Thank you Stephanie. Something about this piece helps me feel that my inner landscapes are not lonely places locked inside of me, but real ranges that connect in the Otherworld of which you speak, lands where you and I and all the others might meet. Here's to us all building the functional spaces of grieving that allow all of this story to flow through us without sweeping us away.
How beautifully you've shared this... a tremendous gift, reaching both into & past time all at once. I've posted it on Bluesky too & hope it reaches so many, many of us... because there's no doubt we need it in exactly this fashion - that's reaching the urgent now - and also beyond. It's reaching to a promise - or I should say, I think, the promise... isn't it? I believe so. And I believe you've put something undefinable into word-images so, so beautifully; expressively - Something that I, at least, believe we all very much need (and are very much feeling that need right now.)
I'm new to social media & still clumsily learning the Substack ropes ... but I'm sharing your work as much as I can. You clearly have so much to share - and it's so needed in these challenging days.... needed and appreciated.
This is extraordinarily powerful, and thank you so much for sharing. 💙 here’s to the dream and the dreamers weaving with the cracks of this broken world.
Other the course of these months, I've thought about you and hoped to read your words again. I knew your writing could orient me towards the direction of hope and mystery and something bigger than the greed and stupidity that rules our species and our planet in these times. Thank you for reminding me in the universal consciousness of it all, of us, of you, of me, of every living thing. I don't know if I dreamed of waters rising before the storm, but for months after, my dream world retold the story of our great flood in some threatening variation, night after night.
Nichole, thank you so much for this. To know that my writing could offer this for you in the face of such trauma is deeply humbling. And holy hell, it’s been a hard road—and still is. I hope your dreaming of the flood can shift soon. Those kinds of dreams can be so troubling, because the dreamworld so often has such a depth of feeling to it. Sending love and light down the river and up the holler to your cozy wooded homeplace. 💜💛💜
My cousin in Hilo sent me this and I read it this morning, after waking at 4 and not able to go back to sleep. Poignant words, inviting us to grieve and mourn. This cog wept, afraid of the deluge that started. Unfounded fear...I'm weary and ready to go back and catch hold of a dream. Thank you for your heART.
Where and when will your animal exhibit be up? We had to cancel a vacation last fall to NC due to Helene and I'd love to reschedule...I love your work!
The show is over, but I am in possession of most of the pieces. If I can get my studio repaired, I can show it there, but I'm not sure when that will be. I would love to have you visit my studio, and maybe by fall it will be ready for visitors again.
I don't know what to say about your writing - it vibrates in my body, makes my marrow quake, my cells light up in recognition. Oh to join you in the forest and talk with the trees and rivers about dreams and lives. And this that you write "I want to say, I am one person, I am one woman, I will live my small life, I will not say I know anything because clearly we are sublimely arrogant." I am wrestling with this in my professional work. It's unraveling b/c I feel so much hubris is this line of work. Ooof.
Thank you for this beautiful affirmation, Angie! It really helps me keep going! I hope you find your way through the hubris to the heart of your work, whatever it may be. Everything is so topsy-turvy these days.
Where/When is your Dreaming Animals show going to be? I'm from the region and would love to come check it out. I just happily stumbled upon you here on substack. :}
Hi Ellen! It's in Spruce Pine, NC in the Owen Gallery of Toe River Arts. It opens April 19 and runs through the 24th of May, I think, and the reception is May 2 from 2-5. Let me know if you can make it--even if it's not for the opening reception. So happy you found me; I love it when that happens! 🐻
I've had this event on my calendar since you told me about it, with hopes to make it. Very tentative though, because I have a toddler, and it's almost a 2 hour drive to get there from where I am… so a long time for them to be in the car in other words. I hope I can come at some point while the show is still going, just to see the art even. But I had hoped to try to come to reception to meet and speak with you even , as I appreciate your writing here on substack, and I appreciate how you are someone who has such vivid dreams and finds answers and information within them.
Ellen, what an absolutely beautiful comment to wake up to! I would love to meet, and if you can make it to the show some later time I could meet you there, if we plan ahead. Two hours with a toddler is a lot, and I will be chatting with lots of folks anyway ( I hope!). The show is up thru May 24 and I am out of town next week. Thank you so much for putting my reception on your calendar and sending me this lovely message 🥰
I too have felt immense grief looking at the downed trees and scoured hillsides. Waiting for the first trout lilies as a sign that life will return. Thank you for the writing and beautiful art to show the way forward. We must connect to the earth.
I used to live in Black Mountain with my family. Now we live in Tucson, Arizona 🌵. Your story was amazing, from event to recovery. Thank you for sharing it.
"The Age of Repair." I love that (although it could be taken to mean we want to fix our broken systems and I, for one, do not. Some were better than others, for sure. But even the best were created for or because of patriarchy and empire. While each may have a positive side, the price remains too steep.)
I hope we can generate something new -- something in which we play our bit parts in Nature's much larger play. We do not see ourselves as superstars, to whom Nature should bow down, but look to Nature to give us our cues: how best can we serve Gaia?
Thank you Stephanie. Something about this piece helps me feel that my inner landscapes are not lonely places locked inside of me, but real ranges that connect in the Otherworld of which you speak, lands where you and I and all the others might meet. Here's to us all building the functional spaces of grieving that allow all of this story to flow through us without sweeping us away.
I love this image. Otherworld spaces of grieving, the story flowing collectively through us, so that no one bears too much of it. Thank you 🙏🏻
How beautifully you've shared this... a tremendous gift, reaching both into & past time all at once. I've posted it on Bluesky too & hope it reaches so many, many of us... because there's no doubt we need it in exactly this fashion - that's reaching the urgent now - and also beyond. It's reaching to a promise - or I should say, I think, the promise... isn't it? I believe so. And I believe you've put something undefinable into word-images so, so beautifully; expressively - Something that I, at least, believe we all very much need (and are very much feeling that need right now.)
Well done, Stephanie. Very well done. Thank you.
Thank you, Nicki for sending this to me....I needed Stephanie's words VERY MUCH this morning!!!
Thank you so much, Nicki. I needed to hear this today 🌤️
I'm new to social media & still clumsily learning the Substack ropes ... but I'm sharing your work as much as I can. You clearly have so much to share - and it's so needed in these challenging days.... needed and appreciated.
Thank you! A thousand thank you's! 🌸
This is extraordinarily powerful, and thank you so much for sharing. 💙 here’s to the dream and the dreamers weaving with the cracks of this broken world.
Thank you for reading, Eden, and sharing it. Hope you are doing well!
Stephanie, this is incredible. You have articulated so much here that I have felt but never found words for. I know I will re-read this many times.
Oh, thank you, River. It means so much to hear that. 🙏🏻
Other the course of these months, I've thought about you and hoped to read your words again. I knew your writing could orient me towards the direction of hope and mystery and something bigger than the greed and stupidity that rules our species and our planet in these times. Thank you for reminding me in the universal consciousness of it all, of us, of you, of me, of every living thing. I don't know if I dreamed of waters rising before the storm, but for months after, my dream world retold the story of our great flood in some threatening variation, night after night.
Nichole, thank you so much for this. To know that my writing could offer this for you in the face of such trauma is deeply humbling. And holy hell, it’s been a hard road—and still is. I hope your dreaming of the flood can shift soon. Those kinds of dreams can be so troubling, because the dreamworld so often has such a depth of feeling to it. Sending love and light down the river and up the holler to your cozy wooded homeplace. 💜💛💜
Terrible and beautiful- your words are so well chosen and powerful.
🙏🏻💚🌱
Thank you, Sarah 🍓
My cousin in Hilo sent me this and I read it this morning, after waking at 4 and not able to go back to sleep. Poignant words, inviting us to grieve and mourn. This cog wept, afraid of the deluge that started. Unfounded fear...I'm weary and ready to go back and catch hold of a dream. Thank you for your heART.
Thank you so much, Renee! I really needed this affirmation today!
Where and when will your animal exhibit be up? We had to cancel a vacation last fall to NC due to Helene and I'd love to reschedule...I love your work!
The show is over, but I am in possession of most of the pieces. If I can get my studio repaired, I can show it there, but I'm not sure when that will be. I would love to have you visit my studio, and maybe by fall it will be ready for visitors again.
Wonderful!!! Here's to Autumn miracles!
I don't know what to say about your writing - it vibrates in my body, makes my marrow quake, my cells light up in recognition. Oh to join you in the forest and talk with the trees and rivers about dreams and lives. And this that you write "I want to say, I am one person, I am one woman, I will live my small life, I will not say I know anything because clearly we are sublimely arrogant." I am wrestling with this in my professional work. It's unraveling b/c I feel so much hubris is this line of work. Ooof.
Thank you for this beautiful affirmation, Angie! It really helps me keep going! I hope you find your way through the hubris to the heart of your work, whatever it may be. Everything is so topsy-turvy these days.
Finding your writing is a godsend, thank you for being here and for speaking your powerful beauty and truth. It heals.
Oh, thank you, Stephanie, for such a lovely comment. 🌸
Where/When is your Dreaming Animals show going to be? I'm from the region and would love to come check it out. I just happily stumbled upon you here on substack. :}
Hi Ellen! It's in Spruce Pine, NC in the Owen Gallery of Toe River Arts. It opens April 19 and runs through the 24th of May, I think, and the reception is May 2 from 2-5. Let me know if you can make it--even if it's not for the opening reception. So happy you found me; I love it when that happens! 🐻
I've had this event on my calendar since you told me about it, with hopes to make it. Very tentative though, because I have a toddler, and it's almost a 2 hour drive to get there from where I am… so a long time for them to be in the car in other words. I hope I can come at some point while the show is still going, just to see the art even. But I had hoped to try to come to reception to meet and speak with you even , as I appreciate your writing here on substack, and I appreciate how you are someone who has such vivid dreams and finds answers and information within them.
Ellen, what an absolutely beautiful comment to wake up to! I would love to meet, and if you can make it to the show some later time I could meet you there, if we plan ahead. Two hours with a toddler is a lot, and I will be chatting with lots of folks anyway ( I hope!). The show is up thru May 24 and I am out of town next week. Thank you so much for putting my reception on your calendar and sending me this lovely message 🥰
I too have felt immense grief looking at the downed trees and scoured hillsides. Waiting for the first trout lilies as a sign that life will return. Thank you for the writing and beautiful art to show the way forward. We must connect to the earth.
Yes, yes, and oooh, trout lilies 💛
I used to live in Black Mountain with my family. Now we live in Tucson, Arizona 🌵. Your story was amazing, from event to recovery. Thank you for sharing it.
What different worlds the Southern Appalachians and Sonoran Desert are! Thank you for reading!
Beautiful ❤️
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing this deeply personal and profound piece. May the healing energy restore your spirit, your community, and our precious world.
Thank you, Aliana
Every word you wrote here is a blessing. Your bear painting is so beautiful. Thank you!
Thank you, Dell, so much!
Also good to have you back!
"The Age of Repair." I love that (although it could be taken to mean we want to fix our broken systems and I, for one, do not. Some were better than others, for sure. But even the best were created for or because of patriarchy and empire. While each may have a positive side, the price remains too steep.)
I hope we can generate something new -- something in which we play our bit parts in Nature's much larger play. We do not see ourselves as superstars, to whom Nature should bow down, but look to Nature to give us our cues: how best can we serve Gaia?