On the terrain of self, beauty, and flight.

Hi friends,

As we step into another summer weekend, I wanted to send a few notes from the trail—some thoughts, some art, some poetry—each inviting us deeper into the human experience.

🎙️ Podcast: The Shadow Knows
This week on Good / True / & Beautiful, I sat down with Mike Simmons—better known as Shadow Mike—to explore the murky, necessary terrain of Jungian shadow work. We talk false selves, emotional triggers, and the unexpected grace of seeing what we’ve long hidden. If you've ever felt emotionally hijacked or quietly curious about your inner world, this conversation might just be a lantern for the path.
👉 Listen to the episode

🖼️ Mark Maggiori Print Release – June 14 (today) at 9AM PST
Few painters stir me like Mark Maggiori. His bi-annual print sale launches today at 9AM PST, and if the American West lives anywhere in modern brushstrokes, it’s in his work. His ability to hold both cowboy mythology and the quiet power of Indigenous presence on the same canvas—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’ve quietly retired from goal setting, but having one of his originals would be on that list if I happen to come out of retirement. 👉 Preview the release

📚 Reading of the Week: Mary Oliver
This week I’ve been steeped in Owls and Other Fantasies by Mary Oliver. Her poems feel like sacred memos sent through feathers and field grass—delicate but undeniable. Like Mary, I’ve long felt in conversation with birds: mallards, sandhill cranes, wild turkey, owls, hawks, cardinals. They’ve always shown up when I needed them. Maybe they’ve shown up for you too. I’ve recently learned Jung referred to this as synchronicity.
👉 Explore the book
And if you’ve never heard “Wild Geese,” do yourself a favor and pause to let this in:
🎧 Listen

Until next time—

With gratitude,
Ashton