the evolution of self

Illustrations by Ankita Singh

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”
– Joseph Campbell

Just as the universe is constantly changing, so is life.
It is curious how the universe seems to be in sync with our internal flow and opens possibilities of living life to its fullest potential. It took me a while to start believing that there is a life beyond what society tells us.

For the longest time I thought of life as a set of milestones: live up to them and you would define your success, worth, and acceptance in society. Growing up with this conditioning I went through all the expected steps and did quite well, but there was always a sense of being stuck.

Fast forward ten years into my career, I was growing more and more resentful. As a creative person I knew this was not my space. My inner voice kept telling me you are not growing. It took a lot of courage and support to break away from my conditioning and this system.

I realised it was so simple: working with my hands is my calling. This truly helps me connect with myself and my surroundings. My journey has included growing, learning, reflecting, pausing,unlearning, acceptance, and finding purpose. The urge to grow and evolve is innately human. Starting this new chapter of my life was scary and filled with struggle, but being open to reinvent and evolve, it has all felt worth it.

Change is the only constant.

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editor's note

Volume 10

contact | shadow | fringe

I’ve been reflecting on the theme for our tenth volume, a lovely milestone that coincides serendipitously with the warehouse’s tenth year, and how it feels apt for the moment we find ourselves in currently. The theme straddles a threshold. The movement from this side to the far side. It isn’t inherently accompanied by an emotion. And yet, I feel it suggests a sense of hopefulness. 

This isn’t in a vacuum but is influenced by two events that concern themselves with a tremendous threshold: our atmosphere and the expanse beyond it. I am referring to the successful flyby mission around the moon by the Artemis II and the release of the film “Project Hail Mary” (adapted from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name). These two events, coinciding in this manner, serve less as random happenstance and more as a reminder, as Carl Sagan said, “The Cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff.” A reminder that everything out there, is also everything in here. It serves as a reminder for hope that as we resume our exploration of the darkest depths of the universe, we must take that strength to step forward from our own personal shadows.

Shadows can be freeing. There is comfort in creating, expressing, and working without scrutiny or pressure or expectation. It has potential for great freedom, movement, and discovery. However, when the driving force isn’t exploration then it can be crippling and lead to paralysis. In those moments, “coincidental” events like these can be arresting and provide a sense of hope that the next step is all that matters. One step at a time soon becomes many past an imposing threshold. As we gather momentum, pressure is bound to build. It is here, with changed circumstances, that the intention must persevere. Learning the rules, allows the impact of breaking them to feel that much sweeter, but that isn’t necessary. Acting from pure instinct allows for an innate expression to present itself. It is balancing this, instinct versus experience, that proves vital to take experience into one’s stride with child-like instinct and intention.

Our focus, at imprint and G5A, on independent stories allows this freedom. It is something we work to preserve so that the experience of ten volumes and ten years, respectively, does not weigh us down but lifts us up through the shadows and into the expanse. This is not easy but it is simple. When you default to curiosity and wonder, it isn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.

We’re excited for Volume 10 and everything it will hold.