On Stretching Into Corners
n°12: How I've missed you, how I’m converting the studio and what’s to come
I’ve missed you, friends! I’m back with a quick update…
I’m making some renovations to the studio, starting with converting it into an eponymous space: Milan Shimono.
Some of you have asked what’s behind the name? “Shimono” is a Japanese surname, the name of my family crest, and it means “the valley between two hills.” It is a lower plain, a rich and fertile land, where rainwater collects after traveling from the higher ground. It’s a beautiful place of rest and gathering. I call this “the in-between” and it’s very much where I like to live.
Milan Shimono will remain as a place of exploration. I’ll continue to approach this space as a creative studio. It will still be my voice writing — and sometimes speaking — to you, sometimes in open dialogue with fellow studio mates. I’ll still have conversations related to being a bit messy in the creative process. The main difference is that it will start with me.
This shift, renaming Studio Shimono to Milan Shimono, is the first of many shifts in my process. I will be my own creative experiment in aligning my vision, my desires, my purpose, my work, and my community. I hesitate to declare exactly what’s to come, leaving room for intuition to guide the way, but I do know that I feel called to bring my spirituality to light. For me, this looks like:
offerings of soul readings and circles
home-cooking and nourishment
love and intimacy
daily life
My core intention is to show up here authentically, to shed light on my learnings as they become clearer. When I share, I know I will sometimes feel powerful and confident, other times I know I will be covering my eyes, wrangling my fears to the ground. I just know that if I truly want to invite you into being a human in progress, I must go first.
If this interests you, wonderful. I do hope you’ll follow along! Next time you hear from me, I’ll have some new branding in place.
I’ve been here before
I’m rolling around in this familiar room, Really filling it out this time. Owning the floor, looking into every crevice. Pushing the backs of my thighs and the sides of my arms Into every square inch of carpet. I am filling the space within, too. Tears fill my eyes, pushing over the rim Hovering on my bottom lid for a moment Before they drop. “It’s all too much”, I used to say Just before I quit and turned around. This time, it’s just enough. This time, I say, “Let’s keep going”.
I have been here.
I haven’t gone anywhere And yet everything thing feels new. I’m breaking things apart And laying all my parts onto the floor, Pointing to one bit at a time, noting observations.
This, I know. This, I don’t. This, I really want to keep. This, I am so ready to let go of.
Turn up that music. Let’s get to work. I am here.
To stepping into the light even more,
✨ Milan ✨