Thanks for sharing this. You have eloquently put words to how I am feeling at this point in the year. This sentence leapt out for me.
'I have learnt this year that if I am going to continue to try to posture myself in some non-space outside of ‘us’ and ‘them’, I need to drench myself in Beauty. Eros. Desire.'
Finding non-space outside familiar paradigms but inside some kind of connection feels important for me right now
Thank you for this. I read your piece because the image of the Annunciation was very close to what I saw in my mind in St Bride's the other week while I was listening to the choir. Like you, I have been trying to practice the upholding of complexity and connection across divides this year, and I can deeply identify with the fatigue induced by the constant labour of that practice. That effort and the toll it takes is why people retreat into simple stories, I think: but those simple stories are not the truth. Beauty fills the well, but I have also found retreat to be necessary this year. Solitude, calm, quiet are the antidote to engagement.
Lovely to receive this Rosie. Thank you. It felt a little wrong using an image of the Annunciation and then not writing about it, but maybe I'll do that another time. I really look forward to reading your St Bride's post, and it's good to meet you here.
I’m not sure how your email arrived in my inbox but I’m very glad it did. ❤️Thank you, Vanessa. Beauty… yes. I’m thinking of that Wallace Stevens poem… “after the final no there comes a yes; And on that yes the future world depends.”
Good to meet you Kathryn...! Perhaps you signed up to someone that recommends me and got me in the package?! That is such a familiar line but I don't believe I've ever read the full poem - I'll do so now - thank you.
its a weird and truly wonderful poem. I recommend reading it out loud and letting it wash over you. it will keep flying back with messages to visit you over the years in fresh ways. Good to meet you :)
Thank you for sharing - the idea of being thirsty instead of tired is very helpful - thanks for reminding me of how important having true beauty in our lives is, it’s a necessity not a luxury
I like that you are / this is a lower case tuning fork .. love that, so much less pressure ... my experience reading this, and knowing you, is of resonance, of solace, of a woe and also a yes ... like braille, being able to trace outlines and finding words that my soul sighs a deep yes to ... with the tears and the heartbreak and the darkness. The days are getting lighter, yes, but they are still dark!!! and also, the light still shines, obliquely, subtly, and sometimes *dazzlingly* . I dont' understand this, but it seems to be so. YES to your yes, yes to your longings, yes to all that is within you reaching towards the light. To you -thou, and to us -we, may our collective yes, our collective groans and yearning and tears and cracked open exhausted despair and heartbreak birth something .. well ... a deeper well. Yes. Thank you for the solace, the courage, the solidarity your words have warmed my heartbones with tonight XX
Thank you for this Tamsen. I love that idea of tracing the outlines, like braille. That is very freeing. And helpful. And thank you for saying yes to my yes…! See you soon, x.
I read your description of how you have been feeling with absolute stunned wonder as it is so close to what I've been feeling, under similar circumstances of trying to stay listening and loving to all, in a world where we are encouraged to split into right and wrong. Thank you for taking the time to put it into words. I'm glad to be in here with you. This essay was my angel.
That is so encouraging to hear Didi. It always seems to be worth us forcing these things in to being! I hope you find time and space to rest and replenish a bit. And I'm glad to be here with you too.
Thanks for sharing this. You have eloquently put words to how I am feeling at this point in the year. This sentence leapt out for me.
'I have learnt this year that if I am going to continue to try to posture myself in some non-space outside of ‘us’ and ‘them’, I need to drench myself in Beauty. Eros. Desire.'
Finding non-space outside familiar paradigms but inside some kind of connection feels important for me right now
Thanks for this Andre. That's a very helpful way of putting it.
Thank you for this. I read your piece because the image of the Annunciation was very close to what I saw in my mind in St Bride's the other week while I was listening to the choir. Like you, I have been trying to practice the upholding of complexity and connection across divides this year, and I can deeply identify with the fatigue induced by the constant labour of that practice. That effort and the toll it takes is why people retreat into simple stories, I think: but those simple stories are not the truth. Beauty fills the well, but I have also found retreat to be necessary this year. Solitude, calm, quiet are the antidote to engagement.
Lovely to receive this Rosie. Thank you. It felt a little wrong using an image of the Annunciation and then not writing about it, but maybe I'll do that another time. I really look forward to reading your St Bride's post, and it's good to meet you here.
My post describing carols at St Bride's is here: https://open.substack.com/pub/rosiewhinray/p/northern-christmas-southern-solstice
I’m not sure how your email arrived in my inbox but I’m very glad it did. ❤️Thank you, Vanessa. Beauty… yes. I’m thinking of that Wallace Stevens poem… “after the final no there comes a yes; And on that yes the future world depends.”
Good to meet you Kathryn...! Perhaps you signed up to someone that recommends me and got me in the package?! That is such a familiar line but I don't believe I've ever read the full poem - I'll do so now - thank you.
its a weird and truly wonderful poem. I recommend reading it out loud and letting it wash over you. it will keep flying back with messages to visit you over the years in fresh ways. Good to meet you :)
Just… yes. xx
Thank you for sharing - the idea of being thirsty instead of tired is very helpful - thanks for reminding me of how important having true beauty in our lives is, it’s a necessity not a luxury
This is lovely. For me, it is soaked in the same kind of atmosphere and feelings as being with Pomona.
I like that you are / this is a lower case tuning fork .. love that, so much less pressure ... my experience reading this, and knowing you, is of resonance, of solace, of a woe and also a yes ... like braille, being able to trace outlines and finding words that my soul sighs a deep yes to ... with the tears and the heartbreak and the darkness. The days are getting lighter, yes, but they are still dark!!! and also, the light still shines, obliquely, subtly, and sometimes *dazzlingly* . I dont' understand this, but it seems to be so. YES to your yes, yes to your longings, yes to all that is within you reaching towards the light. To you -thou, and to us -we, may our collective yes, our collective groans and yearning and tears and cracked open exhausted despair and heartbreak birth something .. well ... a deeper well. Yes. Thank you for the solace, the courage, the solidarity your words have warmed my heartbones with tonight XX
Thank you for this Tamsen. I love that idea of tracing the outlines, like braille. That is very freeing. And helpful. And thank you for saying yes to my yes…! See you soon, x.
This was healing to listen to.
Your words are a gift, Vanessa. May that the blessings you give so freely curl 'round to lap upon your hearth this winter season.
That's a lovely blessing Adam...thank you.
I read your description of how you have been feeling with absolute stunned wonder as it is so close to what I've been feeling, under similar circumstances of trying to stay listening and loving to all, in a world where we are encouraged to split into right and wrong. Thank you for taking the time to put it into words. I'm glad to be in here with you. This essay was my angel.
That is so encouraging to hear Didi. It always seems to be worth us forcing these things in to being! I hope you find time and space to rest and replenish a bit. And I'm glad to be here with you too.