Quote
There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path. —Buddha
Song
I’m slowly absorbing Chris Stapleton’s new one.
I watched
We finished Life on Our Planet on Netflix, which was incredible and something I think everyone should watch, even if only to be able to consider the vastness of this physical space we inhabit and the elasticity of notions of time. After watching this series, I no longer feel the same way about the concept of 10,000 years ago. Now it seems like much less of a leap. That’s all to say, evolution takes time, and our planet has been wiped out over and over. Human beings are yet another speck.
Book
I’m still on Jesmyn Ward’s Let Us Descend and am in so deep I can practically smell the soil of the floor of the holding pen and the spanish moss hanging from the trees. It’s deep, it’s painful, and it’s good, so good.
Thing
I told y’all about my new pressing machine last week and now, I’m learning how to carve linocuts and am a little bit obsessed. I told y’all I would report, and I’ve carved my first one. I’m experimenting with it and trying some different things, so I hope I’ll have some things to share this week. Fingers crossed for prints in the Autotelic shop in time for the holidays!
Favorite Photo I Took This Week
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for showing me what I need to see every single day. Please give me the strength and endurance that I need to be who I want to be in this earthly realm, which is someone who leads with love and compassion in every action.
Intention for the week to come
May I be present before I am concerned with being anything else.
May I be supported by the universe to make the best decisions for my life and for my family from that present place.
May I remember that it is not only okay to live my own life, doing so is a requirement for fulfillment.
May I remember to keep my mind on myself in the most humble way, may I remember that my relationship with myself is the most important one I have, and may I also remember that though I am autonomous and powerful, I am at my strongest when I allow deep connection to others and allow life to move holistically.
Something I’m thinking about
How to make peace with time and how quickly it passes. How to make peace with knowing I will leave some things undone, unseen, and unsaid. And lately, making peace with letting go of all kinds of things. Life feels good when it’s clean and uncluttered. That means that choices must be made. What can go and what do I want to keep? What is essential for the journey forward? Life is a constant edit and adjustment.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Early to bed, early to rise. I read this about chronotypes the other day:
Larks are more alert in the morning, and wake up early with minimal effort.By evening, their energy levels decline, and they go to bed early.
Owls tend to stay up late at night, with their most alert periods in the late evening or even midnight hours. They struggle to wake up early. (Rachel Summers)
I’ve always been a lark. I’m happiest at 6am and 6pm. At the beginning of a day not yet explored and at the end of a good one spent.
Wishes
That I recognize every opportunity to feel joy, and that I take each one.
That my fellow creatures do that too.
That you will forward this to one person you think might like it.
Have a wonderful, peaceful, joyous week. And thank you for supporting my work here at The Autotelic.
Peace. Love.
Allison
There are first edition copies of I Dream He Talks to Me and Blood in the shop. I will sign each copy that is ordered. If you would like it personalized, please send an email with your order number and the name you would like on the signature page to allisonmoorercontact@gmail.com.
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Access to the chat feature on the Substack app.
Paid subscriber only Saturday posts.
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Surprises from time to time — free merch, access to things in the shop before free subscribers.
Hey everybody, a member of this group and a loved one to me, Sally Levinson could use your prayers. Thank you. I hope that I'm not violating group protocol. Love❤️
Larks are persistent and proactive, in addition to being beautiful songbirds. Sounds like a perfect fit. I’m intrigued by your visuals and visions this week. That abstract photo of the NYC skyline is stunning. The colorful ornaments also caught my eye and can’t wait to see the finished product.