Story Catcher Mailbox Project

03/21/2023

Last reading at Wylde Works TODAY at 6:30 pm until 7:00pm!

Don’t miss this one and our fun little twist— Sydney and Dylan Wylde (owners of Wylde Works) will be reading the letters!

Drop yours in TODAY at 6:30 and hear your letters read out-loud. Open mic starts at 7:00 pm.

03/11/2023

coming through for the move once again! Thank you, Giffin, for being a community partner in support of this project and all the people it touches.

12/27/2022

This amazing woman has wisdom to share and deserves your follow.

Thank You for joining me here 🪷✨Here are some links:Hot water bottle with cozy cover for nightime comfort and pain relief ♥️https://amzn.to/3BLM4lQConvenien...

12/05/2022

**December 13th with special guest Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket)**

This December 13th, we will be at Wylde Works (609 State Street) honoring the voices of our community who submitted letters, along with a special guest Glenn Phillips who will be singing his song "Grief and Praise". Join us in celebrating the two sides of Love and Life in this unique way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mosSw4Hh4

There will be a reading this Tuesday, December 5th at 6:30 as well. Stop by to drop your letters!

11/29/2022

Can’t make it downtown for the first reading at ? No problem!

We’ll be broadcasting live 6:30-7:00 PST. Here’s a link to join us.

https://www.instagram.com/storycatchermailbox?upcoming_event_id=18085075090311627

11/28/2022

Thank you, John Palminteri NewsChannel 3-12, for spending time with us and featuring the Story Catcher Mailbox on your Friday night segment-- you're awesome!

We hope to see folks out for our first letter reading at Wylde Works this Tuesday at 6:30pm.

If you can't make it downtown for the reading, we invite you to watch remotely at .

As always, many thanks to the one and only Mailbox crew who made the art piece, to the heartfelt healers who held the space for letter readings, and to our community for sharing and trusting the process.

Special community support from Dylan and Sydney of Wylde Works, as well as the generosity of Giffin Equipment for helping with the move. Santa Barbara Hackerspace Inc. for offering space and equipment. AC VINTAGE DESIGNS and his stellar steady hands on the hand painted lettering.

Previous locations: The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, Summer Solstice Celebration, Aloha Beach Festival, Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture, The Granada Theatre Santa Barbara

Creators/Contributors: Danielle Siano, Mike Kent, Jonah Blossom, Tony Figuroa, Jay Plaehn, Joy Voight, Alexis Slutzky, Dawn Roh, Nicole Martel, Stan Speck, Selena Rockwell, Jena Teco, Simon Kieffer, Kathryn Barnes, Tate Larrick

11/26/2022

Featured on this evening's nightly news.

WRITE A LETTER :: DROP IT IN :: COME TO THE READING

We will be holding space for our first reading of the year at Wylde Works this Tuesday at 6:30pm

(or visit the website for a recording if you can't make it downtown Santa Barbara)
www.storycatchermailbox.com

John Palminteri NewsChannel 3-12 News Channel 3-12 Wylde Works Danielle Siano Design Danielle Siano

The Story Catcher mailbox is in downtown Santa Barbara and it is taking in letters of grief and gratitude | Read more: https://keyt.com

11/25/2022

Look for a snippet about the Story Catcher Mailbox Project on tonight’s evening news.

Here’s a sneak peak of John Palminteri NewsChannel 3-12 and crew interviewing artists Danielle Siano and Mike Kent. Here, Danielle is shown reading a letter of grief which was submitted with love and tenderness at its newest location.

Connect with yourself and write your letter of grief or of praise and drop it in the Mailbox.

Our first reading of the year will be held next Tuesday, November 29th at 6:30pm at 609 State Street in Santa Barbara. Stay for the wildly popular “open mic night” at Wylde Works at 7:00pm.

We’ll be holding space for weekly readings through the holidays for the month of December every Tuesday at 6:30pm, and once a month in the new year.

It is our hope that this project serve those who need it most and act as a beacon of light, community, and healing through this winter season. Blessings and peace to all.

11/02/2022

Story Catcher Mailbox is out in the world!

Wylde Works, 609 State Street, downtown Santa Barbara

Write a letter :: Drop it in :: Come to the reading

10/29/2022

Making friends with Dylan, Sam and Webrandis from at 609 State Street.

So grateful that stepped up as a community sponsor, kindly donating this truck so that the Mailbox can safely make it’s way to it’s new home on State Street and Cota in downtown Santa Barbara.

And the generosity of friends willing to open their arms and their hearts in support of another’s dreams. Wouldn’t have happened without the generosity of these kind-hearted folks.

Moving day, bringing the Mailbox out into the world once again. Come visit it. Drop a letter of grief and a letter of praise. Release it to be read in support and community.

Gratitude for this season of friends and the time and dedication of past season’s support. We are all a collection of the past that we bring with us to our today.

Blessings on this day.

09/18/2022

YOU DON’T JUST LOSE SOMEONE ONCE

You lose them over and over,
sometimes many times a day.
When the loss, momentarily forgotten,
creeps up,
and attacks you from behind.
Fresh waves of grief as the realisation hits home,
they are gone.
Again.

You don’t just lose someone once,
you lose them every time you open your eyes to a new dawn,
and as you awaken,
so does your memory,
so does the jolting bolt of lightning that rips into your heart,
they are gone.
Again.

Losing someone is a journey,
not a one-off.
There is no end to the loss,
there is only a learned skill on how to stay afloat,
when it washes over.

Be kind to those who are sailing this stormy sea,
they have a journey ahead of them,
and a daily shock to the system each time they realise,
they are gone,
Again.

You don’t just lose someone once,
you lose them every day,

for a lifetime.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘I wish I knew’ https://amzn.to/3JVMJlZ

Art by Kenneth Crane

12/30/2021

Sis, the inability to receive support from others is a trauma response.

Your “I don’t need anyone, I’ll just do it all myself” conditioning is a survival tactic. You needed it to shield your tender heart from abuse, neglect, betrayal, and disappointment from those who could not or would not be there for you.

From the parent who was absent by choice or by the circumstance of working three jobs to feed and house you.

From the lovers who offered sexual intimacy but no offered no safe haven that honored your heart.

From the friendships that always took more than they gave.

From all the situations when someone told you “we’re in this together” then abandoned you, leaving you to pick up the pieces when isht got real, leaving you to handle your part and their part, too.

From the lies. The betrayals.

You learned along the way that you just couldn’t really trust people. Or that you could trust people, but only up to a certain point.

Ultra-independence is a *trust issue.*

You learned: if I don’t put myself in a situation where I rely on someone, I won’t have to be disappointed when they don’t show up for me, or when they drop the ball... because they will always drop the ball sooner or later, right?

You may even have been intentionally taught this protection strategy by generations of hurt women who came before you.

Ultra-independence is a preemptive strike against heartbreak.

So, you don’t trust anyone.

And you don’t trust yourself, either, to choose people.

To trust is to hope, to trust is vulnerability.

“Never again,” you vowed.

But no matter how you dress it up and display it proudly to make it seem like this level of independence is what you always wanted to be, in truth it’s your wounded, scarred, broken heart behind a protective brick wall.

Impenetrable. Nothing gets in. No hurt gets in. But no love gets in either.

Fortresses and armor are for those in battle, or who believe the battle is coming.

It’s trauma response.

The good news is trauma that is acknowledged is trauma that can be healed.

You are worthy of having support.
You are worthy of having true partnership.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of having your heart held.
You are worthy to be adored.
You are worthy to be cherished.

You are worthy to have someone say, “You rest. I got this.” And actually deliver on that promise.

You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy to receive.
You are worthy.
Worthy, sis.
You are worthy.

You don’t have to earn it.
You don’t have to prove it.
You don’t have to bargain for it.
You don’t have to beg for it.

You are worthy.
Worthy.

Simply because you exist.

I love you. 🧡~J.

~ Jamila White, Psychic & Life Coach
IG:
www.inspiredjamila.com

Art by Lucy Campbell
www.lupiart.com