Free to Wander, Free to Wonder

The Life and Evolution of Heather Briann

When I first connected with Heather Briann on Substack Notes, I was immediately struck by the light she radiated. Her presence on the platform wasn’t just about sharing insights or stories, it was an accelerant for connection, a catalyst for meaningful conversations among like-minded souls.

Substack Notes became the bridge—a digital space where lightworkers like Heather and I could find each other in a vast, often noisy world. It was here that our shared passion for inner wisdom, aligned living, and the power of wonder came to life.

Heather describes herself as an adventurer through and through—a journeyer of both the inner and outer realms. A self-proclaimed “Sun Goddess,” she chases warm weather with an unrelenting passion, a lifestyle choice she fully embraced three years ago when she sold most of her possessions, packed up her life, and hit the road in an old VW Westfalia Vanagon with her then-partner and two dogs.

“It’s scary and sexy. Liberating and anxiety-provoking. It feels right, and it freaks me out,” she admits with an honesty that’s both refreshing and inspiring.

Her current journey finds her in Puerto Rico, a place where her familial roots and love for tropical climates converge. “My father’s family ties me to this vibrant island,” she shares. “The pursuit of sunlight and an intrinsic desire to reconnect with my ancestral roots made this leap feel inevitable.” Heather sees her sojourn in Puerto Rico not just as a change of scenery but as a homecoming of the soul.

The West Coast of the island, with its laid-back vibe and proximity to beaches and hiking trails, became her new base. Heather’s decision was guided by her internal compass—her ability to discern the clear “yes” that aligns with her essence. “I found the perfect Airbnb, and everything just fell into place,” she recalls.

A Life of Alignment and Truth

Heather’s journey is one of aligned action and truth—a path that has required both courage and vulnerability. The dissolution of her partnership marked a pivotal moment, as their paths diverged: “I wanted to stay on the road; he was ready to settle. We consciously uncoupled, and my 4-pound pup and I have been on the road since July 2023.”

The road has become both teacher and sanctuary for Heather, a place where she can embrace the duality of life: “It is liberating and anxiety-provoking. It feels right, and it freaks me out.” Yet, it is this very tension that fuels her growth. Her professional background in yoga, instinctive meditation, and functional breathwork underscores her commitment to guiding others on their own paths of self-discovery.

Heather’s days in Puerto Rico reflect the balance she strives to maintain between retreating inward and engaging outwardly. “I deeply value truth and presence. My focus is to act from a place of authenticity, honoring what feels real for me in the moment,” she explains. This practice allows her to flow between the quiet intimacy of her writing and the dynamic energy of client work.

A Dancing Sun Goddess

Heather begins each morning with free-form movement, a dance practice that she describes as “deeply aligned” with her current life chapter. “It’s a departure from linear patterns,” she says. “Dancing invites me to connect with other layers of myself—creativity, fluidity, circularity, and expression.”

This connection to movement extends to the water, where swimming has become a meaningful ritual. Floating in the ocean, Heather feels the presence of her Puerto Rican grandmother, a spiritual guide she first connected with during a retreat in Maui. “The water is a place of connection for me,” she reflects. “It nourishes my soul and reminds me of my ancestral roots.”

Challenges and Surprises

Despite the beauty and inspiration of her surroundings, life in Puerto Rico hasn’t been without its challenges. Frequent power outages and the high cost of rental cars have tested Heather’s adaptability. “I was warned about the unreliable power grid, but I didn’t expect outages to be so frequent,” she admits. To cope, she equipped herself with a backup battery to ensure that her work isn’t disrupted.

Surprisingly, the West Coast of Puerto Rico isn’t as quiet as she anticipated. “Locals warned me it would be like ‘the country,’ but it’s actually quite lively,” she laughs. “Compared to the tiny island in the Pacific Northwest where I lived for 11 years, this feels bustling.”

The Call to Wonder

At the heart of Heather’s journey is her commitment to wonder—a practice she invites her readers and clients to embrace. Her Substack newsletter, Free to Wonder, is a space where exploration is encouraged, and nothing is off-limits. “You are free to be you in this space,” she writes. “Free to wonder about the nature of the universe, the next stage of your life, or what it means to be a sexual being.”

Heather’s dedication to fostering a sense of wonder extends to her writing, which has become a daily practice. Puerto Rico, with its vibrant energy and ancestral significance, has been a wellspring of creativity. “Being in a climate that my body resonates with has sparked a new level of expression,” she shares.

A Look Ahead

As Heather reflects on her time in Puerto Rico, she acknowledges that this chapter is still unfolding. “Only time will tell where this adventure will guide me next,” she says. For now, she is fully immersed in the present moment, savoring the juicy aliveness that comes with embracing both the known and the unknown.

Heather Briann’s story is one of boldness, vulnerability, and a relentless pursuit of alignment. Her journey reminds us that life is not about having it all figured out but about embracing the freedom to wonder and wander—to explore both the inner and outer realms with curiosity and courage.

As we continue to connect on platforms like Substack Notes, I’m reminded of the beauty of these tools as accelerants for lightworker connections. Heather’s light shines brightly, illuminating the path for those of us seeking to live in alignment with our truest selves. She is, indeed, a Sun Goddess, dancing boldly into the next phase of her evolution.

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