It was near the peak of the “.com” bubble and amazingly no one had yet purchased the very “.com” that bears the official logo of the state of New Mexico. I scooped it up not knowing what I would ultimately do with it.
Over the years, it’s been a quandary for me: what to do with Landofenchantment.com?
Then, in early 2020, I heard a discussion on a podcast that struck me. The conversation was about the role of myth and story in culture and society in general. And with that, a seed was planted to turn Landofenchantment.com into a website of stories about New Mexico.
Stories Connect Us
As a photographer, I have spent years exploring New Mexico with my camera. I started to think about all of the stories I have from these experiences and from living here. Then, I began to share my idea with friends and acquaintances. As I did, something really interesting happened. I would learn fascinating things about the people in my life and their connection to New Mexico that I had never known before.
Through stories, we learn about our culture and the culture of our neighbors, as well as our history and geography. Regardless of age, cultural background, political beliefs, etc., what we all have in common is the place where we live. Stories become great connectors that transcend the normal way we relate to one another. We learn both the good and the bad. With the rich and diverse culture and history of New Mexico, there are a lot of stories to be told and a lot to learn about our home. The role stories have in culture plays a particularly important part in grounding us and reconnecting us to our place and to ourselves. A story not told, a story not recorded, not passed down, is a story lost.
The stories here will vary greatly, though they will all have some connection to New Mexico. Some will be written by the storyteller themselves, not necessarily professional writers. Other stories will be written by professional writers. There will be an emphasis on stories about New Mexico’s history and about the visual and musical artists who bring so much life and color to our state. Some will be long, some short. All, hopefully, will leave you at least just a little more connected to this enchanting place we call home.
Thanks for stopping by,
Seth Jacob

Seth Jacob is writer and photographer
based out of Sandia Park, NM.
You can follow his adventures on Instagram: