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Notes on Shapeshifting
Abrāo’s work has been described by The Outline as “an existential funhouse of familiar thoughts” that “publicly grapples with pillars of its own existence within the influencer economy.” Alongside The Outline, her work has been featured in publications such as The Atlantic, Dazed, The Harvard Crimson, and The Face, among others. In response to Abrāo’s work, Dazed Magazine wrote, “Gabi debunks the myth that wellness is the preserve of the privileged, and in doing so hands it back to the masses,” and Notes on Shapeshifting is a reminder that we are agents of the change that we seek.
Gabi Abrāo’s Notes on Shapeshifting is an ode to existing in physical form, fully aware of the changing energy that flows through every aspect of it. As Abrāo writes, “tapping into the ether body to take a break from the demands of the earth body, / making peace with ephemerality, / lightness, / shapeshifting”. Throughout this collection, you are invited to travel through various states; pure infatuation to heartbreak, confidence to defeat, from a skepticism for living to a full-on trust in it. And Notes on Shapeshifting yearns to soothe and arouse along the way.
Gabi Abrāo’s Notes on Shapeshifting is an ode to existing in physical form, fully aware of the changing energy that flows through every aspect of it. As Abrāo writes, “tapping into the ether body to take a break from the demands of the earth body, / making peace with ephemerality, / lightness, / shapeshifting”. Throughout this collection, you are invited to travel through various states; pure infatuation to heartbreak, confidence to defeat, from a skepticism for living to a full-on trust in it. And Notes on Shapeshifting yearns to soothe and arouse along the way.
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2022
139 people are currently reading
8622 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
September 24, 2022
Terrible , vapid , pseudo spiritual nonsense from an Instagram grifter influencer . Most of it’s probably plagiarised from other creators anyway . Should be called notes on bullshitting
March 19, 2023
felt like i was just visited by a dream. the most beautiful thing to read after heartbreak. so many good reminders and lines here! this book pieced together many thoughts from gabi's instagram @sighswoon (that i've been following for years), words that i've held close in my heart. it also put into words the many thoughts i've had since reading them. i cannot pick but here are a few.
i loved her passages about LA. i loved her exercises in imagining yourself as a boulder in the sun, a waterfall, a desert, a house cat. i loved her ideas of being an artist, being a writer, being an independent and ever evolving woman. i loved thinking about how the only eternal truth is absurdity. i loved sitting with the idea that "in a time where so many mediums of expression are available to us, when sharing thought can be instant, when thousands of words exist to express varying existential conditions, it is easy to forget that these tools do not hold the power to decode all sensations" !!!!
"your entire life performance is a medium... we have no choice but to express our ever changing unique state in every context we come into contact with..."
a few weeks ago, the night before i broke up with my boyfriend, i was in new york and smoked too much and spent hours lying with myself and listening to music. it became the best high i'd ever experienced. while usually i would be terrified in the situation, i was in a moment of complete loss - so why not completely surrender to the feeling?
i felt like a character in a claymation. i felt like a bird. i felt like a color. i closed my eyes and tried to transport myself in a forest, into my childhood bedroom, into the ocean, then let my mind wander from there. i felt like a child. i didn't want to sleep because i was so delighted, feeling so safe and warm in my own mind for what seemed like truly the first time in years, realizing i was capable of becoming anything and everything. i knew then i would be perfectly fine alone.
another image. for two weeks last july during a period of great stagnation and ennui, i began biking to the park everyday with my journal and nothing else. i did not plan this - some voice found me and asked me to follow it. i always picked the patch of grass most drenched in the sun in the absolute middle of the field. my own little island. often i felt possessed, writing for up to an hour without stopping. i was leaving breadcrumbs for myself. a lot of those entries found their way months later into a book i designed for typography class, as well as my final graduation exhibition. in the seasons following, when feeling uncentered and asked to summon a memory in which i did feel grounded, i always pulled those afternoons into focus.
and of course, in gabi's words, with any invisible sensation, translation is always flawed to capture it. but i felt much of the same peace and wholeness of that night and those bike rides while reading this little book. moments where i was able sit with myself and be - much of what this book encourages.
congrats gabi for this gift into the world. you and your vision are a force. i will lend this book to anybody
i loved her passages about LA. i loved her exercises in imagining yourself as a boulder in the sun, a waterfall, a desert, a house cat. i loved her ideas of being an artist, being a writer, being an independent and ever evolving woman. i loved thinking about how the only eternal truth is absurdity. i loved sitting with the idea that "in a time where so many mediums of expression are available to us, when sharing thought can be instant, when thousands of words exist to express varying existential conditions, it is easy to forget that these tools do not hold the power to decode all sensations" !!!!
"your entire life performance is a medium... we have no choice but to express our ever changing unique state in every context we come into contact with..."
a few weeks ago, the night before i broke up with my boyfriend, i was in new york and smoked too much and spent hours lying with myself and listening to music. it became the best high i'd ever experienced. while usually i would be terrified in the situation, i was in a moment of complete loss - so why not completely surrender to the feeling?
i felt like a character in a claymation. i felt like a bird. i felt like a color. i closed my eyes and tried to transport myself in a forest, into my childhood bedroom, into the ocean, then let my mind wander from there. i felt like a child. i didn't want to sleep because i was so delighted, feeling so safe and warm in my own mind for what seemed like truly the first time in years, realizing i was capable of becoming anything and everything. i knew then i would be perfectly fine alone.
another image. for two weeks last july during a period of great stagnation and ennui, i began biking to the park everyday with my journal and nothing else. i did not plan this - some voice found me and asked me to follow it. i always picked the patch of grass most drenched in the sun in the absolute middle of the field. my own little island. often i felt possessed, writing for up to an hour without stopping. i was leaving breadcrumbs for myself. a lot of those entries found their way months later into a book i designed for typography class, as well as my final graduation exhibition. in the seasons following, when feeling uncentered and asked to summon a memory in which i did feel grounded, i always pulled those afternoons into focus.
and of course, in gabi's words, with any invisible sensation, translation is always flawed to capture it. but i felt much of the same peace and wholeness of that night and those bike rides while reading this little book. moments where i was able sit with myself and be - much of what this book encourages.
congrats gabi for this gift into the world. you and your vision are a force. i will lend this book to anybody
October 7, 2022
This book is a basically a collection of Instagram posts that I would have found deep and thought provoking if I was 15.
June 21, 2024
3.5 stars - connected heavily with the last part (exercises in shapeshifting) and not so much with the rest, but those last pieces brought me exactly what I hoped it would bring me and I will reread them and cherish them often
October 10, 2022
I follow sighswoon on ig and spark to some of her content but some of it feels a little too performative for my liking. This book is super cute-looks great on a shelf-but is kinda boring? There are NO images, and I think her content works really well paired with the visuals on her instagram. Every passage is something she's already posted, and it starts to feel disjointed. Idk, it's cute and I'm happy to have it around but maybe I just haven't drank the koolaid hard enough. Or maybe it is just too self absorbed.
October 5, 2022
3.5 stars // I have read most of these on her Instagram already, but it does feel a bit more special to have it in physical form. I just wish there was more unique content in this book.
March 5, 2023
Underwhelming, especially for something that Rhiannon McGavin helped work on. The sort of self-congratulatory, metaphysical LA girl poetry popularized by miss Del Rey herself. Abrão has some brief moments where her writing seems to experience a clarity of purpose that is utterly lacking in the rest of the work. I think she has potential, certainly, but this work only serves as a collection of writings that break no boundaries and stir no meaningful emotions.
November 8, 2023
i have the need to pack this book into my bag and carry it around with me wherever i go. this changed something within me.
February 13, 2025
*3.5 rounded up
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘔𝘦 - 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘈?
𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 - 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘶𝘣 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘱.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰: 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘌𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯.”
Wishy washy tenderness reminiscent of the good ol’ days of tumblr. Girlhood wrapped up in a pretty Sandy Liang bow and the scent of unwashed depop orders. Wistful poems and blog bits penciled from a stretchmarked college-rule notebook to be archival to the naturalization of woman, of fortitude. What makes all of this musical is the reaching. Reaching for sun motes and sun rays from lying in bed for too long, listening to Lana del Rey or Beach House, lazing out afternoons overthinking but letting the days run away like wild horses.
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘔𝘦 - 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘈?
𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 - 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘶𝘣 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘱.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰: 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘌𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯.”
Wishy washy tenderness reminiscent of the good ol’ days of tumblr. Girlhood wrapped up in a pretty Sandy Liang bow and the scent of unwashed depop orders. Wistful poems and blog bits penciled from a stretchmarked college-rule notebook to be archival to the naturalization of woman, of fortitude. What makes all of this musical is the reaching. Reaching for sun motes and sun rays from lying in bed for too long, listening to Lana del Rey or Beach House, lazing out afternoons overthinking but letting the days run away like wild horses.
January 18, 2023
so insanely mid. stop publishing influencers
September 29, 2022
For the many years i have followed Gabi, her art and writing have had a profound impact on my growth and embrace of the endless cycles we live through. She speaks in the universal language of gratitude and transformation that will change the way you see your purpose in this life.
June 6, 2023
It sure is words!
July 14, 2023
2/5 stars. Not my cup of tea. Spoken word meets highly praised Tumblr 2013 era poetry. I thought we all outgrew that era.
October 17, 2022
. Abrao writes about living and experience in such a subtly optimistic manner that one feels neither tricked into “finding the joys in life” nor truly convinced of anything they didn’t already know. Instead, she reminds of us of our fundamental feelings, of basic desires, and how to stay in touch with them as much as we can. Abraos trick to staying connected to these feelings? Adventure, it seems— whether personal, erotic, platonic or solitary. I literally guzzled this book down like warm summers milk and I can’t wait to read it all over again. Thank you gabi.
March 10, 2023
having talked on the phone to my self-proclaimed soulmate-turned-lifecoach 5 mins prior, this book found me at the exact right mindset/openness. he once wrote in a letter to me „the key to life: enjoy the passage of time“ which so happens to be a reoccuring theme throughout the book-it really is the best advise someone could give you. the book is rather a collection of the authors (my fav parasocial relationship at the moment-i live for sighswoons niche topic stories and posts, „the tumblr girl in me sees the tumblr girl in you“) notes, poems and short essays on everything within the physical realm and continues with random sparks of ethereal sensations. this really is about life itself and making the most of it, but not in a self-optimizing way, her way of seeing things is „i am constantly evolving, shapeshifting and adapting“, rather in a i-come-to-terms-with-everything-and-enjoy-the-view-whilst-doing-so {ENJOYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME} ~ becoming one with everything surrounding you
„Peace comes from detaching yourself from every moment that was too good to be true but no longer belongs to you. Keeping your arms open, you find that there will always be another fleeting moment yearning to fill your chest.“
„by attaching to nothing, I felt everything“
theres so many better quotes in there, but I decided to quote them in my journal lol
„Peace comes from detaching yourself from every moment that was too good to be true but no longer belongs to you. Keeping your arms open, you find that there will always be another fleeting moment yearning to fill your chest.“
„by attaching to nothing, I felt everything“
theres so many better quotes in there, but I decided to quote them in my journal lol
December 6, 2022
I was really excited to read this one after following the author on instagram for a few years, but it could’ve been a bit more fleshed out? Some segments were lovely and reminiscent of Jenny Slate’s Little Weirds- touching and personal with elements of the surreal and esoteric. But others (particularly the poetry) didn’t really do much for me at all, and felt much more Kaur-esque, under-edited instagram poetry.
I loved the last chapter (exercises in shape shifting) and the how to heal a heartbreak segment. I think these more personal and practical offerings were more successful than the broader ‘meaning of life’ texts.
Also very obsessed with the cover design.
I loved the last chapter (exercises in shape shifting) and the how to heal a heartbreak segment. I think these more personal and practical offerings were more successful than the broader ‘meaning of life’ texts.
Also very obsessed with the cover design.
October 1, 2022
Wow, I loved this book. I felt a deep intention behind every word. Sometimes I feel I don’t fully understand Gabi’s social media musings, but everything in this small book struck me. It could be that I’m not in the right headspace to consume these abstract ideas when I am scrolling on social media vs. reading a physical book. That’s what I’d like to think. Anyways, this book is very special, very intimate, very profound. I love Gabi’s mind, and I am grateful to have read this, especially at this moment in time.
Read
June 29, 2024I love Gabi’s work and will come back to this little collection again and again. I don’t even want to say more, just read it and let the depth and laughter spill over you
March 5, 2023
(2-3 stars) I've consumed a lot of Gabi's content over the years through various online platforms and I feel that this book does not capture the quality of feelings and thoughts I've witnessed there. I've learned a lot from Gabi online but this book feels slightly surface level. I also agree with other comments saying that a lot of her magic comes paired with images and that would be beneficial in a book by her. I will continue to support her though and I'm excited for other publications in the future.
January 8, 2025
this book feels like the author wrote it in one day. it is genuinely so disappointing to read and i cant find a single sentence i connect with. i feel a tiny bit embarrassed for telling everyone how great it was back when i first read it two years ago, and confused about how its possible that my taste has changed this drastically but i am also very happy and i hope my taste and standards improve even more
August 27, 2022
Both a stream of consciousness journal and poetry book, Abrão paints delicate and ethereal scenes regarding living, romance and a bit more. It’s not a bad mix though I wish there were less of the journal entries. It’s still an interesting look into the author’s life as well and how they relate to these topics. Which many will find relatable as well.
October 31, 2023
sorry to be a hater but this was so corny
January 26, 2024
this book brought me to tears so many times, in the best way possible
December 2, 2022
3.5ish stars. I just finished this book and here is my honest review.
On one hand, I consider Gabi one of my guiding lights in this world - she's the real deal and her art in all it's mediums has inspired and changed me in countless ways. I will always honor all of her work for that, regardless of whether I agree with it at the time or not.
However, I can see what some others here are saying about wishing this book included more new content. While I'm happy to see a tangible book out in the world, I feel like what thrills me about Gabi's art in general is in the fact it is almost a living thing growing alongside you. It feels of a time and place alongside your own life. Whether it's with an instagram meme or story, a tumblr post, a podcast, I have been following her journey alongside her and it's been enriched by the additional context and pictures she shares within those mediums along the way. This book doesn't do that, but if you're looking on where to start with her work I agree this book will provide a good insight into her style and give you lots of spiritual food for thought.
So, maybe because I've been following her for a while, the writing in this book isn't necessarily for me. However, it will still be a beloved symbol of my support for Gabi and remain a prominent piece on my bookshelf, something to introduce to friends.
I hope this debut book opens up doors to other books from her. While it's up to Gabi to decide, in my dreams she uses this momentum as an author to take time, solidify her theses, and be able to come out with a grand, long-form book of writing. I look forward to seeing what comes next <3
On one hand, I consider Gabi one of my guiding lights in this world - she's the real deal and her art in all it's mediums has inspired and changed me in countless ways. I will always honor all of her work for that, regardless of whether I agree with it at the time or not.
However, I can see what some others here are saying about wishing this book included more new content. While I'm happy to see a tangible book out in the world, I feel like what thrills me about Gabi's art in general is in the fact it is almost a living thing growing alongside you. It feels of a time and place alongside your own life. Whether it's with an instagram meme or story, a tumblr post, a podcast, I have been following her journey alongside her and it's been enriched by the additional context and pictures she shares within those mediums along the way. This book doesn't do that, but if you're looking on where to start with her work I agree this book will provide a good insight into her style and give you lots of spiritual food for thought.
So, maybe because I've been following her for a while, the writing in this book isn't necessarily for me. However, it will still be a beloved symbol of my support for Gabi and remain a prominent piece on my bookshelf, something to introduce to friends.
I hope this debut book opens up doors to other books from her. While it's up to Gabi to decide, in my dreams she uses this momentum as an author to take time, solidify her theses, and be able to come out with a grand, long-form book of writing. I look forward to seeing what comes next <3
October 1, 2022
I’ve always loved Gabi’s writing and this book is beautiful but it did make me miss her digital medium. I hope that there might be a book with photos next next time, I just think her digital medium nails the subject matter uniquely and gives her work dimension. But overall this is still a great collection that I hope introduces others to her other work!
October 8, 2022
Beautiful and exactly what I needed to read and hear. I will certainly be revisiting Abráo’s beautiful words many times and for years to come.
April 6, 2024
It made me feel lured to write and publish a free spirited book of my own
Read
May 16, 2023lol i read this entirely in dog eared books just now
August 1, 2025
Devoured in one sitting. RESONATE
I could read this book every day, I think. And it would make me feel more connected to myself. Feels like I wrote this, minus the LA home and the men mentioned.
QUOTES:
“
a new crush entered like an angel
To develop a crush is to experience the power of your imagination, your will, it is to show us that when narrative and invisible force come together and point at a target, the body follows. To flirt with a lover is a practice in seducing your dreams. To witness the grand, shared life created in a relationship, only to witness its tragic end, is a practice in accepting death.
“You live in the image you have of the world. Every one of us lives in a different world, with different space and different time.” -Alejandro Jodorowsky
Time Is Not Linear and Love Never Leaves Us
“What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things… It is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface.”-Constantin Brancusi
There are a few existential facts, some of which are: all of life is ephemeral, and you will die; change is inevitable and constant; there is no certainty, only possible clues; what is unknown dominates the known. And yet we spend the majority of our lives dwelling on the past, fearing death, suffering through change, and cursing at the world for its lack of answers. To live like this is to drive in the oncoming lane, dumbfounded, as to why you are dodging traffic. It is to pet a dog in the opposite direction of its fur, wondering why you are meeting resistance. It is to push ceaselessly on a door that pulls open.
What sensations make you want to live forever?
“Everything alters me, but nothing changes me.”- Salvador Dalí
I am constantly shape-shifting, adapting, and evolving
“
Recommend to all my fellow crush girls out there
I could read this book every day, I think. And it would make me feel more connected to myself. Feels like I wrote this, minus the LA home and the men mentioned.
QUOTES:
“
a new crush entered like an angel
To develop a crush is to experience the power of your imagination, your will, it is to show us that when narrative and invisible force come together and point at a target, the body follows. To flirt with a lover is a practice in seducing your dreams. To witness the grand, shared life created in a relationship, only to witness its tragic end, is a practice in accepting death.
“You live in the image you have of the world. Every one of us lives in a different world, with different space and different time.” -Alejandro Jodorowsky
Time Is Not Linear and Love Never Leaves Us
“What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things… It is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface.”-Constantin Brancusi
There are a few existential facts, some of which are: all of life is ephemeral, and you will die; change is inevitable and constant; there is no certainty, only possible clues; what is unknown dominates the known. And yet we spend the majority of our lives dwelling on the past, fearing death, suffering through change, and cursing at the world for its lack of answers. To live like this is to drive in the oncoming lane, dumbfounded, as to why you are dodging traffic. It is to pet a dog in the opposite direction of its fur, wondering why you are meeting resistance. It is to push ceaselessly on a door that pulls open.
What sensations make you want to live forever?
“Everything alters me, but nothing changes me.”- Salvador Dalí
I am constantly shape-shifting, adapting, and evolving
“
Recommend to all my fellow crush girls out there
February 9, 2025
Note to self: do not use pinterest for book recommendations
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