What We Carry: Writing Our Way Through Caregiving
A three-part gathering with Stacie Vanags for National Family Caregivers Month
Caregiving can change the shape of a day, a relationship, and the life you thought you would be living. Some changes arrive all at once. Others happen so gradually that you may only notice how much you’ve been carrying when someone finally asks how you are doing.
This November, Stacie Vanags joins Tending the Sacred for three small, guided gatherings for people caring for someone they love. Drawing on her experience as a caregiver, writer, and founder of the Marigold Collective, Stacie will offer space to write, reflect, and talk together. You do not need to be a writer. You do not need to share anything you would rather keep to yourself.
Part One · Naming What We Carry
What has changed in your days, your relationships, or your sense of yourself? We’ll begin by putting words to the visible and invisible work of caregiving.
Part Two · Making Room for Yourself
When someone you love needs so much, your own needs can become hard to hear. Through guided writing and conversation, we’ll explore what you miss, what you need, and what helps you feel like yourself.
Part Three · Finding a Way Forward
Caregiving rarely comes with a clear map. We’ll consider what is possible now, what support might look like, and what you want to carry with you into the months ahead.
Each gathering offers a writing prompt you can return to, time for reflection, and the company of others who understand something about this experience. You are welcome whether you have called yourself a caregiver for years or are only beginning to recognize yourself in that word.
November 3, 10 & 17, 2026 at 7pm ET | Free | Registration for the three-part series
Presented by Tending the Sacred as part of National Family Caregivers Month.
Hosted by Stacie Vanags
Stacie Vanags is a writer, speaker, and creative facilitator with more than 25 years of experience in mental health and corporate wellness. She leads writing and journaling workshops that blend reflective storytelling with the symbolism of flowers and nature. In recent years, her work has become deeply personal as she has stepped into the role of caregiver while supporting her husband through cancer treatment. She lives in Ojai, California, where she builds creative communities rooted in reflection, connection, and healing.