In a cultural era seemingly defined by algorithmically driven media platforms, it is often easy to be wholly unaware of the meaning of our media environment as we engage with an unending mass of digital content, yet it is that very recognition without internalization that can lend itself to mistakenly deriding media platforms to the hilt. Contrary to the extractive incentives of media platforms, a movement of purposeful thinkers and creators has grown on YouTube over the past few years one that aims to illuminate meaning in the world beyond the confines of our media environment. Celine Freszel an artist, designer, and aesthetic philosophy essayist is a prime example from this movement, demonstrated through the work on her YouTube channel.

Heaven Sent Honey, Freszel’s ethereal production and personality, is dedicated to nurturing one’s relationship with oneself and the world, predominantly through the lens of aesthetics. The gentle, yet boldly assertive, voice of her video essays invites viewers to consider the depth and purpose of beauty, a notion often conflated with mere surface appearance. Offering tools of self-discovery to viewers, Heaven Sent Honey encourages them to cultivate the means of self-expression necessary to purposefully contribute to a community.

From a young age, Freszel was creating and surrounded by her creations and would draw, paint, or craft at any opportunity. Creating different worlds was something she was always doing; once, as a young child, she put on a bathing suit and transfigured her room into a beach. More than an outlet, her creativity  is a refuge that has continued to follow her and connect her with others. Explaining what creativity has meant to her, Freszel described it as “A way to busy myself or feel less sad… and then it became a joy.”

When asked about her favorite photographers, Freszel shared her appreciation for a broad gamut of expressive themes and tonalities in art; from the whimsical to the taboo, she always finds something to love. The works that most resonate with her re-contextualize their subjects to offer the viewer a new perspective, ask them questions, or challenge them. “I wouldn’t mind sitting with [a visual] art piece that I’m uncomfortable with and looking at it, and I’d take the same amount of time to look at that as I would with a piece of art that I really like.” With an awareness that exemplifies the effort necessary to meaningfully engage with art and the world, Freszel explained, when it comes to music, “I’m trying to work on it and expand a little bit more what my taste is with music, but I feel like it’s very underdeveloped for me. I’m so picky.”

“If you’re not normal, you’re always looking for that group of ‘not normal’ people,” Fresznel explained, describing how, in her design studies at college, she sought to connect with people who shared her passion. Searching for community in convivial competition and collaboration was her priority. She found a few friends, but many of her peers’ attitudes had, “a utilitarianism about things that everything had a function, a purpose: make your money. And… what about joy? What about connection and finding your vocation?” She acknowledged that some level of business orientation is necessary to maintain stability but was frustrated by their narrow focus. Her peers often didn’t see more in themselves despite the opportunity to grow in college.“You’re looking for people who can understand you and top you: people who challenge you.”

Neither her own limitations or the relative isolation of those years could hold her back. Studying in a cafe, annotating an excerpt about beauty and disinterestedness, she found the philosophy that would eventually serve as the scaffolding for her channel. “I think that was my first introduction to the philosophy of beauty and aesthetics, which, even then I couldn’t understand it, it followed me from there.” Reflecting  the attitude of a lifelong student, just as many professors immerse themselves in research for the joy of learning and to advance their fields, many great YouTube creators are avid learners who lead with curiosity and share with generosity. Freszel has always found the unknown an invitation to explore and to grow.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to engage with ideas in art, fashion, and philosophy as a learner and as the host to a forum, Freszel began uploading to her YouTube channel. By virtue of her open-ended design degree, she leaned into learning a way of thinking rather than worrying about acquiring a discreet skill set to impress potential employers. “I didn’t want to have to work in different fields for ten years and then do what I wanted to do,” she explained, discussing her choice to work independently. “I always wanted to do what I wanted to do right then and there… I just had something to say.”

“I talk to myself all the time,” Fresnel said; and so thought she “might as well make some money off of it.” The work came first, and money was merely a byproduct. Like many YouTubers, Freszel posits that trying to make money by creating, rather than starting with a commitment to creation first, as a way of being, will destroy your motivation. By exploring as she naturally would, she said, “This allowed me to better understand my ideas, what I wanted from the world, what I thought would make me happy.” Citing the joy of sharing her gift with others, and how life can only ever happen now, Freszel said that, rather than planning to wait, she decided to just make it happen.

Freszel has always prioritized remaining present over planning long term. Recoiling at the notion of thinking five years ahead, she said, “Knowing how much happens in a single year… it would stunt me. Knowledge prohibits action for me, so I like to kind of go in it blind. I think I work better that way, not knowing what struggles lie ahead or successes.” This revealed a well-assured self-trust. She continued, “You think ahead and you’re not present in the moment, so I want to be there for all the little details and kind of lose myself in time, be outside of time.”

Taking in the world to enjoy the moment, while developing a body of work on YouTube, has made it all worthwhile for Freszel. She asserted, “You should be constantly searching for a greater thing that you haven’t done yet. Be your best.” Having experienced the gratification of connecting with others through her creations in her childhood, this was what she wanted for her peers in college. Freszel didn’t chase a degree for a future career. She used that time to develop real skills. It was by trusting her work that she built an audience and found many opportunities thereafter.

On her channel, Freszel has discussed many historical creative figures who embody the vision of the life she wants to live through their simultaneous connectedness with others and intense individuality. She explained that “a lot of women, creatives, people that I look up to, the one thing that is always paramount is that they have a community of like-minded people, artists, musicians, philosophers, whatever. It’s … finding a group of people that they fit in with and where they can be noticeable.” She has certainly made headway in this pursuit, but said, “I’m still looking for that special place, that moment in time that I am meant to fit into.”

The thin connection offered by digital platforms like YouTube means that, “It’s hard to feel anything towards most of those people because they’re unknown to me. I’ve never seen them. I’ve never spoken to them. So that can fall kind of flat.” Nonetheless, her channel has still enabled her to connect with others by “meeting people in real life. It’s having people reach out to you, write letters to you and share their craft with you and share ideas. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.” Through her channel, Freszel became friends with a perfumer and excitedly announced, “I plan on visiting her and just connecting with her more and just her perfumes are incredible. She’s so talented…”

It is a true wonder that we have the opportunity to reach people all over the world and sometimes even grow with them across that distance. However, it is easy to forget that, as much as we experience the internet as an environment, it is still a tool and virtual space in which we cannot be fully embodied. Even then, it lends us great leverage to build connections in the physical world if we use it to do so. As Fresnel said, “This is what life is all about!”