This is my first tangible artistic work of intuitive scholarship. I enter every engagement with life as a scholar and a practitioner, which allows me to fail and enter different portals of curiosity through my mistakes. Scholarship engages my mind and intuition engages my soul. I am forever learning how these concepts dance with each other, and what I glean as I observe. Do I dare to cut in?

In June 2021, I opened www.bynkem.co as a home for me to ground into while I traveled through countries as a nomad. I made a decision to learn what my authentic writing voice sounded like, having spent 9 years of my life by that point committed to teaching, coaching, and supporting others in their own writing journeys. June 2021 marked a moment of “I am going to apply this wealth of knowledge to myself and my artistic circumstances.” I started sharing poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction essays, and experimental writing in the Words section of my website. My writing needed a home where others could follow along on my journey of self-discovery and written self-expression. It has always been important to me to connect with other writers to inspire and hold me with their words in this same way.

Since June 2021, through the small first steps of sharing my writing and moving through feelings of fear and misunderstanding about my authentic voice, I have come to learn and appreciate this authentic voice. I came to befriend and respect the sage writer within me. I came to believe that my inner experiences, translated into written word, are not only valuable, but necessary to contribute to the global context. I came to accept the responsibility of my voice.

And this is just the beginning.

Poetry and the immediate: A collection of sensed spaces is a collation of poems that have molded me, held me, instructed me, and healed me as I have transformed from a previous version of myself into who I am today as a dedicated student and teacher of Life and Love. My prayer is that this book will welcome, hold, encourage, and inspire you as you continue your own complex and unique journey of life.

What is your own inner voice saying? What wisdom is emerging?

What has your external reality shown you about your interior world?

How can you tell your own story in a way that honors your authentic beauty?

Keep these questions in the air as you engage with my book. Keep this book with you as a companion, and buy an extra copy for a special soul you know. Thank you so much for supporting my journey and my artwork. It is my pleasure to support you along your creative journey as well, so be in touch with me to keep this collective fire burning!

Contact me as well if you would like to order this book in bulk for your classroom, writing group, or community.

When you get your copy, take a photo and tag me on Instagram, @naturallyfree123 and/or @bynkem so I can share the Love!

Be blessed,

Nkem