Adrienne opened the Loving Kindness mindfulness practice with a quote by Einstein... it may be a little different to what you heard as she attended to the gender for her reading:
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
The creative writing then explored reconnecting as we come out of lockdown... touching again.
getting together
What moving writing this triggered... how much we have missed contact. We led into the writing with a poem from Bev:
España a Eceni
by Bev Schofield with thanks to David Whyte (see his poem The Journey In)
Tip me up.
Pour me down.
Let the sun kiss goodbye
to my silvery beached heels...
dive, dive into the wooded magic
of the eceni... of Satya's living dark.
Let me burrow
into the black thickets
of thorny spells and secrets.
Let me press up against the black
and pulsing part of it, essential living
heart of it, believe at last what I know well.
For all the fro and to
our arms entwine in that
musky tangle, the wiry knot
bramble beginning from whence
we're begot, the thorny thicket where
blood mixes in sweet juice of good intention,
forgotten fruit.
Cobwebs and crisp frost
become our lily gild. Let go
at last the ill begotten answers
in favour of the one wondrous
question that can rock us to sleep
Eceni (or iceni): Brittonic tribe of eastern Britain during the Iron Age and early Roman era.
Satya: truthfulness; the practice of integrity
Huge thanks to Hilaire for bringing the Poets for the Planet site to our attention. In their ‘Begin afresh’ campaign they are asking for people to write poems about how we could, post Covid-19, live in a way that respects the planet & mitigates the climate crisis. Let's get these poems submitted writers... we've definitely heard some sound advice from many of you!
Writing from the session:
Filigree Fine Twining
by Sandra Birnie
There’s a filigree fine and twining by the spidery shadows in my memories of you. We can see the clouds of droplets falling and I wish for you. And the dark token passed over is the ticket to my soul.
Together yet apart. I ache. And the apart varies from metres to miles but it lacks the fifth sense. The sense that speaks without the mouth and sees sans eyes and hears the beating of a pulse and tastes a quickening of a heart. Let me touch. Let me stroke. Let me linger on your hand and stroke a thumb. A wrist. Let me lean in and, shoulders touching, share the laughter. Let me ease your pain. Let me kiss your battered knees and wish the hurt away. Oh to touch; to feel; to connect again.
Hear ye, hear ye
by Catrice Greer
Hear ye, hear ye
We are gathered here today
family, friends, enemies,
enemies of my enemies
We are here at the black hole mouth
of this isolated cave
in the grief painted
infected unknown space
to bury our dead among us
Those dead things between us
that hold us back
Those things we no longer speak
Those things that twine and whip 'round
our vocal chords*
that prevent the i’m sorries
i miss you’s, i love you’s *
the pieces that bumble forward
like an emotionally blind man heady on drink
bumbling home too late
for whatever he was meant to be there for
knocking over sentimentals, and traditions,
passed down collectibles shattered
in pieces launched
jagged landmine shards
speckling the ground
Our DNA, our ancestors,
mothers, fathers,
grandmothers, grandfathers long gone
our creators, ask us to stand here together
Ask ourselves
if in this space we will abandon
Our old skins
Our old breath
and choose to share anew
Can we bury this dead thing between us all
so we can
stand wrapped in new sinew, tendons, blood
coursing miracles spiraling through the breath lifting us
in a swirl of meditative purpose
Can we find a new space
a sense of being
We are here in this vortex
to bury the living dead
under loam, clay, rocks,
into the broken soil
Cover it.
Mark it as resting here
never to go forward
We mark new paths with a sign
here as we crawl out
heel to heel... 6 ft apart
linked in spirit
life begins anew
we celebrate together
mourning yesterdays
embracing our multicolored confettied *
I forgive you's littered
in the air
celebrating
our tomorrows
*******************************
Thanks to you all ...
... for your heartening feedback as always:
Anja: Thank you, Adrienne, I just love listening to your voice. Almost fell asleep, because I am so very tired form this whole week.
Lapidus Scotland Bev: getting together (writing prompt)
Giovanna: Beautiful Sandra
Jo: lovely words, Sandra
Giovanna: Completely true Joyce, it’s a huge loss, especially in this country when we were only just warming to the idea!!
Giovanna: Thank you Britt, such powerful images
Catrice: Truly beautiful and honest. <3
Jo: Apologies Britt, our Internet is unstable
Giovanna: So gorgeous Angie, so hopeful
Jo: WE are growing huge beetroots this year, Great analogy
Giovanna: LOVED it Catrice, especially the drunk man analogy
Kay: so much incredible powerful stuff from everyone thankyou all so much for sharing kx
Kate: Thank you everyone for sharing your powerful words. Another fab session Bev and Adrienne, thank you so much. I have a teleconference at 1 so need to go sadly x
Catrice: Lovely Kirsty. Thank you. Lovely poem. <3
Kirsty: thank you.
Eileen: Thank you to everyone for sharing your amazing writings 🙏
Angie: Great poetry coming from all of us today. Well done guys. xx
Eileen Gray: Thank you one
Eileen Gray: thank you once again Bev and Adrienne
Kay: such a powerful session once again thankyou bev & Adrienne thankyou everyone kx
Catrice: Yes, Mo. Well said! <3
Susan: Thank you everyone - sorry to be distracted today. Someone came to the door.
Joyce: thankyou for sharing your wise and moving words . i have never written before or read .. thank you for supportive comments and the opportunity xxx
Angie: Can I please have a copy of the Einstein quote? Thank you again for a wonderful session.
Catrice: Thank you everyone. Pleasure to see you all again and hear your work. <3
Michele: than you both the sessions and everyone for the lovely contributions. Michele
Pat: Thanks everyone; I'm overwhelmed by all the wonderful words. Pat
Sandra: this group has been a revelation to me. I feel at peCE nd safe here. Thank you all xx
Kate H: Thank you all for sharing so many beautiful and moving words.
Jo: Yes please put your piece on the blog, Britt - the little green web gremlin broke it up for me.
Mo: i have to leave as I have to be elsewhere shortly. thanks again for all the words shared, time generously given and the receptive listening offered unconditionally
Isabel: Thank you all. My life has been so enriched by you. And thank you Bev and Adrienne for making it happen and for steering our ship so safely.
Giovanna: Thank you everyone, I’m not sure if I’ll make the next two sessions but wanted to say how much I’ve loved your company and your words. Adrienne and Bev, so many thank yous for starting this. It’s been the best lockdown zoom activity. XX
Catrice: This has been a strong addition to my life. I am deeply grateful to meet each of you and have the opportunity to share and connect. Thank you so much. The meditation is amazing. This is a perfect program. See you again.
Louise: so so much thank you to Adrienne and Bev and all of you sharing and /or listening. I always feel so relaxed and touched in time
Angie: Thanks again to everyone and I do hope that if I don't see you at the next to workshops that our paths will cross again. Take care and keep writing. xx
Britt: Thank you to everyone. Absolutely singular. This is what it's all about. Best wishes. Hope to see everyone someday somehow. Big love.
Kirsty: thank you to Bev and Adrienne for facilitating these sessions and to everyone else for sharing this experience with me , have really enjoyed it.
Jo: Thanks, Bev and Adrienne and everybody for giving us all this connectedness … a wonderful privilege to have been part of it.