The Quiet Horizon
an invitation
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of time—how it moves, how it feels, how it slips through my fingers, and how I relate to it in my daily life, sometimes even wasting it on things that do not matter to me at all. Maybe it’s the season, or the turning of another year, maybe it’s the birthdays, my own and of those whom I love, that just keep coming, but I’ve felt a pull toward slowing down, looking closer, and asking the questions that linger quietly beneath everything: What really matters? How can we show up to our lives more fully, with creativity and presence?
I’ve been having these thoughts because, truthfully, I’ve felt how easy it is to let life slip by unnoticed, to be swept along in the busyness. I’ve been lying awake thinking of all the big dream kinds of things I have longed to do, artistically and otherwise, knowing in reality they will most likely never happen. And yet, I believe there’s a kind of beauty that reveals itself when we stop and consider those unmet dreams, when we pay attention to the truth of our real life, and when we allow ourselves to sink into the depth of the moment right where we are. We all know this, but do we really claim it as our daily practice?
This is why I’m creating a new workshop, for anyone who wishes to join me, called The Quiet Horizon. I’ve named it this because I feel it beautifully reflects my longing for what won’t be by embracing the duality of presence and absence, fulfilment and yearning, that defines what is true and real today, in my very own quiet and humble, ordinary life.
The Quiet
The word quiet symbolises stillness and reflection but also evokes the absence of sound—a metaphor for loss or the things that can no longer be. It mirrors the delicate ache of longing, where I can sit with what isn’t and allow myself to feel the spaces left behind by dreams, experiences, or possibilities that will not come to pass, while making more space for the reality of what “is.”
The Horizon
The horizon is a boundary, a line we can see but never reach. It represents the infinite potential of what could be, as well as the inevitability of what will not be, or ceases to be. This paradox aligns with soothing my longing for what lies just out of reach while finding peace in the beauty of what is.
“Quiet Horizon” encapsulates this: the horizon is never fixed, never fully knowable, just as life is never complete. It reflects the imperfect, impermanent nature of existence—and my longing for the intangible, the unfulfilled, and the ephemeral. This is so true of my artistic dreams as well. Why I feel like I just never reach my potential of what could be, if I only just did…xyz, or had xzy. I imagine that you know this feeling, too, in your own way.
“Quiet Horizon” doesn’t resolve the longing; instead, it holds it gently, like a delicate bird. It creates space for us to sit with own yearning for what won’t be, finding solace and beauty in that bittersweet truth, and in the reality of what is.
Now about the workshop:
It will be an ongoing exploration of authentic creativity, reality of the present moment, and the art of slowing down—of going deeper, not wider, in our creative lives.
Here’s what you can expect if you decide to join me:
• Gentle intentions inspired by my daily morning reflections, prompts to guide your creativity, and simple reflections to bring you back to yourself.
• Videos: A space where I’ll share ideas and thoughts on themes like presence, deep time, and the beauty of the ordinary, and coming to our own voice in our creative practice.
• Suggesting Reading Lists: Books that I have found invaluable in the past few years when exploring my own creative practice and life.
• Zoom Gatherings: An opportunity to meet as a group, reflect on what we are discovering and find connection. We will have break-out rooms to work with a random group of fellow participants for more intimate conversations. These gatherings will be recorded for sharing with those who could not attend, but break out room experiences will not be recorded, for privacy.
The heart of this workshop is not about doing more—it’s about being with yourself, your creative work, and your life in a way that feels honest, and nourishing. It’s about learning to work with the time we are given and the reality of our lives in a more accepting and fulfilling way. My hope is to create an experience that feels like a pause—a place to breathe, reflect, and create without pressure or judgment. I ask that you bring curiosity and an open mind and heart. All of the exercises and projects I suggest are only offerings. You can pick and choose what you are drawn to, or have time for.
If this speaks to you, I would love to have you with me. The portal for this course will be on Patreon as a gift to all who would like to participate. You do need to be a member of Patreon in order to access the material. There is an option to become a free member, which gives you access to Quiet Horizon, and there are other paid options if you are interested in my other teachings and art lessons, with a growing library of over 500 lessons.
The Quiet Horizon begins in January 2025.
As we go along, if this offering resonates with you and you’d like to support its continuation, I will welcome free-will offerings through sharing a link to my Ko-fi account on my posts. Your contributions will help sustain my ability to create and share things like this in these spaces, but most of all, I hope this workshop gives you a sense of calm and connection, regardless of your circumstances or ability to financially contribute. I have, many a time, been in a position where I could not financially contribute even to something I found incredibly valuable, and I know that it was in those times I could have used it the most. And besides, when we can all participate, the song is so much richer. So so much richer.
Have you ever noticed how time seems to stand still in moments of quiet beauty? Maybe it’s the way sunlight filters through the trees, or the sound of rain tapping softly on the window. These small, fleeting moments of presence have always fascinated me. They remind me that peace and beauty exist—not in some distant place—but right here, right now.
That’s the heart of The Quiet Horizon.
This project is a deeply personal exploration of the passage of time, presence, peace, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.
But more than anything, it’s a way to share these reflections with you and be in conversation.
Click here to join me on Patreon for free access to The Quiet Horizon.
Any questions? Use the comment space below, or write to me at kateri.ewing@gmail.com. Would love to hear your thoughts on this new journey. I won’t be sharing about it much more here on Substack, so I welcome your questions and thoughts here, right now.
Thank you for being here, for your trust, and for walking this creative path alongside me.
Kateri what a beautiful idea and description! I love love your imagery. I have only ever let myself Art when work was done. I feel the wast of years with that bad idea. Longing for the horizon always. Love the idea of community, this last year has left me with a much smaller very different community which as it turns out brought me back to Art.
The way you describe the horizon – a boundary both alluring and unattainable – is so thought-provoking. It's a beautiful metaphor for the human experience, always reaching for something just beyond our grasp. It makes me contemplate the nature of longing itself – is it a curse, a blessing, or perhaps, simply a part of what makes us human?