This Substack is a year old. “Feeling Broken?” appeared last year, but here we are, still feeling crushed and incredulous about our country’s descent into increased state-sanctioned violence and authoritarianism. I feel crappy every morning I read the news, but I’m determined to find even a sliver of hope. Perhaps revisiting this post will inspire you too.

So much seems upside down and inside out.

I’d love to sage the sh*t outta our country, smudging away bad energy.

Or visit a magical place devoted to renewal and resilience.

A place like Philadelphia’s Magic Garden (PMG), an immersive mixed-media art environment featuring mosaics by Isaiah Zagar.

The backstory: the artist began creating mosaics as therapy during a mental health crisis.

Smashing tiles, plates, mirrors, then repurposing the broken bits into art on derelict buildings on Philly’s South Street. Zagar’s work transformed both him and his neighborhood.

Consider the photo below from Philadelphia’s Magic Garden which depicts a tan ear-like blob imprinted with the word “Magic.”

What’s it mean?

The mosaics invite us to pause, to consider, to rethink, to step back from the minutiae, to appreciate what makes it and us whole.

Zagar’s murals inspired my recent flash story “Broken” which describes a narrator wondering how to proceed after a storm damages her home, leaving her paralyzed by personal loss.

Arguably, the house could represent our country, implying that we must determine how to pick ourselves up as we view the purposeful destruction of our country’s institutions.

We too can create, like Zagar did, as a means to survive this collective mess.

Whether we produce words, collages, meals, music, or mosaics, the act of generating something original is an act of defiance.

The magic is within us; it ignites when we share, working together. My hope is to inspire others to search for meaningful ways to create and connect, so we can pick up the broken pieces, rebuild and heal both ourselves and our communities.

What are your thoughts?

Leave a comment