Hiraeth
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve carried a feeling of homesickness that was never tied to one place or one time. Nostalgia has always flowed through me—an ache for something I couldn’t quite name.
The words Fernweh, Cianalas, and Hiraeth were brought to my attention by the lovely folks on TikTok, and these words seem to most closely resemble the aching I have always felt.
Hiraeth (n., Welsh English, 1860–)
Deep longing for a person or thing which is absent or lost; yearning; nostalgia; homesickness.
I find it quite beautiful that the lands of Wales, Ireland, England, and Scotland—of the great Celtic tribes—had the word I was searching for. I so often wonder if it is the lands of my bones (as I am mostly of Celtic ancestry) that speak through me.
I have always tried to weave hiraeth into my art. My drawings and doodles as a child were often of imagined seaside towns, or a lonely girl with windswept hair. Perhaps this interest in another time or place comes from my grandmother who, not only a European immigrant, was deeply in love with the past—so much so that she ran an antique shop in Pacific Beach many years ago.
Or maybe this pull has just grown stronger in recent years as a kind of remedy to the constant stimuli of our modern world: short attention spans, saturated ads, synthetic music, and the ability to be reached at all times by anyone. Perhaps my soul just wants to slow down. Do you feel it too? In my painting classes I notice how much we all crave presence, and the freedom to just be—with no “productivity” required.
Making art that expresses hiraeth will likely be my devotion for life. But I also wondered if there was a more active way to sort through the feeling of longing while also involving you—my collectors and fellow dreamers who also sense a shift you can’t quite name. I thought of the lost art of letter writing and of pen pals, but I knew the time between letters would grow longer as life got busy. Then it hit me: letters and art from me to you, the old-fashioned way. Something unique to each cycle, fleeting but slower, more precious and intentional.
And so—drumroll please—
Behold The Studio Post!
I am now offering up to eight opportunities a year to receive a handcrafted parcel from me. To follow my Celtic roots and calling, these Posts will align with the Celtic fire festivals and Ancient European seasonal celebrations, beginning with what’s known as the Witches’ New Year—Samhain.
To maintain the mystery, you won’t know exactly what art is inside until it arrives at your door. But each Post will include:
a limited edition print particular to that issue,
a vinyl sticker,
a poem written by me,
and a hand addressed letter sharing the meaning behind your art mail.
For this inaugural year, the theme is In the Heavens.
If you’ve ever felt that same ache for something absent or lost, if you long for a slower, more intentional rhythm—I’d love for you to join me. Orders for the first Studio Post are open until October 12. You can order this single issue, or subscribe to journey with me through the seasons ahead.
With love and star dust,
Michaela