From the Compost Heap header. A pencil style illustration of a compost heap with flowers and plants growing around it. A bee buzzes by and a white rabbit hops by.
  • All this has happened before. 🌀

    My creative process is cyclical, but I like to think I am orbiting closer to true north.

    I took last month off from blogging and wrote a personal update about mental health for my newsletter instead. I had more replies than ever.

    Just another reminder that while I like structure sometimes I create needless work for myself. I need to shift my output to match my capacity. Not the other way around.

    Last month I had migraines every other day. They let off when I lessened my computer time. It’s tough because I love blogging and connecting online, but I need to pace myself.

    This means I won’t be digitizing the zines any more.

    They will be completely analogue.

    A yellow gingko leaf in a brass frame

    I need to slow down on migrating my archive. Otherwise my website is nearly “done” except for the Cabinet of Curiosities.

    Last month’s newsletter also mentioned how well the boundaries I’ve created to protect my mental health are working. Which means I actually have capacity to take action. It’s unfortunate that my Masters degree, which focused on art for social change, is more relevant by the day.

    Rather than spiraling into despair I’m focusing on positive actions that can be done.

    My next step is to begin migrating my autism educational resources to my website. This is one small step to combat the misinformation and harm being spread by the US government. As well as proofing our picture book How it Feels to Me which is an #ownvoices book by two autistic adults about sensory processing.

    But neurodivergence is just one of many groups being targeted right now.

    So I’m working with some friends to create an advocacy resource library that spans multiple issues and suggests ways you can make a positive impact.

    I hope these resources will help anyone feeling stuck or hopeless.

    With collective action we can support each other and bring about positive change. 🌈

    Read more: All this has happened before. 🌀
  • I’ve had a tab open for kening zhu’s post about rituals vs. sprints for nearly a month. It reminds me about something Katherine May once said on a podcast* about the cycle of neurodivergent hyperfocus and recovery. Versus a neurotypical ideal of consistency. It’s something I am still figuring out. Having experienced burn out I find I need to be careful of flying too close to the sun. But trying to force a structure that doesn’t align with my capacity is also not right. I’d love to hear other thoughts on this.

    * I can’t seem to find the podcast episode I’m talking about. 🤦

    Read more: untitled post 156078307