Welcome to Artifacts of Being

Hi there,

I’m Lucy,¹ and I’m thrilled to introduce you to Artifacts of Being—a newsletter that explores the human condition.

This is a little experiment in curation, a way of exploring the things that move us, ground us, and fill our souls. Each issue will feature five² artifacts—quotes, poems, videos, songs, practices, or works of art—that may stir a sense of connection, awe, gratitude, belonging, and lightness.

What are Artifacts?

An artifact, by formal definition, is something made by humans—an item of cultural or historical interest. To me, artifacts are pieces of content with existential weight. They offer insights for living, glimpses of transcendence, or grounding in the ordinary beauty³ of life. Sometimes, they touch on mortality and the mystery of being alive.

• Shorter forms might include quotes, poems, questions, prompts, videos, articles, songs, short films, paintings, drawings, photographs, letters, or stories.

• Longer forms could include books, movies, podcast episodes, essays, or theater pieces.

• No form is off-limits.

I’ve been collecting artifacts for years. For a long time, sharing them felt like giving myself away. Now that I’m older and wiser, I want to give myself away. Sharing artifacts is a way to externalize myself and connect with others on the questions and lessons that matter most. Much of the rest of life feels like a distraction from this sacred focus. I want to be intentional with my attention—and yours—and I think artifacts are worth⁴ paying attention to.

What to Expect

In this newsletter, I’ll share:

• Familiar classics: Think This Is Water by David Foster Wallace or Mary Oliver’s timeless poetry.

• Unexpected delights: Meditative prompts, Instagram posts, letters, or frameworks for reflection.

• Personal favorites: The books, songs, and quotes I’d hand to someone wanting to know my truest self.

This project stems from from a deeply personal place—my own questions, history, and interests—but it’ll also be collaborative. I’ve long wished that people came with an artifact bibliography (a list of the top sources that have shaped them) and now I have an excuse to ask for this. I’ll interview friends, observers, seekers, and wisdom keepers, and select pieces to share with you.

Why You Might Like It

Some of us simply like being in the kind-of-scary, in-awe, what-on-Earth-could-matter-more state of reflection on the vastness of consciousness, the universe, and the unknown. Maybe you’re like that. (If you are, I can’t promise to deliver on that feeling every time!) Or maybe you just want to…

• discover (or rediscover) pieces that center or inspire you.

• stumble on gems the Instagram algorithm isn’t sending you.

• join in a shared exploration of what it means to live deeply and authentically.

There’s no telling what might unfold. :)

The first newsletter goes out soon. Let’s look at beauty together, five pieces at a time.

Lucy

1  If we don’t know each other, I promise we don’t need any introductions to get started. But if it helps to know anything about me, let’s start with this: my favorite and most inherent activity in the world is taking in these little artifacts—think of me like a bee buzzing from flower to flower, soaking up nectar and hoping to return it elsewhere.

2  Five seems manageable. I don’t want anyone involved to have to think too hard. We’re just here to feel stuff.

3  As someone who once valued logic and science above all else, and then experienced a bunch of hardship and found little help there, I now find myself more drawn to poetry than to argument. More curious about the ineffable.

4  For those of us who seek to stretch our understanding and experience of the human condition, there are countless things worth paying attention to: self-development, psychology, philosophy, meditation, religion… time with friends, in nature, cooking, dancing, etc. In this newsletter, we will focus on a crosscutting theme—the existential beauty that can be found around any corner, that stirs awe and mystery, evokes sentimentality and longing, and produces harmony in those of us who are pulled to this tune

5  The kind of thing I’d do even if I won the lottery :)