series

appreciation of/to self

| Sheree

When we can acknowledge

ourselves often, and with sincere

appreciation, we feel so much

better. All too often we are

focusing on what we haven’t

done or where we went wrong,

as all humans have a negative

bias wired into us. It helps us to

avoid things that are not good

for us, but it can also be sticky,

like glue – holding us in the

negative feedback loops that

cause us to feel worse and worse

about ourselves.

By taking time to acknowledge ourselves for what we have done, we recognize that we’re more capable than we thought, we’re doing more than we were aware of, and we’re making incremental progress in our skill building. When we allow a space for positive thoughts and feelings, we find we feel more encouraged and forward

movement is inevitable from that place. Some days showing up for your creative work is all that you can do, and that is enough and worth acknowledging.

– Cheryl Taves

The verdict is in about the word of the year, 2026

| Sheree
Damon Davis and Kiki Salem

If you’ve been around here for a few years then you’ll know that I choose a word each year to act as a guiding source for the year ahead.

I hold this word lightly as a beacon to support my movement through the year as I navigate through society, this world, with the ebb and flow of commitments, responsibilities, projects and inspirations. 

Last year, fugitivity took hold of me and kept me refusing those things that have already been refused of me throughout the year. 

Fugitivity and visual journaling went hand in hand in 2025 to the point that I was able to create a loophole of retreat, a space of freedom and play for most of 2025. No doubt fugitivity is changing my life and remains in my rucksack as I traverse into 2026. The year of the horse ( more on that later).

So what is my word of 2026? 

Usually I have something chosen at the back end of Oct moving into November. It just comes to me, lands and takes up root as something that just feels right. And something I want to carry for a year or more and explore.

That didn’t happen this year. 

I had the feeling of being ‘unapologetic’ to the max but that felt, as a word, so dated. I feel it has been co-opted by mainstream and capitalist culture that to hear it now feel so twee for me. It’s original radical power being neutered.

Then we had radicale ( with an ‘e’) meaning to get to the basic root of something. Its natural origin. It’s fundamental and essential, changing from the roots. As well as radical being judged as unconventional, pushing things to the limits.

But again this word didn’t sit well within my gut. I wasn’t feeling it.

For me my word of the year has to be embrewed with feelings as well as be able to stand the test of time, the year and beyond, as well as act as talisman, inspiration and haven. Words of the past has included voice, water, shakti, open, listen, love etc. 

I have a tall ask for my word of the year but none of my words of the year so far has let me down. I suppose it’s a difficult act to follow after fugitivity as this practice has changed my life in so many ways.

But choose a word of the year I will because after so long in this practice, I would feel naked walking into 2026 without some word(s) at my back as support and/both motivator.

I’m making the commitment here now to go with – AfroSurreal – as my words of 2026.

Of course AfroSurreal is much more than a word it’s a whole artist and literary movement which blends the weird and absurd with the reality of blackness. That the reality of blackness, being black today is  surreal. 

AfroSurreal is  also a way of {BEING} that roots me further into the RIGHT NOW. Creating the future that has to happen right now. 

I’ll be exploring more and sharing about AfroSurreal over the next couple of days to get my basis understanding and direction down. And then look out for more posts about how I’m moving and shaking with AfroSurreal(ism) for the coming year.

I’m excited to see where this word will take me. A good sign if any that I’m chosen the right word ( movement) for 2026. 

pink frosting and all things nice

| Sheree

you can not say i did not give generously.

you can not say i did not give openly.

you can not say i did not give my truth.

you can not say i did not give my care.

you can not say i did not give my sweetness.

you can say though, i did not take your shit.

you can say i did not take your childish ways.

you can say i did not take your attention or care

and i most definitely did not take you heart.

peony practice

| Sheree

peony, oxeye daisy, foliage and rose.

i practice their names like i practice how to breathe

without you. i smell you still upon the covers, upon my skin.

citrus, moss and burnt wood. your magic seeped under

my skin into the blood. hypnotising my senses and made

me light, made me forgetful and soft. no regrets.

i only wish, i had kept my eyes open in order to see your guise slip

like a big blousy peony petal to the earth.

the orange fish is softer and warmer than you

| Sheree

let me embrace the orange fish. the orange fish compliments my dress.

compliments my wanting lips and heart, much better, much softer than you.

as i hold my heart in haste and protection, let me embrace something that is willing

more open to my grace than you. i thought i made myself clear, i’m not here to

stare into cold glass eyes, twisted thoughts and warps hands and heart.

let the wind blow through my hair and take all promises of you away too.

the rooms may be empty but this orange fish will make me warmer,

the sweetness is ruined

| Sheree

stuck in the dark, you ruminate over what went wrong.

did you give too much in too little time?

did you show your soul too soon, too full?

stop. you will never know his being, his concealment.

his omission. grieve if you must. but it is his loss.

you are still full, still sweet, still in control

of the cake, the knife, your heart.

sacred love

| Sheree

listen to your heart. allow the serpent to wrap itself around you.

there’s danger yes, risk. but also joy and pleasure to have.

let go, don’t hold on to tight. let the apples fall where they fall.

just savour the h=juicy connection, the meeting of bodies and mind.

be your full self. it is them who cannot not handle your full heart.

the rot is theirs not yours.

affairs of the heart

| Sheree

i enter the arena on my own terms

looking for what, i do not know

but I’m open and caring, wise and full

the reveal i did not see coming, the betray

harsh and bitter like garlic, it was his insecurities

still i’m the one pinned to the board

like a specimen, like a freak, like a crushed butterfly