Creating the Athanor
Most of us are caught in the same bind. The work that pays the bills can too often feel thin, measured to the bone, yet finding time to develop what really matters seems impossible.
That constraint marks the beginning of this space.
The Athanor is named after the alchemist’s furnace: it is not about speed or spectacle, but slow fire, patience, and the chemistry of steady transformation we bring to it together.
You will find the bare bones of what I have in mind on this site. I will refine it as we go and welcome feedback on what you would like to see here.
Three things.
First, a commitment to our human strengths. Technology is useful, but it quickly becomes soulless when we let it take charge of the show. What gives our work weight is the story behind it, the struggle, the learning, the insights, and the emerging conviction.
Second, belief in what we’re doing, even if it’s half-formed. Conviction draws people more than polish.
Third, the willingness to experiment and grow in the company of others. Small groups, six or eight at a time, in open conversation, building trust, making more possible than any of us can bring about alone.
We’ll start with conversations. Not the kind weighed down by goals or metrics, but open, curious exchanges that spark the unexpected. I’ll draw threads from Outside the Walls and New Artisans here into the Athanor, so we can shape a way forward that moves us from conversations about what we might each do to doing it together.
During October, all content will be open, and each Wednesday at 5pm; the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, I’ll host a Zoom call for anyone who wants to join.
From November, a mix of free and paid content will be available, with group work requiring a modest paywall. Existing Outside the Walls and New Artisans paid subscribers will be carried over.
The first step is simple: show up, and bring some kindling.
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