I’d like you to meet Human Bean, aka Li’l Bean.
Li’l Bean is a pint-sized philosopher and muse who appeared on my page as I attempted to draw my way out of depression in 2023.
I’ve found solace and joy in bringing Li’l Bean to life. Sometimes, Li’l Bean is simply a playful escape from the weight of reality. Other times, they become a vessel for processing profound grief or wrestling with the chaos of a world in crisis.
After six months of drawing Li’l Bean as a self healing tool, I’ve decided Li’l Bean isn't just here for me; they're here for you too. If you ever feel like the world's too much to handle, like things are messy and overwhelming, Li’l Bean gets it. They're a friendly reminder that we're all in this together.
I hope you will join us for reflection, curiosity, imagination and glimmers—a journey that happens here twice a week.
In the comments section, we can harness our collective imagination to cope with the hard stuff, share perspectives and pose more beautiful questions to envision better ways forward.
The future, after all, is not predetermined; it's a tapestry woven from the threads of our present moments. We each have something valuable and beautiful to offer.
What can we do now to cultivate wholeness, joy, and vitality? How can we seek out goodness and inspire it in others despite the chaos? How do we build a life we love while helping to build a world we want to live in?
Li’l Bean is here to remind us that even in the darkest times, there is a spark, a glimmer. Let’s make a space that nurtures us and allows for joy, inspiration, and connection as we navigate 2024.
Before you subscribe (totally free!), you can get a taste of a few posts here:
Looks Peaceful Enough From Here...
“…we're the first generation of our species to be able to understand where we came from, how we got here, what we need, what we're doing, what sort of technologies we have and what future pathways are available to us.” Nate Hagens
The Pendulum
Humaning in late-stage capitalism is tricky. Do you ever feel like this? The idea for this cartoon came from a comment from the wise and inspiring Tessa Leon. She said: “At a retreat with Stephen Bachelor recently (titled ‘How to Engage with a World in Crisis’) I asked him how to decrease my sense of pendulation between hope and despair.
Art and War
The conflict in Israel and Palestine, streamed technicolour gory via our phones, is asking something new of us. Most of the world is being asked to witness and hold the reality of this horrific trauma in a direct and overwhelming way - a consequence of smartphones and social media technology.
Always laugh at farts!
Sometimes, the best medicine is a good laugh. When things are heavy, you must take every opportunity for joy! This drawing was inspired by one of my nearest and dearest letting off a ripper, resulting in at least ten minutes of giggles!
With much love,
Gillian
And your small steadfast companion,
PS. Gillian lives on a farm in SE Australia, on unceded Ngunnawal country. She runs a small heritage conservation business and wrangles three kids with her partner and two dogs. She draws in the margins of the day in an attempt to tame the chaos.
