Soft heart syd

i posted a new poem with some added courage from miss moon 🌕♑️

you can read and/or listen to that at substack.softheartsyd.com 💗

i’m also working on this painting yet again, i’m determined to finish her this time! enjoy the full moon energy y’all, don’t forget to drink water and be gentle with your sweet self.

there is still an active gen0cide taking place in Gaza!! p@lestinians have no access to food, aid, medical care—they are being starved and suffering from f@mine. the b0mbing has not stopped!!!

if you’re looking for ways to use your voice, power, and any level of privilege you hold, go to https://ceasefiretoday.com for a whole list of different actions. we all have a part to play in this system working for collective change, collective peace, collective LIFE.

and if nothing else, make art. share it. use your voice and expression to remind people everyday that p@lestinians deserve to live and thrive and breathe, to exist on their ancestral land!!!

“pointless”—an existential poem for these existentially chaotic times ❤️‍🔥🫠

to be transparent, this week has been tougher than usual. between the interpersonal, collective, and intrapsychic tensions, everything has been feeling a bit pointless. but creating art and writing poetry makes me feel alive—and that, in and of itself, is deeply valuable. i’m reminded every day that our creativity and expression is an act of resistance. it’s never pointless to connect with your inner fire.

i wrote a poem that helped me shift my perspective, i’m sharing it with yall despite a part of me screaming not to!

this still life of floating oranges felt resonant with the words that came through. this oil pastel is based on a photograph by the underwater still life photographer Tamara Dean 🍊💙

read the full poem and some reflections on my substack, softheartsyd.substack.com or find it in the 🔗🔗 in my bio!

and, to the folks supporting me over there—my heart is SO full of gratitude. y’all are glimmers in my life!! ❤️‍🔥

i shared a new poem on soft alchemy of self 💗

this one’s a quick read. i feel like i’ve been inundated with words so i kept this one short!

read the poem, and some brief reflections, on my substack, softheartsyd.substack.com or used the 🔗🔗🔗 in my b10 !!

ps. all my writing is accessible for fr33, and subscribing makes sure you never miss a post! 💗

pss. out getting ribs is my current grief song, something about this melody just makes me CRY and brings so much relief to my nervous system and body. plus it’s nostalgic as hell, bringing me back to late high school/early college. life is bittersweet yall! im embracing the ebbs and flows, taking deeper breaths (when i can remember, lol).

i’m crying at my easel this morning while listening to bernie’s speech from last night. if you’re feeling a similar despair, i highly recommend watching (i shared a clip from the ladder part of the video). it sparked the tiniest bit of hope in me, a reminder and a knowing that there are leaders in our communities that CARE about us. and he’s not the only one—every time i see rep. jasmine crockett speak, i can feel my inner fire start coming back to life. rashida talib has been an unwavering source of hope over the past 16 months seeing the g3n0c1d3 in g@z@ unfold live on phones.

gratitude upon gratitude to the folks who refuse to comply with our present “leadership,” and do so LOUDLY.

i’m sending love to yall. try to nourish your bodies—with food, with love, with the permission and space to grieve. whatever nourishment looks like for you today. make art, listen to music, call a loved one and tell them how you’re really truly doing. take care of yourself and each other.

enjoy some work in progress photos of this painting, some memes, and some kitties ❣️❣️❣️