this is brilliant. i love the way that you point out the layers of misogyny and racism throughout all of it—particularly with regard to the real details of what is happening with subjects like invasive dandelions and Chumash lands. I’m going to go work on my energetics and don my white dress and stay calm for my the children i was forced to have and cannot feed… good lord almighty.
Freya, I am so glad it all came together. This series has been kind of an experiment in form. There's so much to say about the artifacts in our homes! This particular artifact has required a lot of time and writing space. Next time I might pick something that has ummmm less to say. Or just one page from the Winter catalog! lol
ha! I loved it--and I hear you, the time to be able to think, read, write pieces like that are weighty. But honestly, love that your outrage comes through as you zag between the different throughlines, playful but real. So look forward to reading the next issue!
I'm so glad you're writing this series and I have so many thoughts about it. Manifestation was not yet a thing when I was growing up, but it's easy to see how it came out of the 90s hippies doing blue green algae supplements, hypnotherapy, and Tony Robbins tapes culture I grew up in. One of my mother's catchphrases when we were upset about something as children was, "You create your own reality." We were only upset because we chose to be upset; the idea of the times was that nothing happened to you without you allowing it to be real. I feel like you can see those ideas in this, coupled with the intense focus on appearance and "lifestyle" that comes from social media.
loving this series Meg! Its reminding me a lot of some of the “growth mindset” cult stuff I’m seeing a family member of mine getting into through “Impact Theory”. I think they occasionally take advantage of their members and convince them to buy their NFTs. And there’s a tendency toward prosperity gospel with them as well.
You are so kind! Thank you! I had to leave out so much. And it was still pretty long! I really appreciate you being here for this experiment! I hope to analyze many more home-based artifacts this way in the future! An entire catalog was ambitious! Next time I'll do something that doesn't have 30 pages!
I think it’s both interesting and really valuable to examine (and question!) the cultural messages of these types of objects that are part of our every day lives. I look forward to reading more!
May 14, 2022·edited May 14, 2022Liked by Meg Conley
More ugh. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but years ago, at the urging of a family member, I attended Landmark Forum, formerly EST. It was several days with a hundred other people listening to a charismatic, energetic leader telling me to clean up my past so I could move on. It's not bad advice, making amends for past harms. I stood and offered that I could get that for free at an AA meeting. I was called a cynic and told there's always one of me in the audience. I saw the audience looking at me with pity. After, one man came up and told me that he could see I was in pain. (Pain? I had enough disposable income to drop $500 on a this seminar.) Even still, I am human and, in that room full of seekers, I wanted to belong and I began to want what that women was offering, although I can't say what, exactly, she was offering now except to encourage me to sign up for the next seminar. There was a lot of tossing out of ideas that she said she'd share if I paid for another seminar. When somebody is offering me something that is patently unattainable like success (What does that even mean?) it's easy to keep moving the bar and keep me reaching and shelling out money, like the endless layers and potions offered by the people you're writing about. SIDE NOTE: I know that you, Meg, love Christy Dawn dresses and I don't mean to disparage your taste, BUT, my sense is that Christy Dawn has created this huge, imaginative story (all brands do, I suppose) to sell clothing that is derivative and lacking in imagination or style. Without the benefit of fields and baby goats, the Peyton dress would look like a fish-out-of-water shapeless sack on me.
Meg, with every essay I just sit in awe of what happens when you see a thing and decide to start thinking about it. I learn so much from everything you write!
Jason, this is so kind! There is so much I left out, honestly. This would be a fascinating book project. Pick one catalog and write an entire book about it! I'd read that!
Such great insight, per usual! Looking forward to the next installment. I was just reading this newsletter to my partner and we were sort of reeling over the way that manifestation creates a scenario where everything a mother does is incredibly crucial, so you can never have an off day or a bad reaction or be imperfect in any way. So every single action is so important, and yet you are completely unable to have ay impact on the universe for other people. Except for your child. My partner said, "You can only affect your own *downline*."
this is brilliant. i love the way that you point out the layers of misogyny and racism throughout all of it—particularly with regard to the real details of what is happening with subjects like invasive dandelions and Chumash lands. I’m going to go work on my energetics and don my white dress and stay calm for my the children i was forced to have and cannot feed… good lord almighty.
Freya, I am so glad it all came together. This series has been kind of an experiment in form. There's so much to say about the artifacts in our homes! This particular artifact has required a lot of time and writing space. Next time I might pick something that has ummmm less to say. Or just one page from the Winter catalog! lol
ha! I loved it--and I hear you, the time to be able to think, read, write pieces like that are weighty. But honestly, love that your outrage comes through as you zag between the different throughlines, playful but real. So look forward to reading the next issue!
AH! Thank you so much!
I'm so glad you're writing this series and I have so many thoughts about it. Manifestation was not yet a thing when I was growing up, but it's easy to see how it came out of the 90s hippies doing blue green algae supplements, hypnotherapy, and Tony Robbins tapes culture I grew up in. One of my mother's catchphrases when we were upset about something as children was, "You create your own reality." We were only upset because we chose to be upset; the idea of the times was that nothing happened to you without you allowing it to be real. I feel like you can see those ideas in this, coupled with the intense focus on appearance and "lifestyle" that comes from social media.
It's so interesting how the ideas just keep getting repackaged from era to era!
loving this series Meg! Its reminding me a lot of some of the “growth mindset” cult stuff I’m seeing a family member of mine getting into through “Impact Theory”. I think they occasionally take advantage of their members and convince them to buy their NFTs. And there’s a tendency toward prosperity gospel with them as well.
Oh my gosh. I had not heard about this NFT aspect of that situation. That is really, really upsetting.
Love this! You are so skilled at weaving many threads together. Thanks for sharing
You are so kind! Thank you! I had to leave out so much. And it was still pretty long! I really appreciate you being here for this experiment! I hope to analyze many more home-based artifacts this way in the future! An entire catalog was ambitious! Next time I'll do something that doesn't have 30 pages!
I think it’s both interesting and really valuable to examine (and question!) the cultural messages of these types of objects that are part of our every day lives. I look forward to reading more!
More ugh. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but years ago, at the urging of a family member, I attended Landmark Forum, formerly EST. It was several days with a hundred other people listening to a charismatic, energetic leader telling me to clean up my past so I could move on. It's not bad advice, making amends for past harms. I stood and offered that I could get that for free at an AA meeting. I was called a cynic and told there's always one of me in the audience. I saw the audience looking at me with pity. After, one man came up and told me that he could see I was in pain. (Pain? I had enough disposable income to drop $500 on a this seminar.) Even still, I am human and, in that room full of seekers, I wanted to belong and I began to want what that women was offering, although I can't say what, exactly, she was offering now except to encourage me to sign up for the next seminar. There was a lot of tossing out of ideas that she said she'd share if I paid for another seminar. When somebody is offering me something that is patently unattainable like success (What does that even mean?) it's easy to keep moving the bar and keep me reaching and shelling out money, like the endless layers and potions offered by the people you're writing about. SIDE NOTE: I know that you, Meg, love Christy Dawn dresses and I don't mean to disparage your taste, BUT, my sense is that Christy Dawn has created this huge, imaginative story (all brands do, I suppose) to sell clothing that is derivative and lacking in imagination or style. Without the benefit of fields and baby goats, the Peyton dress would look like a fish-out-of-water shapeless sack on me.
Yes, I've totally seen this in the seminar world. "You'll understand everything THE NEXT TIME!" And I don't think you're a cynic at all!
Meg, with every essay I just sit in awe of what happens when you see a thing and decide to start thinking about it. I learn so much from everything you write!
Jason, this is so kind! There is so much I left out, honestly. This would be a fascinating book project. Pick one catalog and write an entire book about it! I'd read that!
Such great insight, per usual! Looking forward to the next installment. I was just reading this newsletter to my partner and we were sort of reeling over the way that manifestation creates a scenario where everything a mother does is incredibly crucial, so you can never have an off day or a bad reaction or be imperfect in any way. So every single action is so important, and yet you are completely unable to have ay impact on the universe for other people. Except for your child. My partner said, "You can only affect your own *downline*."
Hi Meg, has the third installment of this come out yet? I can’t find it ! Many thanks.