My name is Alexandria Olivia Braboy of La Salle, Illinois, and I enjoy writing poetry and taking pictures.

This book is about me, you, us, them and everything that exists.
This is a story of love, which is the only thing that matters.

Between Sept. 20, 2025 -Dec. 6, 2025, I took part in an artist residency at One River Zen in Ottawa, Illinois, where I learned about Zen Buddhism. During that time, I wrote down the thoughts that came to my mind, and I captured photos of nature that I was called to visit.

Included in this "Messages from Meditation" book are thoughts, feelings, notes, conversations and images I encountered during the artist residency. Much of what is included comes from what I heard while meditating. All of the pictures were taken Sept. 20-Dec. 6, 2025, in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties of Illinois.