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 platform aims to support artists across disciplines, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary exchange and the creative process.
Founder Lissa Kiernan, who also founded the Poetry Barn, cited an aphorism from Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" — "Work is love made visible" — as a guiding principle. "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," Kiernan said.
While poetry remains central to AIM's mission, the platform now welcomes artists of all kinds, especially those working at the intersections of disciplines. The Academy provides a comprehensive ecosystem with eight interconnected areas: an online community for networking and collaboration; educational offerings including curated studios, craft labs, and circles; access to a vetted consortium of master mentors; publishing opportunities through its press and journal; a free public library of 4,000 poetry volumes; immersive retreats and arts events; and outreach partnerships with high schools to deliver multidisciplinary workshops.
In line with its philosophy of treating art and craft with equal seriousness, AIM's fall offerings explore themes of myth, wonder, and the stars. One of the first workshops, "Sky Writing: Write Your Own Horoscope," led by somatic astrologer Cory Nakasue, will take place on 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.
To mark Labor Day, AIM is inviting artists to share works-in-progress in its online community, Murmurations. The invitation encourages sharing messy drafts, half-finished paintings, melodies, collages, outlines, experiments, or even the seed of an idea, with no expectation of polish. "The Academy wants to see the work while it's still becoming," the announcement stated.
AIM is also currently inviting teaching artists to propose practices, experiences, or learning modules for future offerings. The Academy's programs are available now at www.academyofintentionalmagic.com.
Building on the Poetry Barn's history of workshops, readings, and retreats — including its pioneering online MFA-quality poetry workshops launched in 2007 — AIM has grown into a full ecosystem for artists across disciplines. The launch underscores a growing trend in arts education toward multidisciplinary and community-driven models, offering artists a more holistic support system for their creative and professional development.
