The Academy of Intentional Magic (AIM), a new creative learning platform, announced its launch today, expanding the nearly twenty-year legacy of the Poetry Barn into a broader commons for artists, writers, teachers, and creatives. The launch is timed with a Labor Day invitation for artists to share their works-in-progress, underscoring the academy's philosophy that creative work is a form of love made visible.
Founder Lissa Kiernan, citing a line from Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" that has stayed with her since high school, explained, "For artists, that work is often what we can't stop returning to — the poem revised for the tenth time, the scale practiced ad nauseam, the scrappy xeriscape garden. That's the spirit behind the Academy."
While poetry remains central, AIM's mission has broadened to include artists of all disciplines and the interdisciplinary intersections that occur when one way of seeing alters another. This exchange continues year-round in Murmurations, AIM's online community for works-in-progress, questions, discoveries, and creative invitations.
The Academy provides a comprehensive ecosystem for working artists, encompassing eight interconnected areas: Community, Education, Mentoring, Publishing, Library, Retreats, Outreach, and Fall Offerings. The online social community allows artists to network and collaborate, while the education pillar offers curated studios, craft labs, and circles, continuing a tradition that began with AIM's pioneering online poetry workshops. Access to a vetted consortium of master mentors is available from single consultations to ongoing relationships. Publishing opportunities through AIM's press and journal, a free public library of 4,000 poetry volumes, immersive retreats, and high school outreach partnerships round out the offerings.
Fall offerings at AIM wander through myth, wonder, and the stars. One of the first is "Sky Writing: Write Your Own Horoscope," a workshop led by somatic astrologer Cory Nakasue, scheduled for September 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 6–8 p.m. ET. The workshop approaches the horoscope as a creative and symbolic form, blending interpretation, storytelling, and poetry.
In honor of Labor Day, AIM is inviting artists to share what they're working on in Murmurations — whether it's a messy draft, a half-finished painting, a melody, a collage, an outline, an experiment, or even the seed of an idea. The invitation comes with no expectation of polish; the Academy wants to see the work while it's still becoming. Additionally, AIM is currently inviting teaching artists to propose a practice, experience, or learning module for future offerings.
The Academy of Intentional Magic's programs are available now at www.academyofintentionalmagic.com. This launch marks a significant evolution from the Poetry Barn's nearly two decades of workshops, readings, and retreats, including its pioneering online MFA-quality poetry workshops launched in 2007. AIM has grown into a full ecosystem of community, education, mentorship, publishing, and outreach for artists across disciplines.
