I had planned to post the monthly essay, but I’ve been sick for the last few days. Instead of trying to rush the process with a foggy brain, I’ve decided to postpone it until next week. In the meantime, I’ve created a mini-guide for some of my favorite hand-crafted, heart-centered small businesses. I hope you enjoy it as much as I had fun putting it together!
Supporting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ small businesses is always in season. Many of my favorite makers are also activists and they inspire me to adorn my walls with handmade prints, take high-quality herbal medicines, and seek opportunities for collective learning and practice. Our survival and ability to thrive are tied to the liberation of all people, and I am thankful to know so many artisans who infuse this same philosophy into their work.
In creating a mini-guide to support radical artists and healers, I made sure to include those who understand and actively voice their concerns about the complexity that comes with owning a business within capitalism. As you will see, each one does what they can to name and transform those challenges, while making really beautiful work in the process.
Tender-Heart Press
Founded in 2017, Tender-Heart Press specializes in letterpress posters and prints using hand-laid type. You may have noticed the lovely logo for this newsletter, which was designed by my friend, E. Oscar Maynard. Collaborating with Oscar was a dream experience, and their thoughtfulness made the process streamlined and pleasurable. Oscar has so many beautiful and poetic prints, I have the "Circular Time" poster in my home and office. I also love "Forests of our Forgetting" and "Sacred Dark".
Seeda School
For the visionaries who want to learn how to code (and live) differently, this one's for you. Seeda School is an education and creative platform founded by antidisciplinary artist and cultural worker, Ayana Zaire Cotton. Their newsletter, of the same title, is a research container and fundraising experiment and is replete with rich storytelling and worldbuilding. Each essay stands on its own, while effortlessly coming together to weave a powerful narrative. I highly recommend “Being Apolitical Is Political Beloved” and “Our Job Is To Make Revolution Irresistible” to start your reading journey.
Corpus Ritual
Jennifer Patterson is the writer, herbalist, breathworker, trauma and grief worker behind Corpus Ritual. Jennye is the editor of Queering Sexual Violence, author of The Power of Breathwork, and writes the newsletter Love What Survives. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jennye, primarily through breathwork, but also through their amazing herbal remedies—I love the Clear Head Elixir and the Give Less Shits Elixir! Jennye encourages safety and liberation in all aspects of their healing arts business.
Chiara Acu
You’ve probably seen one of Chiara’s designs on Instagram. Their art often features bold pops of color, elements from nature, and text that speaks truth to power. Originally from Italy, Chiara is a queer artist, writer, organizer, and acupuncturist currently based in Chicago. Chiara Acu is the name of their business, where they weave together healing justice, cultural work, and community care. Chira is also the author of We Will Build a New Compass, and has an online shop featuring totes, mugs, sweatshirts, and more! I have one of their prints, and I am so thankful for them and their work.
Illustrated Truths
Francis Mead is an artist, educator, mother, and creator behind the beloved Illustrated Truths. She shares her process and work on Instagram as Girasoulll, and is always on point both in her creativity and in her ability to inspire collective imagination. Through watercolor, acrylic paint, ink, and pen, Francis honors the power within Black and Brown Indigenous communities, sacred femininity, fellow artists and activists, and Mother Earth. You can find her creations on Etsy, where she offers original prints and enamel pins. I am fortunate to have the “Buffalo, love & liberation” print by Francis in beautiful bold red ink.
Rosanna Morris Prints
I was first introduced to the work of Rosanna Morris through the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA). Her stunning illustrations have since been a staple at the annual OEFFA conference, and for good reason. Based in the UK, Rosanna designs and hand-pulls both small and large-scale relief prints often crafted from salvaged lino and found wood. Her work explores themes related to ecology and its constellation of connections including gardening, agriculture, and environmental justice. I have yet to purchase one of her prints, but it is high on the list! I am especially fond of the “Planting Seeds” Linocut print.
The Magic of Practice
My homie from undergrad, Melanie (@msmauve) is a talented artist, herbalist, and the creator of The Magic of Practice (TMOP). This two-day gathering seeks to nourish self and community care and incorporates plant allies, ritual, and group accountability. There is one more session happening on December 21st-22nd, in alignment with the Winter Solstice.
Updates
The Inner Ecology Winter Solstice Session is about three weeks away, and I am looking forward to the gathering! The virtual session will be held on December 9th at noon EST, and during our time, we’ll explore the wisdom of the Winter season through guided breathwork, acupressure, and reflective journaling.
This is a sliding-scale offering that is open to any level of experience. It will be the last workshop for the year. The 2024 workshop dates will be posted in January before the Lunar New Year. Please note that Paid subscribers in the Friends tier have access to all quarterly events. If you want to join us for the workshop, you can upgrade your subscription or register online.
Reading
The shift in the editorial calendar due to being sick will take us to the end of the year, ending rather serendipitously on New Year’s Eve. In between sneezes, I’ve been reviewing all of the November readings in preparation for next week’s essay.
A gentle reminder of our final set of readings for December: “Twelve Minutes and a Life”, by Mitchell S. Jackson; The Book of Delights: Essays, by Ross Gay; “Nature Writing is Survival Writing: On Rethinking a Genre”, by Michelle Nijhuis.
Creating
Feeling a wave of grief, I shared this watercolor and ink drawing over the weekend as a means to connect. We can all use gentle reminders that we’re not alone.
I’ll be rolling out editorial plans for 2024, in alignment with the Lunar New Year, and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks!