Sunday the 17th I turn 40 years old. November is technically my month, a time for the celebration of life, when I’m free to reflect on and rejoice in the wonders of being alive. I can hardly believe I made it this far for many reasons. There has been a lot of fight in my short life, the struggle to survive, the battle for joy ongoing. Even now, as we all stand on the precipice of the next four years, I feel myself sharpening my tired blades. Thankfully, there is so much to fight for and even if we’re exhausted it’s clear that the path ahead calls for our strength. How do we rally?
In my ability to rejoice lives my capacity to act as a champion for all I know to be good and true in this world. Even against the sharpest edge, I’m fascinated by the whole experiment of existence and ready to learn more. So, onward we go in our grief and our rage, open, awake, here for it all.
For the next two Saturdays I’ll be out at Palmer Park with Detroit Outdoors and InsideOut leading a teen writing workshop under the canopy. Last week was our first session and it was so beautiful to be together, to breathe the crisp air, sit around the fire pit and write. Listening to students read their work aloud is always the best part and this group blew my mind with their metaphors and observations. I’m looking forward to being with them again and on the 23rd it’ll be an all ages affair with donuts and cider. So if you’re in Detroit and you want to explore a place I love, please join us.
I’m excited to share that I have a piece of writing in the 2025 Many Moons planner. If you’re not familiar, "Many Moons is a comprehensive spiritual guide that combines astrology, Tarot archetypes, and other modalities to support you throughout 2025. Each New and Full Moon comes with a ritual, spell, or practice, alongside monthly overviews and specifically timed reminders and prompts. Many Moons is the only planner and guide that hosts experienced practitioners, artists, creatives, and teachers from eclectic backgrounds. You will deepen your intuition, strengthen your practice, and achieve your goals with ease."
If this is of interest to you, we’re offering a discount code for the planner. Now through December 2nd you can use this code JACQUELINE5 and take $5 off your purchase. For every sale, I get $10! I’m grateful to play a small part in the generous magic of Many Moons and am thankful to anyone who delves into the practice of yearly time with such presence. ***Learn more and order here!***
FRAME SALE! I’ve been thrifting small, cute picture frames for the last few months, stocking up for another holiday framed poem sale. If you know you’d like a framed poem please reach out ASAP as they go fast and I want to know how many to make! I can write a personalized poem for your gift or type up a poem of mine that you know you love. These go for $70 a piece and this includes US shipping. I’m looking forward to making each one by hand and shipping them out the second week of December.
On Sunday I’ll be staring at a bonfire in my backyard, grateful for the terrific tangle of life on planet earth, in awe of it all, holding on to hope and hopelessness, celebrating the many angles of this wild ride. I’m with you, moving toward the blank horizon, building the future with bright visions, trying my best.
Maybe for my birthday you’ll please consider becoming a paid subscriber? Maybe you’d like to send me a little Venmo treat? (@jacqueline-suskin) Maybe you’ll buy 40 copies of A Year in Practice for all of your friends and family? Perhaps you’ll join me in saying 40 prayers for peace? Above all else, I’m grateful you’re here and I appreciate you reading my words. What a gift it is to be anything at all.
With Love & Infinite Thanks,
Jacqueline