emanatinglightness

[emanatinglightness]

“Seeking joy has been an active practice, because joy doesn’t come easily for me. I’m prone to long periods of fog, as you’ve called it, and if I don’t seek (and make) light, I would stay in it even longer, would possibly never emerge. I swear by keeping routines, which includes taking care of my body—eating enough, sleeping and waking at regular times, getting fresh air, that sort of thing. I also put limits on things that smother my joy; for me, this is primarily the internet, which provides endless messaging that I am not doing enough, am not good enough, and just generally steals my attention and energy, which I would prefer to use on things which nourish me. I believe in the power of creating small joys, instead of waiting for a big one to arrive miraculously in your life. I made a list of these joys so I can refer to it when I’m deeper in the fog, like a menu to order from. 100 joys. They’re simple, but effective—things like bubble baths, calling a friend, dancing, buying flowers, eating dark chocolate, a cup of tea. Some months, I have to challenge myself to meet a quota, when I’m feeling very down. It helps. Little step after little step. Little light after little light.”

— Leila Chatti, from an interview with Sneha Subramanian Kanta in Parentheses Journal, Issue 10 (via skgroutpoetry)

[emanatinglightness]

01-06-2023, 3 PM

[emanatinglightness]

#TextileTuesday:

Embroidered Drawn Net Bed Valance with Bobbin Lace Border

Russian, 1766-1833

Linen ground, linen embroidery threads

The Cone Collection, BMA

on display at “Making Her Mark: A History of #WomenArtists in Europe, 1400-1800” exhibition at Baltimore Museum of Art

[emanatinglightness]

You want me to introduce myself? The thing that almost killed Odysseus?

[emanatinglightness]

2024

FALL AND GET UP AND FALL AND GET UP AND FALL AND GET UP

OLD RECEIPTS AS BOOKMARKS

WRITE LETTERS YOU WILL NEVER SEND

READ A POEM IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ABANDONED PARK ON A CLOUDLESS NIGHT

TRIP AND FALL INTO A WELL

BECOME A KEYCHAIN ON A COOL GIRL'S KEY RING

EVISCERATE UNENDING GUILT

THE SEA AT SUNSET

DANCE TO MUSIC FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

NO GUILTY PLEASURES. INDULGE THAT WHICH MAKES YOUR HEART FULL

SILLY TRINKETS

FLOWERS CAN TALK AND THEY SAY HI TO YOU EVERY MORNING

CARRY A WATER BOTTLE FILLED WITH SUN. DRINK THE SUN

READ A BOOK. CRY OVER THE BOOK. TEAR OUT THE PAGES OF THE BOOK AND EAT THEM

GLITTERING CITY LIGHTS ARE A SIGN

DIG AND DIG AND DIG AND UPROOT SHAME

[emanatinglightness]

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) dir. Jaromil Jireš

[emanatinglightness]

“stop traumadumping to your friends tell this to your therapist” my god they paywalled human connection

[emanatinglightness]

One day you think: I want to die. And then you think, very quietly, actually I want a coffee. I want a nap. A sandwich. A book. And I want to die turns day by day into I want to go home, I want to walk in the woods, I want to see my friends, I want to sit in the sun. I want a cleaner room, I want a better job, I want to live somewhere else, I want to live.

[emanatinglightness]

Victorian Tear Catchers

During the Victorian era, mourners sometimes collected their tears in gold decorated “tear bottles” to keep as a remembrance for the next of kin. It has also been said that the widows would go to the grave on the anniversary of the first year of death and sprinkle the tears on the grave to signify the end of the first year of mourning.

[emanatinglightness]

[emanatinglightness]

Marina Tsvetaeva, On Love

[emanatinglightness]

Olivia Hussey as Juliet Capulet

[emanatinglightness]

Vogue Italy, 05.1983 - via x

[emanatinglightness]

various sacred hearts (damien hirst; tim tate; antique ex-voto; 19th c. french religious card; 19th c. french reliquary; repousee antique; carved wood frame c. 1890-1920; unknown painting)

[emanatinglightness]

Ightham Mote, Kent, a moated manor house, parts of which date back to the early 14th century. It has more than 70 rooms, arranged around a central courtyard, and has structural and decorative elements of many centuries. The Great Hall was built around the 1330s-40s, the fireplace in the drawing room is from the early 17th century, and Sir Thomas Colyer-Fergusson added many Victorian elements when he restored the house in the 1890s.

[emanatinglightness]

Photo Montage, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore

[emanatinglightness]

To Her