Friday, March 24, 2023

Slow Ink session 18th March 2023




Congratulations Angie Strachan, Scottish Poetry Slam Champion 2023!
































For the 5th session Adrienne introduced a new visualisation drawing from different practices. She introduced it with the poem "Lost"by David Wagoner 
Bev took a writing prompt from part of the poem "Adagio"by Cathy Song; the prompt was 

I honour myself by...



*****************************************************************

And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

I think Angie's done it for us all this week...



********************************************************************

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Fenella (ref publicising the work of Lapidus Scotland): how about medical conferences in Scotland? There must be dozens, perhaps GP and psychiatric first, but absolutely relevant for all. I needed friend in London to put me in touch, and I had been searching for something like this?
Bev: I honour myself by...
Kay: wonderful news karen x
Doreen: Sorry about the window (and light) behind me. This is a very comfy seat
Doreen: Well Done Karen!
Doreen: Hi Giovanna
Giovanna MacKenna (she/her): Hi Doreen 😊
Karen: Wow, just wow Cath 💖
Denise: Sleeping in poppy fields… Cath. Great.
Denise: Such wisdom there Bev. Be gently attended.
Denise: Loads to think about there Linda. Moving. The compass point of the heart and the feet particularly striking, to me.
Karen: I have to go shortly, but can’t pull myself away! Thankyou all, have a great week 💖💕
Adrienne: Reacted to "I have to go shortly..." with ❤️
Sheila: Have a good week Karen
Linda: Thank you everyone for your warmth and comments, means a lot x
Karen: Please send love and good luck to Angie for me. X
Denise: Your poem took us on the journey from stone to water. Water giggling…. Fantastic, Kay!
Sheila: Kay that stands alone and surrounded with ❤️
Doreen: Denise, I saw you unmute earlier. Did you want to share?
Denise: I put it in the chat, Doreen. Thanks.
Karen: Fire spitting dragon. Fabulous Anje
Karen: Thankyou for your wonderful words and fabulous company💖
Sheila: Thanks everyone I have to go as grandchildren arriving . Thanks for all your words x
Giovanna: Sorry children are having accidents here, it’s so inconvenient! Hoping to be with you all next week
Kay: another amazing session    thankyou to everyone    kx
Denise: So glad of your sharing, Doreen.
Antje: Thank you everyone 🙂
Doreen: Thanks and bye





Thanks to funders
Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).


Sunday, March 12, 2023

Slow Ink session 11th March 2023





























Today Adrienne introduced her Memories of Kindness practice with a poem "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye. 
Bev took a writing prompt from the poem above written by 10 year old Hollie Christie (unedited). 
Our prompt was 
my courage is...

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And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

My courage comes from-
by Fenella Rennie

Inside, knowing I have come this far by, somehow, doing, thinking, feeling--. However, very quickly, it actually seems to me that nothing about anything I do is about courage! Feels to me like persistence, application, enthusiasm even. Also research and consideration and lots of other words or thoughts.

When I started to learn violin in my 50s, having wanted to learn since my teens, a close family member said that was really brave, and that they could never have done it. To me, it felt like pleasure, relief, excitement, and so on. It needed application to find a teacher, and a long time to learn that practice as well as lessons was essential, but courage, never!

The thing I have repeatedly found scary was going away, but there was a lightbulb moment when I realised it was the chance of failing to catch the necessary transport I was scared of. Solution not courage, but organisation!


take heart
by Hilaire

courage is a bird
flying free
above the dirty town

a bulb 
forcing leaves up
through frozen ground

girls playing football
while their brothers
taunt and jeer

the girl whose skin
prickles at injustice
and tells the teacher on the boys

courage is a seed
that sprouts and grows
inside your heart

its flowering many-petalled
its seed head potent
primed to bust


MY COURAGE COMES FROM… 
By Fakhriya Abdulkadir
 
My courage comes from having to grow up before my time.
My courage came when I landed in a strange new land.
Scared and Worried
Sad and Angry
Lonely and Insecure
My courage started inside of me.
It grew and come outside of me.
It guided me to bravery and to be courageous.
It sparked twinkling lights when darkness overshadowed me.
When faced with insecurities courage forced me to look within me.
Reminding me how far we have come.
Courage became my armour when I felt oppressed and excluded.
Courage allowed me to stand up tall and use my passionate voice.
For courage taught me to never be silenced or ridiculed.
It is my courage that is embedded in and within me.
Without it I would collapse.  


Crocus
by Denise Steele

Do you remember   
how I sent up spears to test above,
slim, green and brave?

Do you remember my tiny bud
pushing through, unready yet,
too wrapped, fragile,
tight and taut
as if I still might die?

Do you remember the days I stalled,
trammeled, stooped
by sudden snow?

Come then today
to my petals proud,
tender shields, violet-veined.
Look inside as I offer now
the small bright gold of my opening.


My Courage Comes From...
by Linda Small

My courage comes from
knowing I have made a difference
that quietness and shyness
has its place
in contemplative living
within the circles I have travelled

for the dying are a mixed bunch
some need laughter bold and true
and a loud cacophony of sound
to dissipate the raindrops
and strike courage in the
face of fear

and others need the gentle tones
of one who does not fear
the tough words of conversation
who can listen and not let go
who can hold the words
those spoken and unspoken

and open up that door
for questions that rally up
inside the self when the pain
is too great to bare
and silent tears befall the face

my mother awoke from a brain biopsy
and before eyes were opened she said
I am so pleased it is your
still quiet voice I hear

and to another
to whose side I was called
when suffering had all become too much
and years of stoic faith
flew out the window
and all hope inside was lost

twas my soft voice
that reached her, cradled her,
reminded her on His behalf
that she was so loved
so dearly loved
becoming much more than a word
in due season for the
one who feels terribly abandoned

we all hold the gift
of encouragement
and the uniqueness
of it's expression
let not the chance
go by to use it


My courage comes from within
by Antje Bothin

My courage comes from within
My mind wanders around
Tells me stories
I can choose
Look at the stars, how they shine up high
See the sunshine
Relax, try, make things happen
Believe in success
Learn from failure
Open up like a flower when the day starts
Realise everything is possible
Make my dreams come true
Focus on my strengths
And be grateful for everything I have
With love in my heart
And kindness to myself and others.



********************************************************************

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Doreen: Did Lesley O'Brien tell you that one of my poems will be in the Lapidus pamphlet? I wrote at her Spark Her Words last summer
Lisa: That’s fab! I have a poem published in Kate Oman’s “Rise Anthology II”, publishing in April.
Doreen: The Door by Miroslav Holub is the poem that sparked my words
Jennifer: good morning everyone.
Antje: Good morning 🙂
Doreen: I loved the phrase "rib cage wrapping around your upper body"
Adrienne: Reacted to "I loved the phrase "..." with ❤️
Bev: my courage comes from
Kate: I'll be two ticks
Zoë: wonderful words Fakhirya
Denise: Fakriya, I hope you will always use your courageous voice to write.
Fakhriya: thank you denise. I am trying that now.
Zoë: day are long/ clear out clutter/ fear wanders - lovely images
Denise: Linda that’s beautiful and has real truth.
Zoë: dissipate raindrops, tough words of conversation, stoic faith - absolutely gorgeous & heartbreaking in equal measure
Hilaire _: So moving
kay: how beautiful you were there
Lisa: Totally. And yes, we ARE so loved. What kindness is here.
Lisa: Love haikus. Their simplicity. Their profoundness.
Zoë: lovely!
Denise: Jennifer very unusual take - great.
Zoë: Gorgeous! love the deep pockets
Zoë: sent up spears/slim and brave fabulous
Lisa: gold of  my opening - exquisite
Hilaire _: Beautiful Denise! Violet-veined
Zoë: difficult birthing/ courage calls to courage /middle daughter - brilliant
Lisa: Denise, you might like to read “Snowdrops” by Louise Gluck - your poem reminded me of this.
Denise: Thank you, Lisa, I will
linda: beautiful words Hilaire, from the heart, deeply felt x
Lisa: As I was, Bev. In West Africa.
Hilaire Thanks all!
Zoë: find it in everyone - powerful ending
Denise: Terrific exploration, and conclusion, Bev. Salutes to you!
Lisa: Ann! Please get this published!
Jennifer: "good enough is good enough for me"  "what do we want"
Zoë: brilliant Ann
Fakhriya: that was beautiful ann
Ann: Thank you, everyone!
Lisa: Lived experience. So very real. And honest. I hear you, Doreen. I hear your courage speaking.
Zoë: brilliant story in that Doreen
Zoë: warrior body - lovely
Zoë: love those drums
Hilaire ‘Tiny vastness’ & ‘dragons of doubt’ - great stuFF1
Lisa: Thank you all
Ann: A bit late for this comment to Fakhriya as listening to others' comments and writing-loved everything about your piece, especially the twinkly lights in darkness.
Fakhriya: thanks Ann
Zoë: lovely Antje
Denise: So powerful, Kay. Blink and the man’s gone. Such suffering.
Ann: Thanks, Lisa-I hope to create another book* of Creative Writing, for a group I facilitate, and will consider including what I wrote in it. *Our first one is just being published in time for Book Festival here next week.
Antje: Thank you everyone
Kay: a beautiful session   thankyou everyone  kx
Lisa: Ann, that sounds just wonderful. I wish you Joy in it!
Hilaire: Your passionate voice comes through xx
Ann: Fakhriya: "Twinkly lights when darkness overshadowed me."
Denise: Thank you everyone for today.
Fakhriya: Reacted to "Thank you everyone f..." with ❤️
Fakhriya: Reacted to "Fakhriya: "Twinkly l..." with ❤️
Lisa: Please share your poem widely Fakhriya.
Zoë: trampled sunflowers/ only knee/ clutches on the floor/ gorgeous
Fakhriya: thanks everyone for sharing.  I feel inspired and honoured to be in this group.
Antje: Reacted to "thanks everyone for ..." with 💖
Antje: Reacted to "a beautiful session ..." with 💖
Adrienne Hannah: Reacted to "thanks everyone for ..." with 💖
Antje: Removed a 💖 reaction from "thanks everyone for ..."
Antje: Reacted to "thanks everyone for ..." with 💖
Doreen: thanks, see you next week
Fakhriya: Reacted to "Please share your po..." with ❤️
Linda: thank you to everyone for all that has been shared, so much to ponder and take courage in, x
Hilaire: Wonderful session, Thanks  Bev & Adrienne
Fakhriya: bye everyone


Thanks to funders
Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).


Friday, March 3, 2023

Slow Ink session 25th February 2023

Northern lights from Easdale Island on 26th February 2023




















Today Adrienne introduced her mountain practice , introducing it with this poem:

Doha: Spiritual Song of Realisation
by Lama Gendun Rinpoche

Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower,
But is already there, in relaxation and letting go.
Don’t strain yourself, there is nothing to do.
Whatever arises in the mind has no importance at all
because it has no reality whatsoever.
Don’t become attached to it.
Don’t pass judgement.

Let the game happen on its own, springing up and falling back,
without changing anything,
and all will vanish and reappear without end.

Only our searching for happiness prevents us from seeing it.
It is like a rainbow which you run after without ever catching it.
Although it does not exist, it has always been there
and accompanies you every instant.

Don’t believe in the reality of good and bad experiences:
they are like rainbows.
Wanting to grasp the ungraspable, you exhaust yourself in vain.
As soon as you relax this grasping, space is there,
open, inviting and comfortable.

So, make use of it. All is yours already.
Don’t search any further.
Don’t go into the inextricable jungle looking for the elephant
Who is already quietly at home.

Nothing to do
Nothing to force
Nothing to want
And everything happens by itself.


Bev took a writing prompt from the poem Well of Grief by David Whyte; the writing prompt was:

the source from which we drink

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And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:


inspired by David White’s The Well of Grief & Doha
by Kay Ritchie
 
who knew the pesky flee had far more genes than me
or that the elephant in the room
felt more at home in the jungle
 
while we     the humans   are the monsters
stoking the fire of war with red hot words
that singe the edges of our world
 
evoking hatred   fear
choking everything that’s dear 
and although some days I feel I cannot breathe
 
and know the coins thrown in the fountain
sink without a trace
still there are places I can go to heal
 
by rivers   by the sea   in the country
and here with wise wise women who cast spells &
shine a light into the dark
 
with them I’ll never drown


The source from which we drink
by Fakhriya Abdulkadir

It is neither near nor far.
Big or small
It is within us all.
The mystery is finding it.
The magic is using it.
The power is spreading it.
Coming together demanding it.
Its beauty is seeing justice for all.
Caring and not leaving no one alone.
Strengthening the soul enjoining the body and mind.
We come from the same source.
Divided by corruption.
Tangled by the strings of life.
Once we realise LOVE is all we need to be one again.


Coin
by Lynnda Wardle
 
I am a cold coin
a wish tossed into cool
water carrying hope
of clear skies
birdsong for an unflooded spring
hands held lightly as we climb
summer warm on our necks
the golden crunch of leaves
fallen beneath our feet
frosty fingers and breathplume –
a wish to walk together
to notice
to love


My Rebellion
by Doreen Kelly

                    My Rebellion - Is to think differently.
    To be creative though not in the way they expect.
I rebel by thinking outside a box that few even know is there.

My language of communication should be English.
    But in my rebellion
           There are times when
                 It seems even that
                        Isn’t my mother tongue.


My rebellion often appears self-defeating - 
communication and connection 
        Are lost
                As I toddle and waddle through life
        Ears deceive brain:
                Mouth, jaw and tongue abandon teamwork.
                        I am left mute and confused.

                                And yet I continue to try.
                                        I leave home.
                        I use yarn, paper and ink etcetera to create.
        AND ABOVE ALL I SHOW MY CREATIONS AND LET THEM GO


Forgotten
by Lisa Rossetti

We walked along the lanes together, my father and I.
The Cornish hedges high and tangled with green,
with tufted grasses bleaching in the sun.

He gave me words for plants and flowers:
Ragged Robin, Purple Vetch, Meadowsweet.
So mesmerised by sun and spells I wandered.

Then spied with child’s quick eyes
the hidden opening in the hedge,
to a long abandoned wayside well.

A small dark place, a shallow pool,
no offerings were left there any more,
its sacredness forgotten, faded.

I wonder now if I could ever find it once again.


the source from which we drink
by Fenella Rennie

Oh, would that I knew. It still seems to be hidden from me. Or perhaps, confessional, I choose not to see.
But also, I think that the source must be hidden within ourselves, oh that it was easier to capture.
Perhaps only by questioning ourselves, about ourselves, can it be reached.
On the other hand, perhaps only by continually saying out loud whatever rises to the surface, will we work out what it is that it all came from?
It feels too existential to be subject to resolution.
The past feels like the universe behind the mirror. Perhaps that's why I have a thing about mirrors.



The source from which we drink
by Antje Bothin

The source from which we drink
It is the lake that rests in peace
It is the river that runs in a hurry
It is a cup of tea that soothes the soul
the source from which we drink
it sends beams of energy towards us
refuels the empty barrels of our minds
and empowers us to shine,
to achieve, to reach our goals, and
to truly become who we are!

********************************************************************

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Rosemary: Hi, I am Rosemary- joining at last. Covid just clearing so want be vocal
Kay: thankyou Adrienne  kx
Adrienne: Reacted to "thankyou Adrienne  k..." with ❤️
Angie: That was great thank you.  I love watching the clouds move.  When I am meditating and my thoughts get in the way, I will imagine them as passing clouds.
Sheila: Thanks Adrienne
Adrienne: Thank you all. Cloud 9 I love it!
Giovanna: Caught a little of the meditation, thank you so much Adrienne. 
Will try and pop back in for a cheeky wee listen later.
Adrienne: Reacted to "Caught a little of t..." with 👍🏼
Bev: the source from which we drink
Lynnda: Like a manifesto :)
Lynnda: Or a womanfesto!
Doreen: Algorithms have a lot to answer for
Lisa: Indeed
Adrienne: Reacted to "Algorithms have a lo..." with 👍🏼
Lisa: Rushing and surviving
Doreen Kelly: The media don't listen and just say what they believe
Linda: Ange- love the line "they make room for each other"...the swan and the seagull two different species of bird yet they can share the space peaceable
Lynnda: Loved the idea of all the journals of every size and colour  … such a powerful piece thank you for sharing, Linda
Lisa: There are golden coins, treasure in the dark
Doreen: I was thinking of the geological cycle
Lynnda: Brilliant! I loved the idea of coming together as a community ….
Lynnda: Wonderful Karen! An exhortation!! Loved that
Lynnda: Yes!!
Linda: Karen...loved the line...do we ever stop searching under the lid of life...wow love that
Lisa: Does anyone know any competitions for poems about the female body ageing? I have many!! Looking to submit many more poems this year. Please let me know: lisa.rossetti@gmail.com
Lynnda: all this that we call world - I love that
Kay: wonderful to be back   wonderful to have you back bev   thankyou everyone    kx
Giovanna: Loved your quaich and so much more in that Bev
Jo: Thanks all, Great session
Lisa: Thanks to all. Many many thanks.
Karen: Wonderful morning, thank you so much everyone x
Antje: Thank you very much. 🙂
Lesley: thanks everyone that was wondefful! x
Angie: Thank you everyone. Its been lovely spending a creative and peaceful morning with you all.
Doreen: thanks 
Bev: here is the link to that documentary on Anaximander



Thanks to funders
Lapidus Scotland gratefully acknowledges the support of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's "Wellbeing for Longer in Glasgow Fund" (managed by Impact Funding Partners).