MaW session 22nd May 2021

 

Today Adrienne calmed us to comatose with her amazing Body Scan Practice that she introduced with a poem "The Journey" by David Whyte.

Bev took a writing prompt

in the last of the light at the edge of the field

 from the poem "Hare" by Toby Litt that links you to BBC essay where you can hear Toby read it, here is the link to the poem.

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And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

Barn Owl

by Judith Boardman

In the last of the light, at the edge of the field, I catch a flicker of white. I turn towards the dunes, where the persistent rays of evening sunshine illuminate a bank of golden gorse, and there you are.

I stop, hold my breath and feel my heart thumping with expectation and excitement. In full view now, just ahead of me over the spikes of marram grass, your ghostly, pure white wings beat silently; your head turns slowly, this way and that, seeking, listening, hunting, aware of, but ignoring me.

As the light fades quickly, and this vast open space between the sea and the town falls into shadow, I’m drawn to your magical luminosity, and transfixed by this fleeting moment.

Then suddenly you drop, and are gone, and once again I feel my feet on the path.

At the edge of the light I will wait for you there. 

by Sandra Walls

I see you from my peripheral vision 

At the edge of the light

In shadows

Just out of sight 

I see you in dreams

In black and white

Then in sepias in shadows 

At the edge of the light

I see your familiar outlines 

In streets ambers and yellows

Dulls shades n brights

In the shadows just out of sight

In that corner I hover

At the edge of the light 

I grow towards you

I’m drawn to your halo so bright

I’m stuck in the shadows 

I’m in the night

How did I get here? 

and am I … where?

At the edge of the light

I will wait for you there

In the last of the light at the edge of the field 

by Claire Bolger

In the last of the light at the edge of the field I can look out of my window and touch the wide expanse of it. See the blue sky, the clouds wrapping across and the sun going down. My eyes stretch to make out the blue of the sea in the distance. The field slopes down to the hollow and lifts up to the boundaries end. The air has disappeared from my lungs as I remember and comprehend now, that there are last moments. Last moments of standing in your landscape. The last glance at a familiar view. You will never go there again. Finality in breath leaving and whooshing you back to your table.

after Toby Litt (untitled)

by Bev Schofield

In the last of the light at the edge of the field 

will I walk with bare feet in wet grass. 

Let me ask of the day and the daisies galore 

what more could I want but the springing green leaves

 and the breath that I breathe saying 

leave all the wishes, the wants and the woes 

reach up on tip toes to the roughness of bark 

arch my back to the curve of a clearing blue sky, 

lie down at last among needles and cones 

at the edge of the field, the forest and day 

find the edge of my life where there's no more to say

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Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Kay: thankyou thankyou thankyou adrienne

Judith: Thank you Adrienne. x

Adrienne Hannah: xxx

Michele: Lovely body scan, thank you Adrienne.  Blew away the cobwebs and back to spaciousness.

Julia: That was so relaxing, didn't want to come back...

Hilaire: That was so necessary - thank you Adrienne!

Julia: What was the poem that was read again?

Lou T: the best body scan Adrienne :)

Adrienne Hannah: The Journey David Whyte

Bev: In the last of the light at the edge of the field

Angie: Superb Sandra.  I loved that.

Julia: Lovely rhythm sandra

Beccy: sums up the life of a poet!

Claire: Loved the physicality of it

Bex: sorry my wifi is a bit unstable so turning video off

Beccy: beautiful - you captured a feeling for me

Julia: Yes, that took me with it...

Lesley O'Brien: Beautiful Claire, really beautiful

Lesley O'Brien: fantastic Angie!

Bex: loved that

Joyce: fabulous Beccy  loved it

Angie: I want to go there Beccy.  That sounded wonderful.

Julia: Amazing! Love the alliteration and internal rhymes beccy

Angie: 'impending gifts of darkness'  I love that line.

Julia: Powerful Joyce...

Beccy: beautiful imagery

Beccy: yes I want more of that!

Lou T: in the wilds of catterline - love it - if spelling that right :)

Julia: Hope we hear more of that kay..

Kay: lou's correct   catterline  x

Beccy: great!

Beccy: Love both of those nature poems.

Angie: I liked the imagery of the wet whiskers Helen.

Angie: Wow Nicole that was so powerful. x

Julia: Poignant!

Beccy: so moving, and love the circular-ness of it

Helen: that is amazing..it has helped me..thanks nichole

Kath Higgens: Superb, Bev

Kay: so many beautiful poems   thankyou everyone

Diane: So inspiring to hear your beautiful words thank you

Angie: Thank you Bev for your prompt and inspiring words.

Lou T: what a beautiful soul full morning - thank you B&A et al xx

Judith: Powerful and beautiful words and images from everyone. Thank you to all for sharing and such a privilege to listen.

Julia: Thank you everyone

Hilaire: Thank you everyone for your wonderful words

Joyce: thank you everyone  - another inspiring and moving morning  - heartfilled!

Angie: Thank you Adrienne and Bev for a wonderful session.  Good to see everyone again.  xx

Bex: Thanks all, see you next week

Michele: thank you all, lovely poems.

Sheila: Kindness to all.  Amazing words xx 

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Thanks to funders

Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership via the Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund managed by Impact Funding Partners

MaW session 15th May 2021

 

These sessions never cease to amaze us; the growth and creativity that comes out of 25 people sharing a screen. Today Adrienne introduced her Memories of Kindness practice with a poem Your soft heart by Nikita Gill. 

Bev took a writing prompt from the poem The Kindness of Memory by by Mary Lou Healy:

memory will bend

We have news from Lesley O'Brien about some upcoming writing events, the Lapidus walkabout writing sessions in the park. These sessions are coming to a park near you if you live in or around Glasgow as there are a few facilitators doing similar in parks across the city. Here are links to book tickets for the Cuningar Loop and Glasgow Green events (all details on Eventbrite).

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And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

Memory will bend...

by Julia Angell

Sometimes I wonder 

if it was as black and white

or whether the smile was cheese

the images are small and fading

and they are gone

but the fluffy cat they gave me

still plays the lullaby

they never sang.

“You are still the child” from Nikita Gill Your Soft Heart

by Kath Higgens

You are still the child

who was not talked to,

the child who had to live inside,

who had to survive without human interaction.

No wonder since a baby you have felt vulnerable, unsafe.

Of course there are regrets,

but don’t let them immobilize you.

Accept now the safety offered,

where there is room for kindness,

where the holding is enough

to let your kind heart

locked inside

reach out to touch the others –

those within and without –

who also find themselves wounded and in need.

Memory will bend

by Kath Higgens

Shine up the special moments

so they glow, she said.

I am trying to find them,

those positive memories

from childhood.

Haunted by specifics

that come tumbling

one after another

devastatingly

into my mind,

can I find space

where kind memories

can float in?

Pause, breathe, and breathe again.

Still no good memory

wants to emerge.

Stay still. Wait.

Do not panic.

Well, if I cannot find

a good memory to bend,

let me at least

learn to throw a gentle shawl,

warm and cosy,

over the outline of the bad ones,

so their edges become blurry,

so they can finally be handled

beneath the soft cover,

soften and transform.

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Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Candyce: Beautiful Catrice.  Thank you.

Diane: thanks to you - I am so moved by your support and encouragement and honesty

Julia: so true x

Kath: Thank you so much, Catrice

Catrice.: <3 My pleasure.  <3

Fenella: Catrice, that is luminous. x

Catrice.: Thank you, Fenella. <3

Joyce: thank you for all that   - wonderful and thankyou for enabling non writers to write and share x I love this process and it feels like a rebellion for me to read something held in the groups support

Kay: beautiful Adrienne   and that bowl is singing now   thankyou  kx

Angie: Thanks Adrienne.  I feel very relaxed now. xx

Helen: fab..could u tell me the poem again

Candyce: Thanks Adrienne!

Bev: Your soft heart by Nikita Gill  https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/544724517426620144/

Bev: memory will bend

Catrice: Cath, that was brilliant!

Angie: Wow Kath, that was wonderful.  Thank you for sharing.

Diane: thanks you - I’m moved by your courage

Catrice: Kath, thank you for pouring these beautiful poems forth today.  What an honor to hear your heart today. <3

Helen: shine on Kath

Joyce: thankyou Kath for sharing and for being here  -  sending love to you

Hilaire_: Thanks so much for sharing Kath. Big hugs

Candyce: Amazing.  Our vulnerability saves us and others

Lesley: wow so powerful and beautiful Kath, I  absolutely loved the warm shawl over the bad memories. Thank you. x

Cath: Cath, let us give u kind words to place in your kindness memory. it's lovely that u shared with the group

Kath: Thank you all

Sandra: Thank god u did share. Moving and heartbreaking sending love and positive vibes xxxx

Catrice: POWERFUL Joyce!!! Wow!!!

Angie: 'kindness is the most rebellious of all revolutions'.  Fabulous line.

Beccy: Yes!

Sandra: Kindness of those neighbours changed that outcome. Wonderful poignant

Lesley: Loved it Joyce!

Lesley: Helen loved the image of the hanky and the grape from the child!

Angie: Helen, it was lovely how you show that children can be so gentle and kind.

Beccy: beautiful image

Joyce: wow bex  I would love to see and hear that again

Claire: Memory not born yet

Angie: Beccy I loved that poem.

Hilaire: That was fabulous Beccy! Packed with such vivid images

Angie: Sally that was wonderful how you took us all back in time.

Beccy: fabulous pictures you created

Joyce: amazing Sally I loved that   xxx

Kath: My mother did same with butter wrappers!

Julia: I do that with my butter wrappers..

Bex: my mum still does!

Sheila: My MS loses memory so it has been great to find some of mine through you all. Thank you

Beccy: "the house you love is always waiting" - love that

Helen: you calling the rooms awake..very beautiful

Lesley: Clare I loved that, especially memory will follow you down the hall x

Joyce: excellent Lesley xxx wise words xx

Angie: Lesley that was lovely and so full of beautiful images.

Sandra: So lovely Leslie

Hilaire : That is so powerful Julia

Kay: what an amazing session    I feel very privileged to have shared it with everyone    thankyou so much for such courage and generosity  kx

Sandra: Beautiful peice

Julia: Thank you so much everyone x

Catrice: Excellent session.

Sandra: What a great session. Heartfelt and emotional. I’ll send the rest of my writing to Bev

Joyce: thankyou all - a heart felt day ..go well all xxx

Sheila: Thanks for the mindfulness loving cup

Claire: Thank you 

Angie: Thank you again for a wonderful session.  xx

Bex: Thanks everyone, see you next week x

Susan: thank you for sharing 

Helen: amazing women..have good weeks

Lesley: thanks wonderful women! x

Charlene: thank so so much . such a rich session xxx

Hilaire: Such a rich session - thank you everyone

Julia: So sad to have missed most of the readings but so happy to have joined in at the end. 

Nichole: thank you

Julia: Really good to know others struggle with memories x

Julia: Bye all x 

 

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Thanks to funders

Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership via the Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund managed by Impact Funding Partners

MaW session 8th May 2021

 

Well well well, what a turnout we had for our first session, thanks to all who took part in a perfectly magical launch of Course 1.

Adrienne introduced her Mindfulness with the support of Breath practice with a poem "Settle in" by Danna Faulds and Bev gave a choice of two writing prompts from the poem "Ask Me" by William Stafford:

what the river says, that is what I say

or

I will listen to what you say

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In the coming weeks we look forward to adding some pieces here as - there certainly was some astounding writing shared on screen.

YOUR WRITING:

Send it in sweeties - you know you want to!

What the river says, that is what I say... 

by Julia Angell

There's a view to one side 

and if I'm asked 

Is the tide in or out 

I'll tilt my head at the window

it's sand banks or a pool of blue

a reminder that time is not mine

the moon will decide

and me‒I'm happy

to go with the flow but

Yes, it's in...

What the river says, that is what I say....

by Joyce Nicholson

quiet pools, roaring revels, burbling and breaching

constant flux and fluidity, 

breathing in awareness of the undercurrent. 

moving hearts, minds, bodies and spirit,

from glacial melts and rainbowed skies, 

breath connected and interconnecting all beings, 

a glimpse, a sight of truth, 

giving up fixedness, flowing with the whole, 

becoming, breath her in, breathe her out.  

What The River Says*

by Lesley O’Brien

My life, my city, my river

I swirl and weep

with your snaking

ebb and flow

stories…

too many to fathom

today you spit poisonous plastic

from the depths of your inner sanctum

spare me a few droplets

of your righteous ripples

and

I

will

listen

deep.

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Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always! Below is that chat from the session:

Kay: thanks and gratitude to you Adrienne  a lovely body scan and the bowl was beautiful today   kx

Diane: It’s my first time here and I’m really appreciating it thanks

Judith: What an absolute treat this is. Thank you to Adrienne and Bev.

Bev: Danna Faulds “Settle in”

Bev: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8734528-settle-in-the-here-and-now-reach-down-into-the#:~:text=Reach%20down%20into%20the%20center,and%20drink%20this%20holy%20peace.

Bev: what the river says, that is what I say or I will listen to what you say

Julia: wow!

Julia: Lovely sandra.

Joyce: fabulous Louise  xxx

Fenella: hWELL DONE

Julia: So powerful!

Joyce: wow Beccy  that was so powerful

Sandra: Becky scarily good. Glad she escaped from the firey dragon xx

Judith: Such a privilege to hear what people are sharing.

Hilaire Wonderful imagery Catrice!

Sandra: Very visual. Wonderful imagery

Julia: There are amazing poets here! Lovely..

Joyce: incredible imagery Catrice thank you

Beccy: Love that Catrice - really beautiful. It feels like the same place I wrote about.

Catrice: Ekphrastic poem

Sandra: Great word

Catrice: Thank you, everyone for your kind words.

Sandra: Sally so good. Wonderful message. Great voice

Beccy: Sally - wow!

Sandra: Bex that was lovely

Joyce: wonderful words sally and bex  xxx

Sandra: Sheila Saturday rocks. Wonderful Sheila so much goodness and message

Beccy: Sheila - you captured the feeling of calm and breathing for me.

Sandra: Love ur work Angie

Sandra: Cath. Lovely words in the story

Sandra: Charlene great personification lovely

Sandra: Helen lovely reminiscing about your dad

Beccy: Yes I agree, lovely to hear the essences of your dad

Sandra: Joyce. So lovely flux and fluidity x

Joyce: thankyou everyone  -  inspirational words from you all xxx

Sandra: Fenella a lesson in historical evolution brilliant

Beccy: I like your clarity Fenella

Helen: love that connection to ecological

Sandra: Leslie such a great message an in the city

Charlene: Amazing everyone xxx

Helen: needs to be on a wall by the river

Kay: what a brilliant session   so many beautiful pieces   thankyou to bev and Adrienne and to everyone here

Sandra: Lovely candyce.

Sandra: Julia. Lovely imagery

Helen: Diane..so glad to hear you.brave of u

Sandra: Hope to here you soon Diane xx

Lesley O'Brien: Women, thank you all for your wonderful poetic words of wisdom! x

Hilaire: Wonderful session thank you!

Helen: wonderful to meet you all, and thanks for holding these valuable sessions

Julia: Thank you so much all.

Sheila: Thanks everyone for this session. the zoom platform works so well as I don’t need to use my energy to get to a venue.  Thanks Bev and Adrienne for giving us these sessions .

Charlene: So rich today . thank you for such an incredible morning xxx

Sheila: Saturday rocks xx

Angie: Thank you to everyone another wonderful session.  xx

Judith: A wonderful session. Thank you to all.

Julia: Feeling so emotional!

Candyce: Thank you so much.  Worth getting up at 2 am!

Beccy: I'm a little sad to say I can't hear the bell - only a tiny essence of it

Hilaire: See you all next week

Lou: good to be back with the balance of mind and write xx thank you

Beccy: Thank you so much - I expected an inspiring session but hadn't expected such a warm welcoming group, the quality of the words written and the beautiful accents from everyone! So excited to be part of this.

 

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Thanks to funders

Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership via the Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund managed by Impact Funding Partners