SOLSTICE SUPER SALE
Barbara and Michael Leisgen, 1973Dearest readersI come with great news, the greatest news I remember every single year.THE LIGHT RETURNS! WE STOOD AT THE...
No Spectacle
Still from At a Glimpse of a Boundary, short film by Dylan McLaughlin with music by Emily A. SpragueIt’s raining today and I’ve been deep in my copy of...
Into the Mystic
Photo by Cody SellsDearest readers,I wanted to share a shift for my weekly newsletter as you’ve known it for the last seven years, which is that it will no...
Cultivating Creative Seasons with Jacqueline Suskin
This week on Common Shapes podcast, I’m deep in conversation with poet, teacher, and my dear friend, Jacqueline Suskin.Jacqueline is a poet and educator who...
Editing as dedication to unknowing
Photo by Chloe Sells, Winter 2022 East BayMy house is surrounded by trees and in the summer this provides a sheltered cocoon. While I am pretty close to the...
The Value of Sharing Our Story
Dropping in at the end of the week to invite you to Writing the Personal, my three week class that starts TOMORROW to bring the poetic, personal, and...
How to Tell the Truth with Fariha Róisín
This week on Common Shapes podcast, I’m joined by my dear friend Fariha Róisín for a conversation at the intersections of writing, politics, care, and...
Painting the fire place
Yesterday I did not protect my Monday as I am known to do. I enjoyed my day, filled with new friendships and walks and being supportive of other artists, but...
The Importance of the Personal Essay
I’ve been writing personal essays for over a decade, and I believe that my personal essay practice allowed me to leave social media.So in today’s episode, I...
Waking up at 5:30am to write
Photo by Ellen Rutt, me standing in front of Lake Michigan at Christmas Cove wearing a hat that says CeramicsIn the past week I have woken up five out of...
Leaving Instagram or Exiting the Portal of the Validation Loop
Welcome to season two of Common Shapes! Since last season, I took a big step in my life and logged out of Instagram for good.So in this episode, I’m going to...
Writing the Personal
Photo by John HansonI didn’t leave Instagram and tumble downwards into a void of nothingness. I left Instagram with an email list I’d been building for...
Channeling new ideas
Ellen Rutt with painted shape in the meadow in Northport, end of Summer 2022My daily ritual is to get in the sauna and do my morning pages. Sometimes this...
The effort it takes to begin
Dropping in mid week to invite you to Flexible Office, my digital co-working space that begins tomorrow November 2 with a Visioning Session to help map out...
The ghosts of love
My press on nails from my angel costume are starting to fall off one by one. I should soak my hands but I don’t, I let them break and crumble and awkwardly...
Standing in our values
UPCOMING WAYS TO BE TOGETHER :Photo by Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Heidelberg Project October 2023Crafting Hidden Marketing Gems In Your Newsletters : Live...
Blessings ripple out
Photo by Chloe SellsThe cosmos are hanging on while the rain starts to freeze and the temperature drops. Blowing in the wind outside the window while I type...
Friday Thread : Becoming and Staying Radicalized
WHAT ACTIONS, STORIES, GROUPS, MOTIVATIONS KEEP YOU RADICAL?What books, podcast, documentaries, novels, movies keep your spirit alive with rage for movement...
Window Place
Almost a year ago I bought a house. It felt like the biggest miracle ever as a self employed artist, queer, non binary, unpartnered person with no...
Friday Thread : Social Media Addiction
HOW DO YOU HEAL FROM SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION?What practices or rules do you place on yourself so that you may be present in your life?Is it worth staying for...