dear ocean friends,
this is guide.notes 17, a weekly letter on building internet universes to nourish the soul.
I started redesigning my website today, after what has been a very, very, long constipation/delay. you can see the ongoing (secret) homepage here - this is how far I got this afternoon:
I decided to think about my universe as an animated island/oceanic ecosystem. I plan to also draw boats, and fish, and whales, and ripples. maybe the islands will shift, every month, or with the seasons.
these islands represent themes -- rather than forms. they are cross-disciplinary; expansive and infinite, yet contained. they remind me of something I wrote after my two months on santorini and naxos: each island feels like another iteration of myself.
for a while, I've been craving a website that felt like it could hold the fullness of my universe. my universe seeks to integrate ART + BUSINESS, and my embodiment as an artist-entrepreneur.
I started with wellbeing, because wellbeing is at the root of everything. my tiny cottage.
then, I drew digital ecosystems. like a monastery carved into mountainside caves, studded with jewels..
maybe tomorrow, I'll draw "building a business" and "creative practices" and "this week" and "newsletter" and "inspiration library" and "istanbul" and "work with me," and "courses," and "luna" -- as other elements of this world.
these days, I feel like my homepage needs to take me to the topics I'm obsessing over - or, serve as my anti-amnesia bulletin board. [HEY, you - yeah this is what you were thinking about 2 days ago... (not to mention these last 8 years...)]
a thing that deeply inspired me this week
I started exploring my Gene Keys profile, reading the book, and found it deeply wise, poetic, nourishing, and profound. I love how he describes the art of contemplation as different than meditation or concentration -- but a slow absorption and integration. if you fill out your profile, you can also listen to the audio contemplation for free. mine felt electrifying.
be audacious enough to ask for gold
this week I asked a new client to sign up for a 14k package. 14k = gold. I've never asked for 14k. she said yes, then she said no -- but ultimately, that didn't even matter to me. the process of asking (they call it "sales") was deeply empowering, illuminating, and made me feel victorious -- because if I can ask for 14k, this means I feel like I can give so more than 14k in value.
I'm learning that prosperity is a function of unblocking the channels of giving and receiving. these days, I have the distinct feeling that my mission is to help others build wealth.
my 6 month aspiration list
- design a line of tote bags
- buy a real wallet
- learn how to code (for real this time)
- do a project for 28k
- make kimchi
- take a week off
upcoming secret project
after I finish this website, I have one secret project that has been simmering for ages in my back-of-the-head crockpot. it feels deeply expansive and minimalist, at the same time. I can't wait to share it with you.
that's all for now, my friends.
send me a note anytime. tell me what you're dreaming of these days.
kening