Tuesday, May 25, 2021

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

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

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

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

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