Dear Writer —-
Especially those that specifically signed up for the Journey to Write the Year - thank you. Thank you for your patience and your willingness to meet the ebb and flow.
At the journey’s inception, I thought it wild enough that we began in September’s Harvest (in the Northern Hemisphere) when many of are feeling more contemplative, over the start of the Gregorian New Year which is very hopeful and fun, yet also linear and ushered in by logic over nature.
The intention of Write the Year is to submerge ourselves in the natural cycle of the year, be observant and conscious in creating our words and interplays with the natural world and from this space, to see what we see. To slow down and notice the life we have lived in a year, rather than only clicking next.
My pup and I went back to the spring today where we had started this endeavor inSeptember 2023. I remember her swimming and thinking how this would be the spot we’d use for our touchstone (I recommend visiting one place in nature, season after season to notice and learn), and like I often do around natural water, I put my feet into the river. If you click on the song above, you’ll hear the refrain: Put your feet into the river, Give your life to something bigger.
I have loved that line for a very long time and remember David Newman playing it when it was first recorded. It was a tip, for me, how devoted he was, while being deeply human. I guessed (but do not know) that when he first wrote it it might have hinted to the Ganges River and perhaps his devotion to Indian Saint, Neem Karoli Baba, but much like David’s music I also suspect it was intended to be be deeply relational and far-reaching to all the waters we submerge ourselves in. Nevertheless, jump in, don’t stand on the sidelines of life. So, I can honestly say, that I have heard this song in my head many times when I have set an intention and put my feet into the river, as a promise to give my life to something bigger. But this time, of course it was different. Because as the soundtrack invariably began to replay in my mind, David was now singing from the other side of this life, since he had walked on from this one only a week ago. Flown, soared, rather quickly.
I hadn’t wanted to think on that today, and perhaps why even though I was in flip-flops I hadn’t wanted to get into the water. Ahonui (my best dog companion), sat very close to me as I was thinking on other things: planning but also quite intentionally dissolving. Making a list in my heart of all the things I was letting go of and things I was surrendering because I couldn’t make them make sense, so I was giving them to God. Mind you, very literal things. Business relations and plans. I decided instead of writing another to do list, I would sit with what I could let go of and see what came of the space created.
Ahonui started to press into my side, and I listened.
I stood up and slipped off my flip flops; I heard the line in my head : give yourself to something bigger. Pertinent as it always was, but also a slight hint to also let go of small thinking.
I watched as my pup, who will be 14 this year, move more carefully towards the water, whereas in September of last year her eyesight and assuredness had her moving much more quickly than today. Rest assured though, she still scampered through the woods, yet her aging is undeniable now.
I suspect so is my own.
That’s why the call to let what wants to die die.
See how easy that is to say, but how hard that is to do with old clothes that have memories, or business ideas that have comfort, or — anything or anyone that we have in our lives. We so easily throw around, I would die for such and such, and then the retaliation is, I would live for such and such, and I am just wondering if we can be ourselves.
One of the biggest gifts, of the dying is the reminder that we are going to do it sometime. So, as Ram Das so famously scribbled: Be Here Now.
I’ve never read the book in its entirety even though I reference it all the time, thought you might like to know. I have read the Tao the Ching from cover to cover more times than I know.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”- Edward Abbey
When, I was sitting at the creek-bed, I wished I had an Annie Dillard quote. She changed my world, along with Edward Abbey, and those that used their words to bend us more towards nature. I see myself using every ounce of my being to try and bend us all towards nature.
Then I remembered: If I am trying to bend others toward nature, than I must not be as quiet and connected as I think.
Writing Prompt for those that would like one:
Grab a pen and paper and a 10 minute timer:
Option 1: What if anything are you aiming to share in your work, personal, professional environment? Jot that down, and if writing it down inspires you — keep going.
How can you in this moment embody more of that which you are wanting to experience? Write that out, riff, don’t judge. See what comes up.
Option 2: Is there a message you keep hearing? Grab your paper and write out: Help me understand what you want me to know..and then write out the questions that you have. You might be surprised at what answers arise.
I sat back down by the river and basically asked myself the second writing option — to help me understand — and closed my eyes at the water and you know what happened?
A ginormous ant bit my toe so hard I popped open my eyes and unpretzeled my legs. I watched the inch long ant, emerge through the grass forest and onto her day.
I laughed. The ant was my response. I had been getting some clear promptings on new directions, but my hesitancy was that I didn’t have enough resources to pull it off.
Life’s response: The ant got you to move; you can get things moving too.
The ant didn’t wonder. It used what it had to get the results needed. Message received. You know the song, sing it with me..”Just what makes that little old ant, think he can move a rubber tree plant…”
What are you using your energy for today? What pieces are you writing? What mountains are you moving this precious day?
Tell me about them…
Kate
Every so often a really glorious creative project comes along that I can help with. I have space to work with two people this summer. Are you one of them?
I am offering 4 -12 week creative coaching packages. I create a container to help you move from confused to inspired, whether it is for a book, a life decision, or spiritual inquiry. We weave these things together to create consciously.
You can schedule a 15 minute chat and see if we are the right fit ✨
P.S. Messaging waits in the Momentum
It happened again reader —
First, did you read the other peace (piece) on grief where I had uncovered the song? And how I hadn’t wanted to write it, but I knew that doing what was unclear would bring the clarity. Well, just before I sat down to write this piece, this came up on my IG Feed. Listen to Dr. Zach Bush shares. Please note what he says at the end.
I watched Zach Bush, then set myself up to write outside. After my first draft for you, I did a link check when I realized, the Spotify embedded song at the beginning wasn’t going let you hear the part of the song I had quoted. So I searched to see if there was another recording, to link to the refrain. Instead I found something I had never seen before, a link to David’s Mantra class please note the titled. You can listen to the video here.
Life is talking, we only need to listen.
We, or rather, I am not always clear of the meaning and life normally needs me to grow and grow some more, but I do know we are all connected and we are in a time of potent change capable of feats that transcend our size, just like the ant.
I am also quite honestly still in grief of my friend passing, so meaning making isn’t clear for me right now, and that is okay. But, it would be silly of me to dismiss the effort of overlap and support in life’s messaging. Life is talking.
My focus for the week: to listen intently. Which is something I am exquisite at for my personal clients, and now I am going to give myself my own gifs. HBU?
Do you have a weekly focus? I love it. It is a great way to frame my week. Give it a try and let me know how that goes, too!
See you back here soon.
Kate