Nature's Thirst Traps

to be soggy in the world.

This morning I went out for a walk in the rain for about an hour.

I knew it was coming, but I didn’t want a rain jacket or umbrella, and I didn’t want to wait for it to pass.

There’s something so intoxicating about a fully saturated Georgia spring.

And there’s something strangely rebellious about an unhurried, meandering walk while getting soaked to the bone. I made eye contact with the very few people I saw on foot, all clad in rain gear, and it sounds corny or maybe I’m reaching, but we connected in a glimmery eye flash like yeah, you and me, we’re really out here in a way no one else is out here.

It’s uncustomary to be out in the rain for long periods of time without an umbrella or without running for cover here.

I was thinking about the time I lived in Costa Rica during the wet season. Everyone is outside, everyday all day, saturated. Walking and biking, carrying home the wet groceries, carrying home the wet babies. Nary an umbrella in sight. Just wet in the world. Letting the moment soak through you.

I kept thinking that nature looks better wet. Supple and dripping.

I kept thinking about nature broadcasting a holy sensuality that we are mostly not paying attention to.

I kept thinking I might have missed this, had I elected to stay dry inside. What do we miss when we do not let the world blow through us?

This week in blind contour drawings of the present moment :

Next week you’ll see a couple things roll out of the Melissa Word Studio headquarters~

The first is a fun lil digital zine on ATTENTION! It’s free! It’s for you! It’s a culmination of research and revelations following the six month break I took from following anyone on social media earlier this year.

Then I’ll be announcing a new workshop on grief and creative practice. If you’re on the Grief Threads waiting list/email list you’ll get more vivid details, as this upcoming workshop is my current, expanded take on the Grief Threads universe. Get on in there.

Happy soaked to the bone Friday,

xoM