steffie • Jun 3, 2020

‘Escape to L.A.’: Los Angeles Magazine interview

INSTAGRAM @steffienelson

Many thanks to The Library of Esoterica’s Jessic

Many thanks to The Library of Esoterica’s Jessica Hundley @jesshundley and Nic Taylor @thunderwingstudio , and Getty curator David Brafman @dabrafman , for the truly magickal afternoon with some of the most rare books (and ideas) from Manly P. Hall’s collection. The first image is an alchemical scroll from 1700; others include a diagram by Elizabethan court astrologer John Dee and a demonstration of the chemistry of certain pigments. Brafman spoke about the etymological and practical connections between color, magic, creativity and drugs, through the Greek word pharmaka, but I’m still wrapping my head around it all. We are so lucky to have resources like the @gettymuseum @philosophical_research_society and @thelibraryofesoterica here in the City of Angels ✨🔮✨

2023 coming in fresh! 🌊✨2022 was hard. And wo

2023 coming in fresh! 🌊✨2022 was hard. And wonderful. Inspiring. Transformational. Surprising. Rewarding. Brutal. Which I think makes it pretty much like life. My personal challenge as we enter this new year is to continue learning how to incorporate all the facets of my human experience into one expansive and flexible whole, so to not identify too personally with any extreme —high or low. And while this holiday season had more than its fair share of giddy good times, full of great meals, glorious nature walks, too many cookies, never enough laughter and heartfelt talks with family and dear old friends, there was also a scary trip to the hospital with my mother and the passing of a childhood friend’s mom. It all coexists, always. But right here right now I want to express my gratitude for the celebrations, the reconnections, the warmth, beauty and generosity I was lucky enough to experience from the solstice through the new year. Thanks to those who extended invitations and raised glasses, from San Pedro’s polar bear plunge to a sexy, rainy New Year’s Eve chez @kellylambstudios to a magenta-themed brunch with the artful @saturdaymorning_la ladies to a week in New York hosted by my sister and brother-in-law. Sending love to all 💖💫

Reminder: it’s all in the edit 👄In honor of t

Reminder: it’s all in the edit 👄In honor of today’s Joan Didion auction, which is currently live, I want to share a peek at @altajournal ‘s recent #Didion tribute issue, for which I interviewed costume designer @anecrabtree , authors @janellebrownie and @breteastonellis plus artist @dougaitkenworkshop and theater director Lars Jan about what she has meant to them. There are many wonderful pieces in the issue including a remembrance from @griffindunne , the full text of a commencement speech Didion gave in 1975 (quoted in the last slide), an appreciation of “Play it As it Lays” and much more. So if you lost out on those Celine sunníes (which went for $26k after a ridiculously low $400-800 estimate) click the link in my bio to get your fix ✍️ #slouchingtowardslosangeles

Daisy and I went to visit our friend Micha @michal

Daisy and I went to visit our friend Micha @michaleethomas at her cute new cabin in Idyllwild this past weekend, and I only got one picture of the three of us — accidentally taken while I was trying on a hat :) But I got lots of magnificent trees and sky, and the kitties Guadalupe and Austin enjoying the best spot in the house 🏠❤️‍🔥

Now online at @redcanarymagazine : THE ART OF REPA

Now online at @redcanarymagazine : THE ART OF REPARATION, a long-form piece about Lauren Bon and Metabolic Studio, focused on their new “Bending the River” project. I’ve been a fan of @laurenmetropolis @metabolicstudio since I first set foot in “Not A Cornfield” in 2005, and I’m grateful to my editor @joedonnellywrites — who was my editor back then, too, as it happens — for giving me the opportunity to tell this story and for wisely and gently helping me shape it. I’m also grateful to the friends who assisted along the way. And a special thanks to Red Canary, for being a voice of reason, care, growth, health, humanity, and justice. I’m proud to be a contributor. The link is in my bio, and I encourage everyone to connect with Metabolic Studio and check out their work and initiatives for yourselves!

Hi friends. I’ve been working hard on a piece ab

Hi friends. I’ve been working hard on a piece about Lauren Bon @laurenmetropolis and Metabolic Studio @metabolicstudio and their new Bending the River project. The story will be published on Monday @redcanarymagazine and in the meantime I thought I’d share a couple photos and videos from a recent visit to their site on the LA River with Andrea Martinez @scenes_of_a_human_explorer , one of the project’s construction managers. Writing this piece has been a deep learning experience and I’m excited to share some of the knowledge, wisdom and history that was imparted to me 💙

Hello friends! Please join us for a magical evenin

Hello friends! Please join us for a magical evening this coming WEDNESDAY SEPT 21, the first in a series of Library of Esoterica events in conjunction with The Philosophical Research Society.HEAVENLY BODIES, a documentary about the life and work of the visionary and largely unknown artist Steven Arnold @stevenarnoldarchive will be introduced by @jesshundley and Nic Taylor @thunderwingstudio of @thelibraryofesoterica . After the screening I will talk with the film’s director @vishnudass_ and @nicholaspfahey , whose @faheykleingallery is currently exhibiting THEOPHANIES, a solo show of Arnold’s work.I promise your minds will be blown by Steven Arnold's talent, spirit, and his amazing story. Scroll through for more of Arnold’s work and details about the event. Tickets available through @philosophical_research_society Hope to see you there! 💫💫💫

Thanks to the village of friends who helped us esc

Thanks to the village of friends who helped us escape the LA heatwave, we ended up here, having sunset cocktails on a sailboat named Zephyr in Oceanside. And yes, I did put Daisy in a life jacket even though the boat was docked, because how could I not? 😻💖⛵️ @jessicatrentpr @alicialawhonrealestate @juliedeanda 💋🙏🌅

Friends and co-conspirators for many years. Love o

Friends and co-conspirators for many years. Love our bagel tawks my fellow New Yorker @tavinboutique 🌺💗🥯

A little taste of the Maui wowee 💙 What a spect

A little taste of the Maui wowee 💙 What a spectacular place, and a dream host and guide in @plumarita 🙏🌈🪶✨

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