What to expect in the new updates to Create Me Free as it relates to sharing "Art and Mental Health Link Love" ... and a behind the scenes glimpse into my research process
“we don’t use “positive” or “negative” around here - it’s all about just being with what is.” 🙏 it’s taking me years to live away from this conditioning but I try and avoid (best i can) using these words along with good, bad, right or wrong for this very reason! Great to hear about all the different avenues.
“What does it mean for artists to live in a capitalist society and how can community shift to support creative, holistic wellbeing?” What a question! I am also deeply interested in how money complicates things in relation to holistic wellness. It’s like there’s this unwritten rule that you can spend money as long as it’s NOT for the benefit of your health. If it’s for the good of your health and healing or creative and gifted and theres a deeper level of love and passion involved then it’s wrong. Hmmmmm🤔
It’s a weird thing since there’s tons of invitation to spend money on “get healthy quick” type of things or “feel good self care” but the deep systemic change necessary to encourage holistic health (physical, mental, financial) is hard to come by.
Oct 4, 2023·edited Oct 4, 2023Liked by Kathryn Vercillo
Kathryn, I get SO EXCITED every time I read one of your posts, because we absolutely need a community and a hub for these topics. I love what you’re creating, I will continue to use and pay for it, and I think what you’re doing here will inspire my own continuing work as an essayist and YouTube creator navigating the same space from a personal growth perspective.
Thank you so much for saying this. It feels hard sometimes to find the people who are drawn to support this work but I believe my group of people exists and that the work will develop as a result.
I am fascinated by the intersection of psychology and art...the compulsion and wisdom of the unconscious self to breathe shape and tone and color into our most hidden selves. In the first two years of living with a neurological disorder that brought me to my knees, I isolated and watched my career as a filmmaker, my sense of purpose and my relationships slip away. Unable to look at screens, and over-stimulated by all sounds, motion and light, I found my way to the quiet, muffled, tactile craft of needle felting. And once I found it, I did nothing else for two years but poke needles into wool and sculpt sense into all the loss. It was a lifeline in the truest sense and I look back now at the series of creatures I created and they feeling like nothing less than portraits of my soul.❤️
I’m so glad to have found your space. It feels like home and I look forward to travelling with you. You mentioned finances: that’s the tightrope I’m walking at the moment. The way that Substack offers a platform for independent creators is so needed right now, and I’ll be with you just as soon as I can!
I’ve thought a lot over the years about how art and creativity support me in my recovery from addiction. It’s a topic I’d love to write more about. Your work has already given me a lot of food for thought, and I thank you for that. It’s good that you mentioned consuming art as well as making it. They feed each other when we allow them to.
Thank you as always for all the time, thought, energy and integrity you put into your work, Kathryn - I love the clarity of the way you've developed and communicated these categories, and looking forward to seeing how the library develops!
“we don’t use “positive” or “negative” around here - it’s all about just being with what is.” 🙏 it’s taking me years to live away from this conditioning but I try and avoid (best i can) using these words along with good, bad, right or wrong for this very reason! Great to hear about all the different avenues.
“What does it mean for artists to live in a capitalist society and how can community shift to support creative, holistic wellbeing?” What a question! I am also deeply interested in how money complicates things in relation to holistic wellness. It’s like there’s this unwritten rule that you can spend money as long as it’s NOT for the benefit of your health. If it’s for the good of your health and healing or creative and gifted and theres a deeper level of love and passion involved then it’s wrong. Hmmmmm🤔
It’s a weird thing since there’s tons of invitation to spend money on “get healthy quick” type of things or “feel good self care” but the deep systemic change necessary to encourage holistic health (physical, mental, financial) is hard to come by.
Kathryn, I get SO EXCITED every time I read one of your posts, because we absolutely need a community and a hub for these topics. I love what you’re creating, I will continue to use and pay for it, and I think what you’re doing here will inspire my own continuing work as an essayist and YouTube creator navigating the same space from a personal growth perspective.
Thank you so much for saying this. It feels hard sometimes to find the people who are drawn to support this work but I believe my group of people exists and that the work will develop as a result.
I am fascinated by the intersection of psychology and art...the compulsion and wisdom of the unconscious self to breathe shape and tone and color into our most hidden selves. In the first two years of living with a neurological disorder that brought me to my knees, I isolated and watched my career as a filmmaker, my sense of purpose and my relationships slip away. Unable to look at screens, and over-stimulated by all sounds, motion and light, I found my way to the quiet, muffled, tactile craft of needle felting. And once I found it, I did nothing else for two years but poke needles into wool and sculpt sense into all the loss. It was a lifeline in the truest sense and I look back now at the series of creatures I created and they feeling like nothing less than portraits of my soul.❤️
What a powerful summary of what I’m sure was a long and winding process. 💙💙💙
I’m so glad to have found your space. It feels like home and I look forward to travelling with you. You mentioned finances: that’s the tightrope I’m walking at the moment. The way that Substack offers a platform for independent creators is so needed right now, and I’ll be with you just as soon as I can!
I’ve thought a lot over the years about how art and creativity support me in my recovery from addiction. It’s a topic I’d love to write more about. Your work has already given me a lot of food for thought, and I thank you for that. It’s good that you mentioned consuming art as well as making it. They feed each other when we allow them to.
Yes they do feed each other and sometimes we just so need to take on others’ art to heal as we make our own.
Let me know if I can do anything to help along the journey.
Thank you as always for all the time, thought, energy and integrity you put into your work, Kathryn - I love the clarity of the way you've developed and communicated these categories, and looking forward to seeing how the library develops!
Thank you so much for being here as part of my community.