Awen – the ancient and modern super-power
In the Celtic bardic tradition when a poet was filled with Awen – divine inspirational flow – they weren’t just acting as a messenger of the gods. As they spoke or sung those exalted words there was a very real sense that they took on the being and essence of what they were recounting. They were bringing it to life.
I find this idea incredibly encouraging in these times of tumult and uncertainty. As always, I and many others like me are asking, what can I do? As just one person, alone?
The Dawn of Everything: a book for now
I posted about how The Dawn of Everything was blowing my mind on Facebook, but I really think it merits a bit more time and attention so here we go.
It’s written by archeologist David Wengrow and anthropologist David Graeber, so that’s two of my subjects of fascination combined for a start. But it ventures far beyond just another history book, literally, because it questions all the deep-rooted assumptions popular history has taught us about how human society developed.
We all know the story, and I’m guilty of buying into it too from what I’d read previously. In humanity’s early days we were peace-loving hunter-gatherers living in idyllic small groups.
The life cycle of stars
Here’s my poem inspired by the life cycle of stars, which for me echoes the incarnation of the limitless light of the soul into the density of a human body: as above so below. I love gazing up at the night sky, and I’m lucky that we live in a place of low light pollution so they’re often astonishingly clear (when the Welsh rainclouds are taking a night off anyway)! I think that at a cellular level, literally, we recognise our origins out there in the vast expanse and we gain a sense of belonging, hope, and perspective through seeing our place in this cosmic context.
A Thrutopian evocation; the way through
As an essential aspect of my grounded spiritual work, I’m passionate about living in harmony with the more than human world. I’m currently on a journey with other writers called Thrutopia, in which we’re investigating how we can write a path to a flourishing future. Our media is flooded with dystopian visions because in these challenging times of climate change and social disruption it’s just too easy to imagine a disastrous future.
Be the change you want to see in the world – Reading for 2022
My heart lifted on turning over this beautiful card for 2022 which contains so much helpful advice about how to approach this new year.
Let’s have a look at the element first. She is a Princess of the earth, and so she highlights the planet, money, your body and its health, your job, food, home, and all the practical resources you make use of in your daily life. She tells you that at this time you stand on the threshold of major changes and new beginnings in these matters, and you are pregnant (as the swelling belly of the Princess shows) with the potential of that. I say you because although I do believe this card speaks of global possibilities, she also points to the fact that we are all individually responsible for manifesting these changes in each of our domestic spheres – on our own little patch of earth.
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Quietly, everything is shifting.
You don’t need to know exactly what it means yet.
Just stay curious -
about what you value,
what you believe,
where you stand.
#StayCurious #TimesOfChange
Aries New Moon 🌑♈ (Apr 17, 12:52pm UK)
A new cycle begins - an invitation to step into something new and live more fully from your true self.
Full guidance + podcast in the link.
#AriesNewMoon #NewBeginnings
A coastal walk revealed something magical 🌊
As the sea spray rose, shapes began to form, first dancing figures… then a face. Zooming in, I saw the laughing Old Woman of the Sea looking back at me. Take a look… 👁️
#SeaMagic #Elementals
As we leave the Easter weekend, this is what my heart is singing:
"We all live under the same sky
We all will live, we all will die
There is no wrong, there is no right
The circle only has one side"
- Lyrics from "Side" by Travis