I made a thing!
Hold it in your hands to discover a contemplation of internal and external space.
I’m talking about my artist book, a self-published zine called Not Knowing : There Is No Map For This. A year ago I wrote a poem to map the experience of not knowing. I then designed this zine to reflect the process and experience of writing the poem.
Describing what is present is a mapping practice. The beauty of all maps is we can use them to discover new experiences of our own.
You can have one!
Touch uncertainty and navigate not-knowing with this pocket-sized, interactive artist book. It poetically contrasts internal and external experience. The zine includes a writing prompt so you can make your own map. RRP £5.00 +postage
Or get it for free on your 1 month anniversary as a paid subscriber to my publication Dreamtender.
Some of you may remember me saying I have a dream to publish my work in print starting with zines and pamphlets. The idea was that paid subscribers to my Substack publication would be supporting this and therefore they would get a copy of my new zines.
Paid subscribers get full access to Dreamtender. As a thank you for subscribing to my publication I will pop a copy of “Not Knowing: There is No Map for This” in the post on your 1 month anniversary as a subscriber.
There is no map for this
Below is the writing exercise which I wrote for myself and now I offer it to you.
Writing Exercise:
Describe Not Seeing
Describe No Map
Use your piece of writing as a map
Re-visit Not Knowing
You will need to locate some blank paper and a pen or pencil. I made some ceremony of writing mine, using dipping ink and a nib pen with a feather. But this is somewhat usual for me. I encourage you to do what comes naturally.
Set up your writing space as an invitation to yourself. It doesn’t need to be anything in particular. Simply bring consciousness awareness to how you are preparing your space for this exercise.
As you sit down to write, you may allow your experience and the conditions in which you write to inform what you write. When you are ready tune in to the first prompt.
Is there something in your life right now that feels uncertain? Is there an element of mystery as to what will happen next?
How is your body registering the uncertainty in your life?
Tune into the place where you “do know know” and therefore “can’t see.”
And begin: describe not seeing…
If you would like to share what comes up for you when doing this exercise, please feel free to do so in the comments section. I’d love to read your writing or hear about your experience.
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