The Mettanoia series by Shea Pederson: An Exemplar for Loving Kindness

 

The word 'Metta' implies loving-kindness and compassion.  

Mettanoia: Mental Health & Self Care Strategies by Shea Pederson is now a 10 zine series centered around personal reflections and healing strategies for mental health and self-care.  Each zine explores different nuances of mental health and self-care along Shea's journey of self-discovery and healing.

The individual zines in the series are around about 30 pages each, filled to the brim with an eclectic mix of thoughtful essays, magical illustrations, comics, quotes, insights, and poetry. They're really quite captivating to explore, and you get drawn into their beauty. 

 

Above: Mettanoia, Volume 7

 

Above: Mettanoia, Volume 10

 

As a zine maker, you quickly realize how much work and detail has been given to these zines. They're quite unique. What might look like certain randomness to it all comes together in the most free-flowing and natural way. 

I've found just reading the Mettanoia zines has a calming effect. The series has inspired me to journal, reflect more, dig a bit deeper by approaching my thoughts, inner-struggles with more curiosity rather than judgment, and look for the tiniest snippets of beauty that sometimes present themselves in the most unexpected ways. 

 

"Self-care isn't always photo-worthy evenings of candles and baths. Sometimes it is ugly tears or yelling back. Sometimes it's a brick through a window, going back to school, or running for mayor...... it's okay to be the one with issues... it's not okay not to deal with them"—  Shea Pederson

 

Excerpt from Mettanoia Volume 7 Page. 23-24

 

The self-care zine series is honest and real. As a content note, Shea reflects on some weighty issues centered around trauma, depression, suicide, and death— albeit ever so compassionately. 

When reading these zines, if feels like your having a chat with a loving, wise friend who's got some helpful ideas to share that's helped them and might just help you with some strategies for getting through tough days too. 

 

Above: Mettanoia, Volume 5

 

Above: Mettanoia, Volume 4 

 

Its zines like Mettanoia are why I love perzines (personal zines) so much as essential artifacts to reduce stigma and raise awareness. 

The lived experiences that Shea reflects on are powerful and healing as they inspire how to treat ourselves with more compassion and empathy.  

 

The Mettanoia zines are available in the thankubody shop and range between $3.95 - $4.95 per issue.