SCENT-SUAL CREATIVE ALIVENESS WITH MARY ADELLE

on weaving sensual textures into writing, coming alive through creativity, and creative pivots

Connection to my creativity and embodiment of my creativity, is something that makes me feel deeply alive.

When I am writing, collaging, drawing, sewing, stitching, I am pulling apart and pulling together threads of myself. I am touching my pain, my grief, my soft open heart. I am touching my joy, my pleasure, my wildness, my yearning. I am telling stories with my hands that make sense to me, that help me make sense. I am processing, I am healing. I am writing myself, stitching myself, drawing myself more alive.

One person whose creative practice and expressions inspires me in its sensuality, its magic, its reclamation is Mary Adelle (she/they) of Hail Mary Perfumery. Mary has been a guest on my podcast, Living Open, and is a sensual creative writing coach who was integral to the birth of my poetry collection, moon sign, this spring.

She concocts wearable art, powerful potions through her plant magic perfumery and writes queer holy family fanfiction - scent-sual stories inspired by each Hail Mary scent.

I interviewed them to understand more about their creative process, the evolution of their work in the world, queer holy family storytelling, creating stories with richness and texture, hope, aliveness, beauty, and more.

Explore scent-sual creative aliveness with Mary Adelle below.

With care,

Eryn

What does your creative practice and process look like these days, and how has it evolved? How is your body part of that process and practice?

I’ve been listening to my “creative cravings” this past year and it really feels brilliant.

I adopted it from how I approach food and nourishment. After many young years of disordered eating, as soon as I let myself eat what I want, when I want, things felt softer (big disclaimer that I understand ED recovery is vast, nuanced, and challenging. Sending tender care to all navigating.) But yes creative cravings are so sweet! This pressure to stick to one medium once you find what you’re “good” at can feel so burdensome. For me, writing has always been a strong sensual skill, but if I feel any sense of pressure to do it, I feel stuck and constricted. Letting myself do whatever I want creatively has been liberating!

An example: I always thought I didn’t like coloring. Then I heard someone talk about it so poetically so I was like “okay let me try this coloring thing.” I’ve been coloring a page each morning when I wake up and honestly? I still don’t like it haha. It doesn’t light me up like other creative practices. BUT, because I’m just doing it because I felt called to do it…something about that feels sacred and sweet. It feels like magic and intuition. And intention. And all that juicy alive stuff.

I’ve also challenged myself to finish things…haha. For instance, this coloring book has 40-something pages. I bought it on 9/1/2022 and I’m gently guiding myself to complete all pages by Halloween (it’s a witchy coloring book so feels right). I’ve done this with a few creative projects this past year and it’s GORGEOUS how it’s translated into my more mundane life, with finance-tending and housework. It’s led me to really sink into mundanity and complete tasks and finish things at hand that a past-me would procrastinate or leave unfinished. That’s not to say everything needs to be completed or finished to be valuable, but for me, it’s been a big adult accomplishment to nurture things to completion.

Something that really inspires me about your work is how you continue moving towards what feels authentic and exciting and true to you, which has meant pivoting & shifting & transforming! Can you share about that process for you and what it is to continue moving towards what feels most alive?

Thank you so much for your kind affirmation and words! I def get nervous that people view my ever-changing work and think “she’ssss a bit chaotic.” Haha. But I honestly cannot help it. I think my Gemini Stellium and my Aries Moon make it impossible for me to continue doing something that just doesn’t feel right or aligned or invigorating. I move about the world quickly and swiftly. So no process really, just swiftness and clear, decisive action. I’ve been blessed with confidence when it comes to change (for the most part). I think change can be very romantic.

I know when change is right because I get this flutter in my chest, and I want to dance. And usually I DO dance and squeal and take myself out to dinner.

Your Holy Fam writing feels like deep, gorgeous reclamation to me. Why do you write about the holy family? How does it feel to shape these characters and give them story?

It’s just so FUN. And it feels like another “I can’t help it.” In my witchery, I feel very called to dig deep into my Catholic roots, challenge the trauma and dogma both inflicted onto and caused by my ancestors, and excavate the magic. The institution of Catholicism is so…icky. Like, horrifically icky. I know we all know this. But some of the practices of Catholicism are so mystical! To reimagine and give non-biblical voice to and queer the holy family feels important and liberating to me and it feels important and liberating to them. I am guided by the archetypes of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Joseph, and Lucifer in the fanfiction, the perfumery, and in living a sensual life. Honestly, I think I’m still figuring out why I write the fanfic! I think I’m deep in the middle of it right now. Still learning and listening.

How do you create stories with such richness and sensual textures, from nadia to your poems to your fan fiction? :)

So grateful for your kindness around my writing!

I’ve been meeting with a witch/magic mentor (Emma Westbrook of @weaving.witch) and together we discovered that my psychic abilities are directly tied to the senses.  When I am chatting with someone or imagining a character or crafting a poem or pulling cards…the smells, tastes, textures, sounds, and colors come immediately. I’m rarely thinking about narratives for stories or themes for poems…I’m more so sensing a color or a touch, etc. that wants to be explored and celebrated.

I remember reciting prayers as a kid. Could not tell you what any of those prayers mean or are “trying to say/teach.” But I do remember the “Hail Mary” prayer bringing reds and strawberries to mind. And the song “Ave Maria” was all cinnamon and twilight blue.

It’s def part of my queerness, too.

What makes you feel alive?

Mmm train whistles. Dappled, breezy light. Queer outfits. Peaches. Sandalwood. Pink sunsets. My husband’s cooking. Crackling logs.

Tell us about a recent soft moment of beauty and joy.

Laying in bed with the window open, crisp autumn breeze blowing through the room, watching Heartstopper while my dog Artemis laid against my thighs and I stroked her velvet ears.

What does fully experiencing October / the autumn season mean to you and feel like to you?

Finishing my coloring book.

Just kidding! Ha. I think paying attention to the trees. Like, really seeing the leaves change, then die and drop here in Maryland, USA. It feels integral to notice this process at least a few times a week.

What gives you hope?

Big laughs and even bigger cries. So cathartic and clearing. Also, rivers, oceans, big wet stuff (hehe).

Connect with Mary Adelle:

You can connect with Mary Adelle through her newsletter, perfumery fanfic blog (highly recommend both!) and Instagram @hailmary_perfumery.

The newsletters typically include astro-sensual guidance, fanfic updates, and perfumery deals: https://www.maryadelle.com/subscribe-to-newsletter

I highly recommend checking out their perfumery fanfic blog here, especially this What Would Mary Mag Do piece & Mary’s summer getaway.

<3