“Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom." - Hannah Arendt

This week is action mode! Exploring questions without the fear of a required correct answer. Looking at something for long enough to see what resonates then sharing. Then my friend Minal's encouragement to "Pass it on." Let's go!

Acknowledge Earth Is Our Home

As Hurricane's Milton's path over Florida has passed, I find myself reflecting on all the reactions.

One friend physically in the PNW has a house in St Pete's, and is not responding to my outreach.

One friend was sharing maniacal and mocking videos on Facebook from his penthouse apartment about refusing to follow the mandatory evacuation orders.

One friend stopped taking work calls to hunker down with his girlfriend. He checked in this morning to LMK he is good but without electricity so playing UNO until it comes back.

Im also looking at headlines to see what emotions are being pulled and information emphasized.

"Deadly Hurricane Milton lashes Florida with wind, flooding and tornadoes"

"Roof at Tropicana Field badly damaged by Hurricane Milton"

"Milton knocks out power to millions and spawns 150 tornadoes across Florida. At least 4 dead"

Uncertainty and trauma and privilege and intended audience all in play for all of these examples.

I wonder where is the reciprocity?

The relationship?

The acknowledgement that earth is our home?

What headlines could we write for that?

Discover Your Earth Archetype

It's amazing all long a process can be to create something. I've known for months that I've wanted illustrations of the 5 Earth Archetypes. Awhile back, I tried but had to admit that I didn't have a clear enough idea yet to give to the artists. So I stayed home from Climate Week NYC to focus on it.

The idea actually came to me while on the yoga mat. The kid version holds a symbolic object reflected in the logo -- kinda like the toys we have that teach us how to do things. Cars for driving. Kitchens for cooking. Legos for building.

Then the adult will have that symbology woven into their clothes as they mature into the skills, resources, and networks to fully inhabit.

When I get around to doing the teen version, they will have scenes with toy boxes and clothing racks as they mix, match, cut up, patch, sew, etc. Trying on new combos and ways of being as they discover a path.

Yet the archetypal colors remain to acknowledge some of the inherit traits that also influence our Earth Archetypes. This time around, I hired 4 illustrators to each take on a type for a trial. I wanted to see their different caricature styles, use of color, ability to capture the essence, communicate, etc.

Two-ish weeks later, we are at the final stages. I have already eliminated 2 from the running for the larger contract. 2 remain as we continue to work towards that ethereal essence.

Here are all four. Curious if you can guess which 2 are still in the running? Or perhaps you want to share which one speaks the most to you and how you envision the archetypes?

Work Together in Community

My friend Minal is an interesting mischief maker! With training in science, he often is looking for ways to shake colleagues out of their comfort zones by questioning the foundational concepts and behaviors of the scientific method.

One way he does that is through visual art and writing. Recently, this includes being part of the Ecology of Freedom exhibition and campaign in Baltimore, MD. His piece "Plastic Lies" is one of the downloadable pieces of art meant to be shared and put up in public places. artwork is downloadable and meant to be put up in public places.

According to the website...

"Twenty-four visually captivating images, with about half including text, have been selected; original works that will be presented along with printed broadsides for takeaways. Downloads for self-printing are available below for free. We invite you to take'm to the streets!"

As Minal encourages...

"Pass it on."