In the Northern Hemisphere we are marked with an array of festivals about light this month. We deck our trees, light our menorahs, set off fireworks, and tend to the hearth all as a way of lighting the physical darkness.
Although the Solstice, arriving tomorrow, might herald the return of the sun on an external level
what is needed is for us to maintain and tend to our own light within.
I think about this as I sit in my empty flat. Emptiness gives time for much reflection, turning in, cosying down, and resting. All these things I’ve done in abundance this past week – feeling frozen like the earth, and finally submitting to the stillness of myself.
I sat with my fears, my longing and finally… my wish.
In this time of darkness, our own light is the only thing we can count on. And it can be the most difficult to maintain and yet we must for otherwise life, true life, ends.
As the solstice comes and goes, Christmas makes merry and 2011 bids her goodbyes I wish you and yours all that you wish in your deepest self, for your light to shine.
I thank you for your friendship, your kinship, for standing by me, for giving me a shoulder to lean on, for a smile shared, a meal, a sofa, an email, a thought, for work, for collaboration, for gifts,… I thank you for you.
*”On the Nature of Daylight” Film 2 of 3 by Benoit Moulanier
Love and blessings always
Kate E. xx
“Photos from the Broomielaw” Exhibition by Chris McNulty & Julie Anne Barnes is still at Cafe Hula 321 Hope Street until the 28th December. All Prints are available for sale!
Kate E. Deeming here with the leaving story that never ends… after the distress of my buyer backing out I have signed with the estate agent Slater Hogg and Howison who presented the best package to me in terms of value and professionalism, I have great hopes…
The property will go live tomorrow and fingers crossed it will sell soon. People are wont to remind me how bad the economy is and how challenging it is to sell a flat in the Christmas season, yeah pretty aware of that one, thanks. Must remind myself of that as I sell the rest of my furniture to pay my bills, curl up on my air mattress in my empty flat and subsist on my 54p of Lidl porridge….
That said, it’s amazing how quickly one adapts to new circumstance. When I was travelling around India on my dancing adventure with my (now ex) boyfriend, he insisted on finding the cheapest accommodation possible. This more than not comprised of a cement room with a bucket to bathe in, wherein I was the only female resident not paid to be there. And yet I got on with it. At the time I was in love, and it was what we had to do, and (to be honest) wasn’t a big deal.
And yet it is amazing how quickly we can talk ourselves into believing there are “things” we absolutely need. Really all that we need is food, shelter, air and love. That’s it. And the circumstances and context of these things can change. Many in the world don’t have the vast majority of these aspects for living is a shocking fact. That people feel entitled to more when some have none, is morally ambiguous to say the least.
I don’t mind surviving on less than before, my struggle is the waiting. Patience is the quality I must cultivate.
In this December month I am faced with a flurry of Christmas. I don’t like to count myself a scrooge, but there is a distinct tone of ‘bah humbug’ as I attempt to back away from the over-indulgence to the ‘temple of things’. Maybe it’s that I just spent the past six months offloading everything I own or maybe I am just too wise to what is needed, in myself, in the world and the madness, the true madness of this season wherein people create a mania of ‘stuff’, give presents when they should give presence, distresses me.
I am now in Perth, tomorrow I lead a workshop ‘Being a Holistic Leader – Body Wisdom’ for the Scottish Institute of Business Leaders (http://www.sibl.org.uk/) – I have made the decision to put aside powerpoint, paper hand outs and focus entirely on the human experience and gift of being with the people present, for us to come into the space of our bodies and being with one another. How is it we can be effective human beings, in the whole human experience if we don’t take time for one another and for ourselves?
The American Medical Association just came out with a study saying more people are ill than ever before because of our inactivity(http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2011/11/30/sitting-and-cancer-risk.html). We are bodies in this world, that are designed to move, to feel, to experience, and yet we amputate a large section knowingly via inaction. This creates disease. This is madness.
Dance more, laugh more, hug more, breathe more… all these aspects are essential for life.
Quite a busy week for me in addition to the SIBL event I am also guest lecturing at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen as part of their “Guests @ Gray’s” Series (http://guestsatgrays.wordpress.com/)
And Over the weekend I will be making some impromptu dancing throughout Aberdeen centre, in association with the band Flaxman (http://doctorflaxman.com/). Over the summer they recorded me dancing at the Broomielaw as part of their music video:
They’re quite a groovy group, full of stories to tell in many ways… I feel quite fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with them. If you’re in Aberdeen keep an eye out, come and have a boogie!
As for me, sans glasses, mirror, bed, my boots so full of holes I might as well be barefoot, I am keeping on… dammit!
Best wishes, peace and love
Kate E. xx
Exhibition “Photos from the Broomielaw” by Chris McNulty and Julie Ann Barnes is still on at Cafe Hula 321 Hope St. till the 27th of December. Check it out!
MY DECEMBER WISH and thanks