I had to go—it was an immediate “yes.”
Before the journey, I received an email from a friend I hadn’t heard from in years. He asked me to walk the Camino for him because he couldn’t do it himself. Touched by his request, I began sharing daily reflections during the walk—early morning wisdom that I called 11:11 Insights. This title was inspired by the frequent and seemingly magical appearance of the number 11:11 before, during, and after my journey.
Interestingly, I never heard back from my friend after those initial exchanges, until after finishing the first draft of the book. But the wisdom I recorded during the walk felt too powerful to keep to myself, so I began writing them down. Over time, these reflections evolved into a book that I hope will inspire others to embrace the journey of life, whatever wind is calling them forward.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One of my more unusual writing habits is how I balance writing with a full-time job. I once heard someone say, “If you don’t have time to write, get up earlier,” and that advice stuck with me. When I’m deeply immersed in a project, my natural alarm clock takes over, and I find myself wide awake at 5 a.m., ready to write. Those early hours, when the world is still quiet, have become my most creative and productive time.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors and books have profoundly shaped my journey, both as a writer and a seeker of wisdom. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist resonated deeply with my understanding of the inner journey and the importance of following the signs life offers us. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces influenced my perspective on storytelling and the archetypal journeys we all undertake. May Sarton’s works played a pivotal role in shaping my early life as a writer. Memoirs by writers such as Stephen King, Maya Angelou, Cheryl Strayed, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Anne Lamott have also been instrumental in refining my storytelling abilities.
In the realm of spirituality, Clarissa Pinkola Estés’s Women Who Run with the Wolves and Sandra Ingerman’s teachings have inspired me with their profound connection to the natural world and the spirit. These works, alongside my shamanic studies, have helped me weave together an understanding of the winds, nature, and the cycles of life—elements that are central to my writing.
What are you working on now?
The Practical Shaman and The Dynamics of Creativity
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://thepracticalshaman.com
Do you have any advice for new authors?
“Butt in seat” is the best advice I learned from my editor and can give—writing requires showing up consistently, even when it’s hard. And yes, the concept of the “shitty first draft” is very real, so embrace it and keep going. Early on, my friends often wondered why I pursued writing when I seemed talented in so many other areas. The truth is, writing is a craft you refine over time. By the time I finished my second book, I had learned how to write a better one. My first book, “Winds of Spirit,” while a masterpiece in its own right (won a nautilus gold award), went through 14 drafts and four editors to get there. Writing takes persistence, humility, and a willingness to learn at every stage.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was this: “This or something better.” It’s a mantra that has guided me through creative projects, life decisions, and moments of uncertainty. It reminds me to stay open to possibilities beyond what I can imagine. Sometimes, we get so attached to an outcome or vision that we forget life often has a way of surprising us with something even greater. Trusting this wisdom has allowed me to flow with the winds of change rather than resist them, knowing that the journey always brings what we truly need.
What are you reading now?
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
You can Heal Your Life, new edition by Louise Hay
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
A guide to unlocking creativity and living an inspired life.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To launch my new book, learn Amazon ads and plan some Wind Walker Adventures
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
You can Heal Your Life, new edition by Louise Hay
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
Camping and Wilderness Survival by Paul Tawrell
Author Websites and Profiles
Renee Baribeau’s Social Media Links
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