Dear fellow human,
may this find you in the right moment, and may you find some of that which you are needing in this sharing. From human to human.
2024 is "behind" us – or maybe even inside of us?
Maybe it’s a good moment to take a deep breath together.
Let’s breathe out some of that 2024 air, inviting its magic to stay and reside, and sending of all of the unwanted glamour and debris…
Breathing in some inspiration. Some intention for seeing beauty in walking these new ways, as unsettling as they sometimes seem. Stay strong, enduring the clasping grip of societal anxiety hasting for our sanity, pulling us down… to come closer to the ground… followed by our sanity is our body. The perceiver and receiver of it all. The body – A sacred space. She has led me so wisely this past year – To the ground in her own way. To the bone in her own way – grieving a loss my mind hadn't quite comprehended. She was sick three times in a row – never happened before. My father passing – never happened before. Luckily I feel my spirit is in bright communion with him as he walks the realm on the other side of the veil, enriching my ancestral world with his love and warmth and at times making himself feel even closer to me than when he was in his physical form.
Timing — Kairos.
Time — Cronos (aka. Kronos, Cronus)
But:
“It’s too late!
We are too late!”
…
What if though, it is just the right time?
If things are unfolding just in their own divine rhythm?
Their unique ways and our little structure-yearning minds are trying too hard to make sense of the larger timing we are walking in?
This past year to me has been an awakening to the world of Kairos. Kairos being the right time for an action, a word, for them to have their strongest impact, being present with that which wants to emerge out of the moment, a coming together, an opportunity, a synchronicity, flow, the divine alignment of time, the frequency of miracles. I asked for witnessing miracles, and received them. My future oriented cronos-prone mind sure had her troubles taking the backseat when some of my dearest humans can be as Kairos as it gets. It is the child-like energy of being led by exploration, following an invisible thread.
Large parts of the world today (clearly speaking solely about the human parts) orient around cronos – deadlines, plans, chronological time, often untethered from natural rhythms that would be conducive to kairos, as we would be attuned, listening to the changes of the winds, the leaves, the clouds and we would naturally be doing the right things. My body revolts sitting in an office when it is sunny out and time for feeling the fresh air and the sun light on my skin, moving my body through the colors, textures and sounds of the season…
k a i r o s
(if it was for the AI text helper of this blog the above would’ve looked like this:
k. a. i. r. o. s.
TRUST AND SURRENDER
Trust and surrender to the almost invisible thread of higher guidance, trusting that miracles are possible and that things are coming together even more beautiful than your mind had anticipated, with just a little bit of letting got, of spaciousness, of breathing, shifting, moving and allowing. With guidance from within the body, a vessel to connect to the wisdom of life on this large planet. She is always tapped in – how often do we make space to listen to our bodies?
Some words about
The ARTWORK
A PRAYER FOR RELATIONSHIP
I created this illustration, honoring the insights and experience I have gained last year and sensing into the new year.
An illustration that holds a prayer for the simultaneous existence of life in all forms. Of energy in all forms. Of realities in all forms.
Asking for relationship building and repair – with ourselves, with each other, with place – even with that which we fear, with that which we need, with that which needs us.
AI not being neglected, death not being unacknowledged.
What is our relationship to these beings and energies?
Who or what in this picture are you drawn to?
Why?
It is yours to see what wants to speak to you. Is it the glow of things?
Is it the darkness? Is it the dead branch on the tree or the eagle perched on top of it?
…
If you feel inclined, please let me know what speaks to you and why.
Story by Robin
Robin, who has been on my side (emotionally more so than physically) has written a little short story prompted by the visual.
Thank you, Robin.
INTUITION
I drew the snake more prominent than the other animals, not knowing why, trying to doubt my decision, until someone told me the snake is the sign of the Chinese New Year. Then I knew something inside of me was tapped in to that larger phenomenon.
This said, I hope 2025 for you will meet you where you are at and help you thrive in that which you do. Being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people and the right experience.
If your curiosity stirs you, you are welcome to continue reading about recent developments in aligning my purpose with my professional path (it’s all a big colourfully mixed bag anyway. Remembering my friend Charlie’s comment on my persona: “Jenni, you defy any category.”
This sure doesn’t make me a natural friend of bureaucracy, to which I must have sometimes appeared as threatening being.But healing is on it’s way. I can feel it :)
PROFESSIONAL UPDATES
VISUAL SCRIBING
On the more worldly matters I want to share that I will keep freelancing as a visual scribe on Vancouver Island and wherever it may take me. Hopefully supporting more gatherings around climate, agriculture and alternative governance models. Visual scribing aka Visual Sensemaking is the art of attending events and weaving information together using live-illustration of the shared content and creating a visual synthesis that can be shared out to the audience at the end of the day as a summary.
Some of my highlights were the Cowichan Region Climate Gathering (thank you Carla and Jennifer for sending this opportunity my way), the GOAT – Gathering for Open Agriculture Technologies, the NADAWG – North American Digital Agriculture Working Group, and other smaller gatherings in person and online.
Image of visual scribing of Cowichan Valley Climate Gathering:
To see more of my visual scribing work please go here: https://www.ottilie.cc/#/visual-scribings/
Due to my body and soul refusing to thrive sitting in front of a screen I currently do not accept any graphic design or classic illustration projects.
If you know of Visual scribing opportunities though, please send them my way :)
FOREST SCHOOL
As of this week I have taken on the mission to support Nanaimo Forest School Co-op in their transition to spread their (or our) wings as a cooperative, delivering great visual communications, visioning and partnering with other local endeavours. The Forest School host children in the wonderful nature places here in Nanaimo's foresty parks and food foresty neighbourhoods, helping kids aliven their sense of connection to nature and stewardship of places, removing invasive species and learning about local animals, plants and mushrooms.
Any wisdom around how to make a forest school great is greatly appreciated – we have some good ideas too but an outside perspective can be so helpful and inspiring :)