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done with wonders | dome of wonders
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Markup on photo of South County rock October 6, 2026
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a brush with the catacombic
Last week, my father told me stories about Brother Leo, a young monk who helped him put his newspaper stack back together after copies of the Washington-Times Herald got scattered like confetti in the wind.
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My dad was 10 on his paper route, where he delivered 5 crispy, folded copies to the monsignor's drawing room. Brother Leo was 17 and new to the seminary. A fun-loving orphan, Leo still had games to play and kids to befriend. Together my dad and Leo played baseball on the monastery grounds, and explored catacombs underneath that space in Washington DC; where relics, burial tombs and cement and stone were mixed into a mystery.
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Brother Leo was a good friend, who later brought 'The Monsignor' to attend some family milestone event which blew my dad's parents away. I think they loved titles.
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Attention in the every day
I listened with rapt attention. I had never heard these stories before. I also knew the stories blended words of perfect facts and poetic knowledge, which is exactly why they matter so much to me, and I'm sharing them straight up here.
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As I listen to stories and words of my elders, the logistics of doctor's appointments, PT appointments, meal times, and blood tests is beginning to fall away. The true meaning of their lives, and the poetic and creative sensibilities that guided their soul's decisions flies above the surface like birds in the wind. And yes, we still take care of the practical stuff too. But the stories are better.
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Perhaps below I can put together a tidy little stack of understanding for you to read and enjoy the connections between catacombs and newspapers as much as I do. Here goes this Tuesday Morning. Skim as you will....
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Loving Leos Lately
Then this week, Pope Leo XIV continued his discussion about how humanity needs artists in this time of AI and algorithms [read the piece]. I agree, and have been working on my own personal, quiet resistance from the mechanistic ways of grabbing, hoarding, and directing human attention for years.
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I do this by building a SymbolWork library that serves as personal tarot deck, alphabet, color swatch book, and memory keeper of my soul. Each drawing is atop a photo of a place I went and communed with nature (see one such set above and below or swipe left on any Instagram post).
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These pieces mark a moment my attention was arrested by nature or daily life. Later, like digital graffiti, I find a way to "tag" the time and place by using markup tools, but without actually disturbing the space.*
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I know as I get older, I'll be able to look at these pieces and remember how I felt, how my soul was growing, what was happening as I found ways to climb back up to the field of life to play in the green grass yet another day.
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What I mean by that, is I'm also working at proper "contracted jobs" again, and I'll continue this work, because it's my true calling.
I know a huge number of my readership are creative people, and I acknowledge the value of bringing your work into form, and sharing it widely. If you need a push to do more, well it's right here.
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Art connects the practical lands of roles, cash, measurements, competition, politics, gas gauging, and tools with the mysterious spaces of soul, archetypes, knowing, and nature.
The very process of creating works, is one of wholeness and daily life + soul made manifest, regardless of your medium. I hope you can tune into some elders' stories and perhaps begin laying down your own unique language to pass on to the next generation.
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With love of nature and faith in humanity,
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*Loving National Parks too, and wishing the Alt National Parks folks all the best in their saucy and important work.
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More Text & Images
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original photo for art above
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A Visual Peace: Art as Alchemy
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Creative work is alchemy. It is an honest process, that sometimes culminates something that can touch the honest places in other people too. Art, music, poetry, and stories can help others feel how a person transforms a complicated or difficult emotion into a positive one. And if you attune to a given work, you too can usually feel a touch …
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Categories: Creativity, Mommess, Research & Development, Spiritual Mechanics, Visual Art, Web Marketing, Work, Writing
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making one's own language
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Correspondence, energy, and how to gain self-awareness through making your language, your way. Actually, I'm working on more of symbol set, but that's semantics for you. This SymbolWorkTM is titled "Chef"© 2025 E Mullen Matteson @emwe_art This practice came about because of my frustration with folks not understanding each other. Mostly people not seeming to understand me. I'm pretty sure …
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Categories: Coaching, Creativity, Mommess, Spirtuality, Uncategorized, Visual Art, Work
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You received this email because you signed up here, or I thought you might find this interesting and added you to my weekly roundup of text & images. You may unsubscribe at any time at bottom. |
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In the days of AI and excessive optimization, mess is leading edge.
Some content on my site is political, some personal, much of it philosophical, and all of it meant to shine some light into the lives of my readers, because it was written to shine light into mine.
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I hope my work stirs your soul, ignites your creativity, and helps you feel connected to all the good things this life can offer. If it doesn't, please promptly forget it! This work is my soul's calling. If you find value here, please tip or consider a paid subscription.
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POLITICAL ACTION AREA: It's best to connect with your local civic groups, and show up in the ways you can. Peaceful crowd sizes matter, as does your positive energy, community spirit, and adherence to non-violence. OCTOBER 17 is the next National No Kings Day to encourage early voter turn out.
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