As I grow older (83) I contemplate death more, hoping I can choose my way. I want to go the way you describe the bird you so gently held. Thank you for giving me the description I needed. The world may be changing and not as we older folk know it but there will always be life and death...that is the way of it.
Your longing to create a bonfire of the world’s lawn equipment made me laugh out loud. May your reign begin soon, Your Majesty! Thank you for your essay.
Oh, me too! I would love to have a bonfire of my neighbors’ leaf blowers. Every time I hear one, my mantra is “can’t you just rake?” I love raking leaves. Rake a little, stop to rest and listen to birds. What’s wrong with people??
So, all those you’d expect, Rumi, Mary, the now late, great Joanna Macy. Stephen Jenkinson and Richard Rohr have been hugely influential. And, on here, I would direct you to @Amanda Cooke, @Adam Nathan, @Eleanor Anstruther and @Kendall Lamb, for starters 🫶🏻
Chloe- I have long known that all of my wiring is on the outside. Exposed. I have a small pin I wear on my jacket that simply says, wired differently. The people who know, know. I find myself facing life progressions I never dreamed of experiencing. (I do not bode well w/physical incapacitation) Finding you & your writings in the last year-ish? feels like that a beloved friend is walking me home. (at times it’s more like I am being dragged, oh my)
The sparrow, gratitude for the sounds of our wild kin this morning and for Joanna Macy, God Speed. Also: the Titanic & the references you shared were spot on. I am now thinking of snow globes. Always grateful to be able to listen to you. Thank you Chloe.
As someone whose wiring is also external, I hear you, and I thank you. It's a great honour to me to know that it feels that way - even if it sometimes feels like dragging ;) I believe that Joanna is now finding out what the next part is all about, leaving us earthbound beings down a saint, but blessed with the extraordinary gift of her legacy. How lucky we are...
I have been meditating recently on the beauty of holding contradictions within ourselves. At least I believe it can be so, can be beautiful, though I acknowledge that internal contradictions have driven many mad. Maybe those driven to what we call madness have surrendered to the beauty of death…”a kind of terrible unity that mocks our preference for things to feel uncomplicated.”
Praise the Universe for the endlessly complicated beauty all around us every moment.
Amen to that, my friend. There's something so expansive that practice. I suppose it's a glance towards the non-duality of it all. Mind-blowing, in the most wonderful sense.
Yes. What can we do but stand in love and awe. There is a grounding that the Universe offers us all the time. What’s that line from someone?…something like: everything is beautiful and I am so sad.
Thank you dear Chloe for taking me to a beautiful place with your tender words and elegant ideas, where I feel more connected and less alone alongside your humanity. I appreciate your thoughts and precious writing so much as always. ❤️
Dear Chloe, thank you for again letting me slip into into the gentle stream of Sunday with your words softly lapping and surrounding me. I find that I am bouyed up by them. Again, floating, as the boy and I listen to you in the garden surrounded by the squabbling cousins of your tiny fragile sparrow. Such an honour to hold a life, any life, and stay as consciousness slips away, your voice carrying that creature of noble life on to a noble death.
Your friend's words are perfect. May she be similarly held 🙏
Thanks never really seem adequate, my friend. But you have them anyway.
Go gentle with the cathedral that is your rib cage.
All I ever want to do after reading you dear Chloe, is lay down face first in the soil, arms outstretched in a never-too-big embrace and whisper thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thanks, beloved. And that's all I ever want to do, ever! Just need to figure out a way of getting paid to lay face down on the ground and whisper my unending thanks...👀
We've just passed a strange 4th July here, prompting me to add fireworks to your list of wildlife-disrupting abominations, although fire might not be the safest way to dispose of them!
Dear Joanna Macy, a teacher in life, now in death, and doubtless beyond. 🙏
Yes, I was feeling the same way the other night John. I said aloud to all the singing crickets who could no longer hear their brothers over the obnoxiously booming sky, “I’m so sorry, I’m so so sorry.”
Oooh I had the “what if lawnmowers no longer existed” fantasy yesterday… what if everyone could only use a reel mower and thus just mow enough to create a path and maybe a reduced-tick play area for the kids. And everything else went wild. Imagine how the world would change… I’m not keen on monarchies but if you want to start a matriarchy I’m with you.
I also detest monarchies, and would probably abolish my own after a week (I'm really not looking for that much responsibility, I'd just get all the power tools and loud equipment, and fireworks, and helicopters, destroyed and then go back to regular life)
I deeply appreciate your mention of Joanna Macy's 'active dying'... Her presence at this threshold feels numinously potent, a blessing to all she loved in this world. May I, may we, be open and worthy to receive it.
As I grow older (83) I contemplate death more, hoping I can choose my way. I want to go the way you describe the bird you so gently held. Thank you for giving me the description I needed. The world may be changing and not as we older folk know it but there will always be life and death...that is the way of it.
That most certainly is the way of it. Thank you, Sue. May your eventual leaving be even gentler than you'd hoped 🕊️
Your longing to create a bonfire of the world’s lawn equipment made me laugh out loud. May your reign begin soon, Your Majesty! Thank you for your essay.
Oh, me too! I would love to have a bonfire of my neighbors’ leaf blowers. Every time I hear one, my mantra is “can’t you just rake?” I love raking leaves. Rake a little, stop to rest and listen to birds. What’s wrong with people??
Kevin, I have decided to appoint you Lord Chancellor.
😄😄😄
I do believe I was there in ancient Egypt with you.
I think I remember you, Paula
Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever come across writing more beautiful than yours. 💛
You are very, very generous, Kathy. Thank you. And I would be happy to point you in the direction of some ;) 💛
You are an incredibly tough act to follow but I would love to know more of the writing you love and some of your recommendations on here 🫶🏻
So, all those you’d expect, Rumi, Mary, the now late, great Joanna Macy. Stephen Jenkinson and Richard Rohr have been hugely influential. And, on here, I would direct you to @Amanda Cooke, @Adam Nathan, @Eleanor Anstruther and @Kendall Lamb, for starters 🫶🏻
🫶
Oh my, I’m honoured Chloe 🤍
Wow, thank you Chloe.
Amazing, thank you so much! 🫶🏻
Me neither, Kathy. It is truly remarkable.
Agreed
Chloe- I have long known that all of my wiring is on the outside. Exposed. I have a small pin I wear on my jacket that simply says, wired differently. The people who know, know. I find myself facing life progressions I never dreamed of experiencing. (I do not bode well w/physical incapacitation) Finding you & your writings in the last year-ish? feels like that a beloved friend is walking me home. (at times it’s more like I am being dragged, oh my)
The sparrow, gratitude for the sounds of our wild kin this morning and for Joanna Macy, God Speed. Also: the Titanic & the references you shared were spot on. I am now thinking of snow globes. Always grateful to be able to listen to you. Thank you Chloe.
As someone whose wiring is also external, I hear you, and I thank you. It's a great honour to me to know that it feels that way - even if it sometimes feels like dragging ;) I believe that Joanna is now finding out what the next part is all about, leaving us earthbound beings down a saint, but blessed with the extraordinary gift of her legacy. How lucky we are...
Exposed wiring, yes, thank you for that analogy.
Absolutely John
This is wonderful writing. The idea that praising the things of this world, whether they inspire or terrify us, is deeply moving.
Thank you, Jaden. And yes, it is such a worthwhile practice.
I love everything you write but this piece borders on the sublime. Thank you. 🙏
Nicole, I blush! Thank you, so much 🙏
I just lost my mom two weeks ago. Thank you.
I'm so sorry, Jill. I'm sending you, and her, much love.
Imagine there’s no mowers, it’s easy if you try
Imagine only birdsong and wing beats in the sky
Thank you for your poetic soul and for your enduring kindness and creativity.
Thank you, Heather! I do imagine there's no mowers, and it's a beautiful vision that I think Lennon would have been on board with.
I have been meditating recently on the beauty of holding contradictions within ourselves. At least I believe it can be so, can be beautiful, though I acknowledge that internal contradictions have driven many mad. Maybe those driven to what we call madness have surrendered to the beauty of death…”a kind of terrible unity that mocks our preference for things to feel uncomplicated.”
Praise the Universe for the endlessly complicated beauty all around us every moment.
Amen to that, my friend. There's something so expansive that practice. I suppose it's a glance towards the non-duality of it all. Mind-blowing, in the most wonderful sense.
Yes. What can we do but stand in love and awe. There is a grounding that the Universe offers us all the time. What’s that line from someone?…something like: everything is beautiful and I am so sad.
What a privilege to live. 🙏🏼❤️
Mark Nepo! I think about that line SO OFTEN ❤️
Thank you dear Chloe for taking me to a beautiful place with your tender words and elegant ideas, where I feel more connected and less alone alongside your humanity. I appreciate your thoughts and precious writing so much as always. ❤️
Grace, thank you. I'm so glad it offers some connection, that is my hope. I appreciate you reading! ❤️
Dear Chloe, thank you for again letting me slip into into the gentle stream of Sunday with your words softly lapping and surrounding me. I find that I am bouyed up by them. Again, floating, as the boy and I listen to you in the garden surrounded by the squabbling cousins of your tiny fragile sparrow. Such an honour to hold a life, any life, and stay as consciousness slips away, your voice carrying that creature of noble life on to a noble death.
Your friend's words are perfect. May she be similarly held 🙏
Thanks never really seem adequate, my friend. But you have them anyway.
Go gentle with the cathedral that is your rib cage.
Aah, thank you my friend. Love to know that the boy and the sparrows join us. Thank you for your kind wishes. Rib is healing ❤️🩹
All I ever want to do after reading you dear Chloe, is lay down face first in the soil, arms outstretched in a never-too-big embrace and whisper thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thanks, beloved. And that's all I ever want to do, ever! Just need to figure out a way of getting paid to lay face down on the ground and whisper my unending thanks...👀
We've just passed a strange 4th July here, prompting me to add fireworks to your list of wildlife-disrupting abominations, although fire might not be the safest way to dispose of them!
Dear Joanna Macy, a teacher in life, now in death, and doubtless beyond. 🙏
We can have a massive watery pit for the fireworks, every last one, forever ruined. Gosh, the relief of it...
And, oh, doubtless. She'll live on for millennia.
Yes, I was feeling the same way the other night John. I said aloud to all the singing crickets who could no longer hear their brothers over the obnoxiously booming sky, “I’m so sorry, I’m so so sorry.”
Oooh I had the “what if lawnmowers no longer existed” fantasy yesterday… what if everyone could only use a reel mower and thus just mow enough to create a path and maybe a reduced-tick play area for the kids. And everything else went wild. Imagine how the world would change… I’m not keen on monarchies but if you want to start a matriarchy I’m with you.
Yes, paths, and everything else wild.
I also detest monarchies, and would probably abolish my own after a week (I'm really not looking for that much responsibility, I'd just get all the power tools and loud equipment, and fireworks, and helicopters, destroyed and then go back to regular life)
I deeply appreciate your mention of Joanna Macy's 'active dying'... Her presence at this threshold feels numinously potent, a blessing to all she loved in this world. May I, may we, be open and worthy to receive it.
She was being held by an ocean of the hearts she touched. A very fitting transition for someone of her heart, and mind, and generosity.
Thank you Chloe. Your words have been a meditation this morning.
Thank you, Claire! I'm touched to hear that