From Life to Literature: Rachel Porter Debuts Her Fire Dance Flow
By Jules Aldaz
Photography by Bethany Castro
Debut author Rachel Porter signs copies of her new book, Fire Dance Flow
I recently sat down with debut author Rachel Porter to discuss her first book, Fire Dance Flow, and the experiences that fueled its creation. What followed was an open and honest conversation about healing, creativity, and stepping into a new chapter as an author.
For those who have not had the opportunity to read your book yet, how would you describe Fire Dance Flow? Memoir, a healing journey, or something in between?
A: “I would describe the book as part memoir and part reflection. It began simply as my personal writing over the years — processing circumstances and emotions, especially when life felt overwhelmingly difficult. Writing became a way for me to sort through my feelings and create a place I could return to for clarity and healing. As I continued writing, it began to evolve; I realized I didn’t just want to tell my story for myself, I wanted it to help others. I felt others might be facing similar struggles and I wanted them to feel seen, to know they’re not alone, and to possibly find strength or wisdom in what I learned along the way.”
Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you needed to tell this story? What was the spark that started this book?
A: “I remember the moment when everything shifted. I knew I had to start making real choices. I set one boundary, and once I did that, I realized other things in my life had to go. I had to stand firm, become more aligned with who I was, and let go of what no longer fit. That was when I really started to heal, rebuild my confidence, and get clear on what belonged in my life and what didn’t. Around that same time, I was trying to decide whether I should go back to school. I had started working on a clinical psychology degree and still had a couple of years left, but I paused because life had become so overwhelming. When I finally stopped to reflect, I realized I didn’t want to go back to the traditional therapy path. I wanted to move into life coaching. I wanted to help women move forward. Therapy is important and meaningful, but sometimes we can get stuck replaying the past instead of stepping into something new. Once I knew I wanted to help women through coaching, I started writing everything down. I figured even if I never sat with them one-on-one, they could still have something to use in their own time, in their own space. That’s really where the book began.”
Jules Aldaz and Rachel Porter
“Fire” appears in the title. Would you describe it as a metaphor, destruction, or as a rebirth? How does it represent your journey?
A: “I see fire as the fires of life. There is so much beauty in this world, but there are also hardships, and I call those the fires we walk through. Over time, I’ve come to see that those fires don’t just burn — they refine. They shape us. I’ve learned not to run from them. Instead of retreating into depression, escapism, blame, or hopelessness, I choose to step into the fire and sit with it. I ask myself, What can I do here? What is this teaching me? I let it refine who I am and guide the decisions I make moving forward.”
What do you hope someone going through their own fire takes away from your story?
A: “I’ve learned not to be afraid of the fire, whether it’s people, circumstances, finances, or any of life’s struggles. Instead of running from it, I’ve tried to move with it. That’s where the idea of dance came from: learning how to dance through life, even in the fire. To me, it’s about flow and alignment. Not resisting, not retreating, but learning how to move within the fire itself. Don’t run from it, instead, move with it, let it teach you, and let it refine you.”
If you could summarize your evolution in one sentence, the woman before the fire and the woman after, how would you describe her?
A: “I’m not a different person, and she isn’t either, but I have become a more aligned version of myself.”
Rachel Porter’s debut book Fire Dance Flow is available now at Twig Bookstore and on Amazon. For those interested in continuing conversation around healing, alignment, and moving through life’s fires, you can contact Rachel (@evolvecoachingwithrachel) for more insights and encouragement. ■
Fire Dance Flow was published by DGE Publishing.
