The Creative Impulse
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Hello friends, “One of the keys of fascism is control of the nation’s narrative…” Social philosopher Kimberlé Crenshaw said that in this recent Guardian article. I’ve long admired Crenshaw’s work, and when I read those words this morning, I thought, “this is why I write.” I write to switch the narrative to something that feels healthier, kinder, and more beautiful. Every creative impulse can be anti-fascist. Every creative act can help heal us, body, heart, mind, and soul. Each creative work can bring community closer together. It does not matter what it is. Baking bread, sharing seeds… Think of our ancestors who sang together as they worked. Think of the potters and woodworkers who made ordinary household items things of beauty. Think of all the scarves and shawls and sweaters knitted to help keep community warm. Me? I write worlds I want to live in. I write worlds where magic is real and community comes together to fight for love and justice. I write about centering ourselves, and reaching out to others. Acts of creativity are acts of love and connection. Deep love and connection, in my experience, are anti-authoritarian. Anti-fascism begins where we are, every day. It doesn’t require grand or noble gestures. Keeping community safe is simple: We share food. We share songs. We get creative with what we have. Making space for creativity underscores our humanity. Creativity is as necessary to human thriving as water. Creativity also connects us to the rest of the natural world, which is creating all the time. What helps you create? How does what you create ripple out into the world? Best wishes — Thorn
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T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, I took the train yesterday, from northern Oregon to the middle of Washington State, heading for a big reader conference called Lore and Luster, where I'll be selling books and meeting readers for two days. We crossed the Columbia River, and beheld the snow capped beauty of Mount Hood. We passed small old towns and countryside, brick buildings, and stands of trees. Four astronauts just made a broad circuit around the moon, sending home photos of astonishing beauty, and pictures...
Hello friends, Whenever times feel overwhelming, and I’m not sure what to do about it, I return to the basics: prioritizing creativity, going for walks, and local mutual aid. Why? The world always needs more creativity, the healthier I am the better able I am to help, and mutual aid or community service offer tangible, immediate help. The other thing I think about is the importance of building networks, which is a simple thing we all do, every day, whether we realize it or not. Some of us...
Hello friends, When was the last time you paused because something was so beautiful, you needed a moment? When was the last time you were emotionally moved by nature, a painting, a song, a film, a dance? And how often do you make space to welcome beauty in your life? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” wrote Margaret Wolfe Hungerford. She was speaking of subjectivity. That each of us finds different things—objects, people, places—beautiful. But there’s more to it than simple taste or...