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).

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

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.

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

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 

 

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

 

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

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

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.

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

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.

 

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

 

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 27th March 2021

Adrienne introduced today's Mindfulness with the Support of Sound practice with a Longfellow poem:

The Sound of the Sea

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 The sea awoke at midnight from its sleep,

  And round the pebbly beaches far and wide

  I heard the first wave of the rising tide

  Rush onward with uninterrupted sweep;

A voice out of the silence of the deep,

  A sound mysteriously multiplied

  As of a cataract from the mountain's side,

  Or roar of winds upon a wooded steep.

So comes to us at times, from the unknown

  And inaccessible solitudes of being,

  The rushing of the sea-tides of the soul;

And inspirations, that we deem our own,

  Are some divine foreshadowing and foreseeing

  Of things beyond our reason or control.

 

Bev followed with the writing prompt 

long live the weeds and the wilderness yet

from this inimitable poem:

 

Inversnaid 

by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1881)

This darksome burn, horseback brown,

His rollrock highroad roaring down,

In coop and in comb the fleece of his foam

Flutes and low to the lake falls home.

 

A windpuff-bonnet of fáwn-fróth

Turns and twindles over the broth

Of a pool so pitchblack, féll-frówning,

It rounds and rounds despair to drowning.

 

Degged with dew, dappled with dew

Are the groins of the braes that the brook treads through,         

Wiry heathpacks, flitches of fern,

And the beadbonny ash that sits over the burn.

 

What would the world be, once bereft

Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left,

O let them be left, wildness and wet;         

Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet.

The last of our three top-up sessions finished wiht resounding resolve to keep writing, begin a new project call "taking off the brakes" and to pronounce wilderness with a "wild" beginning from this day forth thanks to Michele. How wonderful

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

And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

When the Time Comes

by Hilaire

Bury me beneath the magnolia tree

where crocuses bloom,

where we lay drunk on love

that first dizzying summer

gazing up into its bowery branches.

As winter ends

my name will emerge

as the crocuses bloom,

fade as they wither.

When you need to be held

lay your left hand on the trunk

of the magnolia tree,

your right hand on a strong branch,

then haul yourself into her embrace. 

Prompt: “Degged with dew, dappled with dew”

by Candyce Reynolds

Falling in, Falling out

Depth or Expansion

Is it the same?

Is it different?

As with all things,

It depends

Which way are you facing?

What stands below you?

The edge

Is an edge either way

A razor,

A log

Sturdy or sleight

One’s balance flounders or flourishes

The edge is

Degged with dew, dappled with dew

Is there a choice?

Fall in or fall out

Depth or Expansion

Teetering, rocking—willing it right

A moment of momentum

Deciding for you or Coming from you?

Mushroom-dark broth

by Kath Higgens

Mushroom-dark broth

broils and whirls

in the pan of his mind, 

heat ratchets up

fuming and hissing,

feverish foam seethes

and runs over,

reeking, brown-speckled –

the spoon swirls it

round and round

despair to drowning.

A home for us

by Britt Doughty-Godchaux

To the lake falls

home,

low house dark.

Night creatures flute.

Lights in silence

call out.

My heart knows

wandering.

My heart yearns

warmth.

Companions,

kindreds,

goat-like kids:

I have faith in us.

Far away, 

together yet

for an imagined

home

in safety 

still.

Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet

by YY

As we  seek perfection in an imperfect world,

Destroying the beauty of wildflower to bring in the order we think we must have

We ignore the absolute beauty of chaos

The joy of the wild

The wonder of surprise to delight the eye, with yellows and purples and greens all so bright

I embrace the stunning wilderness of nature, the path of flowers and trees, taking me with it ….as we grow to the light .

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

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Kay: thankyou Adrienne   beautiful meditation  great start to the day and to the weekend and your bowl is sounding lovely

Adrienne: thanks Kay

Joyce: that is amazing Kath  very powerfulx

Sheila: My charger is acting up so I might disappear without warning

Giovanna: Hoping you stay with us Sheila!

Giovanna://stanzapoetry.org/festival/poets-artists/bramwell

Hilaire: Such an uplifting session - thanks everyone!

Giovanna: Thanks to everyone, that was just wonderful

Kay: just wonderful   have absolutely loved these sessions   thankyou bev and Adrienne and all you wonderful women   kx

Candyce: Loved all your work.  Thanks for sharing!

Lesley: Thank you everyone. loved being in your company and hearing your fabulous words. x

Michele: Thank you so much Adrienne and Bev for such wonderful sessions.

Catrice: Thank you to everyone!  Adrienne and Bev these are such wonderful, centering sessions.  Thank you for this moment if togetherness and peace.

Sheila: Thanks Bev Adrienne and everyone

Sandra: Thank you everyone- I have to go xx

Joyce: so grateful to Adrienne and bev - and to all of you  - what joy  to share this space with you all xxx

Kath: Thanks to everyone

Hilaire: Thanks so much Bev & Adrienne & everyone for your inspiring contributions xx

Yvonne: Amazing morning , thank you all so very much…love xxx

Louise: fabulous inspiring beautiful thank you thank you Adrienne Bev and the words of all

MaW session 20th March 2021

 

A great multi-national turnout again today despite the fact that Bev managed to LOCK the meeting before it even started - sorry!  Adrienne introduced her Loving Kindness mindfulness practice with a poem Love after Love by Derek Walcott 

Bev followed with the writing prompt from the poem 

Tree by our very own writer Giovanna McKenna:

I am secure in your grasp

Unfortunately, or should we say fortunately, we cannot share the poem at this point in time as it is out for publication!

GWL Calm Slam ~ deadline 30th April for 

Here is a link to Glasgow Women's Library Calm Slam that Giovanna mentioned. 

And here's a poem published by our very own

Lesley O'Brien ~ Come Awa' In

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

And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

Secure in your grasp

by Bex Woodsford

Secure in your grasp

   Am I?

And you, are you secure in mine?

  Who are you?

Can you be known? with just words?

No never enough

  I crave the security of touch

    Of your soft fragranced skin

    Of feeling held

    The perfume of your hair

The whole embodied wholeness of you

    that makes me feel safe.

 

This time of disembodied heads of screens

   Voices in the ether

      No safety

Keep close the muscle memory of the whole of you

      Safety

“I have come inside a silence” (Kenneth Steven – Cloister)

by Kath Higgens

Sometimes I must get away from

the distractions of home -

the screen that wants to invade,

the notes that scream to be read;

the cosy chair; the fridge.

I walk three minutes

and arrive in a different world,

where trees offer shade,

where birds carry on their humble lives,

where flowers wave and grasses stretch.

The garden is walled with quiet,

the very earth permeated

with such sacred ordinariness

that I must loose myself

from my shoes.

Here, for decades, men and women

have brought their troubled souls,

their joyful souls,

and cocooned in this quiet

have found their way to peace.

The following piece from Catrice is from a different writing group but I though to include it here as another wave to the inspirational Kenneth Steven 

“Take Nothing with you but your shoes”    (from a line by Kenneth Steven)

by Catrice Greer (1st draft)

When you leave us

close the door

leave not a crack and nothing more

for if you do we would search for you 

in the hinges

turn the knob hoping to find you standing there 

in the light to love you again 

When you leave us 

don’t look back 

we said our goodbyes in the million hugs, 

longwinded, the winding talks we had, laughing 

loud, silent in-between, staring off into space 

when there’s nothing more to say 

nothing left to glean

When you leave us,

and your name has been called 

and your work here is done 

take nothing but your shoes, 

Walk off tall, 6’6” as you are 

far off in the distance your head 

crowned by the gleam of the sun, 

another dying star shining.

Leave all of your burdens, the things undone. 

close the door in the dark night,  

the echoing silence speaks your name 

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

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Kay: so powerful   thankyou Adrienne   kx

Hilaire: Thank you Adrienne - that slowed me right down!

Britt: I'd imagine a collection of poems would be massively beneficial to others working with MS as well. Particularly including that work.

Angie: I like the last line, 're-learn'.

Angie: Oooo I love that. It was so colourful.

Sandra W: Such imagery. So beautiful

Kay: incredible Giovanna  kx

Hilaire: So powerful

Giovanna: https://womenslibrary.org.uk/2021/03/11/open-the-door-2021-calm-slam/

Britt: Hilaire, you chose the right tree!!

Sandra W: I’m there with u. So much intensity

Sandra W: Love the I am. And the connection to god. Xx

Hilaire: Such beautiful & rich imagery Catrice!

Britt: It felt like several organic cycles, but emotional too.

Angie: That is how I feel about it too Bex.

Sheila: Thanks everyone for wonderful words sewn together xx

Bex: I love the we are secure in our grasp

Angie: Wonderful. xx

Kay: beautiful reading Giovanna kx

Hilaire: Gorgeous poem Giovanna

Giovanna: Bye everyone, thank you

Bex: Thank you all so much. See you next week xx

Angie: Thank you again for another fabulous mindfulness and writing session.  I am glad that I am kind to myself and make the time to attend. xx

Catrice: An honor to be here with all of you today. Beautiful poetry all.  Very generous sharing.  Take care. Be well.

Louise: wonderful waves of words wafting around my mind - thank you one and all

Joyce: what  inspiring and heart moving  women thankyou all xx

Sandra B: Thank you Bev and Adrienne! And to everyone who shared words and witnessed wordsharing xx

Kay: another wonderful session   how well the mindfulness and writing work together   and such beautiful words shared

Hilaire: thanks everyone- see you next week

Kay: thankyou bev and Adrienne and thankyou everyone

Angie: Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  Lots of love and happy Spring equinox.

YY: Thank you all…a beautiful start to this day xxx

Britt: Thank you everyone for every word. I feel rich. Thank you, Bev and Adrienne for helping this all to happen. Be so well. x

Kate Lindsay: Thank you for another wonderful session xx

MaW session 13th March 2021

 
Welcome back Mindful Writers! My my my what a turn out we had with 27 folk from 7 different countries signed up. Adrienne introduced her Mindfulness with the support of Breath practice with a poem Over the Weather by Naomi Shihab Nye and Bev followed with the writing prompt

the garden is walled with quiet 

This came from a poem by that breathtaking (see what I did there?) poet

Kenneth Steven, his poem called Coracle that you find here: Collection of Kenneth Steven Poems

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

And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

the garden is walled with quiet 

by Joyce Nicholson

I hear you, cutting through the quiet, 

blackbird singing, signing your heart, 

instincts instigating connections, 

for spring is rising and change is coming, 

Change, She always comes.

pushing, piercing, earth uncovering, unwrapping,

saffron and straw, sage and sea green, 

silent symbols of change, constantly surfacing.

Sisters - watch the long season changes, notice.

each small shift, significant, 

unfurling fronds of fierce love, 

as We all rise up. 

How beautiful is the silence that hugs my pain away………

by Sandra Walls

I hear a woven hum of bees

I patter down the slab stone-cuts earthed into the old grass

Sunlight splits through mature shrubs and high-rise plumes 

In the giant oak neighbours wanted murdered, I hear the buzz of little lives

One little fat bee not of the yellow and blacks

But an orange flank and sting; he’s exhausted

 And full of pollen in his sacks

I run back skipping stones, two-at-a-time

Sugared water frappe’d with a cocktail stick

Back to my little friend

Lifting him upon my hand I pour a well of sweetness

Not a sting in sight

Tiny, hooked feet hold onto my fingerprints

A tiny tongue folds out from his chin and drinks hastily down

We sigh of relief

I stare into him, cute for an insect

He washes his face, furred head and tiny black eyes

Tries out his transparent, rainbow, oil slick wings;   They work!     And he flies

I look up his name, Bombus Lapidarius

I nickname him The Bomb - Flying high like Ulysses towards the sun

He turned and told me – “Salutes”

For my revival,

Survival

To work another day

For the honey and my Queen

‘N’est We Forget’

Hum

by Britt Doughty-Godchaux

I am the grass, the temperature of the air

the same inside me and without.  

The sky an impossible blue, 

the bees work their way with precision

amongst every waving wand of lavender.

Spring is impossible, so I say this season

is the one right before, one of the countless other

nameless seasons. This season is the first dry

day, the first day that could be understood 

to be hot. The first day where my body can

find a burrow in tall grass to settle

back and consider the good earth, the 

strong earth. Its wise, powerful creatures

tend it and feed from its magic. This is a day

where we find the good we ignore, the good that goes

on without human notice, this good has a full, true

run of the world. Fingers find blades. The bees

progress caring and uncaring. The hum not

for the hearing. 

and from YY... sending love to you and so many who have lost love ones...

The garden is walled with quiet, ten feet tall. 

I have come inside a silence and dad is waiting there for me…..

You look happy dad, how wonderful to see you walking with the spirit and gait of a young man in your twenties just like you looked in your wedding photo . How are you dad? …..No words or sounds in the silence, but a smile that radiates his message - after all the pain and inability to get out of that horrible hospital bed - I walk without pain. My body is light and warm and I thank God that both my mind and body are now at peace, watching over you all and Im proud of the celebration you are making of my life - in my memory  - love you , Dad

Many thanks to Anja for a shout out from Berlin in this article

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always!

Sandra: Angie ur wonderful performative poetry again is ready to go.

Bex: I love the earth heaves quietly

Britt: 'winter withdraws': that's how it feels!

Britt: Sandra, the sound went out a bit for me. Would love to read it again?

Michele: Such lovely and inspirational writings and a lovely mediation.  Thank you all, I am going to have to go. See you all next week.

Michele: Michele

Mo: Sorry, need to go now. Thanks for all your sharing, wonderful writing, so many vivid , visual images that I wanted to capture and explore. And I love the poems that were offered as prompts. Bye now

Catrice: Beautiful line, Hilaire.  beautiful.

Angie  Everyone : wonderful morning. fabulous poetry.

Elaine Morrison  to  Everyone : Thank you everyone. That was a lovely session. See you next week. Ex

Bex: Thank you everyone and see you next week!

Kay: thankyou so much bev and Adrienne and everyone   wonderful  kx

Susan : Hi, thank you for today. I had nothing to share today but it was lovely to hear your words

Joyce: fabulous thank you all - what inspiration xxx

Hilaire: thank you everyone - wonderful start to my day!

Y: Beautiful writing, powerful words - special morning -Thank you all xxx

Angie: Thank you Adrienne and Bev. Good to see everyone. xx

New Mindfulness & Writing Sessions!

Welcome back to Mindfulness and Writing sessions with Bev & Adrienne starting Saturday 

13th March.

We're going to get you back into it with three relaxing "top up" sessions. The first of three 6-week courses begins in May and we hope will strengthen your mindfulness and writing practices. 

Anyone wanting to attend must register:

Saturdays 1000 - 1200

Remember the routine? 

- Email readbevs@gmail.com to register

- Bev will send you an email with the link an hour before the session

- 0945 the session opens for a 1000 start

Dates:

Top up sessions:

Sat 13th March

Sat 20 March

Sat 27 March

6 week session (first of 3 this year)

Sat 8 May

Sat 15 May

Sat 22 May

Sat 29 May

Sat 12 June

Sat 19 June

10th Session ~ Sound & Conversation

 Adrienne's mindfulness practice today used the Support of Sound. She opened with Mary Oliver's poem How I go to the Woods and by the time we reached the writing section everyone was well tuned to listen, to explore our writing prompt...

my life conversation

This was inspired by the writing of David Whyte, in particular his poem "Everything is Waiting for you". Since listening is the best part of conversation, this followed on nicely from the mindfulness practice with sound. An excellent exploration of this takes place in this Krista Tippett interview with the poet: The Conversational Nature of Reality

Giovanna is recommending we enter some of this wonderful writing in the Glasgow Women's Library's
Bold Types: Scottish Women’s Creative Writing Competition Come on, get those pieces sent in!

Annan has sent a link her performance "Deep Canyon" some years ago... a journey through her ovarian cancer experience. Get yourself a cup of tea... this is an hour of rich sharing you don't want to miss, thanks Annan!

Good news this week from Anja... some of her work has been published in the latest anthology from Dreich Themes, "The Family Chapbook". She writes under "Annick Yerem".

And Hiliare has asked me to share Norman MacCaig’s poem "Summer Farm" - stunning... it could have been any one of you!

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

And now for some of 

YOUR WRITING:

The getting together session

by Priscilla Webster

Me and the Tree

We have got together daily in this lockdown 

lockup lockin lockout time.

 I know she knows I am there, 

she flings down helicopters and leaves,

she nurses a darling treecreeper and her nestlings, 

she towers tall and proud and so, so green for now.

I know that underground she uses her lovingkindnesses

 to accompany other roots

 to warn them of danger

from man and disease, she comforts them.

 And receives with grace their returning care.

We are in love, me and the tree.

Priscilla is also recommending these books for reading:

"“The Overground” by Richard Powers, a novel where I learned loads about trees.                                     Next I’ll read “The Underground” by Robert McFarlane, maybe  companion to the above."

                                                                                                                                        

 

My life conversations….

by Joyce Nicholson

Right now, drawing deep down into  Dharma ,

Mindfulness filled noticing,

Of lifetimes of patterns, old friends and hungry ghosts,

Grappling with impermanence,

And the joy of being present, right now.

 

Being with my-self, and all of you beings,

And the infinite expansiveness in hearing,

The crack, crack crackle of the fire,

The orange, orange, of the blackbirds beak,

The green, green, emerald heartfelt love

At the sight of all of you,

Sharing our wickedly phenomenal writing,

What a wonderful gift you have given us.

28.8.20

by Kath Higgens

Everything was waiting for us, Mum,

as we walked the narrow lane together,

light sparkling on a dew-drop,

you reminiscing at the sight of “liquid gold”-

a huge steaming dollop of horse manure,

reminding you of your embarrassment

when sent out by your Mum to collect it -

me trying to capture flitting butterflies on camera.

The daily walks we had, your arm in mine,

chatting or silent, no matter.

Or by the river, you supping hot chocolate,

commenting on children – you saw so many twins! –

me pointing out geese and ducks, heron flying overhead.

Now, I wonder what is waiting for me…

your suitcase had been packed for so long,

then you made your final exit as lockdown began,

me in a far-off country.

Now I will walk the lanes alone, 

perhaps hearing your old words in my head –

“Those children are so close in age, 

they MUST be twins!”

gale force

by Hilaire

lean into the wind.

surrender

to its push and bluster

your hair's wild tangle

your holler thrown back

down your throat

re-erupting as laughter.

splay your arms

and let your coat

sail you past the edge

of the whirlpool.

surf these silverfast currents

that twist you

into a cascade 

of somersaults.

have no thought

for your landing.

trust in the slow ebb

that will cushion

your return.

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

Thanks to you all ...

... for your heartening feedback as always... see you soon!

Kay: thankyou Adrienne  kx

Candyce: that was lovely. Thank you!

Larky: I hope this can continue in some way.  I was blown away by the writing that some of you shared last week.  I look at your intriguing names and faces and want to hear more.  Larky

Anja: Thank you, Adrienne. That practice was really lovely.

Giovanna: I agree Larky, it would be so good to continue.

Louise: hope so

Bev Lapidus: my life conversation (the writing prompt)

Bex: scamp needs out, so I need to go out with him. lovely to share time and words with you all

Catrice: Well done Giovanna!

Susan: Great, Giovanna!

Giovanna: Thank you

Anja: Wonderful, Giovanna!

Anja: I loved this!

Hilaire: Loved that Joyce!

Giovanna: That was wonderful Joyce, loved you repetition, perfectly used!

Anja: Joyce, that was great

Anja: Isabel, thank you!

Giovanna: “the blues and greys in me stop screaming” thank you Catrice

Hilaire: Wow! That was beautiful Catrice xx

Anja: Simply wonderful, Catrice

Catrice: Thank you, Giovanna

Catrice: Thank you, Anja

Britt: so many seeds to cultivate from that one, Catrice...

Catrice: Thank you, everyone. <e

Britt: Wow, Sandra....

Catrice: Sandra!  You are fire!!!!!!!!!!

Catrice: Wow!!!

Sandra: Thanks Catrice

Lesley O: loving all of this! x

Catrice: Britt!  Excellence.  Loved that.

Kay: wonderful wonderful stuff so far   thankyou everyone kx

Giovanna: Anja that was fantastic “to dance in abandoned living rooms”

Catrice: So beautiful Anja. <3

Anja: Thank you!

Lesley O: brilliant Anja! 

Giovanna: “bathing the mountain’s flanks in colour” gorgeous Susan

Candyce: no. I’m sorry.  Internet barely hanging on! Thank you for including me.  I loved this.  I hope there is more.  I will read the next time!

Catrice: Jo, your voice is amazing for reading out loud.  I love hearing you read.  So much nuance, pleasant modulating tones, and authority, and humor.

Catrice: Yes, I agree Britt!

Catrice: The work today is amazing!  Thank you.

Anja: And so much laughter today- wonderful!

Britt: Excellent medicine for the one suitcase, or maybe both?

Hilaire: Thank you again!!

Giovanna: It’s been so wonderful everyone, I wish we could all meet up!

Britt: Agreed....

Catrice: I am going to miss you ladies (until the next time).  Truly. This has been wonderful.  Thank you so much.  Pleasure to meet you all.  I do plan to return. You ladies are tops!

Sandra: That's a great idea Giovanna!

Britt: I second that emotion, Catrice...

Michele Hipwell: Thank you for these sessions, Bev and Adrienne, an inspired duo, and to all, such a delight to listen to you all. 

Susan: Thank you Bev and Adrienne and everyone. The sessions have been fantastic. I hope to see you all soon, Susan

Giovanna: Thank you so much Bev and ADrienne, this group has been so beautifully led, I feel as if I am with a group of really good friends X

Sandra: Till next time? I've loved these sessions. Thank you all x

Anja: Thank you to Adrienne and Bev for creating a safe and wonderful haven and thank you to all of you, it was lovely to meet you all and hear the gorgeous words you wrote

Britt: I am so grateful for all of this. <3<3<3

Hilaire: Thank you everyone for sharing your wonderful words

Louise: loved loved - thank you - see you for the next session defo

Lesley O: Big thank you to everyone! xxxxxx

Kay: thankyou so much bev & Adrienne and everyone for such a special special time    hope to see you all again soon    kx

Anja: Lovely, thank you Bev!

Yvonne: Thank you Bev & Adrienne. Today was amazing …thank you all for the powerful words that made me laugh and also made me cry today. What a wonderful day…love to all xxx

Catrice: Thank you will send my email.

Jo: Thanks, all for this wonderful connection and sharing time … Especially Bev and Adrienne. xx  

Britt: It was lovely to get to know such a beautiful group of people through their writing... how special. 

Hilaire: Bye - hope we can do this again xx

Jo: Kay Richie, I so love your work but you have been silent. Please blog your pieces

Isabel: Again, thank you Bev, Adrienne and everyone. Sad to be leaving. xx

and a huge thank you all from Adrienne and Bev... this is not the end