Joy Jumble
A mix of some of what's bringing me joy at the mo
Hi all,
A few brief announcements before we dive in.
Lovely to have some of you join us this morning for the first of this spiral of the Sitting in the Dark early morning writing sessions, it feels GREAT to be back doing these!
You can still join us for these sessions every Friday until June 12th - more info here:
You also have another week to explore the Body Works workshops series, which I’m really very proud of! Click HERE for all the sessions in one spot. Here’s what one reader shared about them:
Ok, let’s dive into my Jumble of Joy!
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joy jumble
one ::
These crazy tulips I do not remember planting in a pot by my front door.
two::
A dance show I went to last night with my daughter - 10 bodies dancing as a unit, as an organism, their breath making part of the music, their bodies so lithe and wonderful to look at, their choreography growing progressively more intense and alive as the hour progressed, their faces and bodies becoming more joyful and free.
three ::
My walk in the dark last week, which I think I am still learning from. I can’t wait to pick up two dark books I’ve ordered from my local bookshop that were shared with me after I wrote this post. Sleepless by Annabel Abbs and Overnight by Dan Richards.
‘I have faith in nights’ as Rilke wrote.
four ::
Listening to Ocean Vuong speak about writing and language. I tuned into this podcast, which, despite the fairly annoying host, has so many gems from Vuong in it. His words on estrangement in particular are circling in my head.
And, in conversation about metaphor, these three lines that he shares:
The low, red sun rolls across the hills, as if beheaded. - Isaac Babel
The stars out there tonight, little boats rowed out too far. - Richard Siken
The moss grows along the tree like applause. - Eduardo Corral
How language can make us see things from new perspectives and with fresh enchantment.
five ::
I love a tune that spirals into madness for a bit and so I’m lapping up CMAT’s The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station at the moment.
And the video, I’ve just discovered, is GAS!
six ::
I’m also finding great solace and encouragement in Rebecca Solnit’s The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change. She is writing about how ‘everything is connected, that the word is a network of interrelated systems, that the isolated individual is at best a fiction, and that the natural and social realms run more on collaboration and cooperation than competition.’ She is also shifting our attention, often by zooming out, to the seismic positive changes that have and are taking place within science, thinking, science and human rights even within our lifetime. She isn’t sugarcoating or seeing the world with rose tinted glasses but she is bringing welcome new perspectives.
seven ::
During the week my son, who is 8 now, crept into my bed for the night and wrapped his body around mine from behind, so that his warm little self was attached to my back like a marsupial or a ruck sack. We spent the night like that and it was wonderful. I felt strangely held by my own child.
Ok friends, that’s me for this week.
Great to be back here with a little more flow once more!
Layla x
oh yes someone said the j word