The Shape of Things to Come and in the moment.

By Sheila Lewis @creatingwritenow Oct 20, 2025

As a non-linear, visual thinker and writer, I haven’t introduced why I post what I do. Substack asks (subtly) that we think, shape, and post content of interest & inspiration. Because I teach contemplative meditation and writing (and recreate 40+ years of learning experiences that might save you time) I offer open-ended themes and pretty pictures to focus the eye on the moment and its expansion in the hope of softening the collision of what I/we see inside (dreams, ideas, imagery) with harsh outer reality. You may notice the absence of people or faces. This is deliberate, to protect privacy, and invite imagination as we look at the back of someone’s jacket, stroller, or dog. Who are they? This challenge is fun in New York City, where people cram into cafes, dogs overrun the parks, and toddlers are wheeled along with their tiny fake phones.

I blurred or avoided faces in this week’s shape photos. Until today, when I spotted one of my favorite TV shows being filmed across Amsterdam Avenue. Like any cool New Yorker, I took a casual stance. Until I saw two FB stars, “AO” and “Maggie.” Yes, I swooned. And sneaked. I went for the chase, the face, of the distinctly tall and handsome AO and back of the pony-tailed Maggie. I will not publish these photos as I don’t want the FBI coming after me; I am not that nervy. But it was a moment, my quiet routine upended by star power. And with FBI on my blocks, I felt weirdly safe in the blend of reality with shouts of “cut” over cautious inner whispers of “beware,” the usual mantra of my walks on urban streets. Thanks for reading Creatingwritenow! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In offering Monday moments of creative contemplation, I recommend walking on alternate sides of the street, staring, one eye on bikers whizzing by, another at the stars crossing your path, and all the shapes between them. Share what you see.

For information about contemplative meditation classes (on Zoom and walks) and meditate-write-now writing classes, coaching & editing, etc. contact me at: Creatingwritenow@gmail.com. Free trial class or meeting. Thank you! Sheila

Finally, a shout-out for superb Substack mentor/teacher, Melissa Rosati’s “The Signal & the Spiral.” Please find her Substack and subscribe. And find Celine Keating (a reliable Re-stacker, which I will learn soon, who offers gorgeous photos and writing). Thanks for reading Creatingwritenow! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Write to me at Creatingwritenow@gmail.com for classes & one free consult, writing, or meditation class.