Aryn Henning Nichols

These flower chains are perfect for manifesting spring vibes in your house (or for decorating at an early spring backyard get-together)! Give your egg cartons a whimsical second life with this fun paper project, created by the organizers of the Gays & Faes music festival.

What is Gays & Faes?

Learn more about Gays and Faes from the organizers themselves:

Gays and Faes is more than a music festival – it’s a queer dreamscape brought to life. Set on the serene acres of South Bear School in rural Decorah from May 29-31, this grassroots, DIY celebration invites attendees to step out of the ordinary and into a weekend devoted to art, community, and queer joy.

At its heart, Gays and Faes is a queer music festival built by and for queer people and their faerie friends. “Queer” is an inclusive, fluid term for anyone who falls outside of heterosexual or cisgender norms. It rejects rigid, traditional, or binary labels, such as solely “gay” or “straight,” favoring a flexible approach to identity in both sexuality and gender.

Gays and Faes centers creative expression, mutual care, and the radical act of gathering simply to exist – loudly, softly, and fully authentic. The festival features indie musicians from across the Midwest, highlighting both emerging and established artists. Genres span intimate folk, dreamy pop, gritty rock, and experimental electronic.

But music is only part of the story. Gays and Faes is a fully immersive experience, shaped by the rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and winding rivers of of the Driftless area. Forest clearings become stages, open fields invite frolicing, and onsite camping creates a temporary village beneath the stars.

The festival embraces play as a form of resistance and healing. Whimsy is encouraged through costumes, sparkles, and expansive fashion, opening up an opportunity to reconnect with imagination and delight in a world that often tells queer people to shrink themselves and their self expression. 

Gays and Faes is proudly grassroots and community driven. Built through collaboration, volunteer labor, and local support, the festival prioritizes accessibility and intentionality over scale. Art installations, interactive elements, and shared spaces are crafted with love, resourcefulness, and belief in a brighter future.

More info

Follow @gaysandfaes on instagram to see the 2026 music line-up, get tickets, become a vendor, join the volunteer team, or check out photos from previous years.

Make Your Own Flower Chains!

Supplies:

Egg cartons
Paints in colors of choice (or spray paints)
Paint brushes (if painting with brush)
Sturdy scissors
Darning needle
Thick yarn

Paint your egg cartons. Pick vibrant, flower-based colors, or go wild and do your own surrealist look!

Paint the inside, then flip the egg carton over and do the other side.

Pro tip: If you want to speed this process up (and you have the space / ability), spray paint the cartons instead!

Let your egg cartons dry and grab some sturdy scissors. First, cut out the middle knobs on the carton. 

Then separate each row down the middle and get ready to cut out each individual egg cup. 

Once you’ve cut out and separated each egg cup, you can start cutting the edges so the cups look like flowers.

Round edges seem to work well with the egg carton design. But remember, just like nature, each flower will look slightly different!

Pro tip: You can add little flower details and artistic flourishes to the flower forms, if you’d like (this is totally optional).

Grab a large darning needle and a string of your choice. Cut about 4-6 feet of string or yard. The Gays and Faes team went with a thick chartreuse yarn.

Tie a loop at the top end of the yarn (you’ll use this for hanging later), then thread the other end through the needle.

Time to assemble your flower chain! Stab the needle through the top of the flower and pull it down the yarn about three inches.

Make a knot at the bottom of this flower form to hold this cup in place.

Repeat for the remaining flower cups, spacing them along the thread. Finish your flower chain when it’s the length you desire.

After you’ve added the last knot on your last flower cup, trim excess yarn. Make as many flower chains as you like – these tend to look best in groupings.

Decorate your space with fun Flower Chain vibes!

P.S. Thanks to Blazing Star in Decorah for letting us use their sunny space to shoot this Flower Chain tutorial!

It can be a radical act to search for inspiration.

The word radical has multiple meanings. Present day, it often denotes an extreme change, but it originally derives from the Latin word, radicalis, relating to “roots,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Inspiration is defined as “the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions.”

When we put the two together, radical inspiration becomes a phrase that encourages us to explore areas in our lives that are ripe for change or movement. It’s about finding the things, big and small, that really light us up. Stopping. Noticing them. Letting them sink in. Radical inspiration can change us at our roots. 

As we enter the transition from winter to spring, there can be a lot of cold, wet, or dreary days. Inspiration sometimes feels as elusive as the sunshine hiding behind the clouds. But even then, the sun hangs in the sky – bright and warm, despite its distance. And like the sun, bright spots and inspiration are always there, if we remember how to look for them. 

Radical Inspiration for Positive Change 

Sometimes, the pursuit of inspiration can feel impossible (or even selfish), because the world we live in is so unsettled. It might seem unfair to seek inspiration while others live in fear, war, and poverty. We want to be useful, engaged, and aware; but how helpful can we be when we’re running on empty and filled with our own rage, fear, or cynicism?

Now more than ever, remaining soft, open, and inspired is a radical act. It is too easy to stay dialed in to the events of the world. Taking a pause is harder. Finding hope is harder still. If we want to stand for anything with conviction, we must first ensure we have the strength to withstand what’s ahead.

Take a moment to think of a political, religious, or even fictional hero. In many cases, before these heroes go into battle, give a speech, or lead a revolution, they take time to rest and reflect. They find a peaceful spot, free themselves of distractions, and allow their thoughts to flow as they prepare to take action for meaningful change. Just like our heroes, we are more useful to the world when we are well-rested and our minds are sharp.

The big picture today is still the same. Humanity has recovered from wars, recessions, pandemics, and natural disasters. In every instance of great devastation, we can also find stories of hope and inspiration. If we cannot see them now, it may just be time to take a step back and shift focus. 

How to Take a Pause

With all the distractions, electronics, hustle culture, and political turmoil in the world, taking a pause is a radical act of mental self-care.

Give yourself one day. An intentionally open day – free of obligations, distractions, or guilt. Cancel your plans (or plan ahead by blocking a day off) and power down the distractions. Remind yourself to let go of worry; there are very few circumstances when the world will not carry forward without your attention.

Are you afraid? The idea of doing nothing can stir up fears – boredom, loneliness, falling behind, or being forced to face the thoughts and feelings you’ve pushed aside. Those feelings and experiences are temporary, and even necessary, to find inspiration on the other side. 

Understand that boredom leads to mind-wandering. What if you just allowed yourself to follow those thoughts for a while? See where they take you. Exhale the tension from your body and settle into the quiet, and even doldrum day. Create space for new perspectives or just processing time. This is how we heal our nervous systems. 

Build “nothing days” into your calendar the same way you might schedule a doctor appointment, therapy session, or a massage. Leaving space in our plans, to-do lists, and resolutions allows us to remain open to possibility, spontaneity, and inspiration. 

Seek Pockets of Radical Inspiration Around You

What if becoming radically inspired simply means waking up each day willing to look for small glimmers of hope? Perhaps, inspiration is that pocket of warmth where we sit with a loved one, a pet, or a cup of coffee. Could it be enough that each day is blessed with one small moment of gratitude for your life because you have slowed down the pace enough to notice it? What a radical act.

What if we started seeking out other pockets of radical inspiration daily, and everywhere? As you go about your day, notice the moments that make you want to stop and linger awhile. Are there people in your life whose stories inspire you? What have they overcome to get where they are today?

The people and places that spark your interest are ripe for inspiration. Take mental note of everything that brings you joy, energy, or purpose. Ask yourself why these things light a spark within you. When we slow down our movements and open up our minds, we can find the roots of inspiration in our lives.

Become Radically Inspired by Your Past 

To become radically inspired, we can also revisit our own history, focusing on heroes and hope rather than ruminating on regrets. 

Given enough time, we tend to have perspective, knowledge, and insight that our past-selves lacked. Many of our personal failures, setbacks, and even heartbreaks become great lessons and unexpected gifts. That doesn’t mean we would wish to relive them or wouldn’t change them if given the chance, but we can often see a great deal of growth in hindsight. Give yourself a moment to marvel at everything you have withstood and overcome. 

Life can at times seem senseless and even hopeless. It is not always fair and almost never easy. Still, when we look back mindfully and intentionally, we can start to see patterns and meaning unravel. In therapy, this process is sometimes called a life review. 

In a life review, therapists help clients walk through their life chronologically. They mine for moments of gold – happy childhood memories, big accomplishments, and life lessons. They also pause and reflect on the painful and traumatic memories. The goal here is to reframe these challenges into something worthwhile. Oftentimes, patterns and themes emerge. Clients come away with a deeper sense of connection to their values – a through line that carried them forward, often without conscious awareness. 

In therapy, a life review is usually done with clients in their later years. However, it can be beneficial to reflect on our lives at any age. By looking back, we can gain greater clarity on how we want to move forward. 

Radical Inspiration for the Future 

We can spend a lifetime looking back, but history is meaningless unless we choose to learn from it. Perhaps, by looking back at both world events and events from our own lives, we can find hope, inspiration, and moments that changed everything.

But what if we do not find that hope or inspiration? Does it mean it does not exist? Well, if history has anything to say about it, it simply means we’re in the middle of living it. We may just be at the precipice of change. The good news is, we have a big hand in writing our own future. How do you want the story to end? If you knew everything would work out, what would you do right now? 

A Note on Radical Inspiration 

Hope, optimism, and inspiration are not always easy to come by. Many mental health disorders can prevent us from experiencing these emotions. We all deserve to wake up feeling grateful to be alive and hopeful for the future. If you don’t, a mental health professional can help. Sometimes, our first act of inspiration comes from reaching out to others. 

Olivia Lynn Schnur

Olivia Lynn Schnur holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified EMDR Therapist, and Certified Yoga Teacher. To learn more, or to book a yoga session, visit oliviaschnur.com.

Beautiful things and terrible things exist simultaneously. Generosity and selfishness. Happiness and despair. Kindness and rage. Light and dark. One side does not negate the other. Unfortunately, though, the dark can weigh a lot heavier than the light, like a backpack of rocks as we climb our mountains each day. Occasionally, we need to be reminded to take in the bright spots, the lightness, the good… at least for a little while.

To me, radical inspiration is both the audacity of looking for light in a world that feels so dark, and also radically noticing all the things around us that could be providing inspiration already, if we just stop to notice. There is so much beauty in this world. In people, in communities, in nature. Finding moments of wonder can help to counterbalance those of dread, anger, or fear. 

One of my favorite things about being a journalist is that I get to meet and sometimes become friends with the smart people I interview for stories. Dr. Jodi Enos-Berlage, whom I worked with on my Saving Our Soil story in the Fall 2025 Inspire(d), is one of those people. We had coffee this winter and she told me about the (totally freaking awesome) Hawaiian bobtail squid. This thumb-sized, nocturnal squid has long been studied for its symbiotic relationship with the bioluminescent bacteria, Vibrio fischeri, that live in its light organ (hello, cool! I’d like a light organ!). Vibrio fischeri bacteria create light, so the squid blends in with the moonlight, helping it go into stealth mode to avoid predators and more easily hunt prey. But the bacteria are so smart, they know not to activate until the right number of bacteria are present to create enough light. This is called quorum-sensing (squee!)!

Jodi and I both exclaimed that we, the people, need to come together in order for our lights to be effective (“Unite like Vibrio fischeri” tees, anyone?). 

Emily Dickinson said, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” Well, I think inspiration is the thing with fire. It lights you up from within. I want readers to latch on to what ignites a spark within them, and then I want them to let it flame. With ferocity. Or with gentle warmth. Or even just as tiny embers. Whatever you need (or can hang on to) on that day. Start now. Don’t wait for a new week, a new month, a new year. Make your own new beginnings.

We all know how self-fulfilling prophecies work. When you expect something to happen, it often does. This is generally applied to expecting bad things to happen, but what if we put it toward manifesting the good? I believe in the power of the people. I believe we are smart enough, kind enough, and innovative enough to change the world for the better. We just have to find our light and shine it bright.

XOXO – Aryn

Find awe around you
The perfect design of a slowly unfurling fern
The fact that two people can make an entirely different human being
The deliciousness of a perfectly ripe strawberry

Notice 
Moments when you feel alive 
Things that bring you joy
Activities that make you feel like your absolute best
Scenes that bring a smile

Practice gratitude for these things

Inspiration can spark action and action can spark inspiration.

Be part of the cycle. Inspiration, hope, and optimism are contagious.

Hang on to Hope
Hope helps us: 
See possibilities in current circumstances
Avoid overwhelm
Problem-solve
Stay resilient & persistent
Be more creative

Feed the Fire
Engage in activities that ignite your passion, energy, and creativity. 
Learn about people who inspire you (or read/watch/listen to their books, movies, podcasts, etc.)

Seek Support
Connecting with people you trust can help you feel calmer. Venting can help you release anger. Sharing your feelings with someone who understands is a reminder that you’re not alone on this journey. 

Vent, then…

Make a Plan
How will you be a light? Try making a dream board based off your ideas.

Schedule a “Nothing Day”
Do activities that require very little of you for one day so you can rest and replenish. The earth will continue to turn. Disconnect from technology. Just for a bit, at least. Find something offline that inspires you.

Make a physical goal
Burn up some rage with exercise – good for your mind and your body

Fall back on discipline
Set routines that support your goals and values, so that when it all feels like too much, your routines can handle the decisions.