WHELMED

What an absolute whirlwind these past three months have been. I've started this post so many times in my head, especially in the past month - both while I am on the road (soooo much driving) and enjoying the peace and quiet of my current mountain cabin abode.

I was going to title this post "Weird Little Interlude" because that's what this time of life feels like, and I find it helps to name and romanticize even mundane and difficult things, if possible. But "Whelmed" is the name I chose a long while ago - along with the random picture of my daughter's past imaginative play - and given what is going on in my life, and in the cosmos (if you are at all intrigued by astrology, check out Chani's Weekly Readings - this week was 🔥) - it's a good time to re-visit past memories and times of life. Taking stock and catching up, and giving ourselves time to reflect, clear, and make space for new things.

my backyard 💗

On that note, it's been a huge week as I said goodbye to my studio/therapy space after nine years renting at the wonderful Langham Cultural Centre in Kaslo. This space has been many things over the years, and hope to lots of creativity and growth -  I'm sad to let it go even as I acknowledge it is the next step in the evolution of my private practice, Fireside Art Therapy, and my life in general. I'm calling in the next right thing!

ON THE ROAD

Since I landed back in Canada at the very end of March, I have:

• realized camping for the summer is harder than it sounds, even in a beautiful location like this:

Lost Ledge near Kaslo

• had so many lucky opportunities arise, like renting a tiny cabin in a (mostly) quiet wooded area near a gorgeous creek, working as a "toad surveyor" in the middle of nowhere (stories about this are forthcoming), meeting a whole new crew of kids with the after-school program in Revelstoke, and overall having so much generosity and support flowing towards me as I flail somewhat through this transitional time of life

tiny house for now 🙏

• had the absolute joy of spending time with my young adult daughter as she dips in and out of the Kaslo area - her summer of training as a paramedic (the final steps) has begun!

• made it North to a beautiful festival in Wells, BC and met lovely humans making art and music (and honestly, magic) happen in so many ways

• dealt with tough days where I've longed for a settled home, struggled with inconsistent "odd job" type work, questioned life choices, had car troubles, and gone to bed (and/or woken up) thinking WTF am I doing?!

• re-discovered the magic and wisdom of Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes - my third time reading it, and I'm always finding new gems. Also reviving my art-and-nature based book study program, Wolf Medicine, where we take on this book in community, one chapter at a time: check it out if that intrigues you 🐺

new work crew with the Revelstoke After-School Society

so many gorgeous places - Revelstoke, BC

• been reminded time and time again (especially after those darker days, it seems) that there is hope and creativity and beauty and help out there (and inside ourselves); so many good people striving to do good things, big and small

• revelled in the breathtaking beauty of my surroundings - every spring I am convinced that it actually is my favourite season. Tulips, lilacs, peonies AND lupins?! Seriously.

Eowyn with her PCP program instructors, and Binx 😍

this photo really wanted to be included
(my dear Mum, gone 23 years this October, with me in 1990)

Elscriv performing at ArtsWells, June 2026

Beautiful, buggy, vibrant Wells, BC

WHELMED...

• that quality of being full, engaged, awake and (perhaps) busy -- but it feels like "enough" rather than too much, and you can actually say so (to yourself and to others)...this takes important awareness and boundary work, and self-care, and also a state of being I am always striving for (though I tend to live in overwhelm more often lol)

peaceful Kaslo at dusk

•  a beautiful fumbling blend of intake (all the content we consume) and output (creative and otherwise), a learning process, an ongoing unfolding of Self in relationship with the Earth and others. If you've read this far, thank you for seeing me here in this space, where I intend to show up and express myself, in part because it's scary, and a growth edge for me, and in part because it's one of those gut feelings you just need to act on, sometimes, without questioning it too much

• I have long had a book project in mind that centres on this theme - what is there between "overwhelmed" and "underwhelmed"? Can we just be "whelmed"? I'm not sure if this will be another collection of poetry or some kind of interactive project where I seek submissions of all kinds for a fantastical multi-media work exploring WHELM. Time will tell...

Blessings on whatever state of "whelmed" you find yourself in - I'd love to hear what is inspiring you lately (in the comments!)

xo, Christine

another way to tend the inner fire, lol
(Eowyn "building a fire" inside our Blockhouse, NS home, 2011)