New Beginnings
Or, not having my toast and eating it, and focusing instead on enjoying the bake
I have reached peak winter mode. My creativity searches for familiar crevices to slide into; fragments of old poems revisit me, I find comfort in the same word choices, though not inspiration. I search for security and escape because surviving in the Stone Star over winter is kinda exhausting!
Since it started turning towards winter I have been running to try and catch up with time, always behind, not prepared. Like this email. Definitely way too late in the festive season to send. I am perpetually missing the boat. Mostly because I am constantly adapting to change on the go. Resilience in over drive. Because here I am still standing! I’ve had some mini meltdowns along the way, and last week I sent a message saying “if I knew how to quit, I’d be doing it” but I’m still going.
I’m learning:
that I literally can’t have my toast and eat it. Not in winter anyway. Which is a shame as marmite on toast is the king of all comfort food and I’m flexing my sourdough skills.
that friends on the SOS speed dial are worth their weight in gold. From turning up with inverter bypassing battery charging gear, to emotional support and spirit lifting.
that I have never been happier to reach the solstice and start turning towards longer days.
that absolutely nothing goes to plan, and yet everything has its own time.
if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
starting a fire with wet wood feels like a metaphor for my life at the moment. (Yes I’m being a bit over dramatic here)
I remind myself that I’m building a resilient system and self-resilience. Sometimes I wish it would be less of an opportunity to learn and grow, and more the music video of a happy summer anthem. Then there are these moments, just pauses really, where something wonderful takes centre stage; the stars stretching over my head, a woodpecker landing on one of the trees, the leaves falling around me like confetti or just going outside first thing in the morning and watching the world wake up. Then I remember why I’m here and why I’m doing this. I weeble wobble myself back up and keep chipping away, chipping away. Bit by bit. I’m playing the long game, and me and the tortoise will make it to the end, shells intact.
New Season of The Earth Whispers podcast! S3E1 - New Beginnings
I’ve been squirrelling away behind the scenes working on new episodes of the podcast. Season three starts with ‘New Beginnings’. In this episode, the robin is back as we embark on new beginnings. I lead a short anchoring and letting go practice and read my poem, 'That what empties will fill'.
Sit Spots: How to sit and listen to the world
In the latest podcast episode, I talk about how Sweet Chestnut and their long-limbed friends have resuscitated me and taught me how to sit and listen to the world. But how did they do that?
Here’s how. If I get enough comments and likes on the post, I’ll turn it into an audio practice.
Want to see what I’ve been up to behind the scenes on my barn project?
I did a progress round up counting my little wins and milestones on the barn renovation project so far. I’m not sure I’ve ticked off many more fun moments since then, but I keep chipping away and making baby steps forward.
More content for you!
I’ve been writing this newsletter for over two years now, sharing a monthly reflection and poem. I’ll be continuing that and from January onwards I’ll be offering more opportunities to connect with a peek behind the scenes of what I’ve been up to in my renovation project and sharing prose, poetry and guided practices to keep exploring our relationships with ourselves and nature. Should you like to receive those, or if you’d just like to support me in my content creation and renovation project you can join as a paid subscriber or founding member.
My intention with the membership is to add more content as it grows. As the paid subscriptions grow I’ll produce some video content of what I’m doing on the house project. I’ll introduce monthly writing prompts and a live writing circle. Who knows, if I hit enough maybe I’ll do online yoga classes!
As a paid subscriber you’ll have a direct input to shaping and growing both the content and the member benefits. I want to hear from you!
As a thank you for being at the start of the journey, I’m offering a 10% discount on all subscriptions until the end of the year.
No poem this month folks, I’ll take a break and write one soon.
I wish you a happy end to the year, however you celebrate endings and beginnings.
With love,
Emma