Ryan Mead

07/05/2021

One whole month of living in a community full of so many dear friends. Overwhelmed with gratitude for this family and to get to call this place home for the next five months.

06/02/2021

Tomorrow.
The end of one season and the beautiful start of another.
Tomorrow.
An adventure that is full of excitement and nervous anticipation rooted in trust.
Tomorrow.
New beginnings. New rhythms. New paths. New roots.

Tomorrow marks the start of Phase II.
Six months of discipleship in the woods of Sophia, NC

I’d be honored if you’d join in covering me in prayer during this season. So much gratitude for those who have given to my journey already. It means the world that you would believe that my heart is worth your investment and this time.

Here’s to a new chapter.

05/21/2021

Late night conversation around a fire will forever be a personal favorite.

📸 ~ Canon AE-1
🎞 ~ Ilford Hp5 400

05/18/2021

Warm evenings cruising the back roads of NC

📸 ~ Canon AE-1
🎞 ~ Portra 400

04/08/2021

LEATHER GOODS!

During Phase 1 of the 18 Inch Journey I got to learn how to use my creativity in the art of leather making! I loved being able to create something beautiful. Through the processes of leather making my creator spoke to me a lot about how I was like the leather goods I was so proud of. My leather goods were my masterpiece and I was His masterpiece. I began to see just how much of a treasure I was to my Father.
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Since making things out of leather impacted my journey so magnificently, I thought that selling my leather goods would be a beautiful way to raise the money I need to go back for Phase 2. I have a few pieces ready to sell today but I will have more coming very soon! If you like what I have in the pictures above, shoot me a message and we can talk about prices!

04/01/2021

03/20/2021

Exactly 2 months till I am back on The Farm in Sophia for Phase II and I am feeling so overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity I have seen by so many people during my fundraising process 😭
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As Phase II quickly approaches I have been reflecting a lot on my time in Sophia during Phase I. I want to share a little bit about my experience to give a little bit of a better understanding of what you would be sowing into in me if you choose to support my Journey this spring.
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While I was at Phase I of the 18 Inch Journey I was introduced to new ways of seeing and hearing the Holy Spirit. I was taught a handful of really powerful tools to help me learn how to cultivate a friendship with the Holy Spirit that is continuing to grow deeper and deeper every day. I also learned some helpful tools to give me a better understanding of the way my head and heart work and why. I'm learning a lot about what things from the past have shaped my core belief systems and wether my core beliefs about myself, others, and my Father are truths or lies. Along with identifying the lies that I've been partnering with I'm learning how to prune them out of my life and replace them with the loving words of my Father. My life is different today because I am more aware of the truth that I have options! When I recognize a belief in my heart that is holding me back from a more whole-hearted, Holy Spirit-led, life I have the option to uproot that belief and break agreement with it!
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Phase II will be a season of going deeper into a more whole-hearted, Holy Spirit-led, lifestyle. I am so excited and honored to have the opportunity to spend another season under the leadership that loved me so well last fall.
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If it is on your heart to support me on my Journey, you can adopt a box from my chart that will be posted daily. You can mail a check to me (dm for address). Or you can send a donation via
Venmo ~ , or
Cashapp ~ $manmead
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I am also going to be selling handmade leather goods very soon! Im working on a few products such as wallets, keychains, and small bags/purses.
If you want to help but you feel you can’t afford much let me just say, no amount is too small to make THE differ

03/06/2021

I’ve been experimenting a bit with double exposure recently. Exposing one frame of the negative to light twice and burning two different photos into the film over top of each other. The outcome is always crazy and bizarre in the most wonderfully beautiful way.

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Shot on: Canon AE-1 ~ Ilford Hp5+ 400

03/01/2021

I turned 26 last month. I know. Crazy right? While I was reflecting on my 25th year I was reminded of a time I once heard someone say that you’re supposed to have your life “together” by 26. I’m learning more and more that I probably won’t ever have my life “together” and that that’s okay. I’m learning that life isn’t about having it all together but to continue growing and learning and delighting in the ones around me and God all along the way.
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25 was a year of a lot of growth. It was a year of so much change. A year of learning to take ownership in a lot of places in my life. It was a year full of reawakening to the deepest and truest joy but also a year of a lot of beautiful sadness. My 25th year was the most beautiful year I’ve lived. Something tells me that they’re only gonna continue to get more beautiful from here on out. Thank you to everyone who made my 25th year so beautiful.
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Here’s to growth and change. Here’s to beautiful life that’s a little messy and not all together. Here’s to 26.

02/11/2021

LIFE UPDATE:

The 18 Inch Journey ~
Oh what a beautiful journey it is! 65 days filled with deep joy, laughter, tears, mystery, play, and wonder. Spending 65 days at the 18 Inch Journey was the best decision I ever made. This school changed my life in ways that I’m still learning how to explain. Upon coming home I dared to dream into the possibility of spending another season continuing the journey that I had started this past fall.

On February 5th 2021 I received an email of acceptance into Phase 2 of the 18 Inch Journey! I will be returning to Sophia NC this spring! Phase 2 is a six month long program during which I will be led by the staff of the Cageless Birds into deeper practice of the rhythms and values that I began to cultivate during Phase 1 and continuing my journey towards a more whole-hearted and Holy Spirit empowered life.

My goal is to raise $8,000 towards my tuition and i would be honored if you would consider partnering with me to reach that goal. If you would like to donate I’ll be taking cash, check, cashapp ($manmead), or Venmo ()

I will also have some cool fundraising projects coming in the next couple weeks so keep an eye out! If you have questions, DM me. I’d love to chat!

01/28/2021

Pause
Take a breath
Reflect
Express your
Need
Continue in joy
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The leather studio.
Full of joy, play, and creativity.
My favorite work space.