BIRTH OF OUSÌA
As a nomadic spirit I have lived and travelled around the world, and yet in the past few years I have sought grounding in the warmth of my motherland. I have been particularly called by Crete, an island rich in ancient history that is connected to the worship of the Snake Goddess and all primordial forces. Since I've lived here, I've had the opportunity to notice how the elements felt so present - it was as if they wanted to speak through me. As if they wanted me to tell their story.
I never thought that I would start to cultivate such an intimate relationship with Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Little by little, their whispers became real voices. And just like people in my life, they became more and more familiar. I started to get accustomed to them and to get a sense of their character.
I NOTICED HOW EARTH HAD SUCH A NURTURING PRESENCE, LIKE A MOTHER. HOW SHE KEPT ME ROOTED. HOW THE AIR WAS THE INTELLECTUAL WHO’D BRING MESSAGES ABOUT CHANGE AND TRANSITIONS. HOW THE FIRE WAS BOLD, FIERCE AND LIFE GIVING. HOW THE WATER WAS A GOOD LISTENER WHO COULD SUPPORT ME WHEN I WAS TUNING INTO FEELING.
I began integrating them into my life. First, it was through simple contemplation. Just noticing their presence brought a whole new meaning into how I perceived the world around me. I felt how they dominated not just the landscape but also the seasons and cycles I was living. The more I felt supported by their energy, the further I would feel encouraged to deepen my connection with them. Slowly and steadily, they became an important part of rituals and practices that I would create around them. In the meantime, I also felt inclined to begin a journey of studying and learning about how they have inspired the rest of humanity. Little by little, this journey took fruit in the form of a new endeavour: creating a book, so that I could share all this magic with more people.
I started working on the content of this book a little over a year ago, with the intention to record thoughts and observations on connecting with Earth, Air, Fire and Water - and what each of these elements felt like. Back then, I thought it would just take the form of a small publication, like a zine or leaflet of 16 pages at most. Then life took a different turn...
Over time, my study and relationship with the elements became more and more rich, with so much more to say and so much more to create. The elements influenced my art. They influenced the cycles I was living. They inspired rituals and practices, which I knew I had to share as part of this work. And so it all took a much more developed form, where I would write, document, photograph, illustrate all my observations on a regular basis. Gathering and collecting them over time - to notice that it all needed to become part of a beautiful physical manifestation.
A BOOK. A BLEND BETWEEN PERSONAL STUDY AND GUIDE TO RITUAL AND COMMUNION WITH THE ELEMENTS, CREATED TO BE SHARED.
I knew that this book needed to feel like some sort of magical guide and companion, where art blends with stories, practices and rituals. Balancing the inspiring and educational. Practical, and yet leaving a door open for personal journeys within and without. Created to inspire and to nurture the soul.
The process of designing and putting this book together was incredibly rich and full of lessons.
It was exciting to see drawings, photographs, words become interlaced together and creating a structure that allows a good flow and introduction to each Element. I am proud to say that the book has been fully designed by my partner and I - a result of our collaborative work together as a creative team. A project which we are happy to represent with our design studio, Art of Euphoria.
After running through different name ideas for the book, I ended up baptizing the book with a word that I felt very connected to.
OUSÌA.
A BEAUTIFUL ANCIENT GREEK TERM WHICH TRANSLATES TO MANY MEANINGS: THE ELEMENT, SUBSTANCE OF SOMETHING. THE MEANING AND SENSE OF IT. THE ESSENCE AND ITS TRUE NATURE.
I wasn’t sure how this book was going to come to life in practical terms. But I knew deep in my bones that it needed to be in the most authentic way possible - in a way that feels most true to my values. That meant exploring the option of self-publishing, so that I could have full creative freedom and the possibility to make intentional decisions from start to finish. Of course, this also meant that the process wasn’t going to be easy.
The first obstacle in my path was funding the production of the book. I had a clear vision of this publication being printed really beautifully and using quality materials that respect the Earth. I wanted to collaborate with a local family owned printing company - but that came with a cost. They believed in my project and suggested the idea of launching a Kickstarter Campaign.
It wasn’t at all what I had in mind, but I decided to give it a try and invest in the process. Preparing a crowdfunding campaign required a lot of work and so much preparation. Raising funds was tough and slow at first, and spreading the word required a lot of effort on a daily basis. It was a long month of hard devotion, feeling the rise of anxiety and insecurities as well as simply trusting in the process. But… it worked!
And it was one of the best things I’ve done in my life.
I AM NOW PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS BOOK REALLY DID COME TO LIFE. ALL THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF MY COMMUNITY. IT IS THE VERY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT MY WORK AND MY JOURNEY, THAT ALLOWED ME TO TURN THIS DREAM INTO A REALITY! AND FOR THAT, I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.
OUSÌA is a 104-page book, filled with art, photographs and content around connecting with the elements.
It explores the spirit of each element, sharing what they represent in nature and within the context of our lives. It allows us to see how the elements are present in Astrology, Tarot, the Seasons and Lunar Phases. It provides personal insight, rituals, invocations and affirmations to connect with each of the elements, from Earth, to Air, to Fire, to Water and of course Ether.
With this book I invite you to explore your own relationship with the elements. To tune into each of them, and to listen. To feel how they are an integral part of who you are. I hope that they will inspire your journey as much as they have inspired mine.