Awakening of the Ki
The Roots
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I got the idea for Awakening of the Ki in the early days of COVID. While there were plenty of scary moments, there was also something else—glimpses of humanity at its most beautiful. People banging on pots and pans in solidarity, making heartwarming content from their living rooms, taking the time to wave and smile, stepping aside to give enough distance so others could feel safe. It struck me then: the collective is so beautiful.
I wanted to write a story that captures that beauty. A story that reminds kids—and all of us—that this connection is real, that it’s always there, and that we need to remember to reach for it. That’s how Awakening of the Ki was born.
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I’m not a religious person, but I consider myself spiritual—I believe deeply in the love and magic of human connection, in the way we each play a necessary part in making the world whole. My book is a fantasy, but at its core, it’s rooted in the truth of what I think humans are on their best days.
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In the world of Awakening of the Ki, ki is the essence of who we are—our courage, our creativity, our deepest emotions. It’s the energy that drives us, the feeling that sparks inspiration, the force that reminds us to slow down and take in the world around us. It’s what makes us us.
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Ki looks and feels different for everyone. For me, my ki is a light yellow—like a canary. I feel it strongest when I bring joy, find inspiration, take in the warmth of a beautiful moment, or remind someone of the light I see in them.
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