My ‘why’ is that I want to share my wonder and curiosity - for the natural world, for folklore and tradition, for women’s stories. It is a cycle, a loop - knowing I will be writing makes me experience the world differently, makes me notice the tiny details of my day to day adventures, and then I get to share them with others, who will hopefully take that curiosity into their own lives. Ultimately, that’s why I do it.
🙌🏼 - this is SO heart warming Bonnie - I absolutely ADORE your why - thanks for sharing it here with us all. Can't wait to see more of what you create here. 🌳
I love this Bonnie! I connect to your view of the cycle and loop. Bringing our attention to the details in our lives in order to experience it deeply. Thank you for sharing and writing.
Yes, the endless cycle! I also find that I can easily think I’ve got nothing to say, or haven’t had much of an experience, then I sit down to write and I realise something WAS meaningful. By putting it down I make something out of nothing, and that takes me through to the next time. I imagine it’s similar for other writers, but good to hear you feel that too! Thanks for replying
I've just always felt like such a weirdo. And when I write, I feel less so. Or I feel more so, I'm not sure, but I feel more whole and less like I'm floating around trying to get it right. Finding our why is such a big question, for me at least. Some people seem very clear. But mine feels elusive and like if I could just figure it out, pinpoint one thing, then everything would flow from there. But I've been learning this year that when I think there's one thing that will fix it all, that's a good place for me to pause and explore what I'm really feeling. And when I think about my Substack from that vantage point and why I'm here, it's to write what I need to read about, to get better at my writing and to build community. I have this dream of having a community that's vibrant like Claire's or Jeannine Ouellette's and yet, I don't teach or sell anything and I wonder, what would people come for? Just for what I write? And then I think about what you said here, Claire, and I think, well, _maybe_. Maybe they would and maybe the why will present itself if I just keep with it. The world IS full of magical things. 🪄
Sometimes I feel that the why is similar to work with the word purpose. I think it is enough to just share your voice and thoughts. I think writing and building community is just as powerful as offering someting concrete. I also believe that "the world IS full of magical things."
Thank you so much Blythe, I didn't realize how much I needed to hear this, " think it is enough to just share your voice and thoughts." until it brought tears to my eyes. And yay to a sister who believes in magical things. ❤️🙏
My why is that I know I was born for more, to share something inside me that would inspire others to improve their lives, to do better to enjoy the little things more, to reflect on what can go better and what has to change. When I talk to my friends about this stuff I see the pull of wanting to tell them more, tell them all I know and I will know as I keep growing. And I think this platform can be the vehicle to reach more people at once and also to make them communicate to each other to feel supported.
Those days I have engaged more I received more comments and engagement back, and it made me feel so happy that people appreciated me and my writing. And pushed me to do better 🌟🙌🏻💛
thank you! I replied earlier but it looks like it wasn't posted and got deleted.. yaaay!! anyway, let's try again.
Regarding your question, there are a few considerations to make.
Once someone reads exactly what they need to hear/read in that precise moment, they might have a light-bulb moment, that info makes the neural connections work and they will be able to connect that info with certain events/things that happened in their life. They might find a different explanation for them, they might look at them in a different way, releasing that feeling that something clicked inside of them. And that's how they will know.
Alternatively, the other type of reader is the one who is not yet ready to receive that kind of information (e.i. might have some limiting beliefs blocking it) on a conscious level. When ready, this person will then be able to seek content/help/situations that they believe helpful, and all that info that was given before this turning point, can now 'resurface' on a more conscious level, which will guide them to reach that light -bulb moment too. They might not know where that info/knowledge has come from, they'd probably just consider it theirs now. So albeit less evident, those messages wrote to reach their heart, they did. <3
thank you Jan. Yes, exactly. When we start growing and realising some of the societal 'rules' are not for us, then what can happen is that people around us start seeing 'changes' and might distance themselves from us (multiple reasons for this, and no one to be blamed at all), maybe considering us 'weird' because we do not want to become managers, or we do not want to be millionaires, or don't want the maxi villa, but what we want are simple things, slow living etc. So what can happen is that we find ourselves more alone, just because we started to swim against the tide! and this can hinder our growth or make it less enjoyable. This is at the base of my idea for this community. I want it to be a place where like-minded people can feel seen, and heard, and not feel the weirdos of the family! <3
Thank you for this beautiful reframe and reminder, Claire. Substack is the only place I hang out online, and I have much existential angst about living inside my computer screen and this online dimension. I haven’t reached a place of reconciliation or ease around that and suspect I never will.
For now though, I do love being on Substack and having a place to share my heart and connect with others. My why is to support people in recovery, specifically, but also to create a safe, supportive space for anyone exploring their relationship to unhelpful patterns and seeking kind, kindred community.
I have an article coming out about this topic on Monday Dana. It will be on my other publication. A safe space for unhelpful patterns - wow sounds so generous… how might we drop in and better understand if we’re in an unhelpful pattern? ✨
I find that one of the simplest, clearest ways to know whether we’re caught in an unhelpful pattern is to ask whether what we’re consuming or doing is connecting or disconnecting. Is it connecting to true self, our deepest values, and our sense of integrity? Is it connecting to our Higher Power, the Universe, and Nature? Is it connecting to others in the sense of true intimacy not dependant on a shared drug of choice? I find that if I’m really honest, the answer is clear.
Substack is an unwieldy beast & I have to look at what works for me to tame it! I am finding my feet & trying to resist the social media like pull of notes.
🧌 🌈 🍯 haha it is Carol but beneath the thicket of the trees and bushes there are beautiful treasures - are you reading in the app or on email? I change my settings on the app to stay off notes and I've muted a fair few accounts there now...
Lol Yes that's what I have been doing. How do I change settings to stay off notes? I love the look of substack & just fine tunning. Found your membership super helpful Claire
So when you have the app open, press your profile photo and you'll see 'settings' at the bottom of the screen. Click that and in their you can change appearance... in appearance you get the option to change your 'default tab' to inbox or 'chat' instead of home which is Notes...
Woah you stay off notes? That might really help me. I get very overwhelmed by notes. I’m not on any other social for the same reason. It’s just way too much for my brain and nervous system 🌈
Loved this Claire! I write here in order to notice the small moments of everyday beauty that I believe can be a guiding force for our lives. I write to frame a fragment in this chapter of my life. I write to explore how I have returned to myself since living in tune with ancient and seasonal cycles. I write to reclaim space for myself and encourage others to do the same xx
I feel like it’s back to the anchors again Lyndsay - we can’t underestimate the power of someone’s words/ art as an anchor and you’re definitely that for me. ✨🙏
This is beautiful Lyndsay. I've been falling into the trap of thinking that nothing I do is very special. But your words have made me think about it in a different light. It's about reclaiming the small things, the tiny pleasures that really make life worth living.
Ah thank you Louise. I am SO glad that my thoughts shifted your perspective on all the beauty you absolutely bring to your community and the world from your corner of it. I absolutely identify with what you say and agree that sometimes it feels futile and unnecessary to talk about everyday beauty. And/or that it isn’t enough. But it is, it really is everything xx
For some reason, this question stresses me out. I realized lately that I can create my why without sharing all of it on my About page. I can hold it like something precious...within me. That is the spartk that all of this comes from. I want to share my words, ideas, thoughts and life with others. I was isolated and alone from deep connection for so many years. I believe that I was starved for it and I found online communities and classes to fill the void. I want to add my voice and allow others to be seen and heard. Removing the pressure of "how" helps me create from this place of heart.
I love this idea of keeping your deepest why close and sacred, not for public consumption or branding as it were. This really resonated for me, Blythe, Thank you!
This is beautiful Blythe and I wonder if it’s all in here and super simple. Writing to connect from our heart centre is already more than enough? ✨🥰💖 bells and whistles optional?
This is such a great question Claire and yet when I sit down to really think about it I'm honestly not sure I know what my "why" is. At least not in a way that I can articulate. Definitely some work I need to do in this area.
I feel a GIANT permission slip to lean into your stories and your images when you post.
Like a cuppa with a creative friend, a connection to my grandma who LOVED knitting and knitted most of not every day… there’s comfort in the familiarity of feeling safe in your publication Louise. ❤️
Oh it’s so emotive… might be time to quiet the echo chamber? I find when I think it’s everywhere it’s because of what I’ve subbed to because I love this content BUT since I stopped subscribing to folks in my niche I feel so much clearer and I can still consume in other ways like pods or books… does any of that chime for you Louise?
Oh absolutely, I think it's so easy to get caught up in seeing what others in my niche are doing. Thanks for the advice - I definitely need to look more at what I'm consuming and be more mindful about it.
So thrilled to be here! At the end of the day we all look at those metrics and watch our growth. Ultimately, our progress is what provides the impetus to carry on.
At first, it was the idea of seeking a new creative outlet, a way to express myself through various mediums but all in one place. I envisioned cultivating a lovely community of like-minded individuals who shared my passions. I also loved the idea returning to blogging because I wanted to inspire others, rather than feeling the dread of writing a newsletters that felt like speaking to a blank wall.
And having gone through the worst possible time in my life and rediscovering my inner artist was a beautiful transformation. It reminded me that art isn't exclusive to artists. So, I'm here to create a community — encourage and support others in creating more moments of stillness and play, for a more fulfilling and purpose in our lives.
My ‘why’ is that I want to create a community here to motivate and inspire people to spend more time crafting, if that is something they want to do. I want to break down the barriers that are put in people’s way. Help them build their confidence around crafting and trying new things. Provide tools and resources to help people maximise the time they have for their crafting hobbies.
I started the Inspiration Station to serve as a home for my visual art and writing with the aim of inspiring others to be their most creative selves. My life and unconventional outlook has always been an example for others and I wanted to expand beyond people I know, which I was having trouble doing on other platforms (and I don't like using them). My current effort is to grow interest in the Flag Oracle deck that I made, so the newsletter currently offers readings from it, which definitely fit that mission of creative inspiration.
Hi Claire, Thanks for asking! The Flag Oracle is a deck of 48 cards based on photographs of my flags in nature that I showed in an art exhibition in 2022. The Flag Oracle is a tool for attuning to the wisdom of nature and surrendering to the universal heart. It's a complete teaching based on the lessons received from the artistic process, the Mt. Tamalpais watershed, and nearly two decades of serious spiritual study. The best place to read more about it is my About page. https://leeannprescott.substack.com/about
I really don’t know my why other than an urge to try, to keep writing posts and watch my writing develop and form a why, maybe? It’s the same with my art over on instagram too but I have major block at the moment and I think a lot of that comes from wanting to make a living from my creativity but not really knowing how to succeed with that whilst working an employed role / being a mother…pondering constantly, ha.
I have 2 very different substacks and very different 'why's. My business one is about making a space for my clients and potential clients who want to find out more about me, what makes me tick, and for me hopefully to connect with them and hold space for them in a less structured way than in a therapeutic relationship. My personal substack is an idea in progress - I'm dipping my toes in the water of sending things I write for other people to (possibly!) read.
That's tough to formulate into words. And there are 2 different answers.
I find it easier to answer for the Nutrition4Performance one. As a nutritional therapist I work mostly on my own, which can get very lonely, so building a community is one way of creating a space that is sociable with a purpose. Choosing to work with a nutritional therapist is a big commitment in terms of time, exposing one's own vulnerabilities and money, so creating a space where people - who may or may not be potential clients - can get to know me is a stepping stone to building the trust required for a therapeutic relationship. It also potentially gives a safe space for clients who have worked with me who need some ongoing support but not in a formal sense. A lot of my colleagues hang out on other social media platforms for this reason. But I never really 'got' instagram, and Facebook is becoming more restrictive - for example the recent changes to lives - and seems to be using really weird algorhythms. For example it keeps asking me if I still want content from friends and people I actively follow, while filling my feed with irrelevant stuff that I'm not interested in. LinkedIn is really tricky for long form content - you have to link it from somewhere else. I like the flexibility and possibility of here, and I'm taking a long term view that it will take me a while to establish a community.
With Up the Garden Path, that is very different. It's about exploring my writing, developing as a writer and enjoying myself along the way. I'm so shy about my own writing that I generally don't even re-read my own journals (I have piles of them!). My husband keeps asking me if I'm writing a novel, because I have journals and notebooks all over the place, which I scribble in when something comes into my head. I might try to organise my thoughts into something more substantial, we'll see!
My 'why' is that I want to share what I've learned from the highs and lows of my career with people who either are struggling with their career trajectory or feel lost. I want to make them realise that it will be alright and it will pass. My dream is to build a community around it and I am not sure how to go about that.
Well...so far (besides publishing regularly) I have tried to approach friends and colleagues through platforms such as LinkedIn, etc. Not sure how else I should go about it.
Great so collaborations here on Substack with folks in an adjacent niche and being open to chat in comments and Notes. as well as making regular recommendations would be my go tos!
My ‘why’ is that I want to share my wonder and curiosity - for the natural world, for folklore and tradition, for women’s stories. It is a cycle, a loop - knowing I will be writing makes me experience the world differently, makes me notice the tiny details of my day to day adventures, and then I get to share them with others, who will hopefully take that curiosity into their own lives. Ultimately, that’s why I do it.
🙌🏼 - this is SO heart warming Bonnie - I absolutely ADORE your why - thanks for sharing it here with us all. Can't wait to see more of what you create here. 🌳
Thank you!
I love this Bonnie! I connect to your view of the cycle and loop. Bringing our attention to the details in our lives in order to experience it deeply. Thank you for sharing and writing.
Yes, the endless cycle! I also find that I can easily think I’ve got nothing to say, or haven’t had much of an experience, then I sit down to write and I realise something WAS meaningful. By putting it down I make something out of nothing, and that takes me through to the next time. I imagine it’s similar for other writers, but good to hear you feel that too! Thanks for replying
This is beautiful Bonnie.
Thank you!
I've just always felt like such a weirdo. And when I write, I feel less so. Or I feel more so, I'm not sure, but I feel more whole and less like I'm floating around trying to get it right. Finding our why is such a big question, for me at least. Some people seem very clear. But mine feels elusive and like if I could just figure it out, pinpoint one thing, then everything would flow from there. But I've been learning this year that when I think there's one thing that will fix it all, that's a good place for me to pause and explore what I'm really feeling. And when I think about my Substack from that vantage point and why I'm here, it's to write what I need to read about, to get better at my writing and to build community. I have this dream of having a community that's vibrant like Claire's or Jeannine Ouellette's and yet, I don't teach or sell anything and I wonder, what would people come for? Just for what I write? And then I think about what you said here, Claire, and I think, well, _maybe_. Maybe they would and maybe the why will present itself if I just keep with it. The world IS full of magical things. 🪄
You know sometimes our why is just to show up... we feel guided enough and the rest follows... how does that chime for you Jocelyn?
Ooooh Claire, that is lovely and simple and so profound. I’m not sure why Substack just today alerted me to your comment, but I’m so glad it did!❤️
Sometimes I feel that the why is similar to work with the word purpose. I think it is enough to just share your voice and thoughts. I think writing and building community is just as powerful as offering someting concrete. I also believe that "the world IS full of magical things."
Thank you so much Blythe, I didn't realize how much I needed to hear this, " think it is enough to just share your voice and thoughts." until it brought tears to my eyes. And yay to a sister who believes in magical things. ❤️🙏
Gorgeous. Yes!!!
I came across this post today and so much of what you wrote here, resonated. So I've subscribed. Cos you were enough.
Lots of love,
Jani (Team Weirdo too) xx
Team Weirdo! ❤️❤️❤️ Oh that just makes my day. Thank you sweet weirdo sister! xoxox
✨
My why is that I know I was born for more, to share something inside me that would inspire others to improve their lives, to do better to enjoy the little things more, to reflect on what can go better and what has to change. When I talk to my friends about this stuff I see the pull of wanting to tell them more, tell them all I know and I will know as I keep growing. And I think this platform can be the vehicle to reach more people at once and also to make them communicate to each other to feel supported.
Those days I have engaged more I received more comments and engagement back, and it made me feel so happy that people appreciated me and my writing. And pushed me to do better 🌟🙌🏻💛
Ahhh this is so lovely... inspiring others to improve their lives and how will they know if they've done it Annalisa?
thank you! I replied earlier but it looks like it wasn't posted and got deleted.. yaaay!! anyway, let's try again.
Regarding your question, there are a few considerations to make.
Once someone reads exactly what they need to hear/read in that precise moment, they might have a light-bulb moment, that info makes the neural connections work and they will be able to connect that info with certain events/things that happened in their life. They might find a different explanation for them, they might look at them in a different way, releasing that feeling that something clicked inside of them. And that's how they will know.
Alternatively, the other type of reader is the one who is not yet ready to receive that kind of information (e.i. might have some limiting beliefs blocking it) on a conscious level. When ready, this person will then be able to seek content/help/situations that they believe helpful, and all that info that was given before this turning point, can now 'resurface' on a more conscious level, which will guide them to reach that light -bulb moment too. They might not know where that info/knowledge has come from, they'd probably just consider it theirs now. So albeit less evident, those messages wrote to reach their heart, they did. <3
really love the sense of reciprocity in this.
thank you Jan. Yes, exactly. When we start growing and realising some of the societal 'rules' are not for us, then what can happen is that people around us start seeing 'changes' and might distance themselves from us (multiple reasons for this, and no one to be blamed at all), maybe considering us 'weird' because we do not want to become managers, or we do not want to be millionaires, or don't want the maxi villa, but what we want are simple things, slow living etc. So what can happen is that we find ourselves more alone, just because we started to swim against the tide! and this can hinder our growth or make it less enjoyable. This is at the base of my idea for this community. I want it to be a place where like-minded people can feel seen, and heard, and not feel the weirdos of the family! <3
What a powerful and inspirational why. Beautiful.
Thank you so much Blythe for your words 🤍🤍
Thank you for this beautiful reframe and reminder, Claire. Substack is the only place I hang out online, and I have much existential angst about living inside my computer screen and this online dimension. I haven’t reached a place of reconciliation or ease around that and suspect I never will.
For now though, I do love being on Substack and having a place to share my heart and connect with others. My why is to support people in recovery, specifically, but also to create a safe, supportive space for anyone exploring their relationship to unhelpful patterns and seeking kind, kindred community.
I have an article coming out about this topic on Monday Dana. It will be on my other publication. A safe space for unhelpful patterns - wow sounds so generous… how might we drop in and better understand if we’re in an unhelpful pattern? ✨
Thank you, Claire. I look forward to reading!
I find that one of the simplest, clearest ways to know whether we’re caught in an unhelpful pattern is to ask whether what we’re consuming or doing is connecting or disconnecting. Is it connecting to true self, our deepest values, and our sense of integrity? Is it connecting to our Higher Power, the Universe, and Nature? Is it connecting to others in the sense of true intimacy not dependant on a shared drug of choice? I find that if I’m really honest, the answer is clear.
LOVE this - no one has ever explained it to me like that before: thank you! ✨🙏
Substack is an unwieldy beast & I have to look at what works for me to tame it! I am finding my feet & trying to resist the social media like pull of notes.
🧌 🌈 🍯 haha it is Carol but beneath the thicket of the trees and bushes there are beautiful treasures - are you reading in the app or on email? I change my settings on the app to stay off notes and I've muted a fair few accounts there now...
Lol Yes that's what I have been doing. How do I change settings to stay off notes? I love the look of substack & just fine tunning. Found your membership super helpful Claire
So when you have the app open, press your profile photo and you'll see 'settings' at the bottom of the screen. Click that and in their you can change appearance... in appearance you get the option to change your 'default tab' to inbox or 'chat' instead of home which is Notes...
Sorted 💫
Woah you stay off notes? That might really help me. I get very overwhelmed by notes. I’m not on any other social for the same reason. It’s just way too much for my brain and nervous system 🌈
Loved this Claire! I write here in order to notice the small moments of everyday beauty that I believe can be a guiding force for our lives. I write to frame a fragment in this chapter of my life. I write to explore how I have returned to myself since living in tune with ancient and seasonal cycles. I write to reclaim space for myself and encourage others to do the same xx
A guiding force for our lives - YES! How beautiful is that... simple, profound and so needed...
Ooo so glad it resonates. And yes I agree, despite sometimes feeling trivial or futile, it is so deeply needed xx
I feel like it’s back to the anchors again Lyndsay - we can’t underestimate the power of someone’s words/ art as an anchor and you’re definitely that for me. ✨🙏
Ahh Claire yes the anchors, thank you so much for saying that, it really means a lot xx
This is beautiful Lyndsay. I've been falling into the trap of thinking that nothing I do is very special. But your words have made me think about it in a different light. It's about reclaiming the small things, the tiny pleasures that really make life worth living.
Yes totally... it's that statement isn't it - a guiding force for our lives...
Ooo thanks for highlighting Claire. Perhaps I need to add that to my About page…! xx
Ah thank you Louise. I am SO glad that my thoughts shifted your perspective on all the beauty you absolutely bring to your community and the world from your corner of it. I absolutely identify with what you say and agree that sometimes it feels futile and unnecessary to talk about everyday beauty. And/or that it isn’t enough. But it is, it really is everything xx
It really is - I feel like there are all sorts of epiphanies and profound little circuits flying off in this post. 💖💖
Thank you for facilitating the magic dear Claire xx
For some reason, this question stresses me out. I realized lately that I can create my why without sharing all of it on my About page. I can hold it like something precious...within me. That is the spartk that all of this comes from. I want to share my words, ideas, thoughts and life with others. I was isolated and alone from deep connection for so many years. I believe that I was starved for it and I found online communities and classes to fill the void. I want to add my voice and allow others to be seen and heard. Removing the pressure of "how" helps me create from this place of heart.
I love this idea of keeping your deepest why close and sacred, not for public consumption or branding as it were. This really resonated for me, Blythe, Thank you!
This is beautiful Blythe and I wonder if it’s all in here and super simple. Writing to connect from our heart centre is already more than enough? ✨🥰💖 bells and whistles optional?
This is such a great question Claire and yet when I sit down to really think about it I'm honestly not sure I know what my "why" is. At least not in a way that I can articulate. Definitely some work I need to do in this area.
If it’s nice to know?
I feel a GIANT permission slip to lean into your stories and your images when you post.
Like a cuppa with a creative friend, a connection to my grandma who LOVED knitting and knitted most of not every day… there’s comfort in the familiarity of feeling safe in your publication Louise. ❤️
Oh my goodness, that's so lovely. Thank you Claire. That actually brought a little tear to my eye
You’re welcome… maybe there’s a “why” in there as you knit a few rows, you make beautiful work here. ✨
Thank you. I guess it's easy to think that what I do is commonplace but I tend to forget the potential for feelings it can involve in others.
Oh it’s so emotive… might be time to quiet the echo chamber? I find when I think it’s everywhere it’s because of what I’ve subbed to because I love this content BUT since I stopped subscribing to folks in my niche I feel so much clearer and I can still consume in other ways like pods or books… does any of that chime for you Louise?
Oh absolutely, I think it's so easy to get caught up in seeing what others in my niche are doing. Thanks for the advice - I definitely need to look more at what I'm consuming and be more mindful about it.
So thrilled to be here! At the end of the day we all look at those metrics and watch our growth. Ultimately, our progress is what provides the impetus to carry on.
Freedom, without doubt 🙂
At first, it was the idea of seeking a new creative outlet, a way to express myself through various mediums but all in one place. I envisioned cultivating a lovely community of like-minded individuals who shared my passions. I also loved the idea returning to blogging because I wanted to inspire others, rather than feeling the dread of writing a newsletters that felt like speaking to a blank wall.
And having gone through the worst possible time in my life and rediscovering my inner artist was a beautiful transformation. It reminded me that art isn't exclusive to artists. So, I'm here to create a community — encourage and support others in creating more moments of stillness and play, for a more fulfilling and purpose in our lives.
A beautiful transformation. Wow there is such power in those words Susan. ✨💎✨
Awe thank you 💕
My ‘why’ is that I want to create a community here to motivate and inspire people to spend more time crafting, if that is something they want to do. I want to break down the barriers that are put in people’s way. Help them build their confidence around crafting and trying new things. Provide tools and resources to help people maximise the time they have for their crafting hobbies.
BEAUTIFUL! Tell me in one line? And then go check your publication description and bio! 🤓
Ooo how about ‘A community for crafters who want to do more of what they love’
Love this. Love all these words. I’ve been playing around with the word hub… might switch mine up a bit!
Aww thanks 🥰 Can’t hurt to give it a try
I started the Inspiration Station to serve as a home for my visual art and writing with the aim of inspiring others to be their most creative selves. My life and unconventional outlook has always been an example for others and I wanted to expand beyond people I know, which I was having trouble doing on other platforms (and I don't like using them). My current effort is to grow interest in the Flag Oracle deck that I made, so the newsletter currently offers readings from it, which definitely fit that mission of creative inspiration.
Oh beautiful - tell us more about the oracle deck Lee?
Hi Claire, Thanks for asking! The Flag Oracle is a deck of 48 cards based on photographs of my flags in nature that I showed in an art exhibition in 2022. The Flag Oracle is a tool for attuning to the wisdom of nature and surrendering to the universal heart. It's a complete teaching based on the lessons received from the artistic process, the Mt. Tamalpais watershed, and nearly two decades of serious spiritual study. The best place to read more about it is my About page. https://leeannprescott.substack.com/about
How beautiful! Thanks for sharing Lee Ann! ✨✨✨💖
I really don’t know my why other than an urge to try, to keep writing posts and watch my writing develop and form a why, maybe? It’s the same with my art over on instagram too but I have major block at the moment and I think a lot of that comes from wanting to make a living from my creativity but not really knowing how to succeed with that whilst working an employed role / being a mother…pondering constantly, ha.
Ahh the juggle - I write about this alot on my other publication if you fancy a read - https://creativelyconscious.substack.com/
I have 2 very different substacks and very different 'why's. My business one is about making a space for my clients and potential clients who want to find out more about me, what makes me tick, and for me hopefully to connect with them and hold space for them in a less structured way than in a therapeutic relationship. My personal substack is an idea in progress - I'm dipping my toes in the water of sending things I write for other people to (possibly!) read.
Ok so my next question - why is this work important to you Julie? ✨
That's tough to formulate into words. And there are 2 different answers.
I find it easier to answer for the Nutrition4Performance one. As a nutritional therapist I work mostly on my own, which can get very lonely, so building a community is one way of creating a space that is sociable with a purpose. Choosing to work with a nutritional therapist is a big commitment in terms of time, exposing one's own vulnerabilities and money, so creating a space where people - who may or may not be potential clients - can get to know me is a stepping stone to building the trust required for a therapeutic relationship. It also potentially gives a safe space for clients who have worked with me who need some ongoing support but not in a formal sense. A lot of my colleagues hang out on other social media platforms for this reason. But I never really 'got' instagram, and Facebook is becoming more restrictive - for example the recent changes to lives - and seems to be using really weird algorhythms. For example it keeps asking me if I still want content from friends and people I actively follow, while filling my feed with irrelevant stuff that I'm not interested in. LinkedIn is really tricky for long form content - you have to link it from somewhere else. I like the flexibility and possibility of here, and I'm taking a long term view that it will take me a while to establish a community.
With Up the Garden Path, that is very different. It's about exploring my writing, developing as a writer and enjoying myself along the way. I'm so shy about my own writing that I generally don't even re-read my own journals (I have piles of them!). My husband keeps asking me if I'm writing a novel, because I have journals and notebooks all over the place, which I scribble in when something comes into my head. I might try to organise my thoughts into something more substantial, we'll see!
This sounds beautifully balanced to me. ✨✨🙏✨✨
My 'why' is that I want to share what I've learned from the highs and lows of my career with people who either are struggling with their career trajectory or feel lost. I want to make them realise that it will be alright and it will pass. My dream is to build a community around it and I am not sure how to go about that.
Ooo I like this challenge… what have you tried? This is such an important message!
Well...so far (besides publishing regularly) I have tried to approach friends and colleagues through platforms such as LinkedIn, etc. Not sure how else I should go about it.
Great so collaborations here on Substack with folks in an adjacent niche and being open to chat in comments and Notes. as well as making regular recommendations would be my go tos!
Agreed. On it. Thank you Claire!
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