Earth Women is an ongoing series celebrating those who inspire us through the way they live, create, and connect with the Earth — honoring the deep relationship between nature, creativity, and self-expression.

"Clay reminds me, as it travels through its many forms from earth to hand to fire, that things come and go and nothing is permanent."

Rae Wilson is a multidisciplinary artist whose work with clay, florals, and movement is rooted in nature and ritual. Her process mirrors the cycles of the earth — intuitive, evolving, and deeply embodied. We connected with Rae in her New York home to talk about creative rhythms, trusting the body, and the quiet wisdom of the natural world.

How does nature influence the way you live and create?

I am a multidisciplinary artist working with clay & florals so I create with mediums inherently rooted in nature.

Clay reminds me, as it travels through its many forms from earth to hand to fire, that things come and go and nothing is permanent. Do the thing that feels right and detach from the outcome. Learn and relearn. 

I’ve always chosen work that teaches me these lessons. I’m also a florist, not because I purely want to make a beautiful arrangement, although I love making flora transform into a shape outside its natural space, but partly because I’m fascinated with the journey of that one cutting. It was grown, cut, moved, moved again, brought to my studio, placed among other cuttings by my hand, given to someone else to revel in its life, ultimately watching its death, and then returned back to the earth. It parallels our own circular journey through life and is a good reminder that we humans are not individuals, but part of the whole and beyond. A testament to the resilience of nature.

What rituals or daily practices bring you back into alignment with yourself?

Any time I need to realign myself it helps to take a 5 minute breathing break. This is something that I can do anywhere and at any time. I teach yoga as well and have some good little breathing techniques in my back pocket :-) However, any deep breathing does just fine!

Some other things I love to bring me back in alignment:

- A BIG dance break.
- The process of making myself a special espresso drink…or any drink in general…tea, a batched weekly iced drink, a cocktail!
- Lighting my taper candles and watching them glow.
- Slathering on my fav local clay face mask.
- Flower arranging for myself. This is an excellent meditation without the pressure of a client or time crunch. Pure joy.
- Yoga, meditation, hiking, running-- any physical activity really.

I could go on! My schedule is rather chaotic so I rotate my rituals & practices based on the day.

How has your understanding of what it means to be a woman evolved over time?

When I was young, to be a woman meant having boobs, wearing lipstick and v necks. When my boobs grew, being a woman meant other people reminding me to protect myself from the male gaze. 

I continued to learn the many nuances of ‘being a woman’ and the labels we put on things to make differentiations in society instead of appreciating people for who they are and allowing people to have bodily autonomy and make their own choices. 

Now, being a woman means thanking my body for containing my existence on this plane. 

I accept my rhythms, sometimes with grace and sometimes not, I hold compassion for myself and others, and above all I respectfully enjoy my life on this earth the way I want. Which includes feeling sexy when I want and how I want… sometimes with a v neck and lipstick.

How do you honor your cycles, intuition, and inner rhythms?

To be absolutely honest, I could be better at honoring these things. I tend to push myself, sometimes biting off more than I can chew and not allowing myself intentional rest and reflection time. But I am working on it! I grew up with a hard working single mom and this is both our M.O. My mom shares a lot about her life and feelings and is so transparent. I feel this has passed down to me. She may have not been good at demonstrating what it means to rest when I was younger, but because of her transparency, we openly talk about it and acknowledge rest and reflection as a vital part of honoring our cycles and inner rhythms and make efforts to take breaks. Intuition on the other hand, I feel we both follow pretty well. My mom has always stressed the importance of following your gut. 

What is a piece of wisdom about womanhood you would pass down to the next generation?

Feel fully yourself by the people you choose to surround yourself with. Remember that finding out who you aren’t can sometimes be the key to finding out who you are. 

Be quiet so you can hear your authentic voice… Not the one telling you what you ‘should be…’ 

Don’t forget to keep your eyes, ears & heart open to what’s happening around you. We are dependent on everything around us and vice versa. 

Let yourself be soft. Let yourself be hard. We exist in multitudes. 

Let love in. 

What are your favorite HARA pieces and why?

I love the Leo High Cut Bra, I struggle to find bra tops that I feel cute in but this style is so flattering! I also love its versatility- I can teach yoga in it and also wear it out and about under a sheer top.

The Onder Skirt surprised me in how much I fell in love with it. It's so easy and breezy! I put it on and felt like nothing was there! 

Rae's Earth Woman Playlist

I. Believe – Cher
II. It’s My House – Diana Ross
III. Beige 70 (Domenique Dumont Bilingual Remix) – Cola Boyy, Domenique Dumont
IV. Aguas de Março (Joga Bossa) – Smoke City
V. Tom’s Diner – Suzanne Vega, DNA
VI. Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies
VII. It’s So Easy – Ted Lucas
VIII. I Never Get Lonesome – Arthur Russell
IX. Sun – Anna St. Louis
X. Fade Into You – Mazzy Star

Listen on Spotify.

Follow Rae Wilson and Georgia Hilmer.