Precariousness

In situations marked by instability, individuals and communities often develop a heightened capacity to respond quickly to changing conditions. This adaptability is crucial in creative work, particularly under extreme economic or political constraints. It allows us to innovate and find new ways to disseminate our work, bypassing traditional channels that may be blocked or censored.

Precariousness can also lead to a heightened state of awareness and sensitivity to the environment and to the needs of others. It can drive a deeper understanding and responsiveness to less visible social struggles.

If you are sharing experiences of precarity with others, you might be building strong bonds in collaborative projects that are joining resources to overcome common challenges. Collective models of production and distribution, such as cooperatives or community-supported platforms, often arise out of states of precarity.

Constant uncertainty leads to compounding stress. The Precariousness card is here to remind you that once burnout happens, it is often too late to focus on wellbeing. It asks you to check in with yourself and those around you about what support systems and psychological mechanisms you currently have in place to address insecurity in your life.

States of precarity often exacerbate social and economic inequalities. Those who are already marginalized may find themselves in even more vulnerable positions when the systems they rely on become unstable. This card may show up asking you to seek or offer help.

Under financial or political pressure, there might be a rush to produce content, which can result in work that is less thoughtful and thorough. Can you think of a project you worked on which had to be rushed and never arrived at its full potential?